Beautiful Shelf Borders

Skill Level: Intermediate

Give your simple shelving unit a makeover.

Photo of a modern living room with a white shelf displaying decor, map wall art, and a yellow chair.

It’s easier than you think to turn your existing furniture into something new. We’ll show you, step by step, how you can breathe new life into a shelving unit with a beautiful scalloped border.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1. Measure and Cut

Firstly, you’ll need to cut the MDF to the exact width and height of your shelving unit. Then draw a border line around the inside edge of the material. In this case, the border is 20mm from the edge.

Step 2. Mark Up Your Curves

It’s now time to create the curved stencil pattern. To ensure the curves are of equal size, divide the overall height and width of the book case (within the border you’ve just created), by the number of curves you want along each edge. Aim for curves approximately 20cm wide, and mark dots at equal distance around the inside of your border.

Step 3. Create Your Curve Stencil

Now you’ll need a circular item (e.g. a plate) to mark out the curves. Place the circular item in between each of the dots, and draw around the circular edge to create the curved cutting stencil.

Close-up of hands using a BLACK+DECKER screwdriver on a wooden surface.
Person holding a round piece of MDF wood on a workbench, preparing to mark or cut, woodworking context.
Person marking a circular outline on plywood for a woodworking project, wearing paint-stained jeans.

Step 4. Complete Your Cutting Stencil

Once you’ve drawn the equally-sized curves around the edges of the border, you now have your cutting stencil.

Step 5. Prepare for Cutting

Drill a hole into the MDF close to the cutting stencil line. This hole will help you to start the cut with your Jigsaw.

Step 6. Get Cutting

Carefully cut around the curved stencil.

BLACK+DECKER cordless drill BDCD8 drilling into wood on a workbench.
BLACKDECKER orange jigsaw in use on wood, close-up of hands holding tool during cutting.

Step 7. Border Complete

You now have your decorative border.

Step 8. Smooth Edges 

Smooth any rough edges using sand paper.

Step 9. Paint a Base Layer

Add a base layer of paint in the same colour as your existing shelving unit.

Closeup photo of hands sanding a wooden board with green sanding block, person wearing work clothes.
Person painting a curved white wooden trim with a brush, close-up of hand and brush.
Close-up photo of hands using a hammer to assemble white furniture, wearing a plaid shirt. BLACKDECKER.

Step 10. Attach Your Border to Your Shelving Unit

Align the decorative fascia with your shelving unit, and fix the fascia to the shelving using a hammer and pins.

Step 11. Get Painting

Paint the entire shelving in the colour of your choice.

Step 12. All Finished

You’ve added some personality to your tired old shelving!