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
guest (not verified)
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 07:45
This is really a beautiful
This is really a beautiful project!! I have to ask since I'm still new ar this, how do you connect the hutch and base?
In reply to This is really a beautiful by guest (not verified)
Lady Goats
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 08:01
Connecting the hutch and base
Hi and thanks! :-) I built a bottom shelf for this, so I just screwed through the bottom shelf into the base. I also added some 1x3 braces to the back of mine so that I could screw it into the wall (one under the stemware "slides", and one under the middle shelf).
nicwolford
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 08:45
I freaking love this
I think I just found my next project. Thank you.
tannisg
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 09:18
Beautiful - but not for my kids!
I love this! And we really need to build a bar/liquor cabinet/hutch of some sort (already have two china hutches, but still have things that don't fit, how sad is that!?)
But with toddlers and teenagers and all ages in between, I don't think the open wine storage in the bottom will work :) We need something that closes and preferably something that locks..
Maybe I could put a glass door on it or something?
In reply to Beautiful - but not for my kids! by tannisg
claydowling
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 15:49
Locks, kids and booze
If you want the hutch, build the hutch, with or without door. If you're worried about your kids drinking, that's a conversation you should have with them that's separate from the furniture.
The lock is a non-issue with your kids and booze. I lived with an underage alcoholic who never once touched my well-stocked and unlocked cabinet. In my youth, although I was far from temperate, I never bothered taking anybody else's booze either. A teenager after something that's been forbidden will move heaven and earth to lay hands on it.
tannisg
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 16:24
I agree - its more the toddler :)
Clay - I agree wholeheartedly about teaching them about drinking, and actually I do trust my teen. She's only 12 so I guess she's not technically a teen yet, but will be soon. I just like the idea of having it behind a closed door at least so its not a temptation. I think when she has friends over, or we hire a babysitter, or whatever, I'd rather not have it sitting open for her to have to worry about someone wanting. Probably silly of me.
And a moot point because the 1 and 3 year olds would spill/break/play with it long before anyone would drink it! They spilled a whole container of margarita salt that was sitting with the wine in our current open configuration - took weeks to sweep it all up because I tried to let roomba pick it up and it got spread into a thin layer all over my living room...
SongBabe7 (not verified)
Fri, 02/10/2012 - 10:57
hack for the lock issue...
I used toddler locks on the inside of a cabinet to accomplish this. Bonus was that you can't see them from the outside of my (otherwise) Grandmother's 1960s cabinet-turned liquor cabinet. http://preview.tinyurl.com/89cbnyc
SongBabe7 (not verified)
Fri, 02/10/2012 - 10:59
totlock
Add a door and put a Totlock on it. It's completely invisible from the outside, so it won't alert an unfamiliar person to the way to get it open. And it keeps the toddlers out too.
SongBabe7 (not verified)
Fri, 02/10/2012 - 11:01
totlock
Add a door and put a Totlock on it. It's completely invisible from the outside, so it won't alert an unfamiliar person to the way to get it open. And it keeps the toddlers out too.
Tsu Dho Nimh
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 14:11
What is that wine cork thing?
the star, snowflake or sea urchin of wine corks?
In reply to What is that wine cork thing? by Tsu Dho Nimh
Lady Goats
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 16:14
Cork "thing"
It's just a small styrofoam ball that I painted brown and hot glued corks to. I made a BIG one that required 200+ corks, but the kid decided it was better taken apart and shredded. It was awesome, unlike this measly li'l one :-)
Guest (not verified)
Tue, 01/31/2012 - 17:01
when my kids were toddlers we
when my kids were toddlers we tied the wine bottles to the open winr rack we had.
lazyLiz
Thu, 02/09/2012 - 20:05
wowee!
I'm in the middle of building my display cabinet for my breakfast area and I just saw this one. I think I'm going to steal from your plan and add the hanging glass thingy on mine :-) (don't drink much wine but I like how it looks)
In reply to wowee! by lazyLiz
Lady Goats
Fri, 02/10/2012 - 07:48
yay, steal away!
I'm sure it's gonna look great!
markw
Tue, 02/21/2012 - 12:37
Stemware holders
I want to build this for my wife, but I don't quite understand how to do the stemare holders. What is their size and spacing, and how did you attach them? Did you nail them to the top before you nailed that on?
Thanks for the great project!
In reply to Stemware holders by markw
Lady Goats
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 09:49
That.. is an excellent question!
I actually forgot to add this step with the photo of the spacing. I'll email Ana and see if she can add it in there. SO sorry!
In reply to Stemware holders by markw
Lady Goats
Wed, 02/22/2012 - 12:01
Ok, now you can see how it was added :-)
The amazing Ana fixed my error :-)
claydowling
Tue, 02/21/2012 - 15:17
Stemware holders
Sizing and spacing of the stemware holders is fairly easy. You need to size them big enough to hold your stemware, and space them far enough apart to fit your stemware into them.
It's easiest to figure out by cutting the top piece, then setting up a row of stemware on top of it. Because people have different sized glasses, size it to the stemware that you have. Set 1x material on edge between the glasses, and that marks the position of your rails in the final cabinet.
CindyLouBell
Tue, 04/16/2013 - 11:24
Does anyone have an
Does anyone have an approximate cost on this project? Or on the wine grid base?
In reply to Does anyone have an by CindyLouBell
Lady Goats
Tue, 04/16/2013 - 12:22
Approx Cost
Hi Cindy! I spent $143 on the bar (that's for both the hutch and the wine-grid base, including hardware, pocket hole screws and sandpaper ;-) ) - If you decide to do it without the cove moulding (I still haven't added mine), that'll save you about $15.