In essence, wood projects refer to handcrafted items made from wood to fulfill specific customer requirements. If they are of high quality, they can be marketed and generate substantial income.
To produce items for sale, you will only require the wood itself, along with a saw, drill, glue, and safety goggles and gloves. Although woodworking expertise is preferred, certain simple wood projects can be accomplished with a basic level of knowledge.
If you intend to generate income from your wood projects (which is recommended!), you will also require a means of marketing and selling them online, such as setting up an online store or utilizing a marketplace. Nevertheless, we will address that matter later on. For now, let’s focus on the wood projects that will be profitable in 2023!
Wood Projects that are lucrative
1. Picture frames
It is a widely known fact that individuals possess great enthusiasm for capturing images, particularly selfies, and find joy in revisiting them as cherished moments. Hence, it is evident that when it comes to crafting and selling stunning wooden creations on the internet, picture frames are an obvious choice.
Picture frames can be easily assembled and only require a basic level of skill, making them perfect for novice woodworkers who want to begin with simpler projects before tackling more advanced ones.
2. Kitchen utensils
In our guide to the top 12 sought-after products to sell in 2023, it is evident that kitchen utensils are thriving in the market. Additionally, when crafted skillfully with quality wood, they can become a lucrative woodworking project to offer for sale.
In contrast to picture frames, kitchen utensils provide a great opportunity to get creative and experiment. With an array of forks, knives, spoons, spatulas, potato mashers, and numerous other utensils at your disposal, the kitchen becomes your playground!
3. Boxes
We are making the prediction right now: wooden boxes will always be necessary in the world. Wooden boxes are widely used in the hospitality industry, particularly for packaging wine and food, and they offer an abundance of diverse purposes.
Wooden boxes, which can range from the decorative to the functional (the writer acknowledges having one that he considers indispensable for his vinyl records), are comparatively easy to construct. Furthermore, considering their immense demand, marketing them should be an even easier task.
4. Children’s toys
Wood has the potential to be entertaining, ranging from train sets and racetracks to oversized snakes-and-ladders boards.
With wooden children’s toys, there is immense potential for unleashing creativity and originality. Unlike picture frames, chopping boards, and boxes, which have certain limitations in their structure, these toys provide the freedom to build anything your imagination allows.
5. Planters
It’s no wonder that wooden planters are in high demand as they effortlessly infuse outdoor spaces with a cozy and appealing atmosphere.
Luckily, they fall into the category of easier-to-make items such as chopping boards, picture frames, and boxes. Nevertheless, the bigger ones can still fetch high prices, particularly if you add a smooth layer of varnish and a set of wheels to enhance their mobility.
6. Birdhouses
Birdhouses, whether used as mere adornments or for enticing nearby birds, are a sought-after garden embellishment. Luckily for aspiring woodworkers, birdhouses are most visually appealing when made from wood – and can be sold at enticingly premium rates.
You will find an abundant scope for creativity as well. Whether you are inspired by the hobbit holes of The Lord of the Rings or prefer a clear cubist-architecture style, the extensive collection of birdhouses on Etsy provides ample inspiration to fully unleash your innovative ideas!
7. Chopping boards
Wood always seems to complement the kitchen exceptionally well, making it the perfect choice for customers who desire attractive wooden chopping boards to accompany their equally stunning wooden kitchen utensils.
Crafting chopping boards of various sizes and bundling them into multi-buy packs offers customers a wider selection and the opportunity to purchase at higher prices, although creating these boards may require expertise in sanding.
8. Shelving
To experience the wholesome feeling of walking into a room filled with books, your audience will require shelving to transform entire rooms in their homes into libraries.
Grab your nail file, be prepared with pine or even some elegant mahogany, and begin constructing – and marketing – wooden shelves.
9. Farmhouse coffee table
You can easily create this coffee table, perfect for beginners, with a cost under $40. It’s a quick project that can be done on a rainy afternoon! Start by using a miter saw to cut the wooden pieces according to the project plan and the video instructions. Begin building the coffee table by securing the ends together using trim head screws and wood glue.
