DIY Dinnerware Caddy | MADE FROM WOOD SCRAPS!

In this post, I’m sharing how to build a simple utensil caddy for plates, napkins, and cutlery.

This is perfect for dinner parties and get togethers and the best part is, you can make it from scrap wood!

wooden utensil caddy for disposable dinnerware with paper plates, napkins, and plastic cutlery in between dividers

It’s also nice to have everything stocked and neatly organized so you can set it out when needed and easily put it away when you don’t.

This may be a simple project, but it can help make hosting a meal a little easier so if you’d like to build your own, I’ve got all the details below.

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What to consider before building

One of the great things about having these items in a caddy is that it makes it easier for guests to grab what they need as they go through the line to get their food.

But, it also takes up vary little space on the countertop, too!

The overall dimensions of this project are approximately 8″ deep x 5 ¾″ tall x 14″ wide.

Overall dimensional diagram of wooden dinnerware holder with dividers

Because this project is so small, it’s an excellent scrap wood build. You only need about 30″ of 1×6 board and about 40″ of 1×4 board plus a small piece of ¼″ plywood scrap to build it.

So I encourage you to check your scraps before buying any new lumber. You might already have everything you need!

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How to Build a Dinnerware Caddy

I’ve included the step by step instructions below. But, if you prefer to watch, I’ve also included a build video as well.

Love watching how-to videos? Subscribe to my YouTube channel for plenty more where that came from!

Prefer to print? Grab the printable DIY utensil caddy building plans here:

Tools & Materials:

Tools:

Materials:

1×6 scrap board (30″ long)
1×4 scrap board (40″ long)
¼″ plywood scrap (8″ x 14″)
1 ¼″ brad nails
Wood Glue

Step 1: Cut Utensil Caddy Box Pieces

First, I cut the front, back and sides of my utensil caddy box. I cut the two sides and the back from 1×6 boards and the front piece from a 1×4.

Then I kind of test fit the pieces together to make sure it seemed like a good size.

Shara Woodshop Diaries dry fitting wood pieces of dinnerware caddy together on workbench

You can customize the size of your caddy however you’d like, so there’s no one size this has to be. I just made mine large enough to fit the usual disposable dinner items–plates, napkins, forks, spoons, and knives.

I’ve included the dimensions I used in the printable plans for reference.

Since the back is taller than the front, I used a jig saw to cut a slant on both side pieces so they would slant from the back to the front.

Shara Woodshop Diaries cutting slants on sides of utensil holder pieces with jig saw

Step 2: Cut Caddy Dividers

Then, I cut pieces of 1×4 to divide out the box. Again, these don’t have to be any specific size. I just cut mine so they’d fit what I planned to store inside.

I test fit all my pieces together to make sure it would work well. Then, I sanded each piece well before assembling.

Test fitting dividers into wooden cutlery caddy before attaching

Prefer to print? Grab the printable building plans for this DIY utensil caddy here.

Step 3: Assemble Utensil Caddy Box

This project is VERY simple, but the one tricky part is deciding what order to assemble the pieces of the box so that there’s room to get the brad nailer in.

So first, I glued and brad nailed the left side and the front piece together like you see below.

Shara Woodshop Diaries nailing dinnerware caddy together on workbench

Then, I glued and brad nailed the napkin divider and cutlery dividers to the front piece of the caddy.

Shara Woodshop Diaries brad nailing cutlery dividers onto dinnerware caddy

Next, I glued and nailed the plate divider between the left side and the napkin divider. I also made sure to attach these to the back of the cutlery dividers as well.

And finally, I could glue and nail the right side and back onto the caddy to finish up.

Shara Woodshop Diaries nailing back piece onto utensil holder on workbench

Grab the printable dinnerware caddy plans here.

Step 4: Attach Bottom

Now all that’s left was cutting a piece of ¼″ plywood to fit over the bottom of the caddy.

Once cut, I glued and brad nailed this panel in place.

Close up of brad nailing ¼" plywood panel onto bottom of wooden caddy

Step 5: Finish & Use Dinnerware Caddy

If you’d like, you can fill the nail holes with wood filler or a mixture of sawdust and wood glue. I personally didn’t fill mine–this project is more for function than looks so I wasn’t concerned with them.

I applied a food safe finish (cutting board oil works well!) to the caddy and now it’s ready to stock up with all the things!

Completed DIY wooden utensil holder caddy empty on tabletop

There’s plenty of room for plates, napkins and cutlery and this caddy makes it easy for guests to grab as they walk by. Having it all neatly organized makes this easy to put away until the next get together, too!