In this post I will show how to build a simple but elegant, customizable centerpiece box.
Bring some drama to your dining room, your coffee table, your dresser, or any space with a custom DIY centerpiece box! Fill ‘er up with candles, flowers, greenery, or other decorations for a big WOW. These centerpiece boxes are perfect year round and can be custom built and designed for any sized space.
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For this build I will be using:
Walnut wood – this is my favorite for this build, but use whatever wood you have, even plywood!
First step is to determine how long this box needs to be. Mine is 22″ long and 5″ high. This centerpiece can be customized to any size, particularly if your table is smaller or bigger. My table is about 6′ long, but I have moved this all over the house, not just on the table. This holds 4 pint jars comfortably with a little wiggle room.
Cut the side and end pieces to length using a miter saw. The end piece length will depend on if the grain is running perpendicular to or the same way as the sides. If running this perpendicular, the end grain of the wood will be visible on the top – something to consider for the final look.
Since my walnut lumber was not S4S dimensional lumber, I ripped the sides using my track saw so the board was 5″ across. The bottom piece will fit snugly inside the 4 sides of the centerpiece box.
After sanding all the pieces of the centerpiece box, grab some wood glue, clamps, and a nail gun. Apply wood glue along the side of the bottom piece and end pieces, clamp the sides in place, and let dry. I let mine dry overnight and then used a nail gun to nail the sides and bottom for added strength.
Woodworking tip: When filling nail holes in an unstained piece, like mine above, add a tiny dab of wood glue to the hole (enough to fill it), wipe the excess, and sand over it immediately. The sawdust will combine with the glue to perfectly fill the hole. See if you can spot the nail holes in the picture above!
I chose to finish my centerpiece box with a mix of waxes and oil (similar here) to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. Stain, poly, or paint would be great choices too. I love the grain, color, and imperfections of walnut and wanted the wood to be the centerpiece of this centerpiece, ha.
I put a generous coat of wax and oil over the entire centerpiece box and let it sit for about 30 minutes.
Don’t be shy with this initial layer – it should be goopy and slightly excessive.
After 30 minutes, use a lint free cloth to wipe off the excess and then apply a second coat. Buff the second layer off after 30 minutes.
This particular centerpiece box was a custom birthday gift. We all know someone who would love to receive their own centerpiece box! These are great gifts, are easy to customize, and easy to make, even for a beginner. Happy Building!
