50 Small Woodworking Projects: Easy Plans for DIY Wood Projects

Woodworking is more than a hobby. It’s a chance to build something that lasts, whether that’s a keepsake, a functional piece of furniture, or a one-of-a-kind gift. Success comes down to precision, craftsmanship, and the right materials.

Before you start cutting, though, check the one factor that can make or break your project: moisture content (MC).

Wood that is too wet or too dry for its environment can warp, crack, shrink, or swell after you build with it. That’s why professional woodworkers and hobbyists use moisture meters to confirm their wood is properly acclimated before they build.

This list of 50 woodworking projects has something for everyone, from beginner-friendly builds to advanced pieces. Whichever one you choose, start by checking your wood’s moisture content.

Woodworking Projects: 50 Ideas

Kitchen Table

Long, glued-up tabletops show significant shrinkage and expansion, so make sure the MC is correct from the start, and build the table to allow some wood movement without tearing itself apart. See some kitchen table plans.

Dresser

If you want your drawers to fit right (the dresser drawers, that is), you’ll want to limit movement in the wood. Builds using plywood will be more dimensionally stable than those with solid wood, but many plans require both, like the dresser I finished up as this article was written. Well-dried wood, verified by a moisture meter, is a must.

Shelves

I once made an 8-foot-long, live-edge shelf out of 2-inch-thick yew I bought from a seller on Craigslist, and I forgot to measure the MC before buying it. It was beautiful, but when the wood dried, there was a significant twist down the length of the board, and one corner ended up about an inch higher than it should have been.

Always bring your moisture meter with you when you’re buying wood, and scan the entire length of each board. Sometimes only part of the wood has dried properly, or some parts may have been rewetted by the elements.

Cabinets

Whether you’re putting these in your shop or in your kitchen, take the time to do it right. Quality plywood is likely to be fine if it’s been stored indoors through manufacturing, shipping, purchasing, and your shop, but still make sure the plywood and solid wood both have the proper MC for the environment they’re going to be in. The plywood will likely stay dimensionally stable with moisture changes in the environment, but solid wood won’t.

So if you use both, make sure to take that into account in the design. Easy DIY cabinet plans.

Bookcase

You’ve got to store all of those books somewhere, right? When you build your own bookcase, the case can be more of a display piece than the contents!

Wood Flooring

While not an easy project for beginners, some woodworkers have made and installed their own hardwood flooring. Doing it yourself can save money and lets you create unique flooring that makes a statement in your home. You can choose species that aren’t common, make wider or longer planks than typical, and finish the flooring in a way that makes it your own.

Moisture is one of the biggest factors in the long-term success of that floor. If you don’t want to live with irregular gaps between the boards, splitting, cupping, bowing, and other unsightly trip hazards, make sure every board is properly dried. The right target MC depends on where you live and the conditions inside your home, so use our EMC calculator or the Wagner Meters Wood H2O mobile app to find it.

Don’t forget to measure your subfloor as well, and if you’re on a concrete slab, perform a relative humidity moisture test.

Cutting Board

A cutting board is a beautiful, durable project that can last many years if made and cared for properly. Whether you build an end-grain, edge-grain, or face-grain board, it will go through many cycles of absorbing moisture and drying out.

Make sure the MC of the wood is appropriate and even across all the pieces to minimize movement and stress on the glue joints after the board has been glued up.

Keepsake Box

With decorative joints, inlays, and all eyes on it, you’ll want to make sure the lid stays fitted and no cracks develop anywhere.

Guitar

Luthiers (makers of stringed instruments) build beautiful works of art, pleasing not just to the eye but also to the ear. Fine instruments are often stored in humidity-controlled environments to keep the instrument’s moisture level from changing and affecting its quality. That care is wasted, though, if the original wood wasn’t properly dried. The thin walls and plates of musical instruments are especially prone to cracking and movement.

You can build a guitar from scratch, with a template, or from a full kit (you might check out StewMac for hardware), but verify the MC is correct before investing so many hours in your work of art.

Bonus fact: Many guitar manufacturers and custom luthiers use Wagner moisture meters on their instruments.

