50 DIY Woodworking Projects for Every Skill Level

Woodworking is a rewarding hobby with endless possibilities suited for every skill level. If you’re a newbie, don’t be intimidated. There are many super-simple projects you can try that will help you learn and get your feet wet. And contrary to want you may think, you don’t need a lot of expensive tools. With just a few basic tools — yes, even hand tools — you can learn the art of woodworking. (Hint: Try estate sales and auctions to find secondhand power tools and hand tools. Older hand tools were often better made than their new counterparts, and brands like Craftsman come with a lifetime warranty even if you buy it secondhand.)

We've compiled our best projects and plans for you. Many of our easy projects can be built with scrap wood like fence panels and old pallets and require no special cuts or joinery. Our more complicated projects will have you sharpening your talents in such skills as mitered corners, routing grooves, and pocket-hole joinery.

Skill Level: Easy

These birdhouses were made from cedar fence panels, the same sized fence panels on which the houses hang. This is a great way to upcycle an old fence if the wood is in good shape. We suggest using cedar because it is exterior-grade and wildlife-friendly. The cost of building the birdhouses was minimal and we did it in one afternoon. Use a handsaw and a miter box if you don’t have a power miter saw. If you don’t have an orbital sander, a sanding block will do just fine. But you will need a drill to cut out the holes so the birds can get in their houses.

Skill Level: Easy

We all love live-edge wood and blue resin tables — also known as river tables — but building them takes some skill, money and time. Instead, start small with this wood slice and resin tray with leather handles. Once you get the hang of it, you can move up to a table or bench. If you’re looking for holiday gift ideas, these trays are perfect.

Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate

We built our cornhole boards according to the requirements of the American Cornhole Association. The materials aren’t complicated — it’s made from 1/2” plywood, 2x4s, deck screws and a couple of carriage bolts. A circular saw, a jigsaw and a sander are the only power tools you’ll need. If you don’t have a circular saw, have the plywood cut to size where you buy it.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Want to get some practice at basic framing? This adorable sandbox requires no mitered corners, pocket holes or tricky cuts, just simple right-angle butt joints. Basic woodworking power tools are needed — a drill and circular saw. Also, make sure you have a speed square on hand to ensure your right angles are perfect and your roof rafters have the correct angle.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Prevent porch pirates from stealing your parcels with this locking storage box that can also serve as extra seating on your porch, entryway or stoop. The frame was constructed with 2x4s and 2x2s and then covered in 1/2” plywood. Vertical 1x4s were added to the front to create decorative recessed panels. The plywood top is hinged for easy opening and a hasps latch with a lock makes the bench securely lockable. We added a cushion for comfort and style.

Skill Level: Intermediate

A place to escape the elements is a must for dogs that spend any time outdoors. This DIY doghouse project is made from a single sheet of plywood and some dimensional lumber. Your doghouse should be proportionate to your dog. Bigger is not necessarily better, because dogs tend to feel more secure in small spaces. Also, a properly sized doghouse helps your pet use its natural body heat to warm the interior and stay comfortable during cold weather. Your dog’s safety is a priority, so use good quality plywood and wood that’s free of cracks and splinters. Use pressure-treated wood only for the base where your pet can’t chew on.

Skill Level: Easy

It doesn’t get much simpler than this, and you can make it for next to nothing if you use thrifted pieces. The materials are basically just one salvaged 6-foot board, recycled bottles and wood glue. Using reclaimed wood gives this floral display a rustic vibe, but if you’re looking for something more refined, use a new piece of hardwood like mahogany, ipe or cherry, then stain it as desired. If you plan on painting the piece, a standard pine board will do just fine.

Skill Level: Easy

Make opening a bottle of beer or soda even more refreshing with this Plinko-inspired game where falling bottle caps decide the outcome. This simple woodworking project is perfect for an indoor bar or outside entertaining area. If you’re going to hang your bottle-opener game outside, be sure to use exterior-friendly paint and hardware.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Need additional seating at your kitchen table but you can't quite squeeze in another chair? Build a banquette bench to fit more people around the table in less space. The benchtops open up providing extra space to stash things like those occasionally used small appliances.

