Make a wooden DIY magazine holder in 5 easy steps
Make something stylish and unique using very few materials. Our simple DIY guide explains how to make a rustic magazine holder.
11.02.2025
DIY magazine holder: make a place for everything – stylishly!
Are you sick of searching for newspaper sections all over your house? And do you love reading magazines as a leisure activity, but find they are not such an attractive home accessory to have lying around? Well here’s the answer to both problems: a DIY magazine holder organises your printed matter in one place – and this unique wooden magazine rack brings a touch of rustic style to your home too.
You can easily adapt our DIY guide to make a magazine storage solution that suits your own tastes; select whatever size, wood type and colour you prefer.
DIY magazine holder: materials and tools
A great thing about this DIY project is that you need just a few materials for it:
- A log
- A tree stump to use as a work surface
- A STIHL chainsaw with carving attachment (e.g. MSA 160)
- Files
- A pencil
- Personal Protective Equipment
DIY magazine holder
Ready? Let’s get to work with wood and make a rustic magazine holder!
Committed to your safety: protective equipment
Working with powerful tools is fun and means you can broaden your skills, which is great as long as you are relying on effective and safe protective clothing while using them. Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with your chainsaw. This includes a helmet, cut protection trousers, safety boots, and more. More details are available in the owners manuals for your product. Before you use your chainsaw for the first time, fully familiarise yourself with the power tool and ensure it is in flawless condition before each use. On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your power tool for its first job, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try on at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for safe working techniques.
step-by-step instructions
Before you start on the DIY project itself, cut a deep notch into the flat end of an upright tree stump; you can use this to safely work on the log that will become your magazine holder. The notch will support your workpiece as you cut it.
Decide exactly how long you want your wooden magazine holder to be: it should at least be as long as the newspapers or magazines you plan to keep in it, so it can fulfil its function neatly and effectively.
Cut the log to the required length.
The magazine holder needs a flat base to ensure it doesn’t fall over or wobble when placed on the floor. Use your chainsaw to cut horizontally along the tree trunk, removing a slice so that your log magazine holder has one long, flat side.
Rest the workpiece on the flat base you just made. With a pencil, mark lines showing where to cut into the log to make the interior shape of the magazine holder. Next, place the log upright and secure it against slipping. Make the first cut, sawing downward from the top. Saw along the second line in the same way and remove the resulting wedge.
Use a metal file to work on the cut edges and surfaces until they are smooth, and round off the edges if you like. Attach felt pads to the bottom of your magazine holder to protect delicate surfaces.
The DIY is done; your practical magazine holder is now complete. Whether it’s for your own home or to give as a gift, its rustic look lends a cosy atmosphere to any reading corner.
Summary: DIY magazine holder
- A magazine holder creates a tidy place to store all your newspapers and magazines
- You can make your own magazine holder quickly with just a log and a few tools
- When working, always wear personal protective equipment according to your tool’s operating instructions
- First cut the log to the required length. Cut a slice off one long side to create a flat base. Saw two straight lines to make the body of the holder, then smooth the cut edges with a file
