Some of my favorite projects begin with finding something I love and figuring out how to make it work a little better for the way I live.
I’ve always loved photo books. There’s something about having favorite memories printed and sitting within reach that feels so much more personal than keeping them tucked away on a phone.
The only problem? I wanted a way to actually display them.
The Idea
I had seen simple wood blocks designed to hold individual photo prints and loved how minimal they were. Since I tend to prefer photo books, I decided to take that same idea and make a version large enough to hold one of my books instead.
The design couldn't be much simpler: a solid piece of wood with an angled groove cut into the top.
No hardware. No complicated construction. Just a small handmade object that gives a favorite collection of photographs a place to live.
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Designing Around the Book
Rather than starting with exact dimensions, I designed the stand around the photo book itself.
I used the width and thickness of the book to determine the size of the block and the opening, leaving just enough wood visible on either side. The groove was cut at a slight angle so the book could sit comfortably while leaning back rather than standing completely upright.
Once everything was cut, I sanded the wood smooth and left the finish simple so the natural grain could become part of the design.
I ended up making two and using them on our nightstands—a small way to keep favorite memories somewhere they could actually be seen.
It’s a simple project, but I still love the idea behind it: the things that mean something to us deserve to be part of our homes, not tucked away.
Want to See How I Made It?
I filmed the process so you can see how I measured, cut and finished the wood to create the stand.
Watch the DIY Wood Photo Book Stand video below to see how I made it.