Skill Level: Easy

This easy blanket ladder project is the perfect handmade accessory for storing and displaying quilts and throws. Made from a pair of 2x4s and a few dowels, this project requires no hardware, just wood glue and a little elbow grease.

Skill Level: Easy

This may look like it takes some fancy joinery, but it’s simply three-different sized pieces of 1x4 wood stacked and fastened together. The minimalist design goes perfectly in a rustic, boho or midcentury modern setting.

Skill Level: Easy

Looking for a gift idea? How about a cutting board? Everyone from serious foodies to frozen pizza aficionados will appreciate this custom-made cutting board. For durability and appearance, use non-porous hardwoods like maple, walnut, teak or cherry. Avoid softwoods like pine and cedar. Even though oak is a hardwood, it is not recommended because it is porous.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Need some extra workspace in your kitchen? Build a rolling island for added functionality and style. Our wheeled island measures 2' x 3' and is double-sided for maximum storage. One side stores a stand mixer, sheet pans, cutting boards and more, while the other side allows for extra seating. To make it easy on ourselves, we used a pre-made wood countertop.

Skill Level: Easy

Refresh your home's curb appeal with these easy-to-build board-and-batten-style cedar window shutters. Wood shutters are so much more charming than the plastic/vinyl ones you can purchase, plus building your own is fairly easy and requires minimal woodworking experience.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Let’s face it, store-bought safety gates for babies and pets are rarely attractive. Make one that is inspired by one of the most famous modern artist, Piet Mondrian. It is constructed with plywood, dimensional lumber, standard hinges and a gate latch.

Skill Level: Easy

Would you believe this mod magazine rack was made using a single 1’ x 4’ piece of plywood? Plus, no screws or nails are required! Easy and inexpensive. To make the big X, the board was cut in half then a slender notch was cut into each piece so they snugly slid together.

Skill Level: Intermediate

If you are a gardener or live with one, odds are good that you make the effort to compost kitchen scraps. And while composting is important and great for the garden, after a day or two, that bucket of eggshells and banana peels can get a little stinky. This DIY compost container is the perfect solution. Built to hold a restaurant-style plastic bin, this hardwood project is basically a rectangular box with contrasting top trim. This how-to also explains how to do miter cuts with a table saw and how to make rabbet cuts with a router.

Skill Level: Easy

This free-standing shelf ladder is another winner on our list of easy DIY storage solutions. It’s perfect for extra storage in the bathroom, kitchen or laundry room. The materials list is not extensive or expensive. The base of the four boxes is made from one pre-made shelving board, then 1x3s were used for the sides of the boxes. The 1x2 legs hold the boxes and keep the unit secure. We choose to finish our shelf ladder in a vibrant coral color, but any hue will do.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Kids will find bedtime stories are especially magical in this DIY house bed, and parents will find the oversized drawers offer some storage magic, too. The base, frame and drawers are constructed from 3/4” plywood. The drawers roll on rigid casters instead of fixed drawer slides, which not only makes it easier to pull the drawers in and out, but rigid casters are often half the cost of full-extension drawer slides.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Little free libraries are popping up in neighborhoods everywhere. Sharing your favorite books is a great way to connect with your neighbors and encourage kids to read. This modern version of a library box is also a planter box — perfect for a succulent garden. The door is constructed from plexiglass to keep it safe for kids.

Skill Level: Easy

Plywood, a 1x6 board and dowels come together to make this versatile open shelving unit. The trickiest part — and it’s not that hard — is evenly laying out the pegboard holes. To make sure you get it just right, use a standard piece of pegboard to plot your layout. Then drill the holes using a hole-saw bit that is the same size as your dowels. Use 1x2s to secure the plywood to the wall, then place your dowels and 1x6 shelves in your desired configuration. The nice thing is, if you get tired of that configuration, remove the shelves and pull out the dowels to reconfigure it.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Gather up all your gardening supplies and stash them in this DIY potting bench. We outfitted this bench with a dry sink, tool storage and plenty of shelving. The shelves are ideal for larger items like pots and bags of soil, while hooks and pegs can hold tools and gloves. We used cedar to make our bench, but any outdoor-friendly wood or pressure-treated wood will work, too.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Maximize storage space in your garage with these two-sided shelves on wheels. A vertical plywood divider creates cubbies on each side of the shelving unit, then you can add horizontal shelves at any height you need. Swivel casters make each unit easy to move.

