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Classic Console
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 2×4 boards.
Related: DIY Plumbing Pipe Console Table
Bud Vase
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.
Coffee Table
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.
Bar Stools
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.
Related: 10 Surprisingly Simple Woodworking Projects for Beginners
Candle Holder
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.
Outdoor Sofa
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!
Rolling Cart
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 2×4 boards, braces, screws, and some casters are the building blocks for this attractive mobile storage solution.
Floating Shelves
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.