How To Make Hidden Book Shelf Storage

When you want to have a special, secret place to store your treasures, a hidden book shelf storage unit is the answer. This one is easy to make and inexpensive.

Supplies and Equipment to Make the Hidden Book Shelf Storage

• Box that will fit on your book shelf
• Old books—the number will depend on the width of your box
• Hot glue gun and hot glue
• Proxxon MICRO Band Saw MBS/E

Instructions for Building the Hidden Book Shelf Storage

1. Gather your box and books. With the books standing side by side, they need to be just a bit wider than the width of your box. Line the books up in front of the box, and add, subtract, and swap out books until you're pleased with the arrangement. I used the Knagglig box from IKEA, but any sturdy box will work.
   
2. You will only be using the book spines for this project, so using the Proxxon band saw, cut away the waste. I used the spine binding as a cutting guide if the book had one. It is more interesting and realistic if the spines are varying depths. Mine were between 1" and 2½" wide.
   
3. If there was no spine binding, I either used the angle stop as a guide, or penciled a guide line on the book cover.

   Using angle stop as a cutting guide

   Pencil line drawn on cover as a cutting guide

4. The books on each end need to have one cover intact. The end book spines "wrap" around the sides of the box, camouflaging the box when it is in place on the book shelf. 
5. Here are all of my book spines ready to glue in place on the front of the box.
   
6. Glue the spines in place one at a time. Start with one of the end spines that has a cover intact. Spread a thick bead of hot glue on the box front where the spine will go and on the side of the box where the cover will go. Place the spine on the bead of hot glue. Hold it in place for a moment, then move on to the next book spine.
    
7. Now you're ready to load your box with your treasures and hide them in plain sight on your book shelf. The hidden book shelf storage is most effective when place on a shelf above eye level. Do you see it? Hint: The first two books on the left are real. The hidden storage is behind the rest of the books on the shelf.
   

Carole