There’s something so satisfying about creating something out of nothing. That’s why we think woodworking is one of the greatest hobbies out there.
You can create your very own functional pieces and add your own flare to it, feeling accomplished and proud every time you lay your eyes on your project. Plus, it’s a great way to stay under budget when decorating your home or giving beautiful gifts.
In the long run, the price of lumber and tools is far less than the price of buying a piece new that would be simple to build at home.
Woodworking can be intimidating, but you don’t have to start big with something like an entertainment center. Start small and, once you feel comfortable, work your way up. There are so many great tutorials perfect for beginner woodworkers, and these are some of our favorites
1. Sofa Sleeve
If you live in a small or minimal space, it may not be practical to add end tables or TV trays everywhere in your space. Sofa sleeves can save the day.
Sofa sleeves make it easy to lounge on the couch with a hot cup of tea. This tutorial will show you everything you need to make your own sleeve to fit your sofa.
2. Shoe Storage Booster Stool
Build this handy stool in one hour and park it in your closet. You can also use it as a step to reach the high shelf. To make the storage shelves, all you need is a 4 ft. x 4 ft. sheet of 3/4-in. plywood, wood glue and a handful of 8d finish nails.
Cut the plywood pieces according to the illustration. Spread wood glue on the joints, then nail them together with 8d nails.
First, nail through the sides into the back. Then nail through the top into the sides and back. Finally, mark the location of the two shelves and nail through the sides into the shelves.
3. Shoe Organizer
Store shoes up off the floor in clean, natural wood racks. This simple storage system can handle everything from winter boots to summer sandals, with no mud buildup or scuff marks on the wall. Build one to share or one for each member of the family.
4. Wooden Wine Rack
There’s nothing like a simple, chic wine rack to liven up your space. Or, if you’re not into wine, these elegant DIYs make excellent gifts. All you need is a few basic supplies and a little elbow grease to get started.
5. Beer Caddy
Are you more of a beer person? This is the perfect beginner woodworking project for you. Just like the DIY wine racks, these wooden beer caddies are great for gifting. They even come complete with a handy bottle opener!
6. Wooden Arrow Tutorial
By no means does wall decor need to be complex to look beautiful. These DIY wooden arrows prove it. Hung above the bed, next to the front door, in the bathroom—this DIY will look good anywhere.
7. Wooden Doormat
Home is where the heart is, so you may as well make its entrance look good. You can do just that by following this tutorial to make your very own wooden doormat, a great way to dry off wet shoes without getting a soggy mat. Stylish, functional and budget-friendly?
8. Bathtub Tray
As many of you know, bath time isn’t just for getting clean. Add a good book, a glass of wine, and your favorite candle and you’re set for a relaxing evening of self-care.
It’s hard to accomplish all of this without a handy bathtub tray. That’s where this tutorial and your woodworking skills come in.
9. Serving Tray
Make breakfast in bed even better with a customized DIY wooden serving tray. Follow the steps listed in this tutorial to create your one-of-a-kind piece.
10. Decorative Earring Holder
Instead of splurging on fancy wall art, display your beautiful jewelry to add a pop of color and elegance to your bedroom. Make things easy by creating this beautiful wooden stand to show off your stylish earrings, even when you’re not wearing them.
11. Lawn Dice
When the clouds clear, it’s time to bring the entertainment outdoors. Summertime barbecues and family gatherings are made even better with these adorable and fun-for-all lawn dice.
12. Cute Wooden Key Holder
Let’s face it, we all lose our keys at one point or another. It’s time to put an end to the frantic searching with some DIY! Use beginner woodworking skills to create this wooden key and mail holder to hang in your entryway for a handy (and adorable) key storage solution.
13. Candle Holder
Wood pallets can be used to create so many DIY projects, including this pretty tea light holder. This DIY woodworking project is so simple, you only need one power tool to get the job done.
14. Basic Cutting Board
There are many complex cutting boards and cheese boards on the market these days, but you can make your own with simple woodworking. A quality cutting board doesn’t need to be intricately designed—follow this tutorial to see how it’s done.
Slice, dice and serve in style on this easy, attractive board. We’ll show you a simple way to dry-fit the parts, scribe the arc and then glue the whole thing together. We used a 4-ft. steel ruler to scribe the arcs, but a yardstick or any thin board would also work.
Be sure to use water-resistant wood glue, and keep your board out of the dishwasher or it might fall apart. And one more thing: Keep the boards as even as possible during glue-up to minimize sanding later.
15. Lap Desk
Working or studying in bed is a dream come true, but it can be difficult without a lap desk. Never fear! You can make one using only one wooden board.
16. Mid Century Nightstand
Add flair to your space with classy mid-century furniture. It may look complex, but most mid-century furniture is an easy DIY away. Take this nightstand for example.
17. Wooden Photo Holders
Display your favorite photos with these creative DIY wooden photo holders. They’re small and simple but pack a mighty design punch. Not to mention, they’re a lot less expensive than buying fancy frames.
18. Wooden Tic Tac Toe
This DIY will be a hit with the kids, allowing you to take the classic game of tic tac toe to new (and bigger) levels.
