Discrete sidewalls for an open bookshelf

We like open shelves for our books. We think that's nice, and so we sawed the boards to match the place itself. One downside is that books can fall off one side.

The challenge

We wanted a solution without bookends with a very discreet sidewall.

The idea

The idea is to use three fishing lines on the side and, if necessary, in the middle. That fulfills the purpose and is unremarkable. The cords themselves have no supporting function for the shelf, but are so strong that they can easily keep the books from falling.


What do you need?

  • Fishing line + scissors
  • 3 wood screws (eg 3 x 12 mm) + 3 nuts (eg hexagon 5 mm metric)
  • screwdriver
  • Steel drill (3 mm) + cordless drill

I have used high quality soft fishing line with 73 kg tensile strength.

How do you do it?

First drill through all the boards to fit the holes. A steel drill does not get as hot as a wood drill and has a much longer tool life, especially with thin holes. Trim the fishing line. At the top of a simple or double knot. That is self-evident. Secure the fishing line with a screw and a nut at the bottom of the bottom shelf. The nut has more surface area than the screw, so the fishing line definitely attracts and at the same time tightens.

difficulty level

4 out of 10 = basically simple, but you have to drill a few holes.

Have fun trying.

Creating a Wall Panel Attic Access | March 2024