The Best Furniture Builds from Some of My Favorite Bloggers!

Hello and welcome back! Do you sit around, like me, crushing on those high-end furniture store lines but have no way of affording them?  A while back, before we moved to Oklahoma and before I started blogging I fell in love with a table that was over $2,000.  Now, as useful and beautiful dining tables can be I just couldn’t afford that.  So, after browsing around online, I found some plans and built it myself.  Yep – the first thing I ever built was a straight up dining room table.  If I can do it, so can you!  I decided to round up some of the best furniture builds to inspire you to get out and start building. 

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Please follow all safety guidelines when using power tools.  I recommend a woodworking for beginners class at an adult education center or watching how-to videos online.  I’ve broken this post down into categories to make it easier to browse through. Click any info to get the details on the build. Please pin other’s photos from their sites. Pin mine as much as you like :).

 

So, like I said I started by finding plans online and the best place, hands down, to find plans is Ana-White.  She’s a total badass that wanted to start her own furniture builds and did and now is the queen bee of building plans.  You can search by category and style and following plans is a great way to get started, IMO.  It’s less intimidating and you’ll learn a ton. So, here we go!

Dining Tables

The first table I built was designed by Jen Woodhouse, who is quite fabulous at making plans herself.  She was inspired by a z-Gallerie table, but her version of the table had me swooning.

Following her design and Ana’s plans, I build our dining room table.  I don’t have a picture, but I did another one for a friend.  Once you start building, you can start modifying.  I built the first one EXACTLY like Jen said, but got a little braver one the second one by using wider boards for the top, making the top removable in case you need to fit it through a tight space and mixing a stain to match my friends chairs.

And, after that, I used the same base and built one with an entirely different top – concrete!  This was the first time I used concrete and we love it.  I’m obsessed now!

 

If making a whole table is a bit intimidating for your first go round, try this idea from Rachel Teodoro.  She left her old, battered looking table in place and just built a new top that fits right on. I love this idea!

 

I also love this table from Just the Woods.  Iron pipe legs give it a great industrial look and are a bit easier than building a base and require less tools.

Console Tables

Console tables are another way to go, and I think they make great first-time furniture builds.  You can buy legs and build around them, which is a bit easier than turning them yourself (ask me how I know this).  This one from Nourish and Nestle turned out amazing.

I also love this one from A Turtle’s Life for Me, it’s made entirely out of 2x4s!  

This one that Hazel + Gold Designs just published about is a total knockout.  I LOVE that finish!  That is the other thing that is so fun about building your own furniture.  You can stain/paint/finish however you want and you never have to worry about “messing it up”.

I also have my own easy little console that I have details about here. You can also get details about those paintings which were the easiest things EVER.  Sorry, back on track.

The Kim Six Fix created a console table from Ana White plans, but modified it to fit her crates.  I actually built this table as well a few years back and we love it, but I love Kim’s version more.

 

Coffee Tables

A coffee table can make a room.  They are also a great place to start building.  This one designed and built by Sawdust 2 Stitches is the bomb diggity.  I love how different and cool it is.

If you need a square option, like I do for my den couch, this one from Viva Las DIY is a lovely option.

This Resto knockoff will make you never pay those crazy prices again!  Look how amazing this is from The Created Home.

Another great way to get started is by using hair pin legs.  H2O Bungalow shows you how to turn a beautiful slab of wood into a coffee table.

This one you can make out of reclaimed wood, making it even cheaper and Art is Beauty gives you the lowdown.

And time for another not-so-shameless plug for my own stuff :).  Here is my coffee table.  I made this from a set of Shanty 2 Chic plans and I picked this one because I work on the couch all the time and I wanted to be able to pull the table up to me.  I also made some modifications, which you can read all about in the post.

Media Centers, Armoires & Buffets

This armoire build from Create & Babble is amazing. Seriously, why buy expensive stuff when you can make a gorgeous piece like this?

Or this ridiculously beautiful Buffet from Anika’s DIY life?  I mean I’m swooning over here. This new piece is quickly becoming a favorite.

This idea from Just Call Me Homegirl is so smart!  What a fantastic use of that space.

This media console is another piece that is just stunning from My Love 2 Create.  She is so talented and the adorable dog doesn’t hurt anything either.

Desks

This amazingly simple desk from Shine Your Light Blog would be a fabulous project to start off with.  And perfect with those black walls!

I designed and built this desk for my husband’s office. It has been a dream of his for years to have a U-shaped desk and he’s loving it.

The aforementioned Shanty 2 Chic sisters have so many gorgeous furniture builds, but this desk is hands down one of my favorites.

Shelving

Shelving is another great place to start your building journey. This Batman shelf from Tamara’s Joy is adorable.

If farmhouse is more your style, these simple shelves would be great in a kitchen or dining room.  Making Joy and Pretty Things has all the details on how to pull it off.

 

And this idea for covering wire shelving from Lemons, Lavender and Laundry is genius.  They look so gorgeous afterward

 

Bedroom

I can’t wait to redo our bedroom and build a new bed.  And nightstands too!  I might go the route of Frugelegance and build these hanging side tables!  They go perfectly with that rustic headboard.

My kiddos are dying for bunk beds like these from Pneumatic Addict.  They are so modern and funky and I love them!

Rogue Engineer is another of my favorite furniture builders and this king size canopy bed is one of my favorites.  It’s so beautiful and romantic.

I love this platform bed from Chatfield Court.  Look at all that extra storage!

Outdoors

Have you seen the prices on outdoor lounge sets?  They are crazy!  The Handyman’s Daughter shows you how to make your own set that looks even better than most high priced sets.

This pergola is amazing and Thats What Che Said breaks down how to do it.  We love our pergola and they make such a great addition to outdoor spaces.

Another thing that is so expensive is those treehouses you see everywhere.  Tamara’s Joy told me she was helping a friend disassemble one that was old and rotting and just paid attention to how it was put together.  Then she went home and built one herself!   It was one of her very first “big” furniture builds and it turned out amazing.  Plus, she salvaged the slide for even more savings.

These easy and simple little stools were made from Sawdust Sisters entirely out of 2x4s.  Easy and perfect as a stool, or a plant stand!

 

I’m always in awe of what Fix This Build That comes up with and this ultimate party station is no exception.  I need this in my yard ASAP.

This raised flower bed and privacy fence would be perfect if your house is a little too close to your wonderful neighbors. It’s a beautiful way to dress up a boring backyard.

 

Other/Misc

Build Basic is the best place to get simple building tips and plans for amazing pieces of furniture like this beautiful filing chest. Not only was this less expensive, but this is WAY better looking than any file cabinet I’ve seen!

 

Lazy Guy DIY is a master at mixing wood tones, like this awesome hairpin leg bench. Isn’t that a beaut??

With all my furniture builds, I’ve actually never built a drawer!  They are so intimidating to me.  Two Purple Couches makes it look so doable, though! I need to get on that soon.

I’m finishing this roundup of my favorite furniture builds with my cutie pups.  I used plans from Rogue Engineer to build this little dog bed.  It’s been very well used and very well received :).

So, are you ready to start building??  If you want to know my favorite tools for beginners, check out this post that breaks down what you’ll need to get started.

That’s it for today! Thanks for stopping by!

April

Blogger’s Best Furniture Builds

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