19. Pet Bed
If you have a furry friend, you know how important their comfort is. You can make sure they are comfy and cozy in their own customized wooden bed complete with fluffy pillows to ensure a great night’s sleep.
20. Pencil Holder
If you have an electric drill, this DIY will be easy. Simply drill a number of holes into a piece of wood to create a unique pencil holder. Not only is this craft full of style, but it also serves as a constant and helpful reminder to stay on task.
21. Beautiful Wood Sign
Decorative wooden signs add charm to any space, but don’t knock them because of the high price tag. Say “no” to manufactured wooden signs and make your own. The process is easier than you think!
22. Modern Coffee Table
Thanks to many furniture retailers, unassembled hairpin legs are easy to come by. It’s a good thing, too, because most modern furniture utilizes them. Buying them unassembled makes DIY projects like this herringbone wooden coffee table an easy feat.
23. Wooden Address Planter
Your woodworking skills will be the first thing your guests see as they visit your home if you create this DIY address number hanging. A nice plant adds a multimedia touch that makes this project look impressive without requiring expert DIY skills.
24. Plant Hanger
Implementing plants into your home gives the space life and a calming vibe. Add plants to your home in style while showing off your woodworking skills with a cool DIY plant hanger like this one.
25. Mountain Wall Hooks
Having trouble expressing your love for nature? That’s a quick fix. Install these wooden mountain wall hooks to enjoy nature in the comforts of your own home.
26. Portable Small Bench
Give your back and knees a break with this portable, easy-to-build seat/step stool/tool box/work surface.
It only takes a couple of hours to build and you’ll find dozens of uses for it. If you’re looking for a small bench/step stool that’s a little more attractive than this one, here’s one for you to consider.
27. Make Magazine Storage Containers
Need a good way to archive magazines and other important papers? Build these simple wood storage bins and have all of your favorites at your fingertips instead of lost in a towering pile.
You can build four bins from one 2 ft. x 4 ft. sheet of 1/4-in. plywood and two 6-ft. long 1x4s. And cutting the wood is easy with a jigsaw or band saw.
28. Coat and Hat Rack
Clear up entryway clutter with a simple coat and hat rack that you can build in about an hour from a 6 ft. 1×4 and coat hooks. Cut the boards to fit your space, paint them, outfit them with different kinds of hooks to suit your needs and then screw them to the wall.
You’ll find hooks in a tremendous range of styles, colors and prices at hardware stores and online retailers. For inspiration, check out these clever and unusual coat hooks.
29. Build a Spice Rack
This spice rack will keep your favorite 18 seasonings on ready alert. It’s quick and fun to make and fits inside a standard kitchen cabinet. You’ll need:
- An 11-1/2 in. and a 7-1/4 in. diameter wood discs
- 9-in. lazy Susan hardware
- Four 1-5/8 in. x 5/8 in. dowels for legs
- One 5-1/4 in. x 5/8 in. dowel handle
- A 1-7/8 in. Forstner drill bit
- A 5/8-in. spade or brad point drill bit
- A 1-1/2 in. wood ball or other knob.
With a pencil and a protractor, divide the larger disc into 30-degree wedges to create 12 center lines for the bottle indents. Center and trace the smaller disc on top of the larger disc. Next, with a drill press, drill 3/8-in. deep holes on the 12 center lines with the 1-7/8-in.
Forstner bit, spacing them between the disc’s outer edge and the traced circle. Next, divide the smaller disc into 60-degree wedges and drill six more 3/8-in. deep holes with the Forstner bit.
Drill four 5/8-in. diameter, 1/2-in. deep holes on the large disc, inside the traced circle. Then use 5/8-in. dowel centers to transfer the hole locations to the underside of the small disc.
Drill four 1/2-in. deep holes on the underside of the small disc and a 1/2-in. deep hole in the center of the top for the dowel handle. Glue in the dowels to join the discs, then glue in the handle.
Apply a finish to match your cabinets, then center and screw the lazy Susan bearing under the large disc and play spin the bottle.
30. Knife Block
This handsome knife block is fast, easy, fun to build and includes a 6-in. wide storage box for a knife sharpener. To build one, you only need a 3/4-in. x 8-in. x 4-ft. hardwood board and a 6-in. x 6-1/2-in. piece of 1/4-in. hardwood plywood to match.
Begin by cutting off a 10 inch length of the board and setting it aside. Rip the remaining 38-in. board to 6 in. wide and cut five evenly spaced saw kerfs 5/8 in. deep along one face.
Crosscut the slotted board into four 9-in. pieces and glue them into a block, being careful not to slop glue into the saw kerfs (you can clean them out with a knife before the glue dries). Saw a 15-degree angle on one end and screw the plywood piece under the angled end of the block.
Cut the 6-1/2 in. x 3-in. lid from the leftover board, and slice the remaining piece into 1/4-in. thick pieces for the sides and end of the box. Glue them around the plywood floor.
Cut a rabbet on three sides of the lid so it fits snugly on the box and drill a 5/8-in. hole for a finger pull. Then just add a finish and you’ve got a beautiful, useful gift.
