With the ever growing number of electronic devices that have crept into our lives, finding a dedicated spot to charge them all while keeping the wires tamed and out of sight can be a challenge. And when you live with roommates, the problem gets even more out of hand. So when a friend with this problem asked for my help, this is the solution I came up with: a DIY charging station/shelf for their entryway. It holds a power strip on the lower shelf where you can plug in the chargers and the devices rest on the top shelf, with all the wires and chargers hidden from view behind the door of the shelf.

Here’s how you can make your own:

Step 1:  Cut a 1″x6″x 6 ft pine board into 4 boards:  2 x 24″ and 2 x 5″ ( I had this done at the hardware store). You could also use 1″ x 4″ boards to make a narrower shelf.

Step 2: Drill a semi-circular hole in the middle of the top and bottom board using a 1 ½” diameter hole saw. Clamping a piece of scrap wood on top of the board before making the hole will help make a cleaner cut. The wires from the devices you’re charging will come out the top hole and the bottom hole is for the cord of the power strip going to the outlet.

 Step 3: Using a large drill bit, make several ventilation holes in the bottom. These will help dissipate the heat generated from the chargers.

Step 4: Before assembling the shelf, add L-brackets to the back of the top board – these will be used to secure the charging station to the wall or a wall panel.

Step 5: Assemble the shelf/charging station by following the same steps that I used to make my stove top shelf and then stain the wood (I used a Minwax stain in classic gray).

Step 6: Add a door – this is optional but it keeps the mess of wires out of sight. To make the door, I used 1/8” thick hardboard material that I had left over from another project and covered it with material from an IKEA curtain panel I had on hand, and then stained it with the same Minwax stain as the shelf. For the hinge, I used ribbon and upholstery tacks and to hold the door open, I used eye hooks and ball chain. I added a magnetic clasp to keep the door closed and for the handle, any knob will do. And now your charging station is ready to hang on the wall!

 This video shows in great detail the whole process of making the door, and the shelf, as well as how I made wall panels to create an entryway:

I love the end result of this project: a dedicated place to charge phones and an organized entryway!