If you enjoy creating things with your hands, woodworking is a great way to express your creativity and save some cash.
You can also enhance your living space with beautiful and practical items.
With just a few basic tools and techniques, you can start with some easy woodworking projects for beginners.
In this article, we’ll show you four such easy and practical woodworking projects you can make in a weekend or less.
These projects are perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics of woodworking and have fun along the way.
What You Need to Start Woodworking
Before you dive into your first woodworking project, you’ll need some basic tools and materials.
Here are some of the essentials that every beginner woodworker should have:
- A workbench or a sturdy table to work on
- A tape measure, a pencil, and a square to mark and measure your wood
- A saw to cut your wood. You can use a hand saw, a circular saw, a jigsaw, or a miter saw, depending on the type and size of wood you’re working with
- A drill and a set of drill bits to make holes in your wood
- A hammer and some nails or a screwdriver and some screws to join your wood pieces together
- A sander or some sandpaper to smooth the edges and surfaces of your wood
- A level to check if your wood pieces are aligned and balanced
- Some wood glue to reinforce your joints and fill in any gaps
- Some clamps to hold your wood pieces together while the glue dries
- Some paint, stain, or finish to protect and beautify your wood
You don’t need to buy all these tools at once. You can start with the basics and gradually build up your collection as you take on more challenging projects.
As you advance in woodworking, you might consider experimenting with different types of wood, like live edge, which retains the tree’s natural shape along the edges for a unique look. Working with live edge wood pieces can add a rustic charm to furniture projects, giving them a raw and organic feel. Many woodworkers find that live edge wood offers creative opportunities for custom tables, shelves, and even decorative wall art.
Another thing you need is some inspiration and guidance for your woodworking projects. You can find plenty of free or affordable woodworking plans online, in books, or in magazines.
However, you don’t have to follow them exactly. You can always modify them to suit your preferences, skills, and materials.
4 Easy Woodworking Projects for Beginners
Now that your tools and materials are ready, it’s time to choose your first woodworking project.
Here are four ideas that are easy to make, practical, and great for gifting:
1. Wooden Chopping Board and Serving Tray
It is a very simple project and a great way to practice cutting, sanding, and gluing wood.
To make this project, you’ll need:
- A 4 ft. x 12 in. x 3/4 in. board of hardwood (such as maple, walnut, or cherry)
- A 4 ft. steel ruler or a thin board to scribe the arc
- A jigsaw or a band saw to cut the arc
- A sander or sandpaper to smooth the edges
- Wood glue
- Clamps
- Mineral oil or food-safe finish
Here are the steps to follow:
- Cut the board into two equal pieces (2 ft. x 12 in. each).
- On one piece, mark the center point on one of the long edges.
- Mark two points on the opposite long edge on the same piece, 3 inches from each end.
- Using the steel ruler or the thin board, draw an arc connecting the three points.
- Cut along the arc with the jigsaw or the band saw.
- Sand the cut edge until smooth.
- Apply wood glue on one side of the other piece and align it with the curved piece.
- Join the two pieces with glue and leave them overnight to dry.
- Sand the entire board until smooth.
- Apply mineral oil or a food-safe finish on both sides of the board and let it dry.
You can use this board as a chopping board or flip it over and use it as a serving tray for cheese, fruits, bread, etc.
2. Shoe Storage Booster Stool
It is a handy item you can use in your closet, entryway or bedroom. It can help you store your shoes off the floor, reach high shelves, or sit down while putting on your shoes.
To make this project, you’ll need:
- A 4 ft. x 4 ft. sheet of 3/4 in. plywood
- A circular saw or a table saw to cut the plywood
- Wood glue
- A drill and drill bits
- A hammer and some 8d finish nails
- Paint or stain
Here are the steps to follow:
- Cut the plywood sheet into the following pieces:
| Piece | Size | Quantity |
| Top | 16 in. x 16 in. | 1 |
| Sides | 16 in. x 15 in. | 2 |
| Back | 16 in. x 14 in. | 1 |
| Shelves | 14 in. x 15 in. | 2 |
- On the back piece, mark two points on one of the long edges, 6 inches from each end.
- On the same piece, mark two points on the opposite long edge, 3 inches from each end.
- Using a drill bit slightly larger than the nail head, drill four holes through the back piece at the marked points.
- On the side pieces, mark two points on one of the short edges, 3 inches from each end.
