10 Cool Wood Projects You Can Do This Weekend

You can find thousands of theoretical cool wood projects to keep you busy until the end of time. The problem is, most of these projects might take you weeks to finish and require massive amounts of lumber. They could very well take longer if you only spend time on your hobby during the weekend. 

If this is the case, here are some small woodworking projects that a weekend warrior can tackle in just a few days.

1. Wooden Sofa Sleeve

You might not have room for an end table, or you’re tired of accidentally knocking over your drink. Either way, a sofa sleeve can be a great space-saver.These nifty tables sit securely over the arm of your sofa or recliner. They give you a space to place a cup, the remote or your phone while you watch your favorite shows.

All you need for this project is a reliable cordless drill, a single board you’ll cut into three pieces and a hole saw to cut a cupholder for your favorite beverage.

Assembly for this project requires drilling angled pocket holes into the sideboards that give you somewhere to hide the screws. Correctly accomplishing this can take some practice, so we suggest trying it on a piece of scrap first. Use this technique to hide connection points in all sorts of projects.

2. Countertop Wine Rack

If you spend money on some good wine, you don’t want to leave it sitting on the counter, letting the cork dry out. An attractive wine rack that stores your bottles on their sides is the best way to keep your expensive vino from turning into vinegar.

This cool wood idea couldn’t be more straightforward. All you need is a wooden crate and some scrap plywood left over from your other woodworking projects. Cut your wood, stain the pieces and assemble a chic-looking wine rack in one afternoon.

3. Simple Wooden Stool

This DIY wood furniture project is a little more complicated, but it’s still something you can put together over a weekend. The best thing about this idea is that you can follow video instructions for each step.

The project will help you learn valuable skills like different whittling techniques, assembling joints and creating tenons on a lathe. Once you’ve got the basics down, putting together this stool will be a piece of cake, and give you a comfy place to sit while you’re working on other projects.

4. Bathtub Tray

There’s nothing better than relaxing in a hot bath — until you drop your phone in the tub and ruin your entire evening. Start by measuring your bathtub at its widest point to determine the width of your board.

Then, you’ll need two pieces of scrap wood to be the feet, which will secure the tray in the interior edges of your tub and keep it from sliding around. Finally, stain and seal it to protect it from water and you’re ready to have the perfect relaxing evening.

5. Platform Bed Frame

Small woodworking projects might be easier, but sometimes you need to challenge yourself. This chic-looking platform bed frame requires a few 2″ x 4″ boards, a drill, a Kreg Jig and a miter saw. You’ll make everything from the frame to the legs with 2″ x 4″ boards.

Those pocket holes you learned when you made that wooden sofa sleeve will come in handy with this project, keeping your screws hidden so they don’t catch on any bedclothes. This template is for a twin-sized mattress, but you can easily change the measurements to accommodate anything up to a California king if you feel so inclined.

6. Two-Board Wooden Bench

When you’re tired after a hard day in the woodshop, a bench is a perfect place to rest your weary bones. You don’t need a ton of woodworking skills or a lot of extra lumber to make a comfortable bench that can easily support your weight. This cool wood project is often the first thing that people learn how to make.

All you need is a couple of 2″ x 8″ boards, a drill, a jigsaw and a saw. That’s it — if you’ve got those tools in your garage, you’ve got everything you need to build a gorgeous bench you’ll be proud to show off.

7. Stone-Top Patio Table

Every patio needs a small table for holding drinks and snacks. This DIY wood furniture project will provide you with the perfect patio table. It should only take a few hours to complete, and the only electric tool you need is a miter saw. The size of the legs is flexible, but we recommend a thickness between 1 ½ and 2 inches. 

The greatest expense will be the stone tabletop. Slate, granite and limestone will be your cheapest options, but if you’re looking for something more luxurious, marble and decorative tiles could be within your budget.

8. Modern-Style Birdhouse

Birdhouses are classic easy wood carving projects. They’re so common that you should have no trouble finding a DIY birdhouse making kit with all of the wooden parts ready to go. If you want to build a birdhouse from scratch, however, you’ll need to get wooden parts with these specific measurements:

• 6′ 1×6 Board
• 2’x4′ 1/4″ Plywood
• 3/8″ Dowel Rod
• 2×2 Board

Two-inch screws will suffice for this project, but you should try to use bigger screws so the house can last longer. For equipment, you need a miter saw, table saw and electric drill. The project should only cost about $20 and take a couple of hours. It’s a win-win all around because you’ll improve your woodworking skills and attract more bird activity to your backyard.

9. Cornhole Boards

Cornhole is one of the most popular outdoor games for people of all ages. Instead of buying an expensive pair of boards online, why not build your own? Cool wood projects like this one are great because your whole family can share them. They contribute to quality time with loved ones and help you stay active.

The most important materials you’ll need are two 24” x 48” x 3/4″ marine-grade plywood and eight 1” x 4” x 8’ pine boards. The boards also need a polyurethane or polycrylic finish so the wood doesn’t rot. The other parts of the board are entirely up to you. You could even install a net underneath the boards to catch the bean bags. 

10. Garden Trellis

A trellis is an excellent addition to your garden, providing more space for climbing plants and allowing you to grow more nutritious vegetables if you have a food garden. This trellis is an easy wood carving project, standing about three feet tall and only requiring simple 2×2 posts. The only unique aspect is the copper piping that holds the posts together.

This complete DIY trellis guide will give you more information about making a chalk grid, digging the post holes and other detailed steps. The project is only beginner-level, so it should only take a few hours if you’re an experienced woodworker.

Which One of These Cool Wood Ideas Will You Try First?

Which of these cool wood projects do you want to try first? Let us know how it goes in the comments below. We’d love to see your results!