28 Easy Wood Projects for your Home

Looking for some easy wood projects that you can finish up in a day?  Or how about an hour?  And with basic tools?  And inexpensive wood? Or even free pallet wood?

Well today, I’m rounding up some of my favorite small wood projects that you can make for your home.  All these woodworking projects can be completed with some basic tools, which I’ll highlight below.  

Oh, and most of them require nothing more than scrap pieces of wood.  Call me plain and simple but I really like working with Pine and I think it stains beautifully.  

I hope these projects inspire you to try and make something beautiful for your home.  Trust me – the hardest part is metaphorically “picking up the hammer.”  Just start and things will start rolling from there.  

Related Post: How to Make Wood Look Old

In fact, last year around this time,  I rarely picked up a drill.  Anything that needed to be done around the house, I usually called my hubby in.  But not anymore!  In just under a year’s time, I’ve built up the confidence to complete projects and fix things around the house myself. 

Now, I keep a running list of projects that I want to make for the house.  And of course, share with you here! So let’s get going.  

Easy Wood Projects


1. Simple Wood Bench 

a wood bench tutorial - easy wood projects for beginners

This wood bench will take you a few hours but once you know how to make it you open up a world of possibilities for more benches in different sizes!  Make one for your entryway or the end of a bed.  

Get the bench tutorial here.


2. Spice Drawer Risers

diy wood spice drawer organizer in a drawer with spices on it.

You can buy spice risers but I’m kind of partial to the pretty wood ones that are custom made for your drawer.  Grab some cheap pine wood and get organized!  

Get the full tutorial for spice risers here.  


3. Kids Toy Box

kids wood toy box on wheels with rope handles in a playroom - make this easy diy toy box

These toy boxes are perfect for organizing stuffed animals, blocks or any other toy that needs to be corralled in your kids rooms. It’s on caster wheels so it can be pulled around the room to make clean-up a breeze.  

Get the toy box tutorial here.  


4. easy Board and Batten Walls 

Blue Bathroom with board and batten wall

This tutorial calls for garden lattice – yes, you read that right.  Cheap lattice can transform boring walls into stylish molding.  This is not hard!  Very minimal cuts and mostly attached with construction adhesive.  

Get the full tutorial for board and batten here.  


5. Small Wood Stool / Plant Stand

DIY Small Wood Stool in a Kitchen - full tutorial for how to make these cheap wood stools in post.

I love these stools!  My dad and I put this one together and while this is the most challenging project on this list, it’s still very doable and sturdy as heck.  There are so many uses for stools; seats, step stool, plant stand and more!  

Get the full wood stool tutorial here.  


6. Wood Pedestal

Up close view of DIY wood pedestals stacked- full tutorial in post!

Not a stool – a pedestal.  And a stylish one that doesn’t cost a fortune.  I made one for my bathroom and one for my kitchen.  Life feels a little more luxurious when things are elevated on a pedestal.  

Get the wood pedestal tutorial here.  


7. Succulent Planter Box

close up view of a diy succulent planter made out of wood with mini succulents planted in it

Someone on Instagram asked me if my succulents were still alive and they actually are – which is kind of amazing since I neglected them for a good bit.  The planter box is also still holding up and adds rustic charm to your tables.  Don’t want to worry about plant life?  This project is also perfect for faux succulents.  

Get the full tutorial for this succulent planter box here.  


8. Farmhouse Coat Rack

Entryway with a diy farmhouse coat rack. There is a wreath and shawl hanging from the coat rack.

Sometimes the easiest projects can be the most charming.  Aside from the stool, this is one of my favorite projects.  I took a cheap piece of pine and attached some old hooks. 

I love how antique this looks and it’s functional too.  Whether you want to actually hang coats on it or just use it for decor (like me!) – you will love this project.  

Get the full coat rack tutorial (plus those awesome old coat hooks source) here.  


9. Peg Rail 

shaker style peg rail with a wreath and an old picture hanging on the wall

If you are into rustic/farmhouse decor, I’m a firm believer that you can put a peg rail in any room and it will look great.  This tutorial shows you two ways to make one (including one with screw in pegs – did you know those exist!?)  

Get the full peg rail tutorial here.  


10. Wood Bookends 

28 Easy Wood Projects for your Home

This was one of the first wood projects I ever made and I was so proud of myself afterward. 

These bookends came together with two pieces of molding from the hardware store.  You can decorate and paint them to fit in with your decor.  

Get the DIY wood bookends tutorial plus some ideas for jazzing them up right here.    


11. Garden Trellis 

View of a cedar and pine diy trellis against planter boxes.  how to build a trellis from start to finish!  Learn how easy it is to make your own!  

Apparently I can’t stay away from garden lattice.  A simple garden trellis tutorial that will give you privacy as well as place for your climbing plants to grow.  

Get the full tutorial for this garden trellis right here!  


12. Kids Activity Table

Kids Playroom Makeover Reveal - One Room Challenge.  See the before and after of this playroom and how we transformed it into a soothing and colorful kids playroom on a budget.

These kids’ activity tables can cost a fortune! But I made mine out of some plywood and premade legs that you can pick up at the hardware store. This table is perfect for legos, drawing, reading, and eating!

Get the kids activity table tutorial right here.


13. Simple Wood Lanterns

a set of three DIy Wood Lanterns on a front porch

You can totally make these charming, rustic wood lanterns for your porch and decor out of scrap wood! We used old pallet wood that we took apart and then made square dowels with a table saw. You can also make it easier on yourself by buying the square dowels already made, then just cutting them to the dimensions you want.

