Wood is undoubtedly one of the most attractive, hard-wearing and sustainable materials around. Providing you have robust carpenter’s tools and the right paints, varnishes and treatments, you can use them to create a range of impressive home DIY projects.
You’ll need to take care though. As our DIY ambitions increased during the COVID-19 lockdowns, so too did accidents and injuries. You don’t need to jump straight in at the deep end though – there are plenty of easy to intermediate woodworking projects you could get stuck into.
Your choice will depend on what you need or want to change around your home, of course. Whatever the case, here are four practical ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Indoor shelving
Shelving can be both a practical and aesthetic feature, allowing you to maximise vertical storage while curating attractive displays. All you really need is a single piece of wood cut to size and screwed into place! You may want to sand, varnish and paint the wood first.
There are ways to take things further, of course. You could assemble a multi-level freestanding unit, for example, or build shelving and cabinetry into an alcove.
Upcycling furniture
Upcycling is all the rage and rightfully so. A 2019 study found a third of us throw away furniture which could be recycled or reused, but upcycling allows you to breathe new life into older pieces.
Simply sanding, varnishing and painting could be enough to revive your old wooden furniture. But more drastic options include adding internal compartments or other features or transforming an item completely, like turning a set of drawers into a table.
Birdfeeder
Do you enjoy spending time in your garden simply watching and listening to nature? If so, building your own birdfeeder could help make your local wildlife feel even more welcome!
You’ll need to carefully cut and assemble several pieces of wood as part of the process, ideally with a mitre saw and drill. Make sure to protect it from the elements and firmly secure it too. The last thing you want is bad weather or bulky birds destroying your creation.
Decking
Time to take things up a notch. Installing your own decking could transform your garden into an attractive, social space in time for spring and summer. There are a few more steps and plenty of prep work involved, but the results could be even more special!
From a woodworking perspective, you’ll need to size up, cut and assemble a frame before laying the deck boards on top of it. Solid foundations are key for long-lasting decking.
There’s something more satisfying about creating your own pieces for your home than buying them readymade. Could any of these woodworking projects fit the bill?
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