Follow the instructions from the video to create decorative X patterns on the ends of the coffee table using scrap 2×2 lumber.
After finishing the basic structure of the coffee table, proceed to reduce the boards for the tabletop. Attach the top boards securely to the coffee table frame using screws. Follow the instructions to position the boards at the bottom of the table frame and fix them in place by screwing.
If desired, achieve a rustic farmhouse appearance by adding decorative metal brackets to the corners of the table top, after completing the process of sanding the entire piece and finishing it with a stain of your choice.
10. Triangle shelves
These triangle shelves have gained significant popularity on social media, making them highly likely to be purchased on online platforms such as Etsy or Amazon. Any inexpensive wood, such as pine, can be utilized in the construction of these shelves.
Using a table saw, resize the wood pieces. Employ a miter saw or circular saw to trim the ends of every piece at a 30 degree angle.
Use wood glue or screws to put together each triangle, depending on the desired sturdiness of the shelves. If the shelves are intended to hold small decorative items, wood glue is sufficient. Employ tape as a clamp.
Following that, create 8 or 8 1/2 inch sections to form a compact shelf, which will be placed at the midpoint of the triangle. Affix this interior shelf securely by using both adhesive and screws.
If it is easier for you, you can also sand down the triangles and wipe them with a damp cloth before assembling all of the wood pieces into a triangle.
You can choose the desired color to stain the triangle shelving and then place them on paint cones to dry.
To enhance the functionality of the triangle shelves, you can attach your preferred hanging hardware. Additionally, you may add hooks underneath them to conveniently hang jewelry or other items that are not too heavy.
11. Longboard
If you are looking for a unique project idea, why not create a longboard that is suitable for kids! Begin by using a table saw to tidy up some leftover wood and cut it to your preferred width.
Attach these strips together with glue and apply pressure using a clamp until they are completely dry. Employ a planar tool to even out the surface.
Obtain the provided template and affix it onto the wooden plank. Utilize a jigsaw to carve out the longboard shape. Smooth the edges by employing a bench table sander or any other available sanding tool.
Using your router table, tidy up the edges of the longboard and proceed to sand the surface once more. Conclusively, apply an outdoor finish to complete the longboard.
In order to make the longboard usable, unfurl the grip tape onto it and eliminate any air pockets. Shape the grip tape to match the longboard by carefully using a razor. Install the longboard trucks by piercing holes through the grip tape and adhering to the guidelines provided in the video.
12. Scrap wood trivets
This trivet, crafted from scrap pieces and brass tubing, will be greatly appreciated by beginners who have already gathered a substantial amount of scrap wood. Sets of trivets can be sold as fantastic small home decor items.
Start by cutting into small strips using your table saw. Next, smooth out each piece using sandpaper. To enhance the appearance, employ a router table to craft a chamfer on all edges of the wooden pieces.
Using a jig and drill press, drill holes in each piece at the same spot. Use a band saw to cut the brass tubing to the desired size and then sand the rough ends to make them smooth.
Using epoxy, secure each piece of the trivets together as demonstrated in the video.
13. Wood wall art
The wood wall art piece is incredibly distinctive and visually appealing! Regardless of the geometric design chosen, beginners can easily learn how to cut and assemble numerous components by following the video.
Cutting each lattice board to match the dimensions of a sizable plywood sheet with the help of a miter saw, arrange the pieces in a chevron design as demonstrated in the video.
To achieve symmetry in the pattern, carefully measure and mark the cut lines before cutting down. Remember that while precision is important, small imperfections can add a charming rustic and handmade touch to the project.
After cutting all the pieces, you can choose to either stain or paint them in your preferred colors or follow the tutorial’s instructions. Next, attach the pieces to the plywood and secure them by applying glue. Begin with the center pieces and gradually expand outward while utilizing a brad nailer for additional assurance.
To achieve a rectangular shape, trim the surplus wood present on the edges of the plywood. Apply putty, sand, and use matching paint to cover the drill marks. Cut and stain four additional lattice pieces to create a frame around the entire item. Apply a finish of your preference by spraying it on.
