DIY wooden furniture

The furniture market offers thousands of products for home and office furnishings. Among thematic designs, there are mainly plastic analogues of good old wooden furniture. But you can do the latter yourself, guided by a photo of handmade wooden furniture. Skills, tools and consumables for the corresponding work will be needed as much as the future design requires.

Wooden furniture designs

To understand what furnishings can be made from wood, just walk through the rooms of your home and see:

Desk or coffee table;
Living room wall;
Coffee table;
Tumbu;
Dresser;
Shelves;
Kitchen table;
Stools-chairs.

And a list of what furniture can be made from wood welcomes massive beds, kitchen sets, a library, a sofa and armchairs.

But it’s better to start with something simple – making stools or chairs. Another alternative is wall shelves. Then you can move on to the table, chest of drawers, etc.

General principles of calculation

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Most often, curved facades can be found in kitchen units or in modules of prefabricated furniture structures. This technical solution not only looks beautiful and stylish, but also allows you to make the most of the entire area of the room. In addition, the sharp corners of the drawers often cause injuries to the owner. Naturally, smooth, curved lines of furniture will not cause harm.

But before you undertake the independent production of such facades, it is worth considering some nuances:

Calculating such modules is more difficult than designing standard solutions.
Making bent furniture will cost more than assembling a simple structure.
Profile curved cornices and false panels are not easy to find (and they are much more expensive than traditional counterparts).

Image 2. Design diagram for bent furniture.

The necessary components and parts are usually purchased from manufacturer catalogs. Such a catalog, as well as contact information, can be obtained from a specialized store or ordered individual delivery. Naturally, the cost of furniture increases. But, as a rule, a high-quality kitchen with curved facades lasts longer than its traditional counterparts.

Independent project preparation

You can also draw up a project yourself, using as an example the calculation of a headset manufactured at a factory. Such a diagram is shown in Image 1.

Naturally, you can use your own sizes. In this case, it is necessary to observe the ratios and proportions indicated in the original.

Some manufacturers offer to purchase ready-made curved facades, since experienced craftsmen usually have no problems creating the body. Then the calculation of the headset depends on the dimensions of the finished elements. But it should be taken into account that the calculation of countertops and open shelves is usually not included in the project (or only preliminary dimensions are indicated), since their shape depends on the finished gables, which are not perfectly accurate. That is, the curve of the tabletop is drawn only when you already have ready-made facades. The same applies to the case when the furniture is completely made independently.

Image 3. Stencil diagram for bent furniture.

As mentioned above, when designing curved pediments, knowledge of geometry is needed. But complex mathematical calculations are useless, since when manufacturing complex shaped and curved parts, it is almost impossible to maintain exact dimensions. In this case, it is enough to adhere only to the general principles of calculation:

Rounded corners of elements located under each other (for example, a tabletop and open shelves) should have the same fillet radius.
All shaped elements that will be connected to other parts in the design must be designed taking into account certain proportions. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the rules of symmetry (in this case, you will need an example of a finished project).
Correctly curved lines must be repeated in all main modules. You cannot make shelves and facades with different types of bending. For this, cutting cards are used, that is, patterns made of cardboard or thin plastic.

The design principle and main errors are shown in Image 2.

For example, the rear surface of the module must be calculated so that at certain positions of the corner shelves (H1, H2, H3) the distances from the edge of the rear wall to the shelves themselves - h - are maintained. Knowing these dimensions, a smooth curved line is drawn through points a1, a2, a3, a4, a5. Moreover, the radii of the corners of the elements (indicated as R) must be the same.

What material will you need?

The wood is presented in the form of a solid mass of different types of wood:

Pine is affordable and resists moisture well;
Spruce is affordable, moisture-resistant, but has many knots, which complicates the processing of the material and the manufacture of furniture;
Birch is relatively affordable and durable, but can rot;
Cedar is the “golden mean” among all species suitable for making wooden furniture;
Larch is durable, moisture-resistant, but relatively expensive;
Beech - easy to process, but expensive;
Oak is luxurious, durable, but very expensive.

