Bookcases you finish your way
Modern bookcases in 13-ply premium-grade plywood. They ship flat, slot together without tools, and arrive bare, so the finish is yours.
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Tool-free assembly
Panels slot together in about two minutes. No hardware bag, no hex key, nothing to lose.
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Ships in 3–5 days
Ships flat, with free shipping on every order in the continental US.
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Nothing to strip
Bare, uncoated plywood. No factory lacquer to sand off before your stain or paint goes on.
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Solid through, no sag
13-ply premium-grade plywood, not particleboard or MDF. Built to hold a full row of hardcovers.
The same shelf, two ways
Raw
Walnut stainNot pine, not particleboard
Most unfinished bookcases come from one of two places: a local unfinished-furniture store selling heavy pine or oak pieces, or a big-box listing that turns out to be particleboard. We make a third kind. Modern bookcases in 13-ply premium-grade plywood that ship flat, slot together without tools, and arrive bare, so the finish is yours to choose.
The Modern Shelf is our freestanding bookcase, in 30.5" and 45" widths with two to four shelves. The Modular Shelf starts as one unit and connects side by side as your library grows. The Record / Book Holder is a small open stand for the covers you want facing out. Stain them, paint them, or seal the raw grain.
Where an unfinished bookcase earns its spot
Six rooms, and how people finish their shelves for each one.
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Living room library
The four-shelf Modern Shelf in the 45" width holds a serious stack of hardcovers. A clear matte coat keeps the pale plywood look and protects the shelf edges from wear.
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A library that grows
Start with one Modular Shelf and connect more side by side as the collection outgrows it. Finish each new unit the same way and the run reads as one built-in.
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Bedroom bookcase
A two-shelf Modular Shelf works as a low bookcase by the bed, sized for the stack you are actually reading. Pair it with a Record / Book Holder on top for tonight's pick.
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Records and books together
LP sleeves and hardcovers share a shelf height, so a Modular Shelf handles both. Stain it dark to set off album art, and stand a favorite cover in the Record / Book Holder.
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Face-out display
The Record / Book Holder props up one book or record so the cover does the decorating. It sits on any shelf of a Modern Shelf or on a desk.
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Home office
A three-shelf Modern Shelf in the 30.5" width fits beside most desks for reference books and binders. Paint it to match your walls and it disappears into the room.
Unfinished bookcases, answered
What is the best way to finish an unfinished bookcase?
Sand lightly with 220-grit, wipe off the dust, then pick a direction. For the natural look, use a water-based clear coat in matte or satin. For color, prime first and then paint. For stain, use a pre-stain conditioner: plywood can absorb stain unevenly without it. Our staining guide and painting guide walk through each step.
Is an unfinished plywood bookcase as strong as solid wood?
For a bookcase, 13-ply plywood is a strong choice. Its layers run in alternating directions, so it resists the warping and cupping that wide solid boards can show, and unlike particleboard it does not sag under a full shelf of books. The Modern Shelf and Modular Shelf are built from it throughout.
What sizes do your unfinished bookcases come in?
The Modern Shelf comes in two widths, 30.5" and 45", each with two, three or four shelves. The Modular Shelf is 30.5" wide and 15.5" deep, with two or three shelves per unit, and units connect side by side. Each product page lists full dimensions.
Finishing guides
Let customers speak for us
Super easy to hang, really fun shape! I didn’t put any finish on it but I like the natural light wood color a lot for my plants. Thanks a lot!!
Quick shipping. Amazing quality. Easy to put together.
These shelves are holding up great and supporting all of the books I loaded them down with wonderfully!
The customer service at UNFNSHED is incredible, it's nice to talk to real people that care about the things they create and the people that purchase them. Thank you to everyone at UNFNSHED!
This is our 3rd shelf bought through unfnshed. Easy set up and clean look as always!
Arrived quickly and plant stand was even better quality than I thought it would be!
Revised: the owner reached out and offered support. He was very kind. Thank you so much for your help.
I appreciate it.
great quality, just as described!
Product wobbles but stabilizes with weight.
Easy setup. Looks great. Perfect for record storage
Great looking chair.
bought 2, received them, got another 1 right away!
I absolutely love all the pieces I got!! They are so beautiful and make my room look amazing!!!
It's a perfect nightstand. Love it
These shelves are lovely and very easy to put together. I am so happy with them!
Good item. Well made. Super easy to put together.