Frequently Asked Questions
Wood Questions
What kind of wood should I use?
Most of our plans use standard construction lumber like pine or fir. It's affordable, easy to work with, and easy to find. It's also rapidly renewing and biodegradable, so a great eco friendly choice!
Can I use hardwoods instead?
Yes—just keep in mind they're heavier, cost more, and can be tougher on tools and harder to join together and finish. I recommend not tackling a hardwood project until after you have built several softwood projects.
What if my boards are warped?
Choose the straightest boards at the store. You can often work around slight warps by cutting them into shorter pieces.
What wood should I use for outdoor furniture?
Use red-toned or pressure-treated 2x lumber for framing, and cedar or cedar fence pickets for the decking. Outdoor furniture should be built like a deck—your local home center can help recommend the right wood for your climate.
Will my wood move or warp after I build?
Potentially, especially in humid climates. Let your wood acclimate indoors before building. Once acclimated and kept in a stable environment, movement should be minimal. Remember, most houses are built using framing lumber - it's all about keeping moisture down indoors.
Cutting Questions
Do I need a miter saw?
A miter saw is great, creating fast, safe, and precise cuts, even for beginners. But most plans can be built with a circular saw and a straight edge. If using a circular saw to cut, take time to practice, and get good at making cuts, before cutting your project boards.
How do I get clean cuts with a circular saw?
Clamp your board, measure twice, cut slow, and use a sharp blade. This takes practice, so spend some time making cuts. I go through becoming proficient at freehand cutting in my course, it is worth taking if you want to master this skill.
Will the store cut my wood?
Yes—most stores will do rough cuts to help you transport your materials home. But from store to store, the quality of cuts could greatly vary.
Joinery Questions
What screws should I use?
We recommend star-head self tapping screws for framing, most common sizes are 2-1/2", 1-3/4". Pre-drill if close to the edge or you find your wood is splitting.
Do I have to use pocket holes?
Pocket holes are the cheapest, easiest and fastest way to do some joints - like edge to edge or a hidden fastener joint. There are other methods, but these can be time consuming and expensive. We recommend using pocket holes as indicated in plans for best results.
How do I keep things square?
Use a speed square and measure diagonals after each step. Always clamp joints before screwing to keep them tight and flush.
Finishing Questions
Stain or paint before or after building?
A quick sand before and a full finish after gives the best results. Pre-finish if you're doing two-tone or detailed finishes.
What type of finish?
Use oil-based or water-based stain. For paint, cabinet-grade latex or enamel works great. High use surfaces on indoor projects should get a coat of polyurethane, I recommend a Helsman or Spar or other flexible poly that won't crack or peel with wood movement. For exterior projects, use a finish suitable for exterior fences.
How to get a smooth finish?
Start with a well sanded project. Sand between coats (220 grit), wipe clean, and apply light coats with a foam brush or roller.
Plan Questions
Can I change the size?
Many people do, and that's the great thing about building your own furniture! But do keep in mind going bigger might mean more supports are required, and often plans are optimized for minimal material waste.
Are these beginner-friendly?
Yes—plans are written with simple tools and clear steps in mind, with every effort to make plans as simple as possible.
Can I sell what I build?
Absolutely! Just don’t resell or repost the plans themselves.
General Questions
What tools do I really need?
A drill, circular saw, tape measure, square, and a few clamps will get you through most projects.
Do I need a workshop?
Nope! A driveway or small patio is plenty to get started, just make sure you have a level place to work. If you find you are building several projects a year, creating a small workbench is a great way to store tools and have a dedicated workspace.
What if I mess up?
Wood filler, sanding, or flipping boards goes a long way. Mistakes are part of the process!
What can I do to make my projects look more professional?
Start with straight boards, make accurate cuts, clamp all joints, and line up everything neatly. Sand thoroughly, use a neutral finish, and apply it in light coats for a clean look.
I've never built anything before. Where should I start?
Start with a few smaller softwood projects to get hands-on experience. Or if you're tackling a big project, buy a little extra lumber and practice your cuts and joints first. If possible, work with someone who has a bit of experience.
Care & Maintenance
How long will my furniture last?
With good joinery and regular care, your DIY furniture can last for decades. I have pieces in my own home that are over 20 years old and still going strong! One of the best parts about DIY furniture is that it’s easy to repaint, refinish, or repair—so your projects can grow and adapt with you.
How should I care for outdoor furniture?
Lightly pressure wash or hose it down once or twice a year. Tighten screws and reapply finish as needed to protect it—just like a deck or fence. A little upkeep goes a long way in extending the life of your furniture.
How about indoor furniture?
Regularly dust or wipe with a damp cloth. If it starts to look worn, a light sanding and touch-up paint or stain can refresh it in no time. DIY pieces are meant to be durable and fixable—so don’t be afraid to give them some love now and then.
Want to Build with Confidence?
Check out my ebook: 12 Skills to Build Your Own Furniture
It walks you through the core skills every builder needs—measuring, cutting, joinery, and finishing—so you can build beautiful furniture that lasts.
Still Have Questions?
Email us anytime at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help!
Comments
Ashley S (not verified)
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 12:39
Can you tell me a rough
Can you tell me a rough estimate of how much this cost for all the materials?
Ana White
Mon, 04/23/2012 - 12:58
Hi Ashley, Rebecca's budget
Hi Ashley, Rebecca's budget was around $300 for solid wood!
