Easy DIY Cookbook Stand Made From Scrap Wood

How To Make A DIY Cookbook Stand

This scrap wood cookbook stand starts with a backboard, a small ledge, and two angled supports. Size it to fit your favorite cookbook, then finish it to suit your kitchen. I chose natural wood paired with white paint for a simple modern farmhouse look.

Gather your supplies below, and let’s turn a few leftover boards into something useful. This is why we save all those wood scraps—or at least that’s what I’m telling Mr. Honey Do.

Supplies for Your DIY Cookbook Stand

• Scrap wood—I used a nominal 1×10 poplar board (¾ inch thick × 9¼ inches wide)
• Miter saw
• Safety glasses and hearing protection
• 220 grit sandpaper (SurfPrep Sanding System)
• Pencil
• Speed square
• Tape measurer
• Wood glue
• Wood clamps
• Brad nailer and brad nails, or a hammer and finish nails
• Paintable wood filler for nail holes
• Painter’s tape
• Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint – White Cap
• Small paintbrush
• Optional: wood stain or clear finish for exposed wood

Step 3: Cut the Angled Back Supports

Measure and mark two matching right triangles on your ¾-inch-thick scrap wood. Each triangle should have a 2-inch bottom edge and a 4-inch vertical edge, with a diagonal line connecting their outer ends.

Cut along your marked lines using a saw suited to the cut, keeping the wood securely supported. These matching pieces will attach behind the backboard to hold the cookbook stand at an angle.

Step 4: Sand the Wood Pieces

Sand the cut edges and surfaces smooth, paying special attention to any splinters. I used 220-grit sandpaper; if your scrap wood is rough, start with a coarser grit and finish with 220.

Lightly soften the sharp corners, then remove the sanding dust. If you wipe the pieces with a slightly damp cloth, let them dry completely before gluing or finishing.

Step 5: Attach the Bottom Ledge

Lay the backboard face up on a flat work surface. Position one of the narrow boards across its bottom front edge, with the 2-inch-wide surface extending outward to form a shelf.

Apply wood glue along the edge that meets the backboard. Align the pieces so the ledge is square to the backboard and flush with its bottom edge, then clamp securely. Wipe away excess glue with a damp cloth.

Follow your wood glue’s instructions for clamping and drying time.

Step 8: Fill the Nail Holes

Fill the nail holes with wood filler, pressing it into each hole and scraping away the excess. Let it dry according to the product directions, then sand smooth with 220-grit sandpaper.

Use paintable filler where you plan to paint. For exposed wood, choose a filler that closely matches the wood color, and test it first if you plan to stain—stainable filler can still absorb color differently from the surrounding wood.

Remove the sanding dust before applying your finish.

Step 9: Paint or Finish Your Cookbook Stand

Choose a finish that suits your kitchen. Paint the entire stand, stain the wood, or keep the grain visible with a clear finish.

For my two-tone look, I left the top third of the backboard natural and painted the lower portion white. Mark your paint line and apply painter’s tape, pressing the edge down firmly.

I used two coats of Dixie Belle Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint in White Cap, allowing drying time between coats according to the product directions. Remove the tape carefully, following its instructions, to reveal your paint line.

If you want to protect the exposed wood, apply a compatible clear finish, testing it on a scrap first to see how it changes the color. Let all finishes fully cure before putting your stand to work.

Styling Your DIY Cookbook Stand

My favorite way to use this stand is with a vintage cookbook propped open on the kitchen counter. This Southern Living dessert cookbook was a garage sale find for just 50 cents. A bargain and an excuse to think about cake? Sold.

When you’re cooking, keep the stand on a dry, level surface away from the stove and sink. When dinner is done, display a favorite recipe or a seasonal cookbook for an easy change that doesn’t require redecorating the whole kitchen.

It also works as a tablet stand if your recipes live on a screen. Around here, I still enjoy flipping through a cookbook—especially when the pages practically fall open to the desserts.

Use Your Cookbook Stand as a Plate Holder

Turns out, this little stand has another job! I tucked a few dessert plates behind the front lip, and just like that, my cookbook stand became a plate holder.

Try it on a buffet or kitchen counter for your next gathering. Keep the plates centered, avoid overloading the ledge, and check that the stand stays stable as you remove each plate.

Pair it with a favorite cake and call it entertaining. The stand is homemade. The cake doesn’t have to be. 🙂

More DIY Ideas for Your Kitchen

• DIY Napkin Holder — Another useful way to put leftover wood scraps to work.

• DIY Handwritten Recipe Plate — Turn a treasured family recipe into a meaningful display.

• DIY Drop Cloth Napkins — Add a simple handmade touch to your table.