Make Your Own Charging Station
Clutter Busting for Under $5
We have a home office, but for some reason all things that need charging (besides laptops) find their way onto the kitchen counter. One of the smaller counters turned into the land of cords and chargers. When I put the microwave there, the mess migrated to another counter. The counter where clutter builds up anyway - and let’s just say that adding more to the mess didn’t help anything. When I accidentally dipped one of the chargers in the butter dish I was done.
I decided I needed a charging station.
First off I checked out what was available to buy. There were some really nice choices out there, but the prices seemed a bit high for what it was. It’s a box you put cords in! Also none of them was exactly what I was looking for. There were a few that were pretty close, but not quite right.
I’d seen other folks build their own charging station and it sounded like just the ticket for us. Plus it was WAY cheaper and I really like how it turned out. It makes my office look all matchy-matchy and it hides the mess.
The Supplies
Photo Box
$2.39 at Michaels
Power Strip
Free (found at home)
Metal Book Plates
4-pack for $2.49 at Michaels
Knife with Straight Edge
Free (found at home)
Optional Items to have on hand (I had all of these kicking around my house so they were all free to me):
- Hammer with Nail (for punching the little holes for the brads)
- Ruler (for making things nice and straight)
- Command Strip (for securing the power strip down inside the photo box)
- Sticky Dots (to add a little stick to the bottom of the photo box so it doesn’t slide around wherever it sits)
Grand Total = $4.88
Step 1 - Assemble All Your Goodies
Step 2 - Begin Cutting
I started with the hole in the pre-existing metal label on the side. My plan was to run the power strip cord through this hole.
Step 3 - Figure Out Where You Want the Individual Cord Holes
I used a ruler to make sure the distance at the top of the box was consistent and just laid them out. (Yes, the ruler is upside down…)
Use the inside of the metal book plates as a guide. I used a pencil to trace the shape. You’ll need to cut a little more than this, but it’ll give you the starting size.
Step 4 - Cut the Holes
Then hold the book plate up and see how much more needs to come out. I did some cutting and then some eyeballing and then some more cutting. You’ll be able to tell when it’s just right.
The metal book plates have little brads to hold the plate in place…I discovered it’s very helpful to have a hammer and a nail and to use that to create the hole before you insert the brad. (Note that I discovered this after I had finished the first hole!)
Here’s a close up of the cutting…
Almost done…
Here’s an inside shot. Notice I rubber-banded the cords so they wouldn’t be so disorganized inside the box.
And the finished product!
Now the charging station lives in the office and none of my cords are getting dipped in butter!