Furniture Plans: 4-Foot Faux Drawers and Shaker Pegs Wall Shelf

The decorative 4-Foot Faux Drawers Wall Shelf makes a beautiful place to display photos and other decorations and also provides a practice application to hang backpacks, coats, hats and even Christmas stockings. 

Estimated Cost:  $30

• 2' x 4' MDF $11.55
• (5) Shaker Pegs (@ $2.97 per 2)
• (3) knobs at $.98/each
• 2 1/4 inch crown @ $8
• Paint @ $5

Dimensions

The overall size of the project is 4 feet wide by 15 inches tall.

Overall Dimensions

  

 Tools 

• Table saw
• Miter saw
• Jig saw
• Router with ¼ inch or 3/8 inch roundover bit and keyhole bit*
• Pneumatic 16 gauge and 18 gauge brad nail gun and air compressor
• Drill and drill bits

  

*Recommended, but you could buy mounting hardware in lieu of the keyhole bit

  

Lumber

• ¾ inch x 2 foot x 4 foot Medium Density Fiberboard Handy Panel (HD Model # 1508112 Store SKU # 219743
• 1” x 4” x 4’ (or longer) Pine, Poplar or Select Pine
• Crown molding (we used 2 ¼ inch crown but you could really use whatever style you prefer)
• (3) 1 ¼ inch wood knobs (we used Liberty 1-1/4 in. Rowland Cabinet Hardware Knob HD Liberty 1-1/4 inch Rowland Cabinet Hardware Knob HD Model # 11970.0 Internet # 100185122 Store SKU # 797293)
• (5) 3 ½ inch shaker pegs (We used General Tools Shaker Pegs HD Model # 317000 Store SKU # 896247)

Materials 

• Paint
• Woodfiller
• Sandpaper
• Finish nails
• Stain (if desired for finish)
• Glaze (if desired for finish)

Cut List

• Cut the top piece from the ¾ inch MDF at 48 inches long by 5 ¾ inches wide.
• Cut the top front piece from the ¾ inch MDF at 42 inches long by 6 ¾ inches wide.
• Cut the bottom piece from the ¾ inch MDF at 42 inches long by 3 ½ inches wide
• Cut the top back piece from the ¾ inch MDF at 42 inches long by 2 inches wide (the width can vary—it’s just there to provide stability)
• Cut the corbels from the ¾ inch MDF at 14 ¼ inches long by 3 ½ inches wide and then follow the dimensions shown below to make the curved cuts.
• Cut three faux drawer fronts from the 3 1/2 inch pine (4 inch nominal) at 12 1/2 inches long by 3 1/16 inches tall.
• Cut the crown to fit (it will be 43 1/2 inches along the front and 3 ½ inches along the side)

Front Dimensions

Back Dimensions

Corbel Dimensions

Instructions

Step 1:   Cut out all the cutlist items except the crown molding (this can be cut later).

Step 2:   Router the three faux drawers on the front four sides with your ¼ inch roundover bit on your router.

Step 3:   If you have a keyhole router bit, place keyholes in the corbel pieces about 2/3 to ¾ of the way up.

Step 4:  Using a drill press or handheld drill, place five 1/2 inch holes centered vertically in the 3 ½ inch bottom piece and equally spaced horizontally.

Step 5:   Start assembling the shelf as if the shelf was lying on its back with the corbels on the outside and then use your 16 gauge finish nail gun with 2 to 2 ½ inch finish nails to nail the 2 inch top back piece and the 3 ½ inch bottom piece. Then nail the 6 ¾ inch top front piece in place.

Step 6:  Center the shelf frame with the 5 ¾ inch top piece (about 2 1/4 inches from each side) and nail it together.

Step 7:   Drill and install the knobs on the faux drawers (unless you want to stain it or paint it a different color—then you can install them after it has been painted). Layout the drawers and nail them in with your 18 gauge nail gun and 1 ¼ inch brad nails.

Faux Drawer Front Dimensions and Layout

Step 8:   Cut and install the crown molding to fit around the top of the shelf. See my crown molding cutting tip and my crown clamping tip. Nail the crown to the shelf with brad nails (between 5/8 inch to 1 inch long).

Step 9:   Glue the five 3 ½ inch shaker pegs into the bottom piece with wood glue (unless you want to stain it or paint it a different color—then you can install them after it has been painted).

Step 10:   Paint the shelf with the desired finish and mount it!

Step 11:   If you want the knobs and shaker pegs to be a difference color or a stain, install them at step 10 and then enjoy your beautiful shelf!