If you’re looking for beginner level woodworking projects, you’re in the right place! These projects will help you get started learning woodworking and are easy for beginners!
Want to get started with woodworking as a hobby or business? You have to start somewhere, and we highly recommend starting small and simple.
Literally, smaller projects are easier. That might sound obvious, but the smaller the project, the less different complexities there are and usually they are more straightforward.
Woodworking can get expensive, so it’s best to start with simple builds that use inexpensive materials.
It’s also smart to start with projects that require only a few tools. When we got started, we were working on a very small screened porch at our condo with a handsaw and drill. You can do woodworking anywhere with whatever you have available!
Be sure to check out our top 10 essential woodworking tools for beginners!
Basic woodworking information for every project
- How to buy wood for DIY woodworking projects
- Common vs Actual wood dimensions
- The best wood fillers for your project
- The ultimate wood stain guide
- How to get the best plywood for your money
- How to use a Kreg jig
- See all our printable PDF woodworking plans!
- See all our favorite tool reviews
- 100+ of the best woodworking project ideas!
- How to get cheap and free lumber for woodworking projects
- Woodworking project ideas to make and sell
- Where can I buy wood for woodworking projects?
- Will Home Depot cut wood for you?
- Will Lowe’s cut wood for you?
- 62 easy beginning woodworking projects
What makes a project a beginner woodworking project?
Simple woodworking projects use just a couple of tools, have simple steps, and don’t use any sort of complex tools or joinery.
Wood projects for beginners can also be typically completed in just a couple of hours. They are easy to build!
Beginner woodworking projects are broken down into easier steps and have simple joints or tools that put them together. Basically, think of the tools that the everyday person would have or could get easily.
How can I start woodworking?
To start woodworking, you need to pick a DIY project and just start! I suggest sticking to inexpensive types of wood, borrowing power tools if you don’t have them, and practicing with those tools on scrap wood first!
Pick easy woodworking projects to start – these simple wood projects will probably be small, without a lot of pieces and not needing too many cuts or tools.
Starting with easy wood projects will allow you to build your confidence and skills. You’ll be ready for more complex woodworking ideas in no time!
As I said, we started with a handsaw and drill on the screened porch and now have a full-on workshop in our garage under our house. Woodworking can be an addictive hobby that can be a lot of fun.
Use woodworking as a hobby to build pieces for your own home, make gifts for friends and family, or sell pieces to the local market. Once you get going, the possibilities are literally endless.
Beginning woodworking projects
Here are some of our favorite woodworking projects for beginners! These are all projects that we have made and include step-by-step tutorials and/or free woodworking plans.
These projects don’t require a lot of know-how, tools or wood to do. These are all things that you can do in a weekend without much trouble.
Beginning woodworking projects
Here are a ton of great woodworking projects for beginners!
This watch holder is a great first woodworking project because it is small and uses easy joinery. We routed out a spot for small items, but you could even skip that step to make it easier.
This plant stand looks trickier because of the angles, but it's an easy build and a great way to get comfortable with a miter saw.
This tiny picnic table is a great gift and a super easy build.
This paper organizer is made from plywood and super simple to put together.
Screw together a couple of boards and fill them with soil for an easy garden bed!
This wooden cross is a great way to use up scrap wood to make something nice!
Six dowels, a piece of plywood and a few nails is all you need to make this shelf!
This console table is a lot of straight cuts that are easy to put together.
This unique little planter is an easy build that will surprise your guests!
This desk has a drawer, which is the most complicated part. If you aren't up for a drawer yet - just attach the drawer front in place for an even simpler build.
Make a new set of side tables with some simple joints and only a couple of angled cuts.
This grill cart looks fancy but is not at all difficult to cut or put together!
This tree bookshelf will look great in your kids room as a cool way to show off books or toys!
This build for a trashcan screen is simple thanks to the use of pre-made lattice.
Kids love play tents and this one is easy to put together with wood strips and dowels. Just add fabric for the finishing touch!
The only difficult part of this project is getting the angles right. Otherwise, you're having dinner at a table you built!
Ladder shelves are a great way to pack stylish storage into a room. This one we painted in rainbow colors!
This wooden trough makes a great centerpiece or decor for a kitchen counter or island.
Get in the winter spirit with these wooden snowflakes. They have a few angled cuts but are really easy - if not tedius - to make!
Take your dartboard to the next level with a simple wooden storage cabinet!
Got cats? They will love having stairs up the wall to easily get on a shelf or perch!
The trickiest part of this pet bed build is the angled legs, and you'll feel super accomplished once you learn how easy it is to cut them!
Shovels on the ground no more! This organizer is built from simple 2x4 lumber and perfect for the garage.
Floating shelves are chic enough for any room in your home. Here's how to build them - from scratch!
This fold down desk doubles as a vanity and is great for small spaces.
Kids will love helping in the kitchen with a learning tower step stool.
This dining table is a large build, but it's not hard to make at all. It's almost all straight cuts, just quite a few boards to assemble the top.
This slatted plant stand looks dramatic in your corner, but is easy to build!
This rolling plant stand is made from plywood and perfect for plant lovers.
This wooden balance beam is made from 1 board cut into 3 pieces - super easy to make!
These window box style planters are designed to sit on the railing of your deck and really easy to build!
Kids got artwork? They always do! This super simple frame is a great way to display it!
This wooden cat feeder uses a simple design to store and fill the cat food within itself!
Once you get into woodworking, you're going to need somewhere to put all that wood! Here's a simple storage rack.
It doesn't get much easier than this simple slatted wooden Christmas tree!
You can use strips of plywood to build this simple angled spice drawer organizer!
Wooden planters take plants to the next level - and these are very easy to build!
This coffee table is all straight cuts and easy to build, but has a nice modern look to it!
Want a workbench for your woodworking? Here's one that is easy to build from plywood!
Once you start accumulating tools, you'll need storage. Check out this simple rolling scroll saw stand.
Got spray paint? Use plywood to build this simple storage shelf.
Little kids will love this house shaped bookshelf, and it's super easy to put together.
Need storage in your laundry room? This laundry cart is all straight cuts and packs some powerful hidden storage!
This step stool looks complicated, but we lay out the angles for you, making it easy to build!
By using metal piping for the legs, this bench is a super straight forward build!
This shower stool is super easy to build from just one board.
This entryway shelf has hooks and a shelf, making it super practical. But, it's only a few cuts - making it easy to make!
The inverted V base of this console table looks complicated, but is very easy to do!
This box Christmas tree stand is chic and shockingly easy to make!
No coffee table? No problem. This arm cup holder makes it easy to keep a cup at hand!
This project is practical for storing things under the bed, plus the build is very straight forward!
These wooden lanterns look dramatic and gorgeous but are easy to make.
Think you can't build an ottoman? This plan proves how simple it really is!
If you bathe kids in the tub, this tub bench is clutch!
This coffee table uses a pre-made tabletop, so all you need to build is the simple base!
Make any house plant a little cuter by putting it in a literal house.
This corner plant stand looks complicated, but we built it when we barely had any tools - it really is simple!
Pets will love these bunk beds. They were one of our first woodworking projects and a very straight forward build.
Store shoes in a small area with this simple wood shoe shelf.
This plywood toy organizer makes it easy for dogs to get their own toys!
Barn doors are trendy and fashionable and can add a rustic flair to your space. Here's how to build a barn door and how to mount a barn door.
If you've ever wanted to switch to a platform bed and ditch the box spring and huge headboard/foot board, this is what you need. You can build this platform bed in just a day.
What are your favorite beginner woodworking projects?
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