DIY Wooden Box Centerpiece

Build your own DIY wooden box with simple, easy step-by-step instructions. Perfect for a table centerpiece or anywhere in your home decor.

Yay! It's another one of my favorite projects, made with my favorite tool in my toolbox: the Kreg Jig.

This DIY wooden box centerpiece was made from scrap wood, a few screws and some paint. It's super simple, and voila: a cute centerpiece for your table, mantel or wherever you want it!

I'm so in love with how mine turned out! The rustic details and the fact that it cost me almost nothing out of pocket to build just make me smile.

I'm in love!! I'm going to make this project ASAP! DIY Farmhouse Wooden Box Centerpiece | Kreg Jig | Woodworking | Rustic Home Decor | Farmhouse Decor

I made my box for my dining room table, which is a large table. Figure out where you want to put yours first, then decide on the dimensions.

Also think about what you want to put inside. If you want to fill it with mason jars, make it big enough to hold them. So definitely think this through before you start your project.

Here are the dimensions of the box I made: 27.5 inches long, 7 inches wide and 5.5 inches tall. I used 1x6 boards, so adjust your boards to fit what you want to make.

It doesn't have to be exact, either. I had several scrap 1x6 boards from various projects and simply worked out the best way to use them. I used two really pretty rustic boards for the long sides, then a very plain board for the bottom, since no one would be looking at it. So make it your own. The imperfections add to the charm!

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Tools Needed to Make a DIY Farmhouse Wooden Box

Wood pieces. If you want to build a box just like mine (and don’t want to have to figure out your own measurements ) then you’ll need a 1x6x8 piece of wood cut down to these measurements:
- 3 boards at 26 inches long for the sides and bottom
- 2 boards at 7 inches long for the end pieces NOTE: I'd wait until you've assembled the bottom and sides before cutting the end pieces, so you can measure them to fit your box exactly.
Kreg Jig – the most valuable tool in my toolbox. It's a pocket hole system, and it makes joining pieces of wood as easy as pie! I love it!! Find 10 amazing ways to use your Kreg Jig HERE.
Kreg pocket hole screws – Since I was joining wood that was 3/4 inch thick, I used 1 1/4 inch Kreg screws. This PDF will tell you the right screw size for the wood you're using.
Screwdriver
Stain – I used Dark Walnut by Minwax
Paint – I used Amy Howard's One Step Paint in Bauhaus Buff
Clear wax
Paintbrush
Wax brush or lint-free cloth
Handles (2), optional
Drill bit (if you choose to add handles)

Steps to Make a DIY Wooden Box Centerpiece

1. Decide on the Box Size You Want.

I mentioned this at the start of the post, but decide how large to make your box. Mine is big, because I wanted it to sit on my large dining table. But you can make yours as large or small as you like.

2. Cut Your Wood Pieces.

I listed the scrap 1x6 pieces I used in the "Tools Needed" section. This will be basic info for some, but where I live, the name of a board's size isn't its actual size. A "one inch" board is really 3/4 inch thick, and a "6 inch" board is really 5.5 inches wide. So measure your actual boards rather than relying exactly on my numbers, and adjust as needed.

3. Use the Kreg Jig to drill pocket holes on the underside of the pieces that will become the bottom of your box.

I drilled 3 holes on each long side and 2 holes on each short side. The picture here was taken after I'd already assembled the box, but you'll want to drill these holes first!

4. Then use your Kreg Jig to drill 2 holes in the short, inside ends of the side pieces.

In this picture you'll see I didn't do this step until after I'd attached the side boards to the bottom, but I don't recommend that. My drill could barely fit in there, so do this before you put any pieces together!

RELATED: 10 Amazing Kreg Jig Projects

5. Attach the Bottom Piece to the Side Pieces.

Using a clamp, place one side piece next to the bottom piece and screw them together through the pocket holes on the underside of the bottom piece. Keep everything lined up and straight while you join them.

Sorry, I don't have a proper picture of this step! But there's an INCORRECT picture below that might help. I had the bottom piece with its pocket holes flipped to the wrong side. So clamp it the way shown, but flip the bottom piece over so the pocket holes end up underneath. I forgot to take a picture when I made the change.

6. Screw the End Pieces onto the Sides and the Bottom.

This is the last step for actually making the box. It all sounds complicated, but it's really so easy! If you haven't cut your end pieces yet, measure the exact size you need and cut them to fit.

You should have two pocket holes on the bottom piece and two pocket holes on the inside of the side pieces. Just screw those last two end pieces in, and you've got yourself a box, ladies and gentlemen!

7. Finish the Box with Stain, Paint or Both!

I planned to paint my box with a white chalky paint from the start, and I wanted it distressed, so I needed a dark stain underneath. I had some Minwax dark walnut stain on hand, so I used that! Be sure to wipe down your box before staining so sawdust doesn't get stuck in the stain.

I left it like this for a couple of weeks before I got around to painting it. I debated skipping the paint, because I thought the stain looked pretty. But I'm so glad I went ahead with my original plan! I love it!

I used Amy Howard's One Step Paint in Bauhaus Buff. It's a thick, chalky paint that dries quickly, and it creates a wonderful finish that I love!

TIP: Before opening Amy Howard's One Step Paint, turn the can upside down for about 15 minutes. This paint separates a lot and can be hard to recombine. Turning it over makes stirring it up much, much easier.

I painted everything except the bottom of the box with a mostly full coat. The goal was to work the paint down into the cracks and crevices, so only the raised parts of the wood would show through when I sanded.

Using my favorite sander, my DeWalt sheet sander, and some fine 180-grit sandpaper, I knocked the paint off the raised parts of the wood. I tried not to sand too hard, because I didn't want to take off the stain! The rustic wood adds so much character.

When I finished sanding, I wiped everything down with a damp cloth to remove the sawdust.

I finished the box by rubbing on some clear finishing wax. It seals the paint and the wood and leaves a nice, smooth surface.

8. Add Handles or Pulls.

This step is optional, but it's not only functional, it's cute too! I picked up these oil-rubbed bronze cup pulls at Lowe's one day. They were easy to install. Just find the middle of the box's end piece and attach them where you want them.

I used a drill bit slightly larger than the handle screws to drill the holes, then attached the pulls with the screws that came with them.

And that's all there is to it! You now have a cute decor piece made from a board, or from scraps for your wood pile, like me! Even better.

It turned out absolutely adorable!

I filled it with mason jars and picked up some faux floral arrangements from Hobby Lobby. Then I cut them down, arranged them in the mason jars and set it on my DIY farmhouse dining room table. (Get details about the table right HERE!)

I smile every time I walk past the dining room now... and not just because I cleaned up all the clutter.

The simple elegance of a rustic box with flowers warms my heart, and it's perfect for spring. I can't wait to play with it on the mantel this fall or at Christmas!