Upcycle A Thrifted Bread Box Into A Chic-Looking Charging Station

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The corners of your kitchen countertops might seem like a convenient place to charge all of your devices. After all, these zones are easy-to-reach locations in the heart of your home that you probably don't use for cooking. However, charging blocks and cords can quickly give your space a cluttered look, especially if they're all bunched up in the same area. Luckily, there's a simple compromise. Instead of moving all of your devices, you can use a bread box to keep them organized. Just use a drill on the back panel of the box to create holes through which you can thread the cords. Then, plug everything in on the inside of the box, and you'll have the perfect charging station for phones, tablets, smartwatches, and other devices. There's no problem keeping it neat, because it can stay closed most of the time. Since a bread box is traditionally a countertop fixture anyway, it should blend right in with your existing decor and, hopefully, hide the outlet behind it from view.

You might be able to find an inexpensive bread box to upcycle at your local thrift store, but if you can't, you could try shopping on resale websites like Facebook Marketplace. If necessary, you can also paint or stain the wood to make it match your space's color palette. The completed fixture should, ultimately, help you gain extra counter storage space in your kitchen without spending more than a few bucks. Plus, it works great alongside all the best strategies for decluttering your home.

When you're setting up your charging station, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, if you're going to place your bread box on your counter, avoid putting it anywhere that's likely to be either wet or warm. In other words, don't place it right next to your sink or stove. If you notice that your devices are getting hot when the bread box is closed, open up the front whenever they're charging so that they can receive more air flow. You could also drill extra holes in the box to help it breathe. No matter how you set it up, avoid leaving your devices with a lithium-ion battery plugged in all the time to reduce the risk of a fire.

If your bread box doesn't quite hide your outlet, you could raise the fixture up a bit by gluing a wooden cutting board to the bottom. Wood glue or superglue should work perfectly here. Then, if necessary, you could stain both the board and the box so that they match. For a more ornate option, you could try fitting feet onto the bottom of your box. A product like Housoutil Antique Corner Furniture Legs, for example, should boost the decorative appeal of this countertop staple, as well as raise it up by a few fractions of an inch. And if you can't find a bread box that fits your style, there are other ways to make appliance cords less of an eyesore.