Five Easy DIY Builds for Almost Every Skillset

You don’t have to be a professional carpenter with a fully decked out workshop to tackle a fun weekend project. You just need a modest workspace, some simple step-by-step building plans and of course the right building material. Cedar is an excellent choice for DIYers of all skillsets because it’s easy to work with, it’s lies straight, doesn’t cup and the tools love it. Here, then, some easy ways to get your woodworking groove back on in time for spring:

Vertical Garden – Wish you had space for a fresh herb garden? Look no further. This sleek vertical garden is a great solution for limited outdoor space. Bonus: the removable boxes make planting easier. For this project, you definitely want to use a top-performing building material like Western Red Cedar because it’s naturally resistant to rot, decay and insects. So, you don’t need to finish it with a chemical finish, which is an added bonus if your goal is to grow herbs or vegetables. See plans here.

Cedar Bench – This space-saving bench is relatively easy to build and comes with builtin storage. It works just as great in a mud room as it does outside on a deck or in a garden. In this photographed version, the builder opted for a beautiful knotty grade of cedar, which is really going to add a lot of warmth and texture to the project. Plus, it’s a cost effective choice. For a more streamlined look, you can specify a crisp clear grade of cedar. See plans here.

Cooler Stand – Keep the patio partygoers topped up with drinks conveniently chilled in this stylish portable bar. The compact design boasts a lot of features including a shelf for glassware, storage space for a cooler as well as some prep space on the side for slicing limes. Since the design calls for the timeless beauty of Western Red Cedar, it will work great in any type of outdoor space – be it gorgeous cedar decking on a contemporary home or a rough patch of dirt outside a rustic cabin. See full plans here.

Dartboard Cabinet – Ahh… the dartboard – no man cave is complete without one. But what if you want to enjoy this rec room requisite in the great outdoors… say at the cottage? Well, you need to protect it with a solid cupboard. This beautiful design opens up with shelving for all your dartboard accoutrement – i.e. chalk etc. You can let the wood weather naturally or customize it as you wish. That’s because cedar is pitch and resin free, so it’s accepts and holds a wide range of outdoor finishing products beautifully. View free, downloadable step-by-step building plans here.

Modern Doghouse – This puppy pad is for smaller breeds, but you can easily adapt it for bigger dogs. What we love about this design is that it’s so sleek, it could almost double as a side table inside your home. It’s also got stairs for short-legged or senior pups who need help accessing the bed or sofa. If you choose to keep it outside, it’s good to know that Western Red Cedar is always cool underfoot (and paws), making it ideal for doghouses and decking. It’s also a green building choice. That’s because wood such as Western Red Cedar leave the smallest carbon footprint than any other building material. Download free step-by-step building plans here.