Scrap woods abound and they often just left to rot away and go to waste. Do not let good wood go to waste, instead, turn them into something usable, beautiful and creative. With a little creativity and free time, you can create amazing home pieces. These wood DIY project ideas and designs for the home will help you clear out your garage of shed of recycled or scrap wood and turn them into lovely and functional pieces for the home;
1. Chevron Shelves
Shelves help organise the house, manage clutter and great display platforms. With the right tools and a free weekend, you can easily build your own racks of shelves. This shelf design takes shelving to a more creative level. Fun, eye-catching and efficient.
2. Rustic Candle Holders
These rustic candle holders will add charm to any home. An easy DIY project, you’ll just need some scrap wood, woodcutters, nails or strong glue, sandpaper and some varnish. Make sure to insert the tin candle holders or pans to avoid accidents.
3. Modern Plant Boxes
Add a modern and sleek touch to your home with these minimalist wood plant boxes. The joinery may require advanced woodworking skills, but you can also opt for the easier method, by using nails or glue to put together the components.
4. Laundry Crate
A practical and functional project for the home. Easy to make and will not cost you a thing. Using scrap wood or a used crate, fashion a rack according to your needs. This three-basket rack is ideal for a small family. You can also make it prettier with paint or varnish.
5. Impressive House Number
You can create this modern and striking house number with some scrap wood and diligence. Clean and dry some wood planks, put together the back panel, add the number board and then the bottom pocket. You can buy the numbers from your local hardware store. Paint, varnish or let the natural wood gradient show, anyhow, it looks incredible.
6. A Pallet Wall Garden
Into gardening but don’t have enough yard space? Go vertical with this pallet wall garden. A great gardening hack for townhouse or apartments with little to no yard space. In the balcony or patio, line the wall with pallet, then use the pockets to hold your favourite vegetables, herbs and other potted plants.
7. Sofa Wood Tray
No more spilled drinks or stained sofas. This functional wood project is easy enough for everyone. You’ll just need three pieces of wood and some nails or glue to put them together. Make sure that you measure the width of the sofa armrest for that snug and perfect fit.
8. Gorgeous Console Table
A console table is the first furniture your guests will see upon entering your home, thus the need to make a good impression. This DIY console table is nothing short of impressive. Made out of recycled wood and pallet boards, the construction is simple yet classic and the rustic tones of the wood give the entryway a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
9. Lighted Pallet Wall Art
Dress up a blank wall with your own piece and creativity. This lighted wall feature is easy enough to construct. Using some palette planks, create the rectangle base, then make several ‘mountains’ made of slanting plank panels. Insert string lights or LED light strips between the mountains to add its dramatic effect.
10. Driftwood Clothes Rack
A decorative and functional piece for a modern and unconventional home. As a cloth rack, this is ideal for the guest bedroom, where you’ll want to impress guests with surprising furniture pieces that they can use as well. You can also fashion one drying rack for the laundry room.
11. Modern Outdoor Planter
Stunning and elegant, this huge modern planter will certainly create an impression in your verandah or front door. This square inverted pyramid planter is classy as it is modern. It is best to use woods with bold grains and patterns. Varnishing will add a protective coat to the wood and will give it shine too!
12. Easy Bathtub Tray
A bathtub tray is great for holding things in the bath, keeping it safe while being handy. Perfect for soap, towels, books, candles, wine glasses and even your mobile phones. Smoothen and clean a perfectly sized wood plank for your tub, add stabilising strips underneath, drill holes on both ends for the cord holder, done!
13. Bathroom Crate Shelves
This charming and functional bathroom shelving is also very easy to create. Clean and dry a few used crates. Paint as you prefer, then assemble according to your needs and to the size and shape of the bathroom space where it will be located. Put together using strong a glue or small nails.
14. Hanging Pallet Bed
Add a bit of whimsy to your bedroom! This hanging pallet bed is a novelty and is easy to make. First, securely put together pallets to form the bed frame. With strong cable or cord, hang the bed in all four corners. Add a mattress. The headboard is optional.
15. Couch Arm Caddy
Do not let out-of-reach or misplaced items disrupt a movie binge or work in the living room with this ultra-functional couch arm caddy. It organises and provides a specific place for smaller and easy-to-lose items in the living room. This caddy has a slot for mobile phones, magazines and beverages. Design one according to your needs.
16. Recycled Wood Planters
These recycled wood planters cost next to nothing but will change the landscape of your front yard or garden. Elevating some of the plants will provide shape and depth to your garden. Using some recycled wood planks of different lengths, create square planters. Add your favourite succulents, flowering and other plants.
17. Pallet Wall Accent
Add drama to a room with this recycled wood wall feature. Nail several wood planks to the wall to create a base for the photo gallery. The unexpected accent puts together the display and draws attention to the images.