When choosing one of the listed species, you need to understand that the options for home and country furniture made of wood differ in the level of strength and moisture resistance.

Country furniture can be made from affordable pine, since such products are used only seasonally, and pine resists rot well.

Design options

Modern furniture designers really like to experiment with different materials, so they couldn’t ignore high-quality plywood sheets. Their ideas are very interesting, sometimes exclusive and innovative.

Designer furniture is always in high demand among creative individuals and young people. Plywood is not very expensive, which allows every average person to decorate their home with an unusual solution.

For any hallway, furniture made from beautiful plywood is one of the most successful options, since the material is actually practical and highly durable. An increased level of resistance to wear, a stylish appearance and ease of restoration - such excellent characteristics should be distinguished by high-quality furniture that is installed in the corridor as in the most high-traffic area of the home. At the same time, for the hallway you can easily select furniture from both the laminated variety of plywood and the bent type. These are most often original cabinets for storing shoes, durable ottomans, soft banquettes, a luxurious stylized couch or an elegant dressing table in the form of a triptych.

The living room is the center of any modern home

It will always attract special attention, so it should be characterized by maximum comfort and practicality. It is best to choose upholstered furniture here, which has a frame made of durable plywood, a small openwork table for magazines, creative shelves and bookcases

This kind of furnishings will look great in modern interiors of rustic country style, Mediterranean, as well as classical and Provencal styles.

The bathroom and kitchen are rooms with a fairly high percentage of humidity. Plywood, which has moisture-resistant properties, can successfully replace the popular solid wood or plastic here. The furniture in these rooms can be made either entirely or partially from plywood sheets. Designer sets, unusual dining tables, beautiful bar counters, designer shelves in the loft style can last quite a long time, especially if they are treated with a special protective agent.

And also recently, carved plywood furniture has been in great demand - it is created using special laser cutting. However, the cost of such furniture is often very high, and its service life is short-lived. Openwork patterns are considered not very durable and therefore are more often found as part of the product - for example, carvings on the doors of the wall or part of the head of the bed.

Woodworking tools

Craftsmen fell in love with wood for its flexibility in processing. Today, to create different shapes from solid wood, a carpenter uses:

Hammer (preferably several),
Mallet;
Clamps;
Chisels;
Plane
Saw;
Drill;
Screwdriver;
Jigsaw;
Pliers.

Some necessary tools for making furniture can be electric, which only simplifies the thematic event.

It is also important for the future furniture maker to have measuring instruments - a square, a level, a ruler, a tape measure.

Features of the manufacturing technique

When deciding to make furniture from solid wood with your own hands, you must first familiarize yourself with the principle of operation. If it is not possible to consult with an experienced technician, videos on the Internet will help you understand many of the features. In a professional workshop, wood is cut using a circular saw, which is quite difficult to install at home.

Circular saw for wood

You can cut out the parts yourself using a saw and a construction jigsaw - this solution will be effective when cutting rectangular workpieces.

Jigsaw for working with wood

If the project requires parts of complex shapes, it is recommended to seek help from a craftsman or a furniture factory, where they will make an even cut exactly according to the drawing.

Finished parts are connected to each other in several ways:

spikes - the product is assembled by cutting eyelets and spikes corresponding to each other, to connect the parts tightly together, sometimes glue is used for greater strength;
Tenon connection of parts
fastening elements - parts are fastened using a screwdriver, self-tapping screws, fittings are also used - corners, ties.

Connection with the Confirmat system

Tenoning will require special tools and additional knowledge, so it is recommended to start with a simpler use of fasteners.

Minifix connecting system

Work zone

When you have lumber and tools, then you need to find a place to make wooden furniture. Otherwise, the housing will be clogged with dust, shavings and other waste.

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A good workshop can be organized in a garage, basement, or on a balcony. Here, in addition to tools, at least minimal working conditions must prevail:

Crafting table;
Vise;
Shelves and drawers for storing tools and consumables;
Seat (better adjustable);
Lighting.

When improving your workshop, you can gradually add different machines to the above list - wood lathe, drilling, sharpening, etc.

