When I purchased my first home last year, I accidentally hurled a hammer toward my father-in-law’s head (true story). A year earlier, I sawed my toolbox in half while using it to prop up a board I was cutting (now it opens two different ways).
Still, by some stroke of luck, I’ve managed to pocket nearly $5,000 by crafting my own furniture.
Take a custom sofa table and desk for example: $1,500 at Pottery Barn, but just $187 made in my backyard.
Or our new dining table: $73 in supplies, versus $1,650 for the version at Ballard Designs.
And it’s not only me—my friends have been doing the same thing.
Russ assembled his own patio furniture for $113. Travis produced a side table that could pass for West Elm for $95. David built a vintage toy storage crate for his daughter’s room for $46. John got so proficient he launched a side gig making furniture for clients.
Beyond the cash savings, building your own furniture is genuinely enjoyable. Here’s how to get started:
Find Your DIY Furniture Ideas
I don’t spend huge chunks of time on Pinterest, but when I do, it’s tough to stop. Pinterest is an amazing source for DIY furniture concepts and tutorials. I began by searching for “buffet table,” “farm table” and “sofa table,” and quickly noticed adding “DIY” or “Instructions” gave better hits.
Along the route, I found several fantastic DIY resources. I first discovered my farmhouse-style dining table on Shanty 2 Chic, which pointed me to Ana White, where I also grabbed the plans for the sofa table.
Once I learned the fundamentals, I began photographing pieces I wanted to recreate. I plan to construct a pergola inspired by a Pottery Barn display and a bar I admired in a Boulder, Colorado restaurant. Why purchase when you can build?
Get Materials and Tools
To begin making your own furniture, you really need only a handful of essential tools. First, get a reliable power drill. While cordless drills are convenient around the house, a corded drill avoids downtime from mid-project battery charging when you’re building furniture.
Next, spring for a Kreg Jig kit. These little tools are brilliant, and someone’s clearly making a fortune from the idea! They let you drill pocket holes so screws sit neatly inside the wood, giving a polished, professional appearance. The kit is well worth the roughly $20 price.
A miter saw speeds up cutting, and an electric sander will spare your arms a lot of fatigue. My friends and I initially shared these tools, but Home Depot and Lowe’s also offer affordable rentals.
For an inexpensive wood stain, try mixing steel wool and vinegar (use more wool for a deeper tone) to instantly age new wood and give it a weathered appearance. I recommend testing on scrap wood to check the color before treating your entire piece.
With the basic tools in hand, you’re set to begin!
Schedule a Day to Build
For my first attempt at furniture making, a buddy and I built matching tables in his backyard. We bought two of every item and became efficient at helping each other measure and make cuts.
Note: It’s not smart to work outside in Arizona in July when the temperature hits 120 degrees.
Heatstroke aside, spending a Saturday crafting furniture with a friend made it fun. And if you plan to sell furniture, having extra hands boosts productivity.
How to Earn Money From DIY Furniture
I used to think it was wild that houses cost so much when they’re largely constructed from wood you could find in the woods. Of course, I now value construction more, but there’s a huge margin between raw material costs and what buyers will pay for stylish, handmade items.
The simplest way to begin monetizing? Try selling your furniture on Instagram. When I shared a photo of my sofa table, I was surprised at how many people asked, “how much?”
Be sure to take plenty of photos when you start promoting and selling your work. People enjoy seeing the behind-the-scenes process!
If you’re serious, create a website using Squarespace, Wix or my favorite, Strikingly. These platforms let you spend less time building a site and more time building furniture. Since he began selling his handmade furniture, my friend John has earned over $30,000 making everything from coffee tables and coasters to bookshelves and doors.
Your Turn: Have you tried crafting your own furniture?
Disclosure: We appreciate you letting us include affiliate links in this post. It helps keep the beer fridge stocked in the Savinly break room.
Chris Ronzio helps small business owners tame chaos and accomplish more so they can spend time on what matters. In high school he founded a nationwide video production business that generated over $2 million in sales of youth sports videos.Visit his site for more time-saving ideas!
