The best part of this DYI bookshelf is I paid nothing for it. The library was needing it out of the way and so I got it for FREE! But I think it's important to note that it's actually a DVD shelf rather then a bookshelf. Which worked out great for me b/c the area I needed it was a big wall that didn't have much room for a deep bookshelf and there was a window on the wall beside it that I didn't want to cover up. Also the DVD shelf was wide/long enough to give me plenty of space without taking up too much room.

 

Once I got it home I removed the flimsy cardboard back (that was practically falling off anyway) and all the nails. Next I took out all the shelves and pegs that hold the shelves and put them to the side. Because this of the sleek finish on the wood (or not) I sanded it first so the paint would have something to adhere to. It took 2 coats of primer/Kilz and two coats of white latex paint. I did this to the shelves I removed also. Once the second coat of white dried I stressed the edges with sandpaper.

Then I took regular wood boards and painted them a light blue with only one coat so a little of the wood would still show through. I wanted a cottage, rustic look. Once the boards dried I measured and nailed them to the back of the bookshelf (with the help of my husband). Then I took some watered down white paint (half paint/half water) and went over the blue back with a few strokes here and there (not the whole thing) to tie it all together.

Then I arranged the shelves that way I wanted them and added some of my fav books at random with pictures, keep sakes we got on family vacations, photo albums, etc until I got the look I wanted. I didn't want to over crowd the shelves and I wanted to add items that had meaning like the seashells we got last year in FL, rocks from our trail walk when we went to the Smokie Mountains, wedding photos and of course pictures of my 2 favorite people (my girls).

Now I have a sturdy bookshelf (thanks to the boards added to the back) that not only looks cute but uses a wall that was otherwise unusable and bland and now also holds memories.