Woodsmith Shelf Box Plans

Here’s a new take on a small box project. Instead of a lid, two doors reveal the items inside. Artistic details make this a standout no matter where it’s placed, as this box takes a different approach in the design category. Most boxes open at the top with a hinged lift-off or pivoting lid. Here, the box has a pair of doors at the front, like a full-size cabinet. This twist changes the relationship with how you interact with the box. With both doors open, you still have full access to the contents, though now the items stored inside are organized in a different way. As for the styling, the details lean heavily on arts and crafts motifs: quartersawn white oak tapered sides, simple arcs, and offset surfaces. Creating details like the frame, panel back, and doors at a small scale is a delight. And it allows (even forces) you to focus on crisp results and tight-fitting joinery. Like any other box, this one lets you dive in and get it done in a short time and with a minimal investment in materials. It is recommend going with high-quality hinges and knobs. The payoff is a great education and a simply great looking box that would suit a mantle or on a shelf of a bookcase.

We offer the Woodsmith Shelf Box plan as a downloadable PDF or a printed format that we ship to you.