DIY Primitive-Style Bread Box with Shelf

Tidy up your kitchen with this primitive-inspired DIY bread box. Its spacious shelf and rustic design provide storage and style.

DIY bread box with a shelf

Tired of cluttered countertops? This primitive-style bread box is the perfect way to keep your loaves organized while offering a spacious shelf for your kitchen essentials. Made from simple materials, this handcrafted piece adds organization and rustic charm to any kitchen. 

Table of Contents

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Inspiration for This Project

You may have read me rave about my friend Colleen at Life on Kaydeross Creek’s amazing taste in home decor. Well, she’s done it again. This time, she stumbled upon a charming rustic bread box that sparked my creativity. 

I put my own spin on it, slightly adjusting its size and shape. It’s the perfect spot to store your baked goods, and the top shelf is great for keeping your kitchen essentials like spices within easy reach.

Handmade bread box with its door open and a loaf of bread

What Wood Should You Use?

I used off-the-shelf 1x lumber from my local home improvement store, but you could use almost any wood to make your bread box.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to Wood Sizes

Hand opening a DIY bread box's door

What Tools Do You Need?

I used five tools to make my bread box:

  • Miter saw
  • Table saw
  • Scroll saw or jigsaw
  • Pocket hole jig
  • Drill

Optional tools:

I used a portable spindle sander to smooth the sides’ curves, but you could use sandpaper instead.

I used my router table and a cove bit to make the door’s handle.

Close up of hand opening a handmade bread box's door

How to Make a DIY Primitive-Style Bread Box

Printed Plan

Get the PDF plan here (includes detailed instructions, measurements, and bonus tips)

Materials

Tools

Step 1. Make the Side Panels

NOTE: I began building the bread box but realized it was bigger than I wanted, so I disassembled it and redesigned it to be more compact. The assembly photos show the larger size; however, the steps are the same, and the printed plan reflects the updated measurements.

I made my side panels from several boards.

For the best results, I recommend squaring or jointing the edges of your boards before gluing them together, ensuring a tight fit and preventing gaps.

I used a table saw for this, but a jointer is the best option if you have one. And for full disclosure, I sometimes skip the jointing step if my boards’ edges are already reasonably square.

Related: 21 Table Saw Safety Rules (& Mistakes to Avoid)

To make the panels, I started by cutting four boards to length (about a ½” longer than required) and squaring their edges using my table saw.

Related: How I Square Edges Without a Jointer (for Panels and Table Tops)

TIP: Gluing boards to form wider panels can sometimes lead to uneven or misaligned edges. If you have a sliding miter saw (capable of handling wider cuts than a standard one), here’s a helpful trick I use:

  • Cut your boards slightly longer: When cutting individual boards, I cut them at least ¼ to ½” inch longer than the final desired length.
  • Square up after drying: Once the glue dries, I use my miter saw to trim both ends of the assembled panel, ensuring perfectly square edges for my project.

If you’re using a standard miter saw, one that doesn’t slide:

  • Cut to final length: Since the wider panel will be too large to cut in one pass for squaring after glue-up, cut each board to its final dimension before assembly.
  • Careful Clamping: During glue-up, pay close attention to maintaining squareness while clamping.

I applied glue to their edges and clamped them to form two panels. When the glue was dry, I cut them to their final length. First, I’ll trim one end, measured, and then cut the second.

Related: Why Can’t I Make Accurate Cuts? (& How to Fix It!)

Tightening a clamp to make a panel

I prepared the side template while the glue was drying.

TIP: When printing the template, make sure the scale is set to 100% (usually found under “more settings”).

The sheets have a white border around them, but they need to be joined together at the edges.

Using a metal ruler, I ensured the straight lines were positioned correctly.

I joined them using tape once the sheets were in the correct position.

Assembling a template with tape

You can use carbon paper to transfer the pattern, placing it between the template and the wood, dark side down, and tracing the lines with a pen or pencil.

However, for easier and more accurate tracing, I prepare my templates by attaching them to a manila folder using spray adhesive.

I prefer this method because the folder’s edge provides a handy lip for the pencil to follow.

Using scissors, I cut out the template.

Cutting a template with scissors

I positioned the template on the panel and traced it using a pencil.

Tracing a template on a board with a pencil

I cut the shape using a scroll saw, but a jigsaw will do the trick if you don’t have one. What’s my secret for perfect curves? I cut just beyond the pencil line, then sand, removing the saw marks and refining the shape.

Cutting a curve with a scroll saw

A portable spindle sander is my go-to tool for sanding inside curves.

Smoothing saw marks with a spindle sander

Step 2. Attach the Shelves

I made the shelves following the same method as the side panels, cutting four boards to length (½” longer than required) and squaring their edges using my table saw.

I applied glue to their edges and clamped them to form two panels. When the glue was dry, I cut them to their final length. First, I’ll trim one end, measured, and then cut the second.

The top shelf needs to be narrower to make clearance for the back. Using my table saw, I ripped one shelf to width.