18. Live Edge Charcuterie Board
A rustic accent for the classy home. Serve your guests or yourself some wine, fruits and cheeses in this stunning charcuterie board. Entertaining is a combination of great food and impressive presentation. This board will serve you will on both ends.
19. Barnwood Entryway Mirror
A touch of barnwood charm will instantly transform a generic entryway. Using rough wood pieces, form a frame for the mirror. Add hooks or knobs for keys, coats, hats, umbrella or pet leashes. A light coat of varnish will make your organiser shine and will also smoothen the wood while keeping its rough edges.
20. Multipurpose Storage Box
Every house needs a storage box, make yours creative, attractive and cheap DIY. This chest box will offer ample room for your rarely used clothing items, tools in the garage or in the shed, and manage toy clutter in your children’s room. Leave the pallet planks as is or coat the box with your favourite colours.
21. Sunburst Mirror Frame
Makes something extraordinary out of unexciting wood sticks. With little patience and time, this sunburst mirror frame is easy enough for anyone to put together. You’ll need a handful of wood sticks, a handsaw or woodcutter, sandpaper to smoothen the sticks and strong glue to put them together.
22. Easy Pet Bed Frame
Give your furry friend a cosy and comfortable spot to sleep. This DIY pet bed needs a few recycled wood pieces, some nails and a cut of plywood for the bottom. No fancy woodworking skills necessary, just the basics and with a lot of loving care and bonding time with your dog or kitties.
23. Wood Coasters
Eco-friendly, creative and delightful! These wood coasters are also functional, easy-to-clean and easy-to-make party pieces. You can buy wood sticks from your local hardware. Cut them according to your preferred coaster size and then form mini pallets using a strong glue. Use your creativity in decorating and painting the coasters.
24. Tiered Flower Boxes
This tiered flower boxes add colour, dimension and rustic charms to your garden. Ideal for lining a garden fence or a wall, the boxes will define the space and elevate the plants. Will also work for your front lawn or verandah. Best for shrubs and smaller flowering plants.
25. Farmhouse Serving Tray
Create wonderful moments with this charming and functional serving tray. Its rustic wood charms and rough DIY vibe complement the cosy and welcoming farmhouse interiors. With a few pieces of wood pallets, form the tray. Cut the long end sides for the handles. Attach a pair of vintage iron cabinet handles then varnish to finish.
26. Wood Slice Side Table
This exquisite side table is surprisingly easy to create. Rummage for the perfect wood slice in woodworking shops, in the kitchen section of the supermarkets (wood slices are also sold as chopping boards) and in flea markets. The iron stands are available in your local hardware or in the home section of any department store. Smoothen and varnish the wood, showcasing its grains and natural edge.
27. Pallet Key Holder
This efficient and affordable key holder and wall organiser will bring order to a chaotic entryway or mudroom. It’s easy to make and will practically cost nothing – just a few pieces of used wood, nails to put them together and a few hours of your time. The organiser includes a string for sunglasses, hooks for keys, leashes and lanyards and a shelf for everything else.
28. Moss Wall Garden
Bring a piece of the forest into your home with this moss wall garden. This DIY project is easy but will take time to grow the moss. To create, make a shallow frame with corkboard base, nail wood slices strategically and then cover the rest of the space with peat moss. Let it naturally grow and attach to the corkboard. Regularly spray with water to maintain the brilliant green of the wall accent.
29. Easy Bookcase
A practical addition to any home, this simple and functional bookcase is a perfect DIY project for beginners in woodworking. The uncomplicated design uses one wood size in width and thickness, the length will depend on your bookcase design. Cut the wood as needed, smoothen surfaces and edges, then put together. Varnish to finish.
30. Ladder Shelf
This DIY ladder shelf will add a hint of whimsy and a lot of charms to any room. Space-efficient and striking, this is perfect for the bathroom, the living room, the bedroom and even the home office. First, create the shelves, attach them to the back post, then stabilise the rack with side posts. Done!
31. Pet Bowl Stand and Storage
Recycle smaller pieces of good wood into this cute and creative pet feeding station. Intricate carpentry skills might be required to put together this pet bowl and storage combi. The top of the box is fitted with two feeding bowls, one for food and one for water. The space underneath can be used to store the dog or cat food.
32. Sensational Coffee Table
Turn a boring plywood into this stunning and impressive coffee table. Perfect for the modern living room interiors, the table comes with a basic square frame and an exquisitely constructed top made of plywood strips glued together and with misaligned edges to create that creative and quirky look.
33. Corner Shelf
A corner shelf can come in handy to hold smaller items, organise clutter or display home décor and accents. Corner shelves will occupy and use up the awkward yet prime home space of corner nooks. This corner shelf is made of recycled pallet wood planks – cheap, charming and functional.
