There’s just something rewarding about making your own DIY furniture. Sure, professionally-built, store-bought pieces might be of higher quality, or better materials, or come with a warranty (which, we’re not going to lie to you, is pretty nice), but self-made furniture projects have something that purchased items lack: heart.
If you really want to customize your apartment living space in a way that will reflect your own personality and style, then DIY may be the way to go. Of course, there’s a difference between knowing that you want to take on a DIY furniture project, and knowing which DIY furniture project to take. DIY furniture kits are an easy way to make something special with your own two hands, without having to worry about getting lost during the process, but there’s also something special about getting really creative, and whipping something up from scratch.
In previous posts, we’ve shown you how to make DIY bookshelves, DIY headboards, and even DIY mid-century ottomans. Here, we’d like to share some projects that are even easier and less expensive than what we’ve shown you before. Here are three simple and inexpensive DIY furniture ideas that you can build yourself, to help give your apartment the kind of personalized touch it needs:
DIY Pallet Kitchen Island
A kitchen island is great to have when you need a little bit of extra counter space while preparing a meal. Of course, if you live in a rented space that has no kitchen island, installing a permanent one yourself isn’t really a possibility. But how about building a nonpermanent, mobile kitchen island out of a wooden crate or pallet? Here’s how to do it:
– Get a clean, unbroken pallet. Contacting a warehouse and asking for any unwanted pallets will likely be your best bet, but you can also find free pallets in local classifieds sections, online, or even through the tried-and-true method of ‘dumpster diving.’
– Using four 4×4 wooden boards, and nine 2×4 wooden boards, create the basic frame for your kitchen island. You’ll need to determine the dimensions of your DIY frame before you attempt to build it, so that you can get boards of the correct length.
– Stand the 4x4s upright, and position them so that they form the four corners or ‘posts’ of your island. The island should be rectangular, rather than square, with two short sides and two long sides. Using the 2x4s, attach supports between the posts, using two 2x4s on each short side (with one sitting very close to the ground, and the other sitting about halfway up the posts), and three 2x4s on one of the long sides (with one flush with the top of the posts, one about halfway down, and one a few inches from the ground). On the final long side, attach a single 2×4 flush with the top, and another level with the bottom 2×4 from the other side, leaving the middle open; this will be the front of your island.
– Carefully pry apart the individual wooden boards that make up the pallet. The wood will likely look much more weathered and aged than the boards you used for your frame, but that will only help give your kitchen a comfortable rustic appearance. Cut the wooden pallet boards to the correct length so that they can be used to cover the openings on the short sides of the island frame. Using nails or screws, line up and attach several boards to the 2x4s that make up the short sides of the frame.
– Use other boards from the pallet to cover the back of the island (the long side with the three 2×4 supports). Use smaller pallet boards laid across the bottom two supports on the long sides to create a bottom ‘shelf’ for your island, and then do the same across the uppermost supports on the long side. The boards you use for the top of the island should be evenly spaced, and close enough together to prevent anything from slipping down between them. FInally, lay pallet boards across the center of the island, connecting the middle supports from the two short sides, creating a middle shelf.
– Pressure wash the entire island, especially the top (you’ll be preparing food on that surface), and sand down any unsmooth areas until you are satisfied with the results.
– Stain the top and any other sections you’d like with the waterproof food-grade stain/sealant of your choice.
– Finally, attach some casters to the bottom of your posts, making your island a mobile addition to your food prep areas.
DIY Tire Ottoman
A tire is probably the last thing you’d want to turn into a footstool, and if you’re talking about a found tire sitting at the side of the road, then we’d be inclined to agree with you. But hear us out—buy purchasing a new clean tire, as well as some other inexpensive supplies, you can make an attractive, functional side table that no one will ever know is actually made out of a tire… until you tell them, that is.
– Purchase a new tire of any size. You’ll likely end up with something that provides enough surface area for a small footstool, but larger tires are available if you don’t mind paying a little more. If you’d rather not have to pay for something new, then you could, potentially, use a found tire, but we don’t recommend it. If you do, just make sure that you pressure wash the tire and allow it to dry before you start your project. You will also need some 6mm medium-density fiberboard (MDF), screws, a drill, a hot glue gun, a long twisted cord, a cloth, scissors, and a concentrated brush sealer. Some of these items can be substituted for others, so read these instructions carefully, and then see if there are any changes you want to make before you get started.
– Cut the MDF into two circles of large enough diameter to cover the top and bottom openings of the tire. Drill holes at equal points around the edge of the MDF, deep enough so that the drill pushes through the rubber of the tire. Place screws into the holes, and tighten them so that the MDF is securely fastened. Do this for both the top and bottom of the tire, so that the hole in the center of the tire is completely covered from both sides.
– Begin attaching your rope. Start in the center of one of the MDF circles, and using hot glue, attach one end of the rope to the MDF. Allow the glue on the tip of the rope to dry so that it is completely secure, and then, applying glue at regular intervals as you go, wrap the rope around the center in a tight spiral or snail design. You’ll end up using a lot of glue, so make sure that you have enough hot glue refills to make it through the entire project.
– Continue to wind the rope around the center, and once the surface of the MDF has been covered, continue to wide the cord over the surface of the tire. Make sure that there are no gaps in the cord, especially where the edge of the MDF meets the tire. Continue until your cord has been wound around approximately half of the tire.
– Flip the tire over, and continue to wind the cord around the tire until you reach the spot where the opposite MDF meets the rubber of the tire. Once all of the rubber has been covered, carefully cut the rope, and tuck the end into the area between the rubber and the board. Secure it with glue, so that it won’t hang down. Leave the second MDF uncovered.
– Flip the tire back over, and cover the entire surface that is covered in rope with the brush sealer. Do not put sealer on the MDF board that does not have rope on it.
– Allow the sealer to dry for about two weeks before using.
– Now, just place the tire uncovered-MDF-side-down wherever you’d like in your apartment, and you’ll have a stylish and cheap ottoman that none of your guests will be able to identify as an upcycled tire.
Upcycle Drawer Shelves/Bookcase
If you are anything like most apartment dwellers, then you know how hard it is to find enough storage and shelf space to meet all of your needs. This particular DIY project is simple to put together, and produces a fun and topsy-turvy variation on the classic shelf/bookcase.
– Acquire three or more wooden drawers from an old desk, armoire, or dresser. You can use simple, plain drawers, but drawers with ornate woodwork and/or elegant-looking knobs will serve to give your bookcase more character. If you’d like, you can sand and paint these drawers before you begin your project.
– Stack the drawers one on top of the other, with the openings facing forward, and the fronts of the drawers facing outward to either side (staggered, so that the drawer faces aren’t pressing against each other). The drawers should sit flush against one another, so that there is no space visible between each drawer. However, if the drawers do not sit together perfectly, you can place thin wooden boards between each drawer for added support.
– With the drawer openings facing forward, stand a large, flat piece of wood across the back of the bookcase. Nail the back of each shelf to the wood behind it. Two to four nails per shelf should be enough.
– Cover the back of each shelf with wallpaper or shelf paper of your choice, so as to cover the nail heads. Secure with glue, if necessary.
– On the very bottom of the shelf, attach four wooden furniture legs of your choice (painted to match the shelf, if you’d like). Stand the shelf upright, and use a level to make sure that the shelf stands up straight. If it does not, adjust one or more of the legs.
– Pick a spot for your fun new bookcase, and load it up with whatever items, trinkets, or books that you need a place for… or that you want to show off.
A good DIY project is one that you’re eager to brag about. What are your favorite DIY furniture plans or ideas? Share them with us in the comment section!