• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Anika's DIY Life
  • Start Here
  • Projects
  • Woodworking 101
  • Cricut
  • Plans
  • Shop
    • Shop my T-shirts
    • Shop My Workshop
    • Shop my Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Start Here
  • Projects
  • Woodworking 101
  • Cricut
  • Plans
  • Shop
×

Home » Woodworking » scrap wood projects

DIY Phone Stand For Desk – Using Scrap Wood

April 9, 2019 By Anika Gandhi

Learn how to make a DIY phone stand with space to add a quote or photograph using scrap wood. It’s a great DIY gift idea and the perfect desk accessory.

You will also like easy DIY scrap wood projects  and Last minute DIY gifts for him.

Gray DIY phone holder with a quote in clip and phone with text overlay

When Father’s Day was just around the corner, I asked my daughter what she wanted to give daddy.

She said, “something to keep his phone on.”

With more brainstorming, we decided we wanted to make something for his desk.

This DIY phone holder is what we came up with. DIY phone stand in gray with phone charging, an inspirational quote, pens and a little plant on a desk

It holds up your phone even while it’s charging and you can add a quote or picture next to it.

What is cuter than seeing your kids’  faces every time you glance at the phone – which we all know happens a lot 😉close up view of the DIY phone stand on a desk

The best part!

You guessed it! It is that it is made from scrap wood and the only thing I had to buy was the clip for holding the picture.

DIY Phone Stand

***This post contains affiliate or referral links. It is a way for this site to earn advertising fees by advertising or linking to certain products and/or services. Please read my full disclosure here ***

Materials needed for DIY phone holder and photo display –

  • 1″ x 12″ board cut at 10″
  •  1″ x 2″ cut at 1.5″  – 2 of these – phone rest
  • 1″ x 2″ cut at 5″ – back stand
  • Mini hinged clip
  • wood glue
  • 1 ¼” spax wood screws
  • Super Glue
  • Kreg jig and 1 ¼” pocket hole screws (optional)

Easy scrap wood project idea | phone and photo stand

Before we get started, make sure to follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest to keep up with all my latest builds and projects!

DIY Phone Stand and picture holder plans

Grab a copy of the updated printable plans to build this DIY phone stand by clicking the button below.

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PLANS 

How to make a DIY phone stand –

UPDATE: I made a new version of this DIY phone holder with some improvements. Be sure to download the plans for the updated version by clicking the button above.

Step by step tutorial for the DIY phone holder

Step 1 – Attach back support 

  • Start with the 5″ long 1″ x 2″ board for the back support.
  • Make pocket holes and attached it 1″ from the bottom of the 1″ x 12″ using wood glue and 1¼”pocket hole screws.

Note – If you do not have a Kreg Jig, you could simply use countersink wood screws from the front and fill the holes. Or you could even use a brad nailer and attach using finish nails.How to make a DIY phone and photo stand | easy scrap wood project idea

Step 2 – Attach the phone rest

  • Attach the two 1″ x 2″ for the phone rest on the front using wood glue and 1 ¼” spax screws from the back. HERE
  • Keep a spacing of 1″ between them to allow for the charging cord to go through. Since the screws were on the back, I didn’t bother to countersink them.Making a phone and photo holder | easy scrap wood project idea

Step 3 – Finish the phone stand

  • Lightly sand your piece and finish it using your choice of stain or paint.

I used weathered grey stain followed by a whitewash with thinned white paint.How to make a phone and photo holder

Step 4 – Add interest (optional)

To add some interest to the piece, I drew imperfect lines to create a “framed” look for the photograph using a silver poster paint pen.

You could write a message or paint patterns…DIY Phone and photo holder | Father's Day gift idea

Step 5 – Add a clip.

  • Glue the mini hinged clip. I used super glue.DIY Father's Day gift idea using scrap wood

That’s it!

The DIY phone stand and photo display ready!

Add your favorite picture or an inspirational quote to have at your desk!DIY phone stand in gray with phone charging, an inspirational quote, pens and a little plant on a desk

A few months later, I decided to re-design this project and make an updated version. The back stand is a designed differently and it a little bit more stable. DIY phone holder in brown with phone charging, an inspirational quote, pens and a little plant on a desk

Get the plans for the updated DIY cell phone holder by clicking on the button below.

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PLANS 

More like DIY Phone Holder –

  • Easy DIY jewelry holder 
  • DIY wood and acrylic pencil holder 
  • DIY homework holder  
« DIY Test Tube Bud Vase – Wall Mounted
What is Redwood Lumber – Uses and Advantages »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emma

    June 09, 2016 at 6:40 am

    I love the use of the clip to hang the photo – great idea!

    • Anika

      June 10, 2016 at 2:47 pm

      Thank you Emma!!

  2. Melony

    June 10, 2016 at 7:22 pm

    I like the fact that you can change the picture so easily. I’m sure your husband will love this!!

  3. debbie

    June 12, 2016 at 9:40 pm

    It’s really creative and simple! Functional and cute! A gift that every DAD would LOVE to show off at their office…yeah, my kid made that for me…(proud dad).

    • Anika

      June 14, 2016 at 4:26 pm

      Thank you Debbie! I now need to make one for my desk too… because who else will make it 😉

  4. Jes

    June 13, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    Love this idea! Thanks for linking up at Talk DIY to Me!

    • Anika

      June 14, 2016 at 4:28 pm

      Thanks Jes!

  5. marjan

    June 13, 2016 at 6:03 pm

    What a great and cute idea!

    • Anika

      June 14, 2016 at 4:28 pm

      Thank you Marjan!

« Older Comments
Newer Comments »

Primary Sidebar

Woman in garage

Hi! I am Anika! I am here to inspire you to create a home filled with your unique personality by empowering you with ideas, tools, and skills you need!

More about me →

Connect With Me

  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Footer

↑ back to top

  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Terms of use
  • Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

IMPORTANT!

Anika’s DIY Life is not liable in any way for injury or loss (whether physical, emotional, monetary or any other kind of loss) resulting from any inspiration, ideas, directions or information gained from this website.
I am NOT a professional. Just learning as I go and trying to inspire others! I advise you to always follow manufacturer instructions, take appropriate safety precautions and hire a professional when in doubt. I love it when you use my site for inspiration, but by using it, you agree that you do so at your own risk.

Anika’s DIY Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Full disclosure here.

Copyright © 2021 Anika's DIY Life