We all get a wonderful sense of accomplishment from creating something from scratch, from making something with our own two hands. With the global economy in the mess it is, following an unforeseen pandemic that took the whole world by storm, you may be looking to make your own gifts this Festive Season.
Or perhaps you really want to design and build your own plasma stand but have written off the idea of making wooden items because of your non-existent woodworking skills? Think again, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Wooden chest for storage
There are several simple designs to be found online, with step by step instructions that are easy to follow. These projects would be made much easier with electric power tools, such as cordless electric chainsaws.
Do your research on toolinspector.com to ensure you get the right tools for the job and the many that will follow. You will also need to have a tape measure, a pencil and a T square to make sure your corners are straight and solid.
Wooden chests are great in small homes because they are perfect for storage but also double as occasional tables in the living room or bedside tables in the bedroom.
Simple wooden blocks for kiddies
An age-old – but still favorite – gift idea for young kids is simple wooden blocks. Buy a few two-by-fours and cut simple blocks. Various sizes and lengths, including triangular pieces, can be cut to make a wonderful set of blocks for the little kid in your life to create architectural masterpieces.
Make sure there are no sharp edges or splinters that can cut or injure their little fingers and you are guaranteed the little people in your life will have many happy hours of playing and creating. You can leave them natural, but varnished, or you can paint them bright colors.
Living room table
A fun but straightforward project is a table for the center of your living room. This would be a wonderful addition to your living space. Browsing online, you will find many styles and shapes to choose from.
If your living room is modern, you can choose a design with clean lines and a simple design. On the other hand, if your living room has a more cottagey feel to it, perhaps an oval or round table will fit in with your theme.
Funky wine racks
The best thing about making wine racks is that you can literally make from scrap pieces of wood. You can get really creative with this type of project, with angles and circles attached at unusual angles, as long as the wine bottles balance in it – you may need to experiment a bit to make sure the weight of the bottles is evenly distributed, to prevent accidental breakage.
It might be wise to put a solid base on the rack to keep it steady. Unusual wine racks are a great, economical gift idea for wine drinkers. You can paint them in different colors to suit the décor in their intended “home” or leave them in the natural state and polish the wood to bring out its rich tones.
Wooden planters
If you fancy some bright flowers in your life but have a small garden – or none – you can make wooden planters to mount on the wall just under your window ledge. If you do have a little space, you can make standing planters in an assortment of heights (simply making their legs different lengths) to create a cluster of colors.
One advantage of container gardening is that you control the environment in which your plants live, making sure they’re in optimum condition at all times. These planters could also be sued for herbs and some varieties of vegetables, making them even more versatile and saving you money in the process.