DIY Expedit Bookshelf Cubby Doors
I love bookshelves as much as the next guy – Ikea's Expedit shelves, to be specific, although it's saddens me that they're a discontinued series. They are wonderfully functional and clean-lined. The problem, for me, lies in optimizing their functionality with style…and doing it on a upkeep. Of course, there are loads of analogous boxes and baskets out there to fit perfectly into any and all cubby squares, but what if yous already have a agglomeration of mismatched boxes? They work simply fine, but don't look very well.
Non a pretty sight, is information technology? The thing is, I dislike wasting things, and I dear reusing things that I already have. Which is why, if you're in a like ugly-shelving situation at your house, I'k going to show you a very inexpensive (perchance fifty-fifty free) way to go the coordinated look you dear without having to purchase new boxes for your shelves.Ready to become started? Let's go.
Materials Needed:
- Foam lath (aka insulation board, sold at most hardware stores in 4' x 8' sheets)
- Fabric of your choice
- Measuring foursquare
- Razor blade/box cutter
- Hot glue gun & mucilage sticks
Step 1: Measure the height and width of your cubby openings. My Expedit cubbies measured 13.25" square.
Footstep two: Mensurate and cut out the foam lath. The cream volition serve equally the structure of your cubby "door." Brand these into rectangles that are the width of your cubby opening but 1" less than the height (13.25" x 12.25", for example). Tip: If your foam board doesn't cut precisely, change your razor blade. This stuff requires the cleanest and sharpest of blades in order to become a clean cut.
Tip: When measuring the width, cut just the tiniest bit less than the actual width of your cubby opening. This will allow for a snug fit – but not too tight – after the fabric is wrapped around the foam lath.
Run across the clean cutting? This is because I inverse my razor blade for a brand new ane. It's worth the actress 2 minutes, trust me.
Step 3: Cut out textile. Lay down your foam board and use this to cut your fabric. I'd recommend an additional 2" on each of the iv sides. Tip: If using fabric with any sort of geometric blueprint, such as stripes, pay attending to keeping the print squared up to your foam board earlier cutting.
Step 3b: Cheque the fit of your foam board in the Expedit unit of measurement cubbies. Brand sure the fit is snug only not also tight, and definitely not as well loose. Brand whatsoever necessary adjustments to your measurements. (I failed to do this and ended up with one cream lath being a flake besides tight and then that it curves ever so slightly. Learn from me, friends, and exercise as I say non as I do.)
Step 4: Cut out eight of everything (or notwithstanding many cubbies your shelving unit of measurement has). I also added in some felt, cut virtually xi.25" x 10.25" (or, in other words, two" less than the height and width of my foam boards) to serve as bankroll when all is said and washed. The felt is technically optional just highly recommended. Yous'll see what I mean in a few steps.
Step 5: Hot glue opposite edges. Run some hot gum quickly along one terminate of your foam, and so pull the material taut and smooth it down. Do the reverse side the same way. Tip: Make sure, if your cloth has a singled-out design or impress, that each foam board is laid on the same fashion then yous don't stop upwards with three doors with stripes going sideways and the remainder going vertically.
Step 6: Glue the corners. Corners must be crisp and perfect in order to give your cubby doors a clean look overall. Outset by running a little line of glue directly onto the side of the foam in one corner.
Step 6b: Fold corner into glue and smooth information technology downwardly.
Step 6c: Glue the pinnacle flap down to your foam lath and smooth crisply. You want minimal bumps, so run your finger along the edge and really fold it down tightly. Tip: In all of this corner-gluing, make sure some of the hot glue attaches to the foam board itself and not just on other glued-down cloth.
Stride 6d: Repeat steps half-dozen-6c for all corners.
Step 7: Mucilage the flap up onto the foam board. Add a drop of glue inside the bottom flap of the corner and smooth (do this for both corners on the edge you lot're working on), then hot glue the entire flap up onto the foam lath. Shine from the center of the flap outward toward the corners, being careful that the fabric is taut with no bubbling on the edge.
Step viii: Add together a drop of glue to the corner fabric if necessary. You lot really want the fabric to be snug confronting the foam lath (or other textile), so if in that location is a bump or bubble at all, lay a small drop of hot gum down and smooth the corner. Echo for all iv corners.
Step 9: Repeat for opposite corners and sides. Your foam board should at present look something like this (although probably with more equal fabric alignment than what I'm showing you hither).
Step ten: Lay a piece of your cut felt downward onto the back of your lath. Make sure information technology fits well and that no sides will be popping out.
Step eleven: Hot gum felt onto foam board dorsum. Again, brand sure the hot glue attaches the felt not only to the material but also the foam board itself. Tip: Run hot glue right along the edge of the felt then it is completely flat and secure and in that location is no pulling back.
Pace 12: Place foam board doors into your shelving unit. Hopefully, if you tested each cut foam board before y'all added the fabric, these volition fit perfectly for y'all.
Pace 13: Sit back, relax, and savour the at present-coordinated look of your shelves! That extra inch up top allows you lot to pull the "door" off and access the anarchy underneath – over and over again as needed – without bending your cream lath.
What other budget-friendly ways have you found to coordinate your Expedit (or similar) shelves?
williamsgagarrour.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.homedit.com/ikea-expedit-bookshelf-cubby-doors/
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