Colorful DIY Wood Storage Caddy
Crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, paint brushes, pens, pencils, rulers, empty toilet paper rolls, etc… It always feels like a hard task to find convenient storage for these items. Especially when there’s a budding 3-year-old “artist” in your home that considers everything an art medium.
I’ve seen different storage caddies at various stores and online, but never took the time to look at how they’re made or think about how I’d use it. An opportunity to do so arrived with my niece’s birthday. I asked her mom if she needed anything I could make out of wood since we’d recently come into a surplus of wood. She quickly replied, “Yes, storage for her art supplies that are everywhere!”
After throwing ideas around on what would be useful, this wood storage caddy was the golden ticket. Anyone else find it extremely easy to get moving on projects when it’s for someone else…or is it just me???
As with any DIY project, I love how you can customize this caddy in so many ways. You could make it taller/longer/wider, make the compartments smaller/bigger, make the front shorter than the back. Do what works best for your space!
tools used
Table Saw, Miter Saw, Hand Saw, Brad Nailer & Nails, Orbital Sander, 80 & 120 Grit Sanding Disc, Wood Glue, Clamps, Tape Measure, Pencil, Decorating Supplies
Wood Needed
- Front/Back: 2@ 14″L x 6″ H x 0.75″D
- Sides: 2@ 7″L x 9″H x 0.75″D
- Bottom: 1@ 14″L x 7″W x 0.75″D
- Insert: 1@12.5″L x 7.5″H x 0.25″ D and 2@ 7″L x 7.5″H x 0.25″D
Note: Please read through all steps before cutting any boards. There are some options when assembling that may change the cut list!
DIY Wood Storage Caddy Instructions
Step 1.) Cut the front/back, sides, and bottom boards to size using a miter box.
Step 2.) OPTIONS – If you have access to tools to make a “built in” handle hole on the side boards, do so now. I was able to use Tormach’s Personal CNC 770 Mill to machine the holes. I centered them 1 inch from the top and 1.50 inches from each edge.
A second option would be using a router to make the hole. Lastly, you could buy some handles/cabinet pulls and install them when done painting. If using an actual handle, you may want to make the height of the side boards shorter for aesthetics.
Step 3.) Sand all boards using the orbital sander. I started with 80 grit and finished with 120 grit.
Step 4.) Attach the sides to the bottom. Run a bead of wood glue slightly shorter than the side on top of the bottom board and then set the side on top.
Clamp the two boards together in the middle. Use a brad nailer to place a nail about one inch in from the edges through the bottom board. Remove the clamp. Repeat with the other side. (Right picture shows assembled side view)
Step 5.) Attach the front and back boards. Run a bead of wood glue slightly shorter than the front along each side and set the front on top. Clamp the boards together in the middle. Then use a brad nailer to place a nail one inch in from the top edge through the sideboard and then approx. 0.50 inch in from the edge through the bottom board. Remove the clamp. Repeat with the back board.
Step 6.) Make sure the insert boards fit (width and length wise) snug in wood storage caddy. If not, trim off and/or do additional sanding until they do.
Step 7.) OPTIONS – Cut slots in the insert boards using the table saw. The longer board will have 2 slots and the shorter boards only 1 slot. (I wanted 6 separate compartments in the caddy, so I only needed 2 shorter boards. If you want more/less adjust accordingly.) Only cut into the boards about halfway. Our slots were slightly wider than 0.25 inches. Fit them together after each cut to ensure they’re snug. If the slots get too loose the insert will wobble around.
Note: On the insert board that’s 12.5″ long – your slots should be on the top half of the board. On the two insert boards 7″ long – your slot should be cut on the bottom half of the board.
Step 8.) Chamfer the edges of the 2 shorter insert boards using the hand saw. I did this to make it easier to reach in/out of the compartments.
Step 9.) Re-sand the insert boards using the orbital sander. Again, I started with 80 grit and finished with 120 grit.
Next? Decorate!
My favorite part – the exterior – a totally blank canvas to decorate however you want. Painting this one took twice as much time than making it. Go figure!
I found it easiest to paint the insert boards separately. We then used a polyacrylic topcoat in a spray can. I would NOT recommend that! Unless you spray one side at a time and let it dry, it will run when you move to the other sides. I’ll be brushing on the topcoat instead next time as I’m usually not patient enough to wait that long!
My niece’s favorite color is purple, and she loves rainbows, so that’s how I came up with the theme. You could do fun colors for children or just apply stain for adult use!
