Ready to start woodworking? Explore 38 easy and small woodworking projects perfect for beginners! These projects are simple to build, use minimal materials, and are great for selling too.
It can be intimidating to get started woodworking. It is much easier – physically and mentally, really – to start with smaller projects.
Smaller projects are also easy to make in bulk, store and sell for a profit!
Today we wanted to share some of our favorite small woodworking projects that we have made and have step by step tutorials for!
Basic woodworking information for every project
Here are some of our most popular woodworking articles!
Shopping for wood:
Woodworking project ideas
- 100+ of the best woodworking project ideas!
- 62 easy beginning woodworking projects
- Woodworking project ideas to make and sell
See all our printable PDF woodworking plans!
Our favorite tools + supplies
- See all our favorite tool reviews
- How to use a Kreg jig
- The ultimate wood stain guide
- The best wood fillers for your project
Remember to also always use safety equipment while woodworking and using tools. Make sure you have proper eye protection, ear protection and a good mask to keep yourself safe.
What small things can I make from wood?
Here are some of the best small woodworking project ideas:
- Wooden signs
- Cutting boards
- Candle holders
- Coasters
- Trays
- Boxes or crates
- Picture Frames
- Kids toys
- Birdhouse or bird feeder
- Planters
What tools do I need to get started?
There are a few basic woodworking tools for beginners, but try to buy or borrow:
- Hammer
- Drill
- Handsaw + miter box OR miter saw
- Sander or sanding block
- Tape measure
- Straight edge like a long level
- Workbench or table of some sort
Click here to read our guide to getting cheap and free tools!
Ready to get building?
Small woodworking projects
Here are some of our very favorite small woodworking projects that we have made!
Small woodworking projects
Want to start small with your woodworking hobby? Here are a ton of small woodworking projects that you can make this weekend!
Build this awesome crate today to use for storage. It's great on display in the living room for blankets or in the garage for gardening supplies. Anything you need to store, a nice crate is perfect for it. Instead of buying an expensive one at the store, build one yourself!
This little planter is shaped like a chair and perfect for the front porch!
Upgrade your house humbers with a wooden number base.
Get your drill ready to make these cut our lacing toys for kids!
These wooden lanterns are beautiful and add a dramatic touch to any room.
Grab your laser cutter and make this tic tac toe game to play with your famil!
If you have a scroll saw, you can easily cut out wooden tool shapes for kids to play with.
Help the man in your life get his watch, wallet, and spare change organized with this simple build.
Step stools always come in handy! Here's how to build one.
This paddle style tray is great for beer flights or serving whiskey.
We designed this pet feeder for our cat, but it could work for any animal that grazes on their food.
Got a cat? This simple set of stairs helps them get up to a higer spot!
If you have a dartboard, you should really build it a simple cabinet! We made this one as a gift - and it was very well received!
This floating nightstand is perfect for a small space and really quick to whip together.
This simple plywood shelf is perfect for organizing papers and flat items!
These wooden trellises are easy to build - seriously, they only look fancy because of the pre-made knob on top - and very handy in the garden!
This laptop tray is a very easy build and makes it easier to work from the couch.
This tissue box is perfect for storing play scarves for small kids.
These squirrel picnic tables are like little bird feeders and are adorable in the yard.
If you're comfortable with a router, a name puzzle can be fun to build.
Balancing stones are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to practice fine motor skills and are easy to make from scrap blocks of wood.
These hanging hoop planters add a modern touch to any space and use hardly any wood.
It's easy to make a hanging wooden plant stand!
Love propagation? Make one of these wall mounted test tube holders!
Give your houseplant a house of its own with this plant stand.
Troughs are easy to make and make a great centerpiece or shelf decor.
This over the armchair cup holder is perfect for keeping the remote close by.
String art is another simple woodworking project. You can make it in any size and any design!
Throw this lantern together with wood slats and a few small nails!
This plant stand has a unique look from the angled cuts, but is very simple to build.
Get your desk organized with this simple wooden paper and desk accessory organizer.
These wooden trays are super useful and can hold papers, pens, or anything similar on a desk in lieu of a drawer.
This wooden tray is made from strips of wood in a rectangular pattern.
Two tiered trays pack a lot of storage into a space! This one has a high end look but is just made from strips of wood.
This simple tray is a piece of wood cut out with tiles glued for an inset look. It could be made in any shape or size.
This wooden art is made with slats of scrap wood. We painted a music note for a music lover, but you could paint any words or design.
Little wooden coasters can be customized to any color scheme and are really easy to make from scraps.
This is a super simple wooden tray with rope handles. You could also use leather strips for the handles.
This wooden cross is a great gift for those who like cross decor, and it's super simple to make from scrap wood.
Before you go…
Are you a practical person? Then you’ll love our list of useful woodworking projects!
What are your favorite small wood projects?
Looking for something?
We’ve been doing this since 2012 so we have a LOT of blog posts!
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Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!