For a rustic yet classic addition to your home, look no further than the X motif that adds stability and style to this contemporary console table. The materials are easy enough to find in hardware stores: The sides, legs, and top are all made with 2x4 boards.

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Turned on its narrow side, a humble bit of board becomes a refreshingly unique holder for backyard blooms. This clever crafter drilled holes for test tubes, then stained the wood a dark brown to create a modern centerpiece in about 30 minutes—and all for less than 20 bucks.

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Take a whole bunch of 2x4s and some hairpin legs, screw them all together, slap on some protective gloss, and you’ve got a super-stylish spot for coffee and cocktails (not to mention propped-up feet). Raw wood gives the table a hand-hewn vibe, but the boards could certainly be stained or painted for a more finished appearance.

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With plenty of table-saw work, a trio of 8-foot-long 2x4s can be trimmed down and transformed into a pair of slender-legged bar stools. Strips of wood were glued together to make the seats, and a stain brings out the wood grain for extra visual impact.

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Any woodworker knows that wood scraps are an inevitable byproduct of DIY. Here’s a genius idea: Turn those odds and ends into candleholders by cutting them into neat squares, using a spade bit to drill a votive-size hole, then staining them a chic dark brown.

A cushy outdoor sofa offers the perfect spot for guests to linger on the patio. With just 2x4s and some deck screws, you can build this model yourself in a few hours. Add some colorful cushions, and let the relaxation begin!

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For practicality, it’s hard to beat a wheeled cart. You can use one to catch keys and mail in an entry, hold towels in a bathroom, or serve as a party-friendly bar station. Six 2x4 boards, braces, screws, and some casters are the building blocks for this attractive mobile storage solution.

Inspired by similar versions found at IKEA, this homeowner whipped up a few book-display ledges in a flash after having the boards cut to size at her favorite big-box home improvement store. A coat of oil-based primer and three coats of white paint give the shelves a glossy, finished look.

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