Small Woodworking Project Ideas

Most likely you've gotten into woodworking or are thinking about getting into woodworking with the expectation of building items for your home and family.

Anything from doll houses to bookcases to huge medieval looking hutches. This is a respectable goal. However, woodworking projects don’t always have to be worthy of being filmed by Cecil B. DeMille.

Small woodworking projects offer their own challenges and are often appreciated just as much as the large ones.

Here are a few suggestions that might help you delve into this smaller niche in woodworking. (Yes, it was a stretch, but a pun just the same.)

Clocks

Mosts clocks are relatively easy to make and can be made with as much or as little detail as you would like. You can purchase plans for a clock online as well as the guts of you future wall piece. The beauty is, since you are building the body of the clock, you can build it to your own tastes. It’s not an everyday type of project, in fact it’s one of the most overlooked building ideas, as far as small woodworking projects go. They also make impressive and treasured gifts for very little cost.

Tool Cabinet

A wall hung tool cabinet is a small woodworking project that will no doubt increase your productivity and organization. It is amazing how many woodshops are disorganized and just plain messy. Building a highly organized, luxury “tool skybox” would be a great addition to your shop. You’ve got the wood and the tools, why not go for it?

Dartboards

While we’re building things around the shop, why not add a dartboard? Dartboards of a custom build are definitely rare and could be a nice way to work on your router and jig-sawing skills. Again, this would be a great house warming gift, especially for a drinking buddy who doesn’t mind holes in his new walls. Okay, maybe building a dartboard with an apron or backing around it might be more appreciated, at least by your drinking buddy’s wife.

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Mirror Frames

Mirror frames are a great option to picture frames, and a very good way to practice angled joints. The greatest thing about mirrors is that you can have a piece of glass custom cut to any specification you like to accommodate your own personal reflective needs. Planning this type of project is pretty easy. Throw in a nice $10 glass etching kit and you’ve got a custom mirror that could easily be worth much more than you could buy one somewhere else.

Lamps

Lamps are also overlooked in the world of small woodworking projects. Again, the guts are sold online, as are the plans. The “kits” for these illuminating projects (get it?) are fairly inexpensive and easy to find. The best thing about them is you don’t have to be an electrician to make a nice custom lamp. You don’t have to think small either. Lamps can be in any size or shape. You are only limited by your imagination and the length of the cord.

Small Furniture Pieces

End tables, coffee tables and night stands are probably the most common of all small woodworking projects, but for the love of Pete, be creative. No one really wants to look at a square plane on four legs for 30 years. If anything these smaller furniture projects can be your way to shine!

These are just a few ideas to get your creative fire pit blazing. Hopefully, you have a few ideas of your own. Remember when starting your small woodworking projects to think unique, think practical and think safety! Now go cut, drill or hammer some stock!

CLICK HERE for SMALL WOODWORKING PROJECT IDEAS & PLANS