Patricia Diaz (not verified)
Mon, 04/30/2012 - 10:10
I love Rebecca's Media center
Very nice! proof I needed to show my [talented] hubby he can do this... he'd rather just buy one but I think this is much better than the quality out there!
Lisa Simon Zubek (not verified)
Mon, 07/30/2012 - 11:54
Center Piece Base Unit?
I'm new to this site and the Rebecca's Media Center plans caught my eye as a project for my hubby. Am I missing something in reading the plans? I don't see information on building the center base of the unit. We don't have enough wall space for the two side units and the base would fit just perfectly for our space.
Thank you!
JoanneS
Mon, 07/30/2012 - 15:06
Center piece base unit link
Hi Lisa,
This is the link to the center piece:
http://ana-white.com/2012/04/plans/rebecca-media-center-console-piece
The top, bottom, and side pieces of the media center each have their own plans. If you do a search on "rebecca" it will bring you up the plans for all the pieces. You are going to love this site - Ana's plans are fabulous!
Lisa Simon Zubek (not verified)
Fri, 08/03/2012 - 11:32
Thanks so much, Joanne! I'm
Thanks so much, Joanne! I'm so happy I found this site. Ana is totally inspiring!
Brittney Garrett (not verified)
Sat, 08/18/2012 - 10:00
Absolutely love this
Absolutely love this entertainment hutch, i understand the plans are put up separately but was the $300 wood estimate for the TV portion only or for building the entire hutch with all pieces included?
In reply to Absolutely love this by Brittney Garrett (not verified)
redhead_61
Fri, 10/19/2012 - 11:53
This budget was for the
This budget was for the entire project! Awesome right?
David Heitzman (not verified)
Mon, 12/31/2012 - 13:42
Budget
What kind of wood did you use? I may be missing something but adding up all the wood for all the parts, I come up with 4 sheets each of 3/4 and 1/4 ply, 128 linear feet 1x2's, 56 lf 1x3's, and 16 lf 1x4's. That alone, without moulding or fasteners or accessories, comes out to about $500 at Home Depot or Lowes.
Melanie S. (not verified)
Fri, 08/24/2012 - 15:18
Beginner
Hi! I found Ms. White's site on Pinterest, and there are so many things I want to build now! I desperately need a new entertainment center, and I think this one is just what the doctor ordered.
I'm a complete beginner when it comes to carpentry... Would you ladies rate this as something a beginner could manage? Also, I don't have a table saw, but I have a circular saw. I know that it's probably less than ideal for efficiency, but would it be possible to build this project (in reference to the entire project, not just this part), without a table saw?
In reply to Beginner by Melanie S. (not verified)
redhead_61
Fri, 10/19/2012 - 11:56
Totally doable
I actually did not even use my own table saw. Home Depot or Lowe's will cut your wood for you. This is the main reason that I do a cut list in Sketchup so that I can visualize the best way for them to cut it, then I can make sure to watch that they are getting it right and can show them too.
This is a big project, but the only thing that is remotely harder is cutting the molding on top, which you could leave off.
MrsANS
Wed, 04/17/2013 - 07:53
55" TV?
Hi, we love this plan and we have a 55" TV but we measured the TV itself and I'm not sure it would fit in the space provided. Is there any information on how to expand the center piece to accommodate an extra 2-3 inches? Thank you!
Tanya (not verified)
Sat, 09/22/2012 - 08:28
hi! this is amazing, I was
hi! this is amazing, I was wondering if we were to put some holes for the wires, where would be a good place to put them (how many inches from base of the back board for the tv), and how big the circumference of the hole should be. Thanks!
In reply to hi! this is amazing, I was by Tanya (not verified)
redhead_61
Fri, 10/19/2012 - 12:00
Holes
I actually just did my holes. I did one right in the middle of the middle unit about an inch above the base 1x3. You could also put one right in the middle of the back seeing as your tv will hide it anyway. I also drilled one hole in each of the top sections in the hutch part. Really it is all how you want to set up your unit. I think I drilled a 1.5" hole. It just needs to be big enough for the power cord to fit through. Good luck
Tsu Dho Nimh
Sat, 09/22/2012 - 12:38
Size of hole for cable and power connections
Tanya -
I measured my screen's connectors, and the biggest one is about 2 inches by 1-1/4 inches (at the BIG end - it has a much smaller connector at the other end). The entire cable bundle after all the things are hooked up is less than 1 1/2 inches diameter.
The "best place" would depend on where you are going to have the DVD players, computer, or whatever is the source of the images.
If I were building this, I would have the DVD player and/or computer in one of the bottom cabinets under the screen (with good ventilation), with a power strip, and run the wires up through the top of the shelf for the TV, not through the back.
Then the power strip would have a hole through the lower back to get to an outlet.
milkdudengr
Sat, 01/24/2015 - 19:00
New to Woodworking
I'm new to woodworking, and I'm in the process of finishing up the center console unit. When I get around to building this hutch, what is the best way to secure it to the console?
lchnd203
Tue, 06/16/2020 - 06:26
How to connect all 3 pieces to make media hutch
I am new at this and have built a few things from this site. I love it! Is there a section that shows us how to connect all 3 pieces to make up the entire media hutch. I am asking because they have 3 different plans.