Woodworking Projects - Indoor and Outdoor Ideas

Now is the perfect chance to get creative with some interesting woodworking projects. With this in mind, we've collated some of our favourite indoor and outdoor projects to help inspire you to get involved.


Outdoor Projects

The garden is a great place to show off your woodworking skills. With the nice weather finally here, why not take the opportunity to get outside? Whether you want to build a birdhouse, make your own planter or give your garden furniture a makeover, we've got something for everyone to try. Take a look at some of our woodworking projects and be inspired to try something new.

Build a Garden Planter

Making a garden planter is an excellent and thrifty way to update your outdoor space. Neat and decorative alternatives to flower beds, garden planters are ideal for all types of garden, be it large or small. They can also be made in next to no time at all which is an added bonus if you are short on time but want to get hands on in the garden. So, whether you struggle for space or soil type, or have some off cuts of timber lying about, this project is great. Learn how to build a garden planter with our informative How To guide.

Refresh your garden

Make a Birdhouse

In many UK gardens, birds are welcome visitors as they eat the bugs that destroy your plants. Providing birds with a home is a great way to attract them to your garden and more importantly, encourage them to stay. What's more, making a birdhouse is a great family activity. Not only is it the perfect way to get children interested in woodworking and nature, but birdhouses can also be made by children, under constant adult supervision. Instead of buying a pre-made birdhouse (or "bird box"), you can make one relatively easily and inexpensively. Download and print an RSPB approved A4 plan sheet here and follow our simple How To guide to make your own birdhouse.

Get started

Garden Furniture Makeover

Wooden garden furniture can last for many years with regular maintenance. Get adequately obsessive about wood maintenance and you can extend its life as long as possible. You will also save cash, and prevent waste. After all, Henry VIII's warship, The Mary Rose, was made from wood and she lasted for hundreds of years despite resting at the bottom of the sea! Follow our simple Garden Furniture Makeover Step-by-Step Guide to get to grips with cleaning and maintenance advice. Our helpful video and easy to follow instructions makes bringing your garden furniture back to life as hassle free as possible.

Watch the video


Indoor Projects

Next, if you are looking for some creative woodworking projects to try but prefer to be inside, we've got a great selection. Make fidget spinners, create bespoke bookends or restore and reupholster a wooden chair; take your pick and get involved.

Make a Fidget Spinner

Are you a parent or grandparent? Do you need a way to occupy your kids? Join the club. Fidget spinners remain ever popular and thankfully never run out of batteries meaning hours of entertainment for everyone! Here we show you how to create your own fidget spinner out of wood for a cool little project. Involve the children over the bank holiday break, or go it alone for some lighthearted woodworking fun. These also make great gifts so get ultra organised and make ahead of time for upcoming birthdays or Christmas presents. Learn how to make a wooden fidget spinner.

Download your template

Make Wooden Bookends

Next, if you’re looking for DIY woodworking projects, we recommend you take a look at how to make wooden bookends. Our simple How To guide combines traditional joinery with traditional woodturning to create bespoke bookends that will look impressive on any bookshelf. With handmade dovetail joints finished with wood turned detailing, these bookends are also great to make and sell. Furthermore, they make great gifts and are ideal housewarming presents for a new home. Follow our simple How To guide to make wooden bookends.

Discover dovetail joints

Restore and Reupholster a Wooden Chair

Finally, we show you how to restore a dusty, old chair into something beautiful. Follow our simple steps to give your favourite chair a new lease of life. Wooden chairs are one of the easiest pieces of furniture to pick up cheaply at secondhand shops or garage sales. However, it's likely you'll have a wooden chair crying out for some attention in your own home or garage somewhere. Once you've restored it, reupholstering is a great way to match old chairs with an updated room theme. Follow our simple How To guide to learn how to restore and reupholster a wooden chair that sits comfortably in your home.

See our project


Woodworking Projects Roundup

So there you have it. A selection of some of our favourite indoor and outdoor projects to try out. Roll up your sleeves, get stuck in and love the space you're in. And most importantly, don't forget to have fun!


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Get in touch!

If you try out any of our creative woodworking projects we'd love to hear from you. Comment below or send us a photograph and tell us all about what you've been up to. Alternatively, get in touch via our social media platforms. Find us on Facebook or send us a tweet using #woodworkingprojects to @AxminsterTools.