Carrie Spalding - Wood plank projects: 30 simple and creative DIY decor ideas for your home and garden

Copyright 2019 by Carrie Spalding

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Qualcom

Cover photo credit: Carrie Spalding

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-4294-9

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-4295-6

Printed in China

For Mitch. For believing in me so hard,
I cant help believing in me, too.

Table of Contents

Introduction

When I think about woodworking, a very specific image comes to mind. I picture an older man with a big, fluffy beard tucked away in a workshop that is filled with every tool imaginable, where he creates intricately turned table legs and joins beautiful bits of wood by hand. Its a cozy image, and Im sure there are woodworkers out there who fit the stereotypebut many do not.

I certainly dont. Im a suburban mom of three little boys, and my workshop is a space in the corner of our basement with only the most basic power tools and far too many spiders. Yet, I am definitely a woodworker. Thats certainly not something I ever imagined I would call myself, but the truth is you dont have to be a master carpenter to be a woodworker; you just have to work with wood.

Many creative people talk about how they have always loved to make things since they were very young, and how their parents always knew they would be an artist. Neither of these is true for me. I didnt consider myself particularly artistic, and I learned absolutely zero DIY skills growing up. But then I found myself the proud homeowner of a rundown brick ranch, and I wanted so badly to make it my own without spending a ton of money. My husband is a wonderful partner, but he isnt particularly handy or interested in spending his free time doing house projects, so it was up to me.

Slowly, I started learning how to do things myself, and I soon fell in love with the idea that I had the power to make things. There is something magical about creating something with your own two hands. Instead of hoping and praying to find the exact item I wanted in stores, I could just design and make my own things in any style, size, and color I wanted.

The beautiful thing about working with wood is it really doesnt have to be complicated. Sure, there are absolutely amazing things that can be done with wood by people who are highly skilled. But there are also a lot of beautiful items that can be made by anyone who is willing to give it a try. Even better, you really dont have to have a lot of special knowledge to get started with woodworking. You just need the desire. Once you know the basics of working with wood, you can create pretty much anything you could ever want.

Wood is almost magicalit is a strong and sturdy material that can be easily cut into any shape and size. It isnt all that expensive, and it can be given any finishing look you want. Wood manages to be both rustic and refined, strong and malleableall at the same time. It is beautiful left untouched, and it is beautiful covered in layers of paint and stain. Wood can become a piece of furniture, or a simple sign, or even a house. Wood is gorgeous even when it is rustic and aged. In fact, I would argue that it actually becomes more attractive when it is decidedly imperfect."

This book is filled with wooden dcor projects that embrace the warmth, texture, and all of the glorious imperfections of wood. Many of these projects dont require special skills and can easily be completed in an afternoon. All of these projects use the most inexpensive wood planks available to make lovely dcor pieces that will work with many different styles. Even if you have never considered yourself a woodworkeror a DIYer, for that matteryou can do this!

If you dont have much experience using tools and working with wood, start with a couple of easy projects to build your confidence. And if you are ready to just dive right into something more complicated, go for it. My hope is that you will be inspired to take these ideas and make them your own, customizing them with your own colors and finishes and touches. I hope you will come away from this book with the confidence that you, too, are a woodworker.

Materials and Tools

Here, I will walk you through the basics you need to know before diving into the projects in this book. You will learn about inexpensive lumber choices, reclaimed wood and where to find it, how to make new wood look old, paint and stain finishes, and the tools you will need.

Types of Wood Planks

Wood is such a versatile material, and there are many varieties. Each of the projects in this book name a specific type of wood you can use to complete them, but that is just a suggestion. Almost any project here can be made with a wide range of different types of wood.

Wood can be expensive, but it certainly doesnt have to be. In fact, sometimes the most humble, inexpensive types of wood give the most beautiful results.

Here are a few inexpensive wood plank choices that would work well for this book:

Furring strips are very roughly cut wood planks that builders use for leveling walls and making space for insulation. They are extremely inexpensive and work brilliantly when you want a more rustic wood plank but cant find reclaimed wood. Furring strips typically come in 1" x 2", 1" x 3", 1" x 4", and 2" x 2" planks.

Cedar fence pickets are a great wood choice for outdoor projects, since cedar naturally resists rot and decay. They are relatively inexpensive and can typically be found in the garden section of home improvement stores. They usually come in 1" x 6" x 6' planks.

Common board refers to less-expensive, lower-quality hardwood boards. The exact type of wood depends on what is most readily available at the time, but it is typically made from spruce, pine, or fir wood. This wood usually has more knotholes and imperfections than more expensive hardwoods, but it is much smoother and more uniform than furring strips. Common board comes is a huge range of widths and works very well for general DIY projects.