Projects
148 projects. Any size.
Pick one, change the size, and the cut list, shopping list and steps follow.
Storage and shelving
19 projects
Bookcase
Fixed-shelf bookcase sized to your wall or alcove.
Wall shelves
Pine shelves on steel brackets screwed into studs.
Cube storage
Cube shelf sized for standard storage bins, any grid.
Wardrobe
Freestanding closet with a hanging rod, doors and drawers. Anchored.
Storage cabinet
Plywood cabinet with full-overlay doors, cup hinges and adjustable shelves.
Pantry cabinet
Tall pantry with upper and lower doors and adjustable shelves.
Media console
Low TV console with doors or drawers and an open middle for the electronics.
Floating shelf
Shelf with no visible brackets: a hollow box over a hidden cleat, or a solid board on steel rods.
Leaning ladder shelf
Bookshelf that leans on the wall, shelves getting deeper toward the floor. Strapped to a stud.
Corner shelf
Plywood shelving that fits an inside corner, with triangle or L-shaped shelves. Anchored when tall.
Shoe rack
Low slatted rack with two to four tiers; air gets under the shoes so they dry.
Closet system
Plywood towers with shelves and drawers, and closet rods spanning to the walls. Rod spans checked.
Wall coat rack
Hook rail screwed into the studs, with an optional shelf on top for hats and baskets.
Hall tree
Entry bench with shoe cubbies, a tall back with coat hooks, and a shelf on top. Anchored.
Linen cabinet
Tall, narrow cabinet with doors and adjustable shelves for towels and sheets. Anchored.
Wall cabinet
Upper cabinet that hangs on a French cleat screwed into the studs, with its full load stated.
Record cabinet
Vinyl record cabinet on legs: 12 1/2″ tall openings split by dividers, with a turntable top.
Blanket ladder
Leaning rack with dowel rungs for throws and quilts. Decor only: not for climbing.
Over-the-toilet etagere
Freestanding shelves that straddle the toilet. Touches no plumbing; strapped to a stud above the tank.
Bedroom
7 projects
Dresser
Plywood chest of drawers on full-extension slides. Anchored to the wall.
Nightstand
Bedside table with a drawer and an open shelf.
Platform bed
Low 2×6 platform bed with slats. No box spring needed.
Headboard
Wall-mounted plywood headboard in any shape: arch, wave, scallop.
Under-bed rolling drawers
Low plywood boxes on casters that roll out from under the bed, sized to the space you measure.
Storage bed
Platform bed made of plywood drawer cases and a center box. No box spring; 24″ deck max.
Daybed
Twin-mattress daybed with a back and two arms: a sofa by day, a guest bed at night.
Seating
13 projects
Bench
Sturdy 2×6 and 4×4 bench for an entry, table or porch.
Mudroom bench
Entry bench with shoe cubbies and a coat-hook rail.
Window seat
Built-in bench for a window or alcove, with drawers or cubbies.
Dining chair
Four-leg dining chair with a slatted back and a padded or wood seat.
Armchair
Wood-frame lounge armchair with plywood arms, made for a bought seat and back cushion.
Sofa
2×4 and plywood sofa frame for 2–4 seats, made for bought foam cushions.
Ottoman
Upholstered plywood-box ottoman on wood legs: foam, batting and fabric, stapled from scratch.
Storage ottoman
Storage bench with a padded lid on a piano hinge and a soft-close lid support.
Bar stool
Four-leg counter or bar stool with footrest stretchers on all four sides.
Footstool
Low four-leg footstool with a padded or solid top. A weekend first project.
Vanity bench
Small padded or wood bench for a vanity, dressing table or piano.
Shoe bench
Entry bench with a slatted shoe shelf underneath; sit down to tie your shoes.
Bench with back
Indoor 2×4 and 2×6 bench with a slatted backrest, for a dining nook or table end.
Tables and desks
15 projects
Desk
Plywood-top desk with 2×4 legs. Any size, any top shape.
