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Finding simple woodworking plans can be extremely difficult for the average beginner. Especially when you have no clue how to saw wood, what tools you need, or how to apply a finish. Trust me, even the most advanced woodworkers were once beginners having no clue where to start.
As a beginner, looking over woodworking plans with hundreds of steps and complicated diagrams is not somewhere you want to start. Not only are you bound to fail, but you’re likely going to lose interest in one of the greatest hobbies of all time (okay, maybe I’m a little biased with that last statement). Therefore, in an effort to maintain that burning passion of yours, I decided to put together this straightforward list of 10 simple woodworking projects you can do at any skill level. These will not only provide you some home inspiration, but familiarize you with all the basics of DIY such as how to cut and shave wood, how to apply a finish, what tools you need for woodworking, how to glue wood, and how to drill and drive screws. I hope you’re able to learn something from this list and create something awesome out of absolutely nothing!
1. Barstools
Barstools are not only simple to make, but their practicality is unmatched! Making your own barstools is great practice if you’re looking for a simple woodworking project to get you started in the industry, or you’re simply looking to save money on furniture. Believe it or not, you can build this barstool set with only 2×4’s and spend less than $15 on materials!
Barstools are practically a centerpiece in your home, so applying the proper finish is important. To pick a finish, I recommend considering your style and the colors in your house. If you’re like me and prefer to keep that natural wood-look, use a polyurethane finish. However, if you prefer standard colors such as white or black, paint will protect your furniture for hundreds of years!
Tools needed:
Pocket Hole Drill
Miter saw
Drill
Materials needed:
Wood Glue
30 2 ½ pocket hole screws
Set of 3 2×4’s
Estimated Building Time:
4 Hours
2. Floating wood shelf
Floating wood shelves are super creative and they add a lot of character to your home. You can literally place anything on them from plants and books to your extensive collection of Star Wars memorabilia (not that I’ve ever done such a thing). They’re simple to make, only require a Brad Nailer and Miter Saw, and only take about 30 minutes each. This project is a must-try for beginners in woodworking.
Tools needed:
Miter saw
Brad Nailer
Level
Materials needed:
1x2s and 2x3s
Plywood
Reclaimed wood
Estimated Building Time:
2 Hours
3. Dog / Cat Bed
Woof woof, this project is for animal lovers only! This is a super fun woodworking project to make and I love building DIY projects for my pets. I made one of these a few years back for my black lab named Frank and he absolutely loves it. It’s also really cool that you can add your pets name to the front to give it that personal touch. You can literally build this project for less than $12! I highly recommend making this project if you have a cat or dog!
Tools needed:
Kreg Gig
Brad Nailer
Gorilla Glue
Materials needed:
1×4 furring strips (3), 1×2 furring strips (2), 2×4 pine board (1), wood stain (optional), pocket hole screws, nails
Estimated Building Time:
2-3 Hours
4. Table
A table is something that a lot of woodworkers like to begin with. Generally, they’re pretty simple to make and obviously serve useful in your living room. They don’t take a lot of time and you can customize the length, height, shape, and color to your liking. If you’re interested in making a simple wood table, checkout the plans below to make one in 4 simple steps. This project requires a little more wood than some of our other woodworking projects, so you might want to check out our article on How to get FREE Lumber for Woodworking!
Tools needed:
Sander
Drill / Hammer
Try square
Materials needed:
Wood Glue
Sandpaper
1 ½” & 1 ¼” nails
Estimated Building Time:
3 Hours
5. Mirror Frame
Adding a frame to your mirror will make your bathroom go from dull and boring to sexy and sleek. I love this simple woodworking project because it’s so easy to make but adds so much character to your bathroom. I have a frame on every bathroom mirror in my house and I suggest you do the same ASAP. Best of all, you can make one in less than an hour! They’re super cheap and require little labor. You won’t even need any power tools, just a hammer and some nails!
Tools needed:
Hammer
Materials needed:
Wood Stain, Wood Screws, Pine Boards, Nails, Joist Hangers
Estimated Building Time:
1 Hour
6. Wooden Keyholder
A wooden keyholder is nifty if you like to stay organized. Ever since I put a keyholder by my front door, I no longer have to worry about losing my keys and being late for work. I simply grab my keys, glasses, and go. This is a great project to make because it’s super simple and convenient if you’re always losing things like I do.
Tools needed:
Clamps
Paint Brush
Drill
Materials needed:
Sand paper, Screw Hooks, 19”x17.5” Main Piece, 8”x2.5” Shelf Piece, Stain
Estimated Building Time:
30 Min – 1 Hour
7. Wooden Shoe Rack
Are you a shoe lover? If so, you’re going to want to look into building this simple woodworking project. It’s beginner friendly for woodworkers and if you’re a man looking to build something awesome for your wife or daughter, she will love this one. It’s an easy build and will add a lot of character to your bedroom.
Tools needed:
Saw
Drill
Hammer
Materials needed:
Table Legs, (2) 3’x11” Boards, (2) 1’x11” Boards, Glue, Paint, Table Prongs
Estimated Building Time:
2-3 Hours
8. Outdoor Chair
These are amazing outdoor chairs with easy to follow, step-by-step plans. If you’re looking to build a wooden chair set and you want something simple to make, definitely check these plans out. They look awesome on your patio or porch and will serve your guests well.
Tools needed:
Kreg Jig, drill, driver, table saw or circular saw, random orbit sander
Materials needed:
Sandpaper, Wood Screws, (4) 2x4x144”, Kreg HD Screws (125 ct.), Redwood Boards
Estimated Building Time:
4 Hours
9. X-Bench
The most versatile bench of all time! You can use an x-bench as a normal sitting bench or you can place it at the end of your bed. An x-bench may look complicated to make, but it’s actually just as simple as any of the other DIY projects we recommend. You can complete this project in around 3 hours and it’s well worth the effort. It only requires two 2×4’s, only costing you around $20 in material. I made my daughter an x-bench a few years back and she absolutely adores it, so you might want to consider making this one for a special someone.
Tools needed:
Kreg Gig
Staple Gun
Power Drill
Materials needed:
(2) 2x4s, 1” Foam, Polyfil, Staples, 2 ½” Pocket Hole Screws, Batting
Estimated Building Time:
3 Hours
10. Wooden Phone Holder
Not only is this a fun and simple woodworking project to build, it’s actually very practical. You can make a wooden phone holder with any wood of your choice, even scrap wood if you have any lying around. It looks way cooler than the cheap ones you purchase from the store and you can customize it to your liking. It’s definitely a woodworking project you’ll have to tackle if you’re a phone addict like I am.
Tools needed:
Dremel
Power Drill
Glue
Materials needed:
Wood of your Choice
Cabinet Makers’ Wax
Felt
Estimated Building Time:
3 Hours
As you can tell, you don’t need a fancy workshop or a huge budget to create some amazing woodworking projects. Finding a few basic plans will help you build a foundation for future projects and fuel that burning desire you have for woodworking!
I hope you were able to learn something new from this list of 10 simple woodworking projects. If you’re looking for more simple woodworking projects such as these, be sure to check out Ted’s Woodworking Plans for more amazing woodworking guides!
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