Shop Workbench

Many woodworkers will tell you the workbench is the core of the shop. It’s the tool that most affects the efficiency and enjoyment of the craft. It can be a solid-core door on two sawhorses or a split-top Roubo workbench with bench dogs, multiple vises, and beautiful joinery. If you’re going to build one to last, make sure the wood is fully acclimated to your shop environment and the MC is correct before you get started.

The larger boards and timbers typical of heavier benches take longer to dry, and construction-grade lumber (a popular compromise between price and quality) often has an MC significantly higher than ideal for a project like this. Kick-start your workbench project with these workbench plans.

Bowl

If you have access to a lathe and a lot of patience, making a decorative bowl can be a rewarding project. Wood turners have to pay close attention to moisture if they’re going to keep their work from splitting or deforming. Often, a turner will “green turn” a blank into the approximate shape and size it will ultimately be, but thicker than the final piece, perhaps an inch thick.

They’ll then seal the end grain with wax or another compound and wrap the whole thing in paper bags or newspaper to slow down drying. After several more months of drying (or longer), checking it with a moisture meter confirms the piece is ready for final turning and less likely to crack.

Picture Frame

If you’ve got the perfect picture of your family or your favorite landscape, you might want to honor it with a custom picture frame. A picture frame can be fairly simple if you’ve got the tools and skills for accurate miters, a glue-up, and finishing. If gaps start to appear in those miters, though, or the frame begins to warp and twist, you won’t be happy, so verify the MC before you cut.

Chessboard

The dark- and light-colored woods that make up a chessboard can be very beautiful. You’ll want the squares cut precisely to avoid gaps or misalignment. Once it’s made, though, a chessboard still expands and contracts across the grain as humidity changes. To avoid warping and cracks, don’t use breadboard ends or surround the squares with a glued-up frame of wood.

That cross-grain construction is almost sure to cause problems. Use a quality wood glue, and before you cut any of the pieces, make sure they have the proper MC. Do you sense a trend here? Take a look at this example of moisture-related issues when a chessboard was made without taking this into account.

Desk

Want your home office to have a personalized touch? A quality handmade desk can become an heirloom piece, passed down from generation to generation. As with other projects, check the MC of all the wood before you cut, and avoid glued-on breadboard ends or you’ll likely end up with splits. DIY desk plans.

Breakfast-in-Bed Tray

If your spouse likes eating in bed or on the couch, this is a no-brainer. A simple flat surface will do, and I’d recommend fold-out legs for solid support and easy storage. If you’d like more features, shallow drawers, phone-holding recesses, and pencil trays are convenient and turn your eating tray into a portable laptop desk.

Entryway Key Holder

Add some hooks to hang keys on, some compartments to store mail and phones, and a chalkboard or a mirror to complete your style.

Display Rack

Organize spices, essential oils, nail polish, or whatever your imagination creates.

Chair

Very useful for those who don’t want to sit on the floor. If you cut corners, though, you might end up there anyway! If you’d like to find some plans or just inspiration, start with Ana White’s free furniture plans.

Rocking Chair

This can easily become an heirloom, so build it right and it will last for generations!

Step Stool

Perhaps you need one for those hard-to-reach pantry shelves. Just because it’s functional doesn’t mean it can’t be a work of art. Bonus points if it’s multifunctional, like this convertible step stool chair from Woodworker’s Journal that caught my eye a few years back.

Butcher Block Countertop

Build it right, with properly dried lumber that won’t warp or add stress to the glue lines. When you’re done, finish or seal it with mineral oil or another food-safe finish, and reapply it regularly. If you don’t, and water seeps into the wood and glue seams, things could go poorly and get expensive.

Couch End Table

Personalize your family or living room with a sleek couch end table. It’s ideal for lamps, photos, and decorative items, and it gives your room extra storage space right next to your couch or favorite chair.

Bench Seat

A bench seat can offer additional dining seating or fit in an entryway, mudroom, and more. If you opt for a cube storage bench, you get extra seating plus storage for decorative items, hobbies, toys, media, or office supplies. It’s also a handy place to set items you need on the go or to sit and put on your shoes.