Dining table
Farmhouse table on 4×4 legs with a glued board or plywood top.
Coffee table
Low table on 4×4 legs with a board or shaped plywood top and an optional shelf.
Console table
Narrow entry or sofa table with an optional low shelf.
Side table
Small end table on 4×4 legs with a board or shaped plywood top and an optional lower shelf.
Nesting tables
Two or three side tables that slide one under the next. Plywood tops on slim 2×2 legs.
Pedestal table
Round or square dining or bistro table on one central column with cross feet. No legs to bump.
Trestle table
Dining table on two trestle ends and a long stretcher. Knee room all along the sides; can come apart.
X-base farmhouse table
Farmhouse dining table with X-shaped end bases, a long stretcher and a glued board top.
Standing desk
Fixed-height standing desk sized to your elbow, on 4×4 legs with a low shelf and side stretchers.
L-shaped desk
Corner desk of two plywood tops on 4×4 legs, the back edges resting on cleats screwed into wall studs.
Writing desk
Slim plywood-top desk on 2×4 legs with one wide, shallow drawer on full-extension slides.
Bar table
Pub-height table, 40–42″, on 4×4 legs with footrest stretchers all round.
Sofa sleeve table
C-shaped side table that slides under a sofa so its top reaches over the arm. Three plywood panels.
Puzzle and game table
Table with a raised lip that keeps puzzle pieces and dice on top, with an optional felt top and shelf.
Kitchen and dining
9 projects
Kitchen island
Freestanding island: base cabinets, a butcher-block top and a seating overhang. No plumbing or power.
Kitchen cart
Rolling cart with a wood top, lipped shelves, locking casters and a towel bar.
Dish drying rack
Maple countertop dish rack: two rows of dowels for plates, standing in a plastic drip tray.
Spice rack
Pine spice rack with lipped shelves, screwed to wall studs or inside a cabinet door.
Cutting board
Edge-grain hardwood cutting board glued up from strips, finished with mineral oil.
Bread box
Countertop bread box from one pine 1×12, with a flip-down front or a lift-up lid.
Wine rack
Freestanding wine rack: a plywood case with an egg-crate grid of one-bottle cubbies.
Tilt-out trash cabinet
Freestanding cabinet with tilt-out fronts that hide a trash bin and a recycling bin.
Under-sink pull-out organizer
Pull-out trays that fit beside the pipes in an existing sink base. Inserts only; no plumbing touched.
Appliance cabinetry
8 projects
Fridge surround
Side panels and an over-fridge cabinet that make a freestanding fridge look built in.
Appliance station
Open shelf unit for a microwave, coffee maker or stand mixer. No back, so air flows.
Laundry pedestal
A sturdy platform that raises a front-load washer and dryer so you bend less.
Coffee station
Tall beverage cabinet: doors below, an open niche for the coffee machine, mug shelves above.
Appliance garage
Countertop cabinet with a lift-up or bifold door that hides the toaster and mixer. Open it before use.
Microwave cart
Open-backed stand for a countertop microwave, sized to its manual’s clearances, with storage below.
Mini-fridge cabinet
Cabinet around a freestanding mini or wine fridge, with the air gaps its manual asks for and an open back.
Dishwasher end panel
Finished plywood panel that closes in a dishwasher at the end of a cabinet run. Panel only, no hookups.
Garage and workshop
13 projects
Workbench
Heavy 2×4 workbench with doubled legs, a thick top and a lower shelf.
Sawhorses (pair)
A pair of 2×4 sawhorses with splayed legs, a T-shaped top and a load check.
Mobile tool cart
Plywood rolling cart with locking casters, lipped shelves, a drawer and a raised lip around the top.
Miter saw station
Long 2×4 and 4×4 bench with a saw platform and outfeed wings set level with your saw's bed.
Wall lumber rack
2×4 uprights screwed to studs, with bolted double-2×4 arms and stop blocks. Load per arm stated.
