Build with bins

07 Mar 2025

Add extra, inexpensive storage to your home with this chic and smart bedside table made from two wooden bread bins. Choose a classic Resene black for the frame for a modern, sophisticated look, try soft pastels for a delicate finish or even a stained finish using Resene Colorwood Natural to celebrate the wood. 

You will need:

• Two bread bins (the two we chose were 350mm (w) x 200mm (h) x 250mm (d)
• Four legs (200mm high)
• Three pieces radiata pine:
• 820mm(w) x19mm (h) x 280mm (d) x 2 for the top and base
• 380mm(w) x19mm (h) x 250mm (d) x 1 for the shelf
• MDF backboard 386mm (w) x 356mm (h) x 3mm (d)
• Drop saw or hand saw
• Jigsaw or coping saw
• Drill and drill bit or screwdriver
• Sander or sandpaper
• Paintbrush
• Mini speed brush for staining bread bins
• 40x Screws (16mm)
• 20 x Panel pins (20mm)
• Resene Aquaclear Natural clear varnish (or for a higher sheen finish use Resene Aquaclear satin, semi-gloss or gloss)
• Resene testpots in your chosen colour. We used Resene Colorwood Whitewash and Resene Element.

Step 1:

Cut the top and base pieces of pine 820mm(w) x19mm (h) x 280mm (d) with a drop saw or hand saw.

Use a jigsaw or coping saw to round off the front of the edges of the boards to reflect the curve of the bread bin.

Step 2

Cut the middle shelf to 380mm(w) x19mm (h) x 250mm (d).

Sand all edges.

Place the bins 20mm from the front and sides. Screw the bins to the top and base board.

Step 3

Attach the backboard to the back of the bins using panel pins.

Step 4

Attach the middle shelf to the bread bins by screwing from the inside of the bins into the shelf

Step 5

Add the legs by screwing them at the bottom of the cupboard.

Step 6

Sand all edges and flat surfaces for a smooth finish. Wipe off sanding dust with a damp cloth.

Stain or paint the bread bin sideboard. We stain washed the bread bins and shelf with Resene Colorwood Whitewash and painted the top and base in Resene Element. If you use a darker stain consider staining the bread bins before building the sideboard.

Top tip: For something a little unexpected, paint the inside of the storage in your favourite Resene accent colour – you can either do this on the open shelving or the bread bin sections. 

Wall painted in Resene Quarter Powder Blue, floorboards stain washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, skirting, vase and tray in Resene Sea Fog, bread bin sides and shelf in Resene Colorwood Whitewash and top and bottom shelf in Resene Element.

project: Ivan Moses

stylist: Megan Harrison-Turner

images: Bryce Carleton

Table legs from Mitre 10

Published: 07 Mar 2025