The process is a simple series of steps: cutting wood to size, attaching it with wood glue and 1 1/2” finish nails, and countersinking the heads with a finish-nail set. (STEP 1) Start by building a frame around the front of the bookcase. The size of lumber will vary depending on the size of your bookcase. In this example the top and side pieces are 1” x 1 1/2” wide (for a heavier look you could make them 2” wide) and the bottom should start from the bottom shelf to the floor. Run vertical pieces full length, and fit the horizontals between them, using 90-degree cuts all around. (STEP 3) You’ll need to add a top piece large enough to overhang the front by 1”and the sides by at least 7/8”. Because we are painting the bookcase we used MDF (medium density fiberboard). If you are going to stain your bookcase use wood. (STEP 2) After you’ve added the frame you’ll need to add baseboard to three sides of the base of the bookshelf (size to fill area subtract the height of the molding and a minimum of a 1/8” for a top reveal). Nail and glue the three baseboard pieces, which will need to have miter cuts. (STEP 3) Cut molding to size using miter cuts, glue, and nail in place. (STEP 4) Use finish-nail set to countersink all nails, fill with wood putty and allow to dry. Sand the entire bookcase with 150-grit sandpaper, wipe-down with a tack cloth, prime and paint.