20 Insanely Easy Ways to Build Your Own Furniture

Bench Beginnings

This space-smart bench is not only the ultimate cure for clutter in a cramped entryway, but it’s also extremely easy to build—it requires just a few materials and an afternoon. After nailing support boards underneath the bench top, attach table legs with leg anchors. Then, paint and distress the bench to maximize storage and style!

Shelf Life

Give a burgeoning book collection a shoulder to lean on with these
floating bookshelves built from precut and stained scrap pine boards. Spray-paint the L-brackets and attach them to the wall, then rest the shelves on the brackets. For a seamless finish, paint the screw heads to match.

Slim Storage

Add style and practicality to a narrow span of wall with this simple console table. What sets this version apart from the crowd (aside from its attainable assembly) is the smart use of dining table legs to connect the top and base of the unit. With a few coats of paint and an aged finish, this slim space-saver is sure to catch the appreciative eye of every visitor.

Swing It

Building an
indoor swing for your home? Child’s play! This fun and functional hanging canvas chair is perfect for kids and adults alike and can be made with a few basic stitches, some simple knots, and a drill. For a personalized touch, outfit the chair with a painted-on pattern that speaks to your style, and don’t forget to secure the swing to a stainless steel spring snap link in the ceiling for safety.

Industrial Ease

Here’s proof that industrial-style furniture doesn’t have to come at a high price. You can construct the base of this ultramodern side table from L-angles secured with bolts, lock washers, and nuts, and then quickly fasten it to a plywood plank tabletop stained or painted to suit your taste.

Hosed Down

An ordinary rubber air hose makes the perfect deck chair when you weave it through holes drilled along two L-shaped plywood plank frames. Once you get the hose spacing and tension right, enjoy the springy, relaxing support of this surprisingly comfy lounger.

Island Style

Enhance your kitchen’s storage capability by building this space-smart island. The maple plywood base features ample shelves and drawers, while intersecting boards form a crafty wine rack. To complement the rustic butcher-block countertop, paint the island legs, front and side aprons, and cabinet faces a sophisticated, solid hue.

Right Frame of Mind

A minimalist’s dream DIY, this simple bed frame can conceal the unsightly box spring and have you sleeping in sleek style. To create the frame, line pine or whitewood boards around the mattress and secure the frame joints with screws. Then jump in and catch up on your beauty rest!

A Good Sign

Relying on a simple metal-bending technique, these road sign stools are sure to stop traffic in the kitchen. Construct the base of the stools from scrap wood and the seat from a spare road sign bent into a U shape. Secure the seat to the base, then take a bow—and a seat!

Decorative Display

This eclectic pallet TV stand is inexpensive and quick to build, and adds an element of personalized charm to any space. The fun finishing factor is the glass top, which serves as a display case for entertainment essentials, a cool collection, or anything else that suits the owner’s style.

Float an Idea

If the diminutive dimensions of your bath have dashed your hopes for storage, consider a more off-the-wall approach to corralling loose clutter. With only a wooden board and a few screws, you can erect this above-the-toilet floating shelf to hold sundries and decorative items in a small space, but with lots of panache.

Fine Art

Give your little ones a creative outlet with this DIY art center. Precut plywood panels let you skip the sawing and simply attach the apron and legs to the tabletop before connecting the shelves. Finish off this artful workspace and storage solution with a set of kid-size stools and a roll of paper for doodling.

Related: 9 Easy Designs for a DIY Desk

Farm Fresh

An elegant addition to any farmhouse-style dining room, this table can be assembled from humble scrap wood. After building a rectangular frame and supporting it with turned legs, secure the tabletop to the frame, prime and paint, then set the table for dinner.

Animal House

This homemade perch for pets will make you wish you were in the doghouse! To mimic the geometric-inspired look, cut plywood into triangular planks and support blocks, and then assemble the pieces into a faceted shape. Complete the project by lining the base with luxurious linens for Fido.

Related: 10 Over-the-Top Ways to Pamper Your Pet

Pen Pal

Overcome writer’s block by building this farmhouse-style writing table. The tabletop and frame are constructed from precut lumber planks secured with screws, and the legs are actually stair spindles. Sand and stain the table, and you’ll have a masterpiece even before you reach for the pen.

Heavy Metal

A retro-inspired
floating shelf makes a fun and funky addition to any entryway (and just might serve as the perfect storage solution for that antique record player). This metallic marvel comes together with copper pipes and pipe hooks, and—once complete—may be the best solution ever for keeping out-the-door essentials close by.

Raise the Bar

This DIY beverage table is sure to be the life of your next garden party. First, build the underframe and legs of the table from non-pressure-treated wood, then secure this assembly to the tabletop before attaching the shelves. Don’t forget to stain and varnish the unit before the celebratory toast.

Perfect Fit

Put an end to sofa stains with an over-the-armrest side table. After constructing the frame and staining the piece to suit your living area’s decor, glue the sleek tabletop to the base. When it’s dry, scoot it over your armrest and load it up with your favorite movie night essentials.

Showstopping Storage

If your entertainment center needs a little prime-time excitement, take this reclaimed wood console table for a spin. Its no-fuss frame and wood slat shelves make assembly and storage easy, while casters elevate the unit to a new level of convenience and portability. For a finishing touch that oozes warmth and playfulness, consider swiping on a few coats of
DIY wood stain.

Step Up

It takes just a few steps to build this stunning two-in-one seat and step stool. Create the base and top from pine boards assembled with glue and nails, then join the two pieces together. For the final touch, apply paint and a stenciled design that showcases your personality.