Following the diagram in the printed plan, I marked the locations for pocket holes. and drilled one at each mark.

Related: How to Use a Pocket Hole Jig

Drilling a pocket hole in a board

To help position the shelf, I cut several pieces of scrap wood to length and clamped them to the sides.

I placed the upper shelf above the scrap wood spacers, flushed it with the front, and clamped it in position.

Attach using pocket hole screws.

NOTE: Earlier, I mentioned that the first bread box was larger than I wanted, so I made it smaller. It’s not pictured here, but I need to use a right angle drill attachment to reach these pocket holes when assembling the smaller version.

Attaching a DIY bread box's upper shelf with pocket hole screws

Following the diagram in the printed plan, I marked the locations for pocket holes on the lower shelf and drilled one at each mark.

I positioned the lower shelf and clamped it in place. Attach using pocket hole screws.

Attaching a DIY bread box's lower shelf with pocket hole screws

Step 3. Attach the Back

I made the back following the same method as the sides and shelves, cutting four boards to length (½” longer than required) and squaring their edges using my table saw.

I applied glue to their edges and clamped them to form two panels. When the glue was dry, I cut them to their final length. First, I’ll trim one end, measured, and then cut the second.

Following the diagram in the printed plan, I marked the locations for pocket holes and drilled one at each mark.

I positioned the back, clamped it in place, and attached it using pocket hole screws.

Attaching a DIY bread box's back with pocket hole screws

Step 4. Make the Door

I made the door following the same method as the sides, shelves, and back, cutting two boards to length (½” longer than required), squaring their edges using my table saw, and ripping them to width.

I applied glue to their edges and clamped them to form a panel.

I wanted the door panel slightly wider than required because the door needs ⅛” clearance on each side. Instead of aiming for precision right away, I took a gradual approach to “sneak up” on the perfect fit.

With my table saw unplugged, I placed the panel next to the blade and gently snugged the rip fence next to it. This method allowed me to shave off a thin amount of material. I flipped and repeated this process on the other side.

Ripping a board to width using a table saw

I continued flipping and shaving, test fitting in the opening after each pass until eight playing cards fit snugly between the top and bottom of the door.

Following the same method, I cut the door to length using my miter saw until eight playing cards fit snugly between the left and right sides of the door.

I positioned the hinges 1″ from the sides of the doors using my Kreg Multi-Mark.

Positioning a hinge on the door

Using a pencil, I marked their hole locations on the door.

Marking a hinges holes on a board with a pencil

I made a starting point for the drill bit using an awl.

Related: What is an Awl? (& How to Use It)

Making a starting point for a drill bit on the door

Using a drill bit, I made a pilot hole for the screws.

Related: How to Drill Pilot Holes (Why, When & Correct Size)

Drilling pilot holes in the door

I attached the hinge to the door using the screws that came with them.

Attaching hinges to the the door with screws

Again, using playing cards, I positioned the doors in the opening and marked their hole locations on the face frame using an awl.

Marking the location for hinges on the bread box

Using a drill, I made pilot holes for the screws.

Making a starting point for the drill bit on the bread box

And I attached the hinges to the frame.

Attaching the hinges to the bread box with screws

You can use a store-bought knob or handle, but I opted to make my own using a piece of scrap wood ripped to width with my table saw.

NOTE: I forgot to photograph the handle-making process, so I’m using photos from my key holder project to illustrate the steps. Keep in mind that the dimensions may vary, but the technique is the same.

Using my Kreg Multi-Mark, I made a reference line from the board’s edge.

Marking a reference line on a board with a pencil

I installed a cove bit in my router table and set its depth.

Related: How to Use a Router Table for Beginners

I adjusted the router table’s fence so the pencil mark was centered over the middle of the bit and used a push block to feed the material.

Routing a cove in a board with router table

Using a miter saw, I cut the handle to length.

On the front, following the diagram in the printed plan, position the handle on the door, centered from side to side, and clamp it in place.

On the back, following the diagram in the printed plan, mark the location for countersink holes.

Using an awl, make a starting point for the drill bit. Drill a hole at each mark using a countersink bit.

Related: How to Use a Countersink bit

Attach using wood screws.

To finish up, I installed a magnetic cabinet door catch to keep the door closed.


Video

Watch now, and I’ll show you step-by-step how I made the bread box.


Bread box with shelf PDF plan graphic

Includes:

  • List of tools and materials
  • Complete measurements (in inches)
  • Easy-to-follow instructions
  • Step-by-step photos
  • Detailed diagrams

Final Thoughts

You can make this stylish and functional bread box with a few simple tools and materials. This project is a great way to add a touch of rustic charm to your kitchen while decluttering your countertops.

Don’t wait. Get your PDF plan (including the detailed instructions and measurements) now!

Thank you for stopping by. If you enjoyed this tutorial, would you please take a moment and pin it to Pinterest? I’d really appreciate it!



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