34. Cascading Garden Planter
Add a lovely tiered planter to your front lawn to improve landscaping and boost your kerb appeal. This cascading garden planter has terraces for more planting space and vertical display. From square frames in diminishing size, the largest goes to the bottom, fill with soil and then position the next frame on top, then the next frame until you finish with the smallest frame.
35. Wood Beam Lighting
Very rustic, absolutely modern. This beautiful wood beam lighting fixture is great for the dining area, over the bar or kitchen island. Using a wood slab with its edges preserved, smooth its surfaces and drill holes for the bulbs. The solid base will also efficiently hide any messy wiring. Coat thinly with varnish to achieve that beautiful, warm and rustic wood glow.
36. Pallet Doghouse
Build your doggo a house of their own! This doghouse and table combo will add a rustic feel to your home while providing your dog with a special nook of his own. Varnish the doghouse for a rustic feel, or paint to fit the specific interiors of your home.
37. Wall Spice Rack
This fancy spice rack is also an easy DIY. A great idea to make use of your kitchen’s vertical space, it can be installed in an empty kitchen wall or at the back of a cabinet door. Customise your spice rack according to your needs and the space where it will be installed.
38. Twisty Shelf
This wood shelf DIY project is a great addition to any home. Rustic and functional, the shelf also comes with a good dose of quirky. This can be a display shelf in your living room, a bookcase in the home office, or a nightstand in the guest bedroom!
39. Headboard and Organiser
A multi-functional headboard with a lot of character. Display shelves in front, side nooks for books and stuff, and a nightstand with drawers. Made entirely of pallet planks, this DIY project is cheap with a lot of returns in term of value, aesthetics, and functionality.
40. A Mini-Bar
Bring the bar and good times to any room in the house, and even outdoors! This wall mini bar is a complete albeit a smaller version of the real one – wine bottle rack, glass holders, and shelves. You can install one in the kitchen, one in the den, and one in the pool area.
41. Cat Circuit
Pamper and entertain your kitty friends with their own cat circuit at home. This interactive cat nook includes cat mounts, scratching pad, an invisibility box, and a cat bridge. This vertical circuit will engage your cat and give her spaces to nap too!
42. Coffee Cup Holder
Cute and eye-catching, functional, and easy to make. Display, organise and keep your collection of coffee cups with this easy-to-make DIY holder. You will need a few pallet slats, nails, and hooks. Create the frame, add the bars, and then the hooks. Done!
43. Hanging Planters
Beautiful and functional hanging planters you can make at home. This is an easy DIY you can make with your kids! No woodworking skills necessary. All you need are wood sticks, a strong glue, and a length of cord for hanging. You can buy the craft wood sticks online or from your nearest crafts store.
44. Mini Wardrobe
This mini wardrobe is perfect for your guest bedroom. Designed for guest’s use, the wardrobe features a hanger rack, a few shelves, and a pendant light. It also comes with wheels for mobility, so you can easily transport it from one room to another.
45. Wood Puzzle Tabletop
A striking and distinct work of art! Get busy and creative with this tribal wood puzzle tabletop art. A great way to spend time, this tabletop will require a lot of detailed work, patience, time, and artistry to complete. But the result will make it all worth it. Perfect for dining, centre table, or coffee tabletops.
46. Pallet Nightstand
Functional and creative, this recycled pallet nightstand also adds a little rustic to your bedroom aesthetics. The cleverly simple yet efficient design includes a drawer and a cabinet. You can let the natural wood grains take centre stage, varnish it for a little shine, or paint to fit your bedroom’s interiors.
47. Flexible Wood Shelves
A clever wood shelving design and an easy DIY too! Shelves should fit your needs but designing your shelving can be tricky as needs change. This ingenious shelving design will give you the flexibility to change the shelves height coverage as you change your shelving needs. No need to knock off the shelves, just move them around as needed.
48. Room Divider
You can repurpose wood to create this elegant and modern room divider easily. While the materials are cheap, this project will need some woodworking skills to create the sleek lines, precise corners, and meticulous craftsmanship that make this room divider beautiful and stunning.
49. Driftwood Wall Tiles
This fun and creative project is also affordable and easy to make. You can enjoy creating these driftwood wall tiles with your kids. First, you will need to collect, wash, and dry driftwoods. Cut plywood squares that will serve as the base. Then glue on dry driftwood on the plywood. Let dry. Finish the project with a coat of varnish, paint, or just leave it as is.
50. Kitchen Produce Pockets
This eye-catching and delightful kitchen produce pockets will add value to your kitchen’s looks and efficiency. The corner design is perfect for smaller kitchens where every floor space is important. The pockets can hold produce, while the top can hold a rack, other kitchen stuff, or a display accent.
Do you have any creative, functional and fantastic wood DIY ideas and designs to add? Why not discuss it on our RenoForum!