Cutting down on clutter in your home isn’t just about sorting through your belongings and getting rid of things you no longer need. It’s also about finding a permanent home for small items that have a habit of reappearing on your countertops, side tables and desks. You don’t need to spend money on institutional products to do this. If you have some spare pieces of scrap wood and some other key tools, you can follow suit. Domestic love on TikTok and create a simple storage caddy that will help you store all kinds of miscellaneous items. This DIY project is very accessible and suitable especially for beginners. It requires you to cut your scrap wood to a length that suits you, and then glue, clamp and nail the pieces into a rectangular box. Fit dividers in the middle of these boxes and you’ll have the perfect tool to organize any space.
For the bottom of the box, you’ll need a 1-inch-by-6-inch board. For the sides and dividers, you can use 1-by-4s instead. In terms of tools and other supplies, you’ll need some wood glue, F clamps, corner clamps, and a brad nailer. A tape measure can also be handy. The finished project can be great for arranging your bathroom countertop or a workbench in your garage. Caddy’s functionality and rustic look also make it A smart storage option for small kitchens. You can fill your caddy with accessories, keys and even mail to make it A space-saving solution for entryways.
How to assemble your DIY caddy from pieces of scrap wood
Your 1-inch-by-6-inch board will be the edge-to-edge support for your caddy box. Consequently, you will need to cut your 1-by-4s so that their length and width match. Consider what type of joint you will use in the corner before making your cut. You can either follow hautehouselove’s lead and join the sides of the box together with square butt joints, or miter the edges of the side pieces at a 45-degree angle. The latter would require either a miter box or a miter saw, but would look neater. Once you have all your boards ready, use your wood glue and F-clamps to join the sides of the caddy. After it dries, you can brad-nail the edges together for extra grip. Pocket screws on the outside of the box are a solid alternative when working with square butt joints, but if you use them the resulting holes will have to be filled and sanded for aesthetic reasons.
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After assembling the sides of the caddy, glue the bottom panel. When it dries, fasten it in place with more brad nails. Flip the project over, and glue in the dividers to create compartments inside the box. Use your tape measure to make sure they are evenly spaced and use your square clamps to hold them in place while they dry. You can customize your brand new Caddy with paint and primer or color it with a A magical nails-and-vinegar wood staining hack.
