Add blog post: Building My Own Bookshelf

src/site/posts/2026-02-17-building-my-own-bookshelf.md

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+---
+layout: post
+title: "I Built a Bookshelf (and It Turned Into a Time Capsule)"
+tags: ["DIY", "Home Improvement"]
+thumbnail: /uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/thumb_timeline.jpg
+upload_directory: /uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/
+---
+
+I spend most of my time building things that live on screens.
+
+This time I wanted to build something I could actually touch.
+
+So I made a bookshelf for a weird little nook in my office.
+
+It started as a practical project.
+It ended up becoming something way more personal.
+<!--more-->
+
+## The problem: a space that nothing fits
+
+The nook looked simple, but it wasn’t:
+
+- **150 cm** wide
+- height between **83 and 100 cm**
+- only about **30 cm** depth available
+
+Anything off-the-shelf was either too deep, too tall, or both. Custom furniture would work, but the price didn’t make sense.
+
+So I did what every overconfident software guy does at least once: “I’ll build it myself.”
+
+![](/uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/inspiration-video.jpg)
+*The YouTube rabbit hole that started this whole thing.*
+
+## Planning a woodworking project like a software project
+
+I’m not a trained carpenter, so I leaned on what I know: planning.
+
+I mocked up the shelf in Figma first. Nothing fancy, just enough to check proportions and avoid obvious mistakes.
+
+![](/uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/figma-sketch.jpg)
+*Rough Figma sketch to validate dimensions before buying materials.*
+
+Then I did the classic nerd move: capacity math.
+
+- average book width: **2.5 cm**
+- usable shelf width: **144 cm**
+- around **57 books per shelf**
+- roughly **171 books total**
+
+In theory, this shelf should have lasted a while.
+
+## “Will it sag?”
+
+That question lived in my head for days.
+
+I used [The Sagulator](https://woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/) (still one of the best tool names on the internet) with conservative assumptions:
+
+- unsupported span: **56 cm**
+- load per shelf: **~10 kg**
+- board thickness: **18 mm**
+
+Outcome: negligible sag. Good enough for me.
+
+![](/uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/sagulator-calculations.jpg)
+*Quick stress test before committing to the build.*
+
+## Materials + cost
+
+I built it from two large wooden panels and cut all parts from those.
+
+| Description | Cost |
+|-------------|------|
+| Meubelpaneel 250x60 (2 stuks) | €83,98 |
+| Black screws for gyproc (200 pieces) | €8,79 |
+| Afplakband (5m, black) | €6,29 |
+| Set of wood drills + accessories | €9,99 |
+| **Total** | **€109,05** |
+
+For custom furniture that fits perfectly: I’ll take that.
+
+## Build day (with very non-professional tools)
+
+No workshop. No table saw. No laser-guided anything.
+
+Just a hand saw, a drill, and patience.
+
+The cuts were not machine-perfect, but assembly went smoothly and the structure came out solid.
+
+![](/uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/finished-shelf.jpg)
+*Built, assembled, and finally in place.*
+
+## It stopped being “just a bookshelf”
+
+At first it was meant for books.
+
+Then it slowly became a display of things that matter to me:
+
+- Formula 1 items (including my Spa access card)
+- an old Macintosh Plus
+- gifts from colleagues
+- gifts from my kids
+- nostalgic pieces like Tintin and LEGO Saturn V
+- and yes, still books
+
+![](/uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/filled-shelf.jpg)
+*Some shelves store books. This one stores stories.*
+
+## The ironic part
+
+I did all the calculations. I planned for capacity.
+
+And I still ran out of space faster than expected.
+
+Not because the design failed — because the shelf turned into a memory wall as much as a bookshelf.
+
+## Why this project hit differently
+
+Shipping software is satisfying.
+
+But stepping back and looking at something physical you built yourself? Different feeling.
+
+It’s imperfect. You can spot little flaws. A cut here, a tiny misalignment there.
+
+I love that.
+
+It doesn’t look mass-produced. It looks made.
+
+![](/uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/shelf-detail.jpg)
+*Not flawless. Still one of my favorite things in the room.*
+
+## What I learned
+
+- Weird spaces are often better solved with DIY.
+- You can get far with basic tools if you plan well.
+- Upfront thinking saves real pain later.
+- Minor imperfections are part of the charm.
+- Shelf space disappears faster than you think.
+
+![](/uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/filled-with-books.jpg)
+*Originally built for books. Now it carries a lot more than that.*
+
+## Would I do it again?
+
+Without hesitation.
+
+I already have a shortlist of next projects.
+
+And if I build another shelf, I’m not pretending it’ll be only for books this time.
+
+![](/uploads/2026-02-building-bookshelf/shelf-overview.jpg)
+*One custom shelf. A whole timeline on display.*