What do you gift someone that has everything?  Chances are a DIY charging station (or two) would be a welcome addition to most homes and for most anyone over the age of 8.  Today I’m sharing the plans as part of the #HandmadeGiftsChallenge on Instagram.

 

🎶 Good morning, good morning!  🎶 (in my best Debbie Reynolds voice)

Today is the #HandmadeGiftsChallenge with some of the best DIY bloggers in the biz – and I am so excited to have been invited to play along!

I have to tell you – I struggled to come up with an idea for the challenge.  I love to give serving trays as gifts because they are relatively easy to make and who doesn’t need a tray to corral a vignette, serve treats to a group, or just use as a decor piece on its own.

But I have a couple/few posts with DIY serving trays already on the blog,

see:

Okay, so maybe my friends might like something other than a tray this year?  😂

I wanted something different – but equally as usable to the gift recipient…

and who doesn’t need a charging station nowadays amIright?

*This post contains affiliate links to products I use and recommend.  For full affiliate disclosure please see sidebar (on desktop) or scroll to the bottom of this article (if on mobile).

DIY Charging Station – Supplies

DIY Charging Station – Cut list

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

Step 1

Set up your table saw so that the blade is raised 1/8″ from the table surface.  Set your fence close to the blade as you can and run the short side of one of your side pieces over the blade to create a rabbet.

Step 1 (b)

Repeat the rabbet cut with your second side piece – but so that it MIRRORS the first (not the same side of the board – see above).

Step 2

Adjust the fence on your table saw so that it is slightly further away and repeat the rabbet cuts (on both sides) until your overall rabbet groove width is 5/16″ wide (the width of your wood).  Make another set of cuts at the 3″ – 3 5/16″ mark.

Step 3

Using wood glue in your rabbet joints, insert the front and middle pieces of your DIY charging station and clamp lightly.

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

Step 4

Cut notches in your shelf piece (12″ x 5″) for your iPhone/iPad/android charging cables to fit through.

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

 

Mine are at 2″, 6″ and 10″ and are ¾” wide and ½” deep.  (you can use a small handsaw, jig saw or scroll saw to cut rectangles OR drill holes with a spade bit and a drill)

Step 5

Tuck your shelf between the side boards so that the top bevel is lined up with the top of your side piece and the lower bevel sits flush about ½” down from your middle board. Use wood glue on both sides and the bottom edge and then clamp tightly in place.

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

If you have some scrap wood, now is the time to insert a small divider to corral pens in your DIY charging station.  This piece will be approximately 4″ tall by 2 ½” wide with a 19° angle cut on the top.  Use wood glue to hold in place.

Step 6

Attach your base piece to your DIY charging station and glue in place.  I used small finishing nails to tack into place.

Step 7

Attach your 1″ back board to the base of your charging station and glue in place.  This will be the lip that keeps your cords wrangled inside.

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

I used scrap wood for my project, and I had to make adjustments here and there to get my plans correct – so there are more than a few “uglies” in my build.

Step 8

Give your DIY charging station a thorough sanding – 120 grit to 220 grit – and make sure that your angles line up and create smooth and even edges.  (sanders are brilliant for hiding imperfections! 😉)

Step 9

In a perfect world, I would have made this with a birch ply and finished it in a gorgeous ebony stain, with black paint on the exposed edges to hide the plywood layers.

Instead, I went with 2 coats of primer and then 2 coats of flat black spray paint to finish my DIY charging stations out.  I find black recedes from sight – and while these are cute and functional – they don’t need to be a glaring beacon on your kitchen counter.

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

This DIY charging station will hold an iPad and a phone or 3 phones – plus your mail and a couple of pens, or a pair of glasses.

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

 

The cords tuck perfectly into the back so that they aren’t an eyesore.

Neat, compact, organized – and really, who doesn’t need at least one of these in their home anymore?

I have a phone and an iPad and I’ve filled this one by myself.

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

I really should have brought out some greenery and Christmas ornaments to really make this #HandmadeGiftsChallenge appropriate.  Sorry folks, we have a November birthday in my house and Holiday decorations have to wait until she turns 12.

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

DIY charging station, iPad charging station, iPhone charging station

 

I’m excited to see what the other DIY Diva’s have come up with!  I just might end up with an entirely “handmade” Christmas this year!

I’m linking to everyone’s Instagram feed as well as today’s #HandmadeGiftsChallenge post because (trust me) you don’t want to miss a thing that these ladies are up to!

Click the blog name (left) for their Instagram feed, then click the project (right) to see what they’ve come up with.

100Things2Doyou are here!

Addicted 2 DIY – xxx

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Have a great one!

Probability of me maturing

 

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7 Responses

  1. We might need one of these charging stations in every room!! But hey, we girls also love a tray for every occasion, so keep them coming I don’t mind! :D

  2. Shelly this is a perfect gift idea! I don’t know of a single person that doesn’t always need a charger and a charging station to hold everything is always a bonus!

  3. I love this information! I want to build something like this for a Christmas gift for one of my cleaning clients! Thanks for sharing. homecleaningeugene.com