Skill Level: Intermediate

This modern bench was made inexpensively with dimensional lumber in a single afternoon. We used 2x3s instead of 2x4s to make the bench a little lighter. Because our bench is made for the outdoors, we used pressure-treated wood, but you could use an exterior-friendly wood like cedar or teak.

Skill Level: Advanced

Buying a pre-made shed or playhouse can cost a fortune, so why not build your own? Instead of pouring concrete for the footers, we used cinderblocks to save time and money. Also, we did not add a door or window to our playhouse, we simply left them open so the kids could be seen and heard. But if you’re building this as a storage shed, a door can be added and the window omitted.

Skill Level: Intermediate

A headboard can elevate the look of any bedroom, and this do-it-yourself headboard looks anything but DIY. We suggest using an exotic hardwood then lightly staining/sealing it, or using a paint-grade wood and painting it a bright hue to match your decor. The slats are made from 1x4s encased in 1x3 frames. The trickiest part is making sure everything lines up nice and even.

Skill Level: Easy

Looking to add color and style to your porch or patio? Check out how easy it is to make a decorative barn quilt to hang in your outdoor space — or even indoors if you so choose. This project requires minimum woodworking and painting skills. We added a frame and mat around our barn quilt for a finished look. Be sure to use exterior-grade materials so your barn quilt will last for years to come.

Skill Level: Easy

Looking for a stylish way to display your house numbers? Or need to add more greenery to your entryway? Try this easy woodworking project that you can make in less than a day. You can customize the size of the planter box (ours is 20" wide x 21-3/4" tall, the color (ours is a bold fuschia) and the font of the numbers (we went modern).

Skill Level: Easy

If you’re not using the void underneath your bed for extra storage, try these simple-to-build wood boxes to make the most of that space. The box is made from 1x6s and plywood. The top is made from lightweight luan and held on with magnetic fasteners, so it will completely pop off when needed. Casters on the bottom of the boxes make them easy to slide under and out from underneath the bed.

Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate

Need a space-saving solution for your collection of coffee mugs? Save valuable cabinet and countertop space and make this DIY display in just one afternoon. The copper pipe and hooks against the slatted back will help make your self-serve coffee station deliciously chic.

Skill Level: Intermediate

This fold-out cabinet is perfect for storing garden supplies or barbecue tools. When guests come over, clear out the gear and use the cabinet as a serving bar or buffet. We used cedar wood for our cabinet because it is exterior grade so it’ll last a long time and stand up to the weather; plus it looks and smells great.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Increase the storage in your child’s bedroom with these jumbo-sized versions of the classic kid's toy. Once the kids have grown, these storage blocks can be used as nightstands or footstools. The hinged lid can be used on top, but when the box is standing on its side, it is more like a cabinet door.

Skill Level: Easy

If you want some practice cutting and joining angles, whip up a few of these triangular shelves. This super-simple project is perfect for newbies or for introducing kids to woodworking. We hung our triangle with rope, but you could also use a small D-ring on the back to hang your shelf.

Skill Level: Intermediate

To keep garage or basement clutter in control, build these extra-large cabinets. The frame is constructed from 2x4s that were secured to the wall and floor. The sides and bottom of the cabinet unit were covered in 1/2” plywood while the doors are made from lighter weight 1/4” plywood. (Lifting all that plywood may get a little heavy and awkward, so call a friend for help.) A vibrant paint color makes what is usually mundane storage bright and cheerful.

Skill Level: Easy

For practically no money we turned a shipping pallet into wine and wine glass storage. We used a crowbar and circular saw to deconstruct the pallet and then reconfigured it into a two-shelf rack that holds 25 bottles. To make the wine glass holder on the bottom of the rack, we simply cut small grooves into one of the slats and fastened it to the bottom of the rack. Our wine storage was made for the outdoors, but if you’re looking for something more refined for indoor use, follow the layout and make it out of finished lumber.

Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate

Short on space? These narrow shelves don’t take up a lot of room, and they provide display space for books, knickknacks or artwork. Instead of standard hanging hardware, the base (horizontal piece) of this shelf is fastened to the wall, then the screws are concealed by dowels that are placed on the back of the vertical piece.

Skill Level: Easy

Display your house number in style with this easy-to-build sign with a built-in planter box. This inexpensive project is made from just one 1x10 board. We used pine and then applied several coats of varnish so it could stand up to the outdoors. Cedar, teak or another exterior wood are also good choices.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Extend your growing season with this DIY cold frame. A type of mini greenhouse, a cold frame built with a glass or plastic lid provides plants access to sunlight and traps heat to prevent cold weather from putting an early end to your new crops. Use exterior-grade wood to build your cold frame, but to help keep the cost down, use a recycled window or glass door for the lid.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Are your fur babies having trouble getting up on the sofa or getting into the car? Build a portable ramp that extends from 16 to 30 inches so they can always be right next to you. The ramp collapses so it can be slid under a sofa or a bed. An optional handle makes it easy to move the ramp around the house.

Skill Level: Advanced

This two-bed platform adds extra sleeping space and offers a cozy nook for reading. The bed frame is made from 2x4s and MDF. The trundle bed (the one tucked underneath the platform) is on casters, so it easily wheels in and out. Galvanized pipes used for the trundle’s handle lend an industrial vibe to the space.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Give your outdoor entertaining space more function and style with a mini bar. The frame of the bar is made from exterior-friendly cedar, and the siding is composed of cedar fence panels. The fridge can easily be slid out of the bar if you need to bring it inside for the winter.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Keep tools and equipment organized with these easy-to-build shelves. The design is simple yet sturdy and the pegboard supports mean the shelves can easily be adjusted as needed. We used our shelves in the garage, but these could easily be made for the indoors for playrooms, pantries or laundry rooms.

Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate

It’s time to tame the mess that the dog bowl makes on your kitchen floor. For the cost of just one sheet of plywood, build this raised dog food and water bowl with handy, hidden storage. Note: Raised feeders are not recommended for all dogs, check with your veterinarian first.

Skill Level: Easy

Iron pipes and a simple 1x10 board come together to make a space-saving bike rack. The wood shelf provides a place to hold a helmet, sunglasses or any other cycling accessories.

Skill Level: Advanced

Looking for a new place to nap? If you've got a strong enough pergola or overhang to hold one, this swinging daybed may be the perfect solution. The frame is constructed from 2x4s and 1x6s and then set upon two 4x4 posts that also hold the hanging hardware. The trickiest part of this project is making sure you use bolts and fasteners that will hold the weight of the bed and the people on it.

Skill Level: Easy

This is probably the easiest woodworking project because it basically requires no woodworking. You’ll just need to prep the board that you’ll be using, whether that’s cutting to size, sanding, staining or painting. Just make sure when hanging your shelf to use anchors and hardware that can support the weight of your shelf and the items you put on it.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

It’s a three-for-one with this combination headboard, storage and nightstand project. The upper cubbies are one unit that sits atop the two nightstands. Made mostly of 3/4” plywood, this headboard unit is super sturdy, so go ahead and stack all your bedtime reads on top. We choose a two-tone finish for our headboard with a walnut interior and white face frame. The legs on the nightstand sections are 2x2 pieces of walnut.

Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate

This handsome porch planter was simply constructed from exterior-grade lumber and fasteners. Standard carriage bolts were used to add the nail-head trim for a stylish steampunk look.

Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate

Build a mobile planter box with a built-in trellis. It's perfect for a small deck or patio, and once your plants grow big and tall, the trellis can also serve as a privacy screen. This basic box is constructed with standard dimensional lumber, and the trellis is made from galvanized pipe and metal cables. It’s great for growing vining plants like beans, cucumbers or tomatoes.