Get the full tutorial for these wood lanterns right here.


14. Shaker Peg Rack with Shelf

shaker peg rail with shelf - full tutorial in post!

This shaker peg rack with a shelf is a bit of a play-off of the traditional peg rail. An added shelf is perfect for holding layered artwork, greenery, and more. And yes – this can be made with all scrap wood!

Get the full tutorial for the shaker peg rack with shelf right here.


15. Wood Laundry Countertop

DIY Laundry Room Countertop - Step by Step.  How to install a wood countertop over your washer and dryer - for less than $50!

If you have a front loading washer and dryer, you can make a fully functional counter for holding laundry accessories and folding your clothes. This countertop was made from 1×10 boards and a piece of plywood.

Get the full tutorial for this DIY Laundry Room Countertop here.


16. Vintage Cutting Board

Vintage Cutting Boards - How to Make them and Where to buy Them!

Those beautiful vintage cutting boards are actually not so hard to construct yourself. They add so much character and warmth to your kitchens and can look pretty cool hung on the wall or from a peg shelf.

Get the tutorial for making a vintage cutting board here.


17. Armrest Table

Scrap wood project! A diy armrest table with a book and a coffee cup on it.

This project is super handy for your living room! If you are in a need of a little table for drinks and things but don’t have the room, you can make one of these armrest tables. They fit over the arm of your sofa.

Get the full tutorial for this armrest table right here.


18. Bathtub Tray

DIY Bathtub Tray - how to make your own, full tutorial in post!

This bathtub tray is a cinch to make from a cedar board. It adds so much warmth to your bathroom and it’s practical too. Use it to hold soaps, a wine glass, books and more.

Tutorial for Bath Caddy can be found here.


19. Wood Frame for Canvas

How to Frame a Canvas - floating flame tutorial with inexpensive wood 

You can totally make your own frame for a canvas. I did this with cheap pine wood and stained it my favorite wood stain (Early American). It definitely elevates the look of your canvas. Try this DIY spackle art while you’re at it.

How to Frame a Canvas


20. Long Landscape Art Frame

Above the bed art - see how to create your own - tips and tricks in post!

These long landscapes are all the rage right now, but finding the perfect frame for them can be kind of tough. Well – you can make your own! I used pine lattice and piece of plywood to construct this one. No glass it needed on the front.

DIY Long Landscape Art Frame


21. Laptop Stand

a laptop on a wood laptop stand on a white desk

We all know it’s better for our posture and neck to look at things at eye level. This wood laptop stand is the solution! I made this simple laptop stand out of a scrap project panel I had lying around in the garage.

Get the full tutorial for the wood laptop stand here.


22. Entry Table

DIY black wood Entry Table Decorated with a round mirror on top

This is one of my favorite projects ever because it’s so practical and can be completed for less than $40 in lumber. This entry table was constructed out of pine, put together with sturdy pocket hole screws and then stained True Black. I love that similar tables to buy cost over $200!

Get the DIY Entry Table tutorial right here.


23. Drawer Dividers

a close up of wood drawer dividers in a kitchen drawer

You can easily create your own drawer dividers with inexpensive pine wood and pocket holes. This has made a world of difference in our kitchen drawers, and we got a custom look for low price.

DIY Drawer Dividers Tutorial.


24. Blanket Ladder

diy blanket ladder against a navy wall with a basket

I wanted a simple blanket ladder that was tall to bring the eye up and fill an empty wall space in our bedroom. This was so incredibly easy to make – just 2x4s!

Get the blanket ladder tutorial here.


25. Lidded Wood Box

a wooden box slightly open with remotes inside 

These wood boxes are super practical, allowing you to stylishly hide those ugly remotes and charging cables.

Get the DIY Wood Box tutorial right here.


26. Side Table

DIy Outdoor Side Table made from Scrap Wood on a screened in porch.

I created a custom side table for our screened in porch. I made it to fit directly over our ugly, bulky outlet. Now it’s out of sight and we have a beautiful table to boot.

Get the DIY side table tutorial right here.


27. Grid Wall

Navy Office/Lounge with Grid Wall - How to put a Grid Wall - DIY Tutorial

We completely transformed our front office area into a sleek office with this accent grid wall. This is a high impact, easy and inexpensive project.

DIY Grid Wall How to.


28. Storage Cabinet

diy storage cabinet tutorial

Truth be told, this one requires a little more – but it still uses the same basic and simple practices I use with ALL my wood projects. Pine and Pocket Holes! I hope a project like this inspires you to try. Once you learn the basic skillset, you can easily knock this out!

DIY Storage Cabinet Tutorial.


Favorite Resources/Inspiration for Woodworking

While I learned a lot about woodworking from my dad and my husband, here are a few of my favorite resources for learning even more.  

  • Woodworking for Mere Mortals – easy to follow and so many great tips!  He has a great teaching style.  
  • Ana White Woodworking – she is amazing!  I think she has a tutorial for just about everything.  
  • Pretty Handy Girl – You will love Brittany as much as I do.  So many amazing projects on her site and she has a great way of teaching beginners.  

I tend to make things that I want to buy.  If I see a pretty side table or stool, I try to figure out a way to make one first.  Or, I see if I can thrift it.  Sometimes that can be the cheaper option since lumber prices are a little insane right now.  

I’ll be sure to add more easy wood projects to this list as I complete them.  And trust me, I have quite the list of things I want to try out.  I encourage you to give it a go!

Thanks for visiting today, 

Xo Karen