Saturday Morning Workshop: How To Build a Floating Shelf with Secret Drawer

Rip the 1x4

Rip the 1x4 board to 2-7/8 in. for the shelf sides and front. This will give you about 1/8 in. tolerance for the drawer section of the build and let it slide nicely.

Cut the Plywood to Size

Cut the 1/4-in. plywood on the table saw to (1) 11-1/4 in. x 22-3/8 in. for the drawer and (2) 12 in. x 24 in. for the shelf.

Crosscut the 1x3 and 1x4 Boards

Crosscut the pine boards to size, according to the cutting list above, on the miter saw. Make sure to double-check your measurements!

Assemble the Drawer

Fasten the drawer together using glue and  2 in. 18-gauge brad nails.

Assemble the Shelf

Assemble the shelf with glue and 2 in. 18-gauge brad nails.

Rough Cut the Veneer

Set the drawer on top of the veneer and cut the veneer to a rough size

Apply the Veneer and Cut to Size

Stick on the veneer and cut along the edges of the drawer with a utility knife to the correct size. Lightly sand the corners and edges with a high-grit sandpaper to get the veneer to match.

If you want to learn more about some veneer techniques, check out this article.