French cleat tool wall
Rows of 45° plywood cleats screwed to studs, with hang-anywhere shelf holders and bin boxes.
Garage shelving unit
Heavy freestanding 2×4 and plywood shelves for totes and paint cans, anchored to a stud.
Floor bike stand
Two notched 2×8s hold 2–5 bikes upright by the front wheel. Slots sized to your widest tire.
Mobile assembly and outfeed table
Dead-flat torsion-box top on a rolling plywood base with shelves. Overhangs all round for clamps.
Wall clamp rack
A 2×4 rail spaced off a ledger on the studs: bar, pipe and F-clamps drop into the slot and hang by their jaws.
Framed pegboard panel
Hardboard pegboard on a 1×2 standoff frame screwed to the studs, with room behind for the hooks.
Garden tool rack
Freestanding rack for long-handled tools: handles stand in a holed top board, heads sit in a lipped tray.
Storage tote rack
A 2×4 rack where totes slide in on their rims like drawers. Sized to your tote, anchored to a stud.
Small projects and decor
10 projects
Picture frame
Mitered pine frame with a rabbet for glass or acrylic you buy cut to size.
Mirror frame
Wide mitered frame for a mirror you buy cut to size. Heavy ones hang on a French cleat into studs.
Tiered plant stand
Stepped plywood sides with pine shelves, each tier higher than the one in front.
Magazine rack
Two-pocket floor rack with a hand-hole divider and slatted sides.
Keepsake box
Small pine box with a hinged lid: butt or mitered corners. A good first project.
Serving tray
Plywood-bottomed tray with low sides and cut-out or bought handles, finished food-grade.
Monitor riser
Desk shelf that lifts a monitor and leaves room for a keyboard underneath.
Laptop stand
Sloped desk stand that tilts a laptop toward you, with a lip so it can't slide.
Key and mail organizer
Entry wall board with a mail pocket, key hooks and a small ledge, screwed into studs.
Wall planter box
Cedar planter with drainage holes, hung by a tall back board screwed into wall studs.
Pets and animals
9 projects
Cat tree
4×4 posts wrapped in sisal rope with carpeted platforms, anchored to the wall.
Raised dog feeder
Stand with holes cut to fit the bowls you own, set at your dog's chest height.
Raised dog bed frame
Pine frame and plywood deck sized to the cushion you own, lifting it off a cold floor.
Litter box cabinet
Plywood cabinet that hides a litter box: side cat door, vent holes and a front door for scooping.
Dog crate end table
Plywood table that slides over the wire crate you own and turns it into a side table.
Birdhouse
Cedar nest box sized for the bird you want, with a side that swings open for cleaning.
Bird feeder
All-wood hopper or platform feeder with a roof, on a post or hanging from a branch.
Dog house
Plywood dog house sized from your dog: raised floor, offset door, lift-off roof, optional insulation.
Chicken coop
Raised backyard coop for 2–8 hens: roost, nest boxes, vents, predator-proof wire and an optional run.
Outdoor furniture
11 projects
Adirondack chair
Classic low, laid-back lawn chair with wide arms and a fanned slat back, in cedar or treated pine.
Picnic table
Classic A-frame picnic table, benches attached or separate, from 2×6 and 2×4 lumber.
Garden bench
Slatted outdoor bench with arms and a reclined back, from 2×4s and deck boards.
Outdoor coffee table
Low slatted patio coffee table with a lower shelf, in cedar or treated pine.
Outdoor sofa
Slatted outdoor sofa or sectional module built around bought deep-seat cushions.
Deck box
Slatted outdoor storage box for cushions and garden gear, with a drained floor and a supported lid.
Outdoor dining table
Slatted patio dining table on 4×4 legs, with an optional umbrella hole.
Outdoor serving cart
Rolling patio bar cart with a slatted top, lower shelf and handle, on two big wheels or casters.
Cornhole boards
Regulation 2′ × 4′ cornhole boards with a 6″ hole and folding legs, built in pairs.
