Plans

Free Furniture Plans to Build a Wood Barn and Silo Bookshelf

08.18.11 By //
You Can Build This! The Design Confidential DIY Furniture Plan to Build a Barn Silo Bookshelf

A Doll house for boys? Well, not exactly… but kind of? It's no secret to most of us who are moms to boys that boys like play houses just as much as girls do, in fact some of them don't mind dolls either…assuming of course those dolls make good crash test dummies…as is the case for my boy!

I designed this piece with boys in mind, but truthfully I think there are many girls who will like this just as much. So let's call this a gender neutral Wood Barn and Silo Doll House Bookshelf. That's a mouth full, isn't it?

Estimated Cost 

$25-$50

Dimensions 
You Can Build This! The Design Confidential DIY Furniture Plan to Build a Barn Silo Bookshelf

Tools 

TOOLS + MATERIALS //

Lumber 
  • 3/4 Sheet of 1/4″ Plywood
  • 1 – 1×12 at 10'
  • 2 – 1×12 at 8'
  • 1 – 1×3 at 6'
Cut List 
  • 1 – 1×12 at 49 1/2″ Silo
  • 2 – 1×12 at 41 1/2″ Barn Walls
  • 4 – 1×12 at 28 1/4″ Shelves
  • 2 – 1×12 at 12″ Dividers
  • 4 – 1×12 at 10 1/2″ Silo Corner Shelves
  • 2 – 1×3 at 28 1/4″ Footboards
  • 1 – 1/4″ ply at 10 1/4″ x 29 3/4″ Front Fascia
  • 2 – 1/4″ ply at 11 1/2″ x 11 1/2″ Center Roof Panels
  • 2 – 1/4″ ply at 11 1/2″ x 7″ Lower Roof Panels
  • 1 – 1/4″ ply at 29″ x 50″ Back Panel
Instructions 

Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.

You Can Build This! The Design Confidential DIY Furniture Plan to Build a Barn Silo Bookshelf

Step 1 

Cut your Silo to length and carve out a rounded section with a 5 1/2″ radius (height from center of curved to the stopping point for the curved portion). Cut your Barn Walls to length. We are using 1×12's for 90% of this project so it will mainly be a focus on cutting to length…easy peasy right? Attach your Silo to the back of one of your barn walls (can go on either side). The edge of your sil will be flush with the inside edge of the barn wall and will be attached using 2″ wood screws and glue.

You Can Build This! The Design Confidential DIY Furniture Plan to Build a Barn Silo Bookshelf

Step 2 

Fasten your shelves in place. Use a pocket hole system set for 3/4″ stock and 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws on the bottom of each shelf, or a #8 countersink bit and 1 1/2″ wood screws from the outside of the barn walls. Fasten the divider shelves in place also and use the same process as for fastening the horizontal shelves in place. You should have no problem fastening the vertical shelves since they do not rest on top of one another.

You Can Build This! The Design Confidential DIY Furniture Plan to Build a Barn Silo Bookshelf

Step 3 

Fasten your footboard supports in place. Use a #8 countersink bit and 1 1/2″ wood screws from above on the bottom shelf and from the sides of the barn walls.

You Can Build This! The Design Confidential DIY Furniture Plan to Build a Barn Silo Bookshelf

Step 4 

Cut your rounded corner shelves to size at 10 1/2″ along the horizontal length of a 1×12 and then connect 2 sides making an arc. Make one, and then use that as a template for the remaining 3. Fasten in place using 2″ wood screws and be sure to countersink. Cut the Front Fascia for the hay loft section of the barn (yellow) out of 1/4″ plywood. Fasten directly to the barn walls using 7/8″ screws (countersink) or 7/8″ brad nails if you prefer. Cut out a square in the center of your fascia if you like.

You Can Build This! The Design Confidential DIY Furniture Plan to Build a Barn Silo Bookshelf
You Can Build This! The Design Confidential DIY Furniture Plan to Build a Barn Silo Bookshelf

Step 5 

Cut your roof pieces to size as well as your back panel. Use your 7/8″ screws to fasten together or your brad nailer. Note the back panel is one piece, the cut dimensions are indicated below, however you may want to measure and cut as you go to ensure you have a perfect fit with the roof and your front section.

Finishing Instructions 

Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School

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**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you provide an adequate link back to the appropriate post! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it.

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1 comment on “Free Furniture Plans to Build a Wood Barn and Silo Bookshelf”

  1. Live the silo/ barn shelf plans, couple questions in I wanted to put a door over the bottom two shelves, what would you suggest and
    What was the Household Iron or Edge Banding Iron (if using Edge Banding) in the tools for, it was never mentioned in the plans

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