Decorate with Tip and More ‣ Decorating, crafting and Inspiration

Are you a coffee table book person? If so, this DIY might be something you would want to try.

As you can see, I laid my book opened on my sofa table, I believe it would look better on a book stand. I think the stand would raise the book up off the table to showcase the pages I have opened, what do you think? I have been wanting a display stand for the longest time, but I can’t allow myself to pay for the one I would like to have. The one which caught my eye is from McGee & Co.

After some thought, I decided to make one, how hard could it be? I found a DIY video on YouTube belonging to, Anika’s DIY LIFE. I used her video tutorial as a reference to create my version of a book stand! Although, she is very skillful in wood crafting, I am going to give it a shot. Below, I will give you a step-by-step instruction on how I attempt one for myself.

Coffee Book Display Stand Tutorial

Material Needed:

Two pieces of wood – 1 x 8 x 11
Circular saw
Orbital sander and sandpaper
Tape measure
Pencil
Chisel
Hammer
Stain or Paint

I found a scrap piece of wood in our shed I’ll be using it for my stand. I cut my board into two pieces, then into the size I needed.

To make the slots (where the two boards will slide together), I set my circular saw blade to 45 degrees.

To measure the slots to be cut out, I measured 4 inches from the edge of the board measuring 8 inches wide. Made a mark.

The next measurement, I measured 4½ inches from the edge of the board measuring 11 inches wide, made a mark.

The notch will be the width of the board plus 1/8 inch. I placed a piece of the board on my marks and drew around the board adding 1/8 inch.

I made the same pattern of the slot on the back of the board as well.

I did the exact same thing to the other board.

To cut out the slots, I placed the blade of my circular saw on the first line and cut up until the blade touched the top of the slot.

I made multiple cuts in the pattern I made for the slots until I cut out the space.

Turn the board over to the back, due to the shape of the blade it didn’t cut as the front. I cut as much out as possible to the top line.

I chiseled the rest of the pieces away from the inside of the lines.

I repeated the same steps on the other board.

Once the two slots were cut out, I grabbed my sander and sanded the enter board smooth.

To sand into the slot, I rolled a piece of sandpaper around a screwdriver. It worked perfectly.

While sanding one of the boards, it split in half. UGH! I used wood glue and held it together until the glue dries.

The next day I applied one coat of stain and then I whitewashed the pieces.

Last step, I added a coat of poly to seal the pieces. Once it dries, I slid the two pieces together.

That’s it! Even though my display stand is rougher than I wanted, for the first time of trying the 45-degree cuts, I am happy with it.

After I slipped the pieces together, I decided to glue the two together and added wood filler to the center. That’s what the yellow in the center is. Once that dries, I will sand and reapply the finishes.