When I first started working with wood, I had very basic tools and yet I created quite a few quality wood items. My first creation was a wooden tray that I cherished for years. It is still lying on my coffee table. But I am happy that I started with something so basic and with simple tools. I have learnt things the hard way.
Here are 20 cool things to make out of wood that you would enjoy crafting. You can keep them for yourself or perhaps sell them – your take!
Baby Gate or Pet Gate
This is super easy and can be built within an hour. If you have wooden boards or pallets that are of no use to you, you can create a sturdy, functional gate to restrict your child’s or your pet’s movements. Use a saw to cut the boards to the required size. Assemble these using screws and hinges.
Check out HomeTalk to learn how to make them.
Pallet University
This offers a variety of tutorials on how to create simple wood projects from pallets. I loved this wheeled dog bed. Very cute and very simple to make. Why have your pet sleep on the floor when you can actually build this movable bed? I am sure your pet won’t get out of the bed once he starts enjoying the ‘cradle’ you have made.
Indoor/Outdoor Bench
This one is yet again from the Pallet University. Created from pallets, this one looks very rustic. I loved the little bench. It can be used in almost any nook or corner of your house. You can customize its looks by staining it differently.
You can see more about it here.
Arrows
Hey! I love arrows. You can see arrows almost everywhere on the Internet these days, and I find them cool. You can see a wall beneath my staircase has a collage of wooden arrows. If you have some planks in the garage, you can whittle out these arrows easily.
Shelly, tells you how exactly these DIY wood arrows can be made.
Pallet Signs
Once again the pallet madness. Why couldn’t I think of this simple wood project? Pallet signs have become very popular over time. This simple project for beginners is not only easy to do, it is very profitable too. You can use quotes, write your address or make a funny pallet sign. I am sure any of these are going to bring a smile to the faces of your family, friend or customers.
You can find 52 pallet sign designs over here.
DIY Stained Wood Tray
Wooden trays have always been in fashion. You can expect to shell out $30 or more for a simple wooden tray. If the tray comes with a little bit of carving, you may have to shell out an extra $20 on that. So why not make this simple item yourself? It can be made within a few hours.
Check out the step-by-step guide on how to create it.
Wine Planks
Wine racks are super easy to make and you can actually make them within a few hours. If you have a good collection of wine and would like to display it proudly, this wine plank is the coolest thing to make. You will need a wood plank, a drill press, a sander, stain and brackets to hang it. If you don’t want to stain the wood, you can go for cedar or oak that have a naturally beautiful grain.
You can learn more on how to make them over here.
Wooden bookends
Do you have a piece of reclaimed wood that isn’t of any use? Well then, you have the right ingredient to create your own reclaimed wood bookends. Reclaimed wood’s distressed look and its imperfections give this product a rustic appeal.
Tim and Mary Vidra from eHow tell us how to create them effortlessly.
Fruit and Vegetable Holders
Fruit and vegetable holders are some of the most popular wood products. They are simple to make and you can create them quickly. However, you need to be a little intuitive if you want to stand up against the competition in order to sell it. If you are planning to make it for your kitchen, think about your requirements. The best part about this project is that you can make it from any leftover wood from your previous project.
For more details check out this DIY fruit and vegetable holder.
Floating Shelves
Now this is really one of the cool things to make out of wood. I know this can be slightly difficult for a beginner, but an advanced DIYer would enjoy it. Look at how April Wilkerson from Wilkerdos has built floating shelves at and meticulously installed them.
She has painted all the shelves. While these look beautiful, I prefer the natural wood color and would rather stain them.
Pallet Wood Planter Box
Wood planter boxes take up a very small space and can be kept on your windowsill or in any corner of your house that gets plenty of sunshine. For building this planter box, you need wooden pallets, a plastic planter box, nails and drill.
Learn more about how create a planter box over here.
Birdhouse
Birdhouses are simply adorable. You can install them on posts or just hang them on a tree or fence. They are easy to make and a great project to do if you want the kids to get involved. if you are planning on selling birdhouses, you will be surprised to know that they are one of the hottest items in this category. All you need is a slightly different design from the usual.
Check out how Danielle has made this cool birdhouse over here.
Beer Tote
The market price of a beer tote is about $50, but you can make it at half the price. A beer tote looks smart especially when you walk into a summer party with it. It can be built in less than an hour. All you need is a wooden board, a wall mounted bottle opener, a handle and screws.
For detailed information visit here.
Wood Slices
You must have seen these in the craft stores and believe me, they are expensive. However, if you make them yourself they will be just a fraction of the market price. You will need some logs of about 4” diameter, but the size is up to you. You can go for bigger sized logs also. If you are planning to print an image on these, ensure that the image you have chosen is not bigger than the log diameter.
Wood Pallet Bookshelf
This is such a basic wood project that you can totally do it without any help. You just need a few planks, a saw and a drill. If you are looking for a brand new look, you can go to the market to buy new planks, but old weathered wood planks would look just as wonderful. You can make four bookshelves from one pallet.
Check out Me And Madeline for details on how to make it.
DIY Platform Beds
How could I not include this cool project in my list? If you are on a budget and want to build a platform bed of your own, now is the time. It is a project that can be finished over a weekend and is well worth the trouble. You can build a simple one or one with storage. If you are a beginner, I recommend you make one without storage units.
DIY Tree Swing
Do you have a backyard with a tree? Then a tree swing is a must. This is pretty easy to make and you can make it in under an hour. You will need wood planks (I prefer cedar), wood beads, a solid nylon braided rope and a drill.
Ryan Foy really knows how to make these tree swings. Check it out over here to see how he makes them.
Tree Stump Tables
Tree stumps can be used for a variety of purposes. You can turn fallen tree stumps into flower planters or you can make tables out of them.
For more designs check out Good Ideas for You.
Cracked Log Lamps
This is a cool thing to do and so natural. It makes you feel connected to Mother Nature. Make lamps from cracked logs. The light that falls out from the cracks in the logs is magical.
Click here to know more about them.
Lighting solution for your backyard or deck
I am obsessed with good lighting, especially at nighttime. I like soft lights with warm hues. So when I saw this DIY project of building lights on wood posts for the deck, I jumped at it.
The 100 Block shows us how to execute this idea into action.