Pencil or Crayon Caddy

If you need to store pencils or pens, a caddy is great for any office. And for budding artists, a caddy keeps crayons organized and upright. Add a handle for easy toting, or personalize it with colorful designs.

Shoe Cubby

This is a practical way to store your shoes and keep them organized. You can build it horizontally or vertically depending on space. If you build it roomy enough, it can also double as a place to store other household items. DIY shoe cubby plans.

Paper Towel Holder

Depending on the wood you use, a paper towel holder can add a warm decorative touch to any kitchen. You can build either a standing holder that moves easily around your countertop or one that’s mounted to the wall.

Napkin Holder

A great accessory and attractive centerpiece for any dining or buffet table! Keep napkins at your fingertips with a stylish napkin holder. Get inspired by these napkin holders.

Display Case

A wood-trimmed display case is great for displaying many items, including medals, pins, knives, collectibles, artifacts, flags, and more. Add black velvet padding inside, and enclose the case with glass or clear acrylic panels to protect the contents. You’ve got options here: your case can stand upright on four legs, sit on a tabletop, or mount on a wall.

Crib

A handcrafted hardwood crib can become a prized heirloom passed from one generation to the next. Choose plans that meet current federal crib safety standards from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and check the MC of every part so the joints stay tight over time.

Wardrobe

Give yourself the space you need for folded sweaters, trousers, socks, and more with a roomy wardrobe complete with three drawers and a hanging rod. Complement your bedroom décor by choosing wood that matches your nightstands, dresser, and headboard.

Bed Headboard

Create ambiance in your bedroom with a solid wood headboard that balances warmth and style. Choose from fine hardwoods like mahogany, cherry, walnut, or oak. Be creative and include classic turned posts or an elegant scalloped top. Prefer a rustic look?

Then use distressed wood with its natural characteristics and imperfections. You can build it with legs so it attaches directly to your bed frame, or hang it at your desired height on the wall behind your bed.

Mobile Kitchen Cart

Small kitchens need to be as versatile as they are efficient, and a mobile kitchen cart adds precious work surface. Add wheels for mobility and a butcher block top with a built-in knife block for roomy food prep. Want to go all out? Include shelves, a drawer cabinet, and a towel holder.

Hope Chest

This is a great place to store heirlooms and other important items for many years to come, either for your family or someone special in your life. Choose from many beautiful woods such as cherry, oak, or maple, and line the chest with cedar for a pleasing fragrance. Skip self-latching locks, which can trap a child inside, and add a lid support so the lid can’t slam shut.

These free plans are a good place to start, and there are many other designs available online.

Bandsaw Box

Bandsaw boxes are easy to make, but make sure you use the right blade and make your cuts in the correct sequence. Start with a good-size chunk of hardwood or softwood for the box. Can’t find one big enough? Look for turning blanks, often sold as bowl blanks. You’ll probably want to do the bandsaw work with a 3/16-inch, 10 TPI (teeth per inch) blade, and feed the material slowly because of the fine tooth count.

This will leave you with surfaces that need very little sanding, which is important for fitting the drawer. This Woodworkers Guild of America tutorial is great for beginners, but don’t copy the design exactly. There’s no reason each bandsaw box can’t be unique!

Clock Housing

Add a touch of classic style to any room with a finely crafted solid wood wall clock. You can go with a traditional round housing or something more elaborate, like a pendulum chiming mantel clock that looks elegant over your fireplace.

Magazine Rack

Build a roomy, stylish solid wood magazine rack that looks good in any room and holds your current magazines, journals, newspapers, and books. Here, too, you have options. You can build a floor model with dividers, with or without a carrying handle, or opt for a seven-pocket, wall-mounted rack.

TV Stand

For many of us, there’s nothing more relaxing than curling up in the living room to watch a great TV show or movie. But are you tired of craning your neck to see a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, or looking to replace a standard-issue melamine console? A contemporary, functional DIY TV stand takes little more than some affordable materials and a little elbow grease.

Cut furniture-grade plywood into narrow strips, stack them, and add some ready-made hairpin legs, and you’ve got a mid-century media console. To keep your stand from curling at the ends or the legs from wobbling, you know the drill: use a moisture meter to make sure the wood is dry enough before you work with it. DIY TV stand plans.