Chaise lounge
Slatted outdoor chaise lounge with a back that props up at three angles or lies flat.
Planter side table
Square patio side table with a built-in planter or ice-tub well in the middle of the top.
Garden
13 projects
Raised garden bed
Cedar raised bed with corner posts. One afternoon.
Cold frame
Cedar cold frame with a hinged twinwall lid for early and late crops.
Potting bench
Slatted 2×4 potting bench with a lower shelf and an optional back shelf.
Privacy screen
Freestanding horizontal-slat cedar screen on posts set in concrete.
Elevated planter
Waist-high planter box on legs: no bending, no kneeling, and a shelf for tools underneath.
Tall planter
Square cedar patio planter, straight or tapered, with a false bottom so it needs far less soil.
Window box
Cedar window box with drainage holes, hung on steel brackets screwed into the wall studs.
Garden trellis
Freestanding cedar lattice trellis on posts set in concrete, for climbing roses, vines and beans.
Garden arbor
Walk-through arbor with lattice sides, curved rafter tails and an optional built-in bench.
Compost bin
Slatted 1–3 bay compost bin with lift-out front boards for turning and emptying.
Tiered planter
Stepped pyramid of cedar frames for strawberries, herbs and flowers. Water the top and it drains down.
Rain barrel stand
Sturdy 4×4 stand for one or two rain barrels on a level gravel pad, with room for a watering can.
Hose box
Slatted cedar box with a hinged lid that hides a coiled garden hose and lets it dry.
Sheds and yard structures
9 projects
Firewood shed
Lean-to firewood rack on skids with a slatted floor and back for airflow.
Storage shed
Gable storage shed on a gravel pad or deck blocks. Floor, walls, roof, siding and doors, step by step.
Freestanding pergola
Four-post pergola on concrete footings, with knee braces and shade slats.
Platform deck
Freestanding ground-level deck on deck blocks. Under 200 sq ft and 30″.
Lean-to garden shed
A freestanding single-slope garden shed up to 120 sq ft, framed on skids over a compacted gravel pad.
Bike shelter
An open-front lean-to shelter for 2–6 bikes with a slatted back, on posts in concrete or a gravel pad.
Trash can enclosure
A slatted cedar enclosure for 1–4 trash and recycling carts, open in front, with optional hinged lids.
Garden tool shed
A shallow upright shed for rakes, shovels and the mower, with wide double doors, on a gravel pad.
Clothesline posts
A pair of wooden T-posts in concrete with braced cross-arms and turnbuckle-tensioned lines.
Foundations, concrete and paths
7 projects
Gravel pad
Compacted gravel pad in a timber border for a shed, bins or firewood. Drains and never cracks.
Small concrete pad
A 4″ concrete pad up to 8′ × 8′ on compacted gravel, mixed from bags. Forms, mesh, joints and finish.
Concrete stepping stones
Cast your own square, hexagon or round stepping stones in a simple mold, then set them in the lawn.
Paver patio
A paver patio up to 200 sq ft at ground level: compacted base, screeded sand, pattern, edging and joint sand.
Gravel path
A straight or gently curving gravel path with edging, fabric and a compacted base. No concrete.
Deck-block foundation
A level grid of concrete deck blocks on compacted gravel for a small platform or shed, set by string line.
Post set in concrete
Set one or more 4×4 or 6×6 posts plumb in concrete for a mailbox, sign or clothesline.
Posts and signs
5 projects
Signpost
A painted sign board on two 4×4 posts in concrete, or hung from an arm on one post.
Roofed signpost
A sign board on two posts under a small shingled gable roof that keeps rain off the lettering.
Little free library
A book-sharing box with a shingled gable roof and a windowed door, on a post in concrete.
Mailbox post
A 4×4 mailbox post with a braced arm, set to the USPS height and setback, with a breakaway option.
House number sign
A plaque sized to your house number, on its own post in concrete or screwed to the wall studs.