Woodworking is the perfect way to combine DIY and home decor. You can make countless beautiful and functional pieces to enhance your personal style and improve your quality of life. Using reclaimed wood is especially beneficial because you can recycle materials that would otherwise go to waste. Here are some simple DIY ideas to add homemade reclaimed wood to your home.
At first, a wooden doormat might not seem as useful as one made of jute or other thickly woven material. However, by arranging wood slats in a diagonal pattern, you create an excellent surface for scraping mud, snow or dirt from the bottoms of your shoes. It’s easy to do, too: just cut the wooden planks to the desired size and attach them to a rectangular frame with wood glue or a nail gun.
Reclaimed wooden headboards are all the rage in rustic and farmhouse interior design and for good reason. Not only can they make a bold but classic statement in the bedroom, they are an efficient way to use up an entire pallet of wood. To create a headboard using wood pallet planks, it’s as easy as sanding the surfaces carefully and securing it to the wall. The open slats create an instant rustic look while also giving you the option for creative lighting and decoration.
It doesn’t get much easier than a wooden key holder for DIY crafting. It also doesn’t get more versatile: this project has countless options in terms of style, color, size and shape. You can create key holders by treating your choice of wood and carefully adding wall hooks with a drill or hammer. For an eclectic look, mix up different hook styles and finishes. Once the hooks are attached, all you need to do is secure the wood to the wall and you have a simple and functional piece of wood decor.
While most DIY wood decor is on the rustic side of the design spectrum, you can also use reclaimed wood to make excellent modern pieces. One excellent option is to use a plywood box to create a mid-century modern style nightstand or end table. You can create or buy a pre-made box and then attach metal hairpin legs for an easy modern look. You can find hairpin leg kits at any hardware or home improvement store in a variety of sizes to fit your needs.
The wooden cutting board may seem like a “basic” craft, but it’s one of the most useful. It’s also a simple way to make beautiful handmade gifts for housewarming or other occasions and know that it will be helpful to its new owner. Cutting boards require hardwood in order to withstand knife cuts, so it may be more effective to purchase new wood rather than forage for discarded pieces. Adding a stain will give it a deep and professional look and treating it properly with oil before use will insure it stays looking and working its best without water damage.
These are just a few of the great woodworking projects you can try to add handmade character to your home decor. Once you learn the basics of woodworking, the world of DIY home decoration will open for you.
Susan Shuxian Hu has been a dedicated realtor serving in Silicon Valley since 2010. With great passion, outstanding negotiation skills and due diligence, she has helped many buyers and sellers in their real estate needs. Living in West San Jose for more than 14 years, she has broad knowledge in Cupertino, West San Jose, Los Altos and Saratoga. She has enormous patience working with buyers and never tired of showing all possible properties that may fit client’s needs. Clients appreciate her best service to their satisfaction. She specialized in luxurious real estate purchase in Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga and Palo Alto. She also helped friend and past client’s referral working in San Francisco, Foster City and far reached Bay Area.
Susan Shuxian Hu was graduated in East China Normal University in Shanghai with bachelor and master degrees in Bio science. She came to US in 1989 and earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in Texas A&M University in 1996. After one year of postdoc in Southern Florida University in Tampa, she moved back to Orlando with her family and started working in Lucent Technologies. In 2002, Susan moved to California, Silicon Valley joined a start-up company. Since then she worked in high tech Corporation till 2009. Driven by her dream job pursuing, she found her passion working in sales by helping people in real estate after one year of education in De Anza business and real estate law study. Since then, she has been serving many people in Bay Area for their real estate needs.
With bilingual advantage, she has been actively working with Chinese immigrants as well as local engineers and residents. With rich high tech background and connection with Chinese community, Susan has served in luxurious real estate in last a couple of years.