Platform Bed

A solid wood platform bed gives a clean, contemporary lift to any bedroom. It also eliminates the need for a box spring. To keep the mattress snugly in place, finish the platform on three sides with a 2-inch molding. You can stain or paint it, or enjoy the natural wood as is.

Boat

Whether it’s a toy for a child or a full-size boat for you, you don’t want the wood shrinking or swelling after it’s built. A moisture meter helps confirm your lumber is ready before you start.

Coffee Table

If this is going to be the centerpiece of your living room, you’ll want it to be defect-free. Make it beautiful, and show off your woodworking skills with this project! There are many styles to choose from depending on the look you want and your skill level.

For instance, you can build from simple, rustic, contemporary, mission, or modern coffee table plans. Some plans include drawers or shelves for extra storage. Coffee tables can be built from hardwood, softwood, or even an exotic wood such as mahogany.

Ana White’s website is a great source for plans, including this easy rustic coffee table.

Kitchen Utensil Drawer Organizer

Simplify your life and beautify your utensil drawer with a wood organizer custom fit to your drawer. Or use one in your office, computer desk, or dressing table for the loose items that cause clutter.

Recipe Box

The cook in your life will appreciate the handcrafted organization you gift them.

Cookbook Stand

Stop fumbling with heavy cookbooks in your kitchen and give them a place to rest with a handcrafted wood cookbook stand. Make it large enough to handle any size book, and consider giving it three adjustable positions for easy reading. To protect against food splatters, you might also add a clear acrylic shield that covers the front of your cookbook.

Tool Chest

Sometimes a tool chest is a beginner’s practice carpentry project. Other times, a craftsman shows pride in their work through the quality of the craftsmanship. Wherever you land on that spectrum, a tool chest is a fun and useful project.

Quilt Rack

A charming addition to any home, a solid wood quilt rack works well in the family room, den, or bedroom for storing and displaying quilts and blankets. Add enough rungs and you can display several quilts and blankets neatly without clutter. You can also use it to hold towels in the bathroom.

Bread Box

For many of us, a wooden bread box brings back memories of a grandparent’s kitchen, filled with homemade bread and pastries. Bread boxes can hold bread and other baked goods, including bagels, flatbread, and pita. Wood helps moderate humidity inside the box, which can help keep baked goods fresh longer.

Card Table

Do you need a place to seat extra guests or play games, but don’t want a permanent table? If so, a solid wood card table is for you. You can build it with a traditional straight-edge top or an elegant scalloped edge. Add a steel folding mechanism and you can easily store your card table in a closet or under a bed. And if you’re really ambitious, consider building matching chairs.

Footstool

Build a footstool that both you and your feet will love. Elevating your feet can take some stress off your back and body. To make it even better, add padding on top or a small storage compartment for magazines or books. Stained or painted, your footstool will complement any room.

It’s also great for reaching those just-out-of-reach things or for a child who can’t quite reach the bathroom sink.

Wine Rack

Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or enjoy a glass occasionally, a functional and stylish wine rack will serve you well. Depending on how large and detailed you want it, you can often build one for less than it would cost to buy one. Wine racks come in several styles, including vertical, horizontal, and custom designs. Some hold six bottles, while modular racks can hold dozens. Some racks even hold stemmed wine glasses.

Jewelry Box

A solid wood jewelry box made from cherry, mahogany, maple, or an exotic wood, topped with burl wood, adds warmth and charm. Jewelry boxes come in many sizes, from tall upright models with several drawers to small tabletop versions with one or two drawers.

Add a velvet interior to protect jewelry from scratches, a mirror inside the lid, and as many divided sections as you need for bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and ring rolls. DIY jewelry box plans.

Check Your Wood Before You Build

And there you have it: 50 woodworking project ideas to keep you busy in your workshop for some time to come. I hope your projects turn out well and last for years, and that our wood moisture meters help you make that a reality.

Before you start building, be sure you have all the woodworking tools you need. View our list of top woodworking tools.

Shop Orion Moisture Meters

Last updated on October 8th, 2026