- On the same pieces, mark two points on the opposite short edge, 6 inches from each end.
- drill four holes through each side piece at the marked points using the same drill bit.
- On the top piece, mark four points on each edge, 3/4 inch and 4 1/4 inch from each corner.
- Using the same drill bit, drill four holes through each edge of the top piece at the marked points.
- Apply wood glue on the edges of the back piece and align it with one of the side pieces, making sure the holes match up.
- Nail through the side piece into the back piece with four nails.
- Repeat steps 10 and 11 with the other side piece.
- Apply wood glue on the edges of the top piece and align it with the assembled sides and back, making sure the holes match up.
- Nail through the top piece into the sides and back with 16 nails.
- Mark the location of the two shelves on the inside of the sides and back, about 6 inches and 12 inches from the bottom.
- Apply wood glue on the edges of the shelves and align them with the marked locations.
- Nail through the sides and back into the shelves with eight nails per shelf.
- Paint or stain the stool as desired.
You can use this stool to store your shoes on the shelves and sit or stand on the top.
3. Wooden Arrow Wall Decor
A wooden arrow wall decor is a simple and stylish way to add some personality to your space. You can make one or more arrows and arrange them in different directions to create a unique look.
To make this project, you’ll need:
- A 1 in. x 4 in. x 6 ft. board of pine or cedar
- A circular saw or a miter saw to cut the board
- A sander or sandpaper to smooth the edges
- Wood glue
- Clamps
- Paint or stain
- Picture hangers
Here are the steps to follow:
- Cut the board into the following pieces:
| Piece | Size | Angle | Quantity |
| Shaft | 18 in. x 3 1/2 in. | Straight | 1 |
| Point | 6 in. x 3 1/2 in. | 45 degrees | 2 |
| Feather | 6 in. x 3 1/2 in. | 45 degrees | 2 |
- Sand the cut edges until smooth.
- Apply wood glue on the angled edges of the point pieces and align them with one end of the shaft piece, forming a V-shape.
- Clamp the pieces together and let the glue dry.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the feather pieces and the other end of the shaft piece, forming another V-shape.
- Paint or stain the arrow as desired.
- Attach picture hangers on the back of the arrow.
- Hang the arrow on the wall as you like.
You can make more arrows and vary the size, color, and direction to create a dynamic wall display.
4. Wooden Bathtub Tray
It is a luxurious accessory that can make your bath time more relaxing and enjoyable. You can use it to hold your book, tablet, phone, candle, drink, or anything else you need to unwind.
To make this project, you’ll need the following:
- A 1 in. x 10 in. x 6 ft. board of pine or cedar
- A circular saw or a table saw to cut the board
- A tape measure and a pencil to mark the cuts
- A drill and drill bits
- A jigsaw or a hole saw to cut the holes
- A sander or sandpaper to smooth the edges
- Wood glue
- Clamps
- Wood stain or paint
Here are the steps to follow:
- Measure the width of your bathtub and add 4 inches to get the length of your tray.
- Cut the board into two pieces, one with the length of your tray and one with the length of 12 inches.
- On the 12-inch piece, mark two points on one of the long edges, 2 inches from each end.
- On the same piece, mark two points on the opposite long edge, 2 inches from each end.
- Using a drill bit slightly smaller than the board thickness, drill four holes through the 12-inch piece at the marked points.
- On the same piece, mark the center point on one of the short edges.
- On the same piece, mark two points on the opposite short edge, 3 inches from each end.
- Using a jigsaw or a hole saw, cut a semicircle with a radius of 3 inches from the center point to the two points on the opposite short edge.
- Sand the cut edges until smooth.
- Apply wood glue on one side of the 12-inch piece and align it with one end of the longer piece, making sure the holes match up.
- Let the glue set overnight after clamping the two pieces.
- Stain or paint the tray as desired and let it dry.
You can use this tray to rest on your bathtub and enjoy your bath essentials. The semicircle can hold your wine glass or mug securely. The holes can be used to attach handles or hooks if you want.
Conclusion
You can have fun and create beautiful things with woodworking, a hobby for everyone. You don’t need to be an expert or have a lot of tools to start it. You just need some basic skills, simple materials, and creative ideas.
We hope this article has inspired you to try some of these easy and practical woodworking projects for beginners. So what are you waiting for? Grab your tools, get some wood, and start woodworking!