Processing and finishing

Since Karelian birch is a material susceptible to moisture, it is necessary to include in the processing cycle a special coating with moisture-repellent and protective dyes.

The wood preparation cycle includes several types of processing:

Drying - if the wood gets wet in the rain, it must be dried thoroughly, otherwise birch furniture will become deformed and quickly lose its appearance;
Gluing - this process allows you to prepare timber of the required thickness and type;
Polishing is a necessary step to achieve ideal evenness of a wooden panel;
Etching with special substances improves performance characteristics and increases the service life of furniture.

The resulting wood is processed on milling and lathes to produce unique furniture of various shapes.

Where can I get lumber?

Despite the abundance of forests in our country, not everyone can afford a thematic array.

Therefore, tips for making your own furniture include finding affordable wood. You can get it:

After the New Year holidays (pine trunks are great for making legs);
With the help of worn-out windows, doors, furniture (old structures are often made of high-quality wood, which only needs to be adjusted in size to fit the future furniture);
In your garden-dacha (stumps and wild garden trees - pear, apple, walnut - are considered consumable raw materials);
In a planting or forest (bad weather often breaks tree trunks that can be used to make furniture).

For the last point, it is better to have personal transport, since sawing a trunk with a chainsaw on the spot can be regarded as an administrative offense.

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What is the value of furniture made from branches, driftwood and stumps?

First of all, of course, uniqueness. No one in the world has the same furniture, since natural exclusivity is used - there are no identical branches, just as there are no identical fingerprints.

Decorative candlestick made of planks

Beneficial features:

Safety. The material does not cause allergies, it does not contain toxins and other delights that factory products are full of.
Reliability, especially if roots were used. With high-quality assembly, furniture lasts for decades.
You can assemble any piece of furniture, since the material used is different (in shape and size).

There are no disadvantages, although insects may live inside the raw material, which must be exterminated, otherwise they will crawl out during the heating season.

What to do if there is no lumber?

In most cases, the future carpenter does not want to look for solid wood or purchase it on the market.

Then wooden furniture can be made in the following ways:

By combining several materials in one product - wood, plastic, etc.;
Creating a solid profile by mixing shavings with epoxy glue;
By purchasing cheap chipboard and laminated chipboard materials for assembling analogue models.

The given ideas for wooden furniture and instructions for manufacturing raise many questions regarding the origin of thematic products.

However, when lumber is in short supply, it is better to be content with restrictions than to sit without work.

Varieties

Birch is used to create many furniture sets and other decorative elements. It is often used to decorate the following rooms:

bedrooms;
living rooms;
offices;
kitchens;
children's

In addition to beds, wardrobes, chests of drawers, dressing tables and bedside tables are made from birch. It is also worth decorating the room with a mirror in a beautiful carved frame. The tactile properties and color are great for cabinets and sideboards in bright living rooms.

Due to the fact that the texture of the solid wood, coated with varnish, is similar to marble, work tables made of Karelian birch for offices are in great demand. To achieve the greatest beauty and aesthetics, carved lacquered legs are attached to them. Furniture made from birch is a rather non-standard solution for the kitchen. Due to the fact that the material does not react well to moisture, the products must be positioned so that water does not drip on them. Dining tables with chairs and benches made from birch look especially original.

Any furniture for a nursery should be properly polished so that no piece of furniture can cause a splinter in children. Birch beds have a positive effect on the child’s condition, as the tree has antibacterial and antiallergic properties. Whitewashed furniture made from this material looks especially festive and makes the room bright and spacious.

Bedroom

Living room

Cabinet

Kitchen

Children's

How to assemble wooden furniture

Furniture manufacturing begins with its design. To do this, markings are carried out on finished lumber so that they can be easily sawed and processed according to the drawings. When the elements of one design are ready, all that remains is to assemble them together.

The following are predominantly used as connecting parts and means:

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Grooves-ridges of the structure itself;
Self-tapping screws;
Nails;
Carpenter's or epoxy glue.

For additional strength of the structure, its internal corners and joints can be filled with metal corners. And don’t forget about the fittings that make the moving parts of the furniture work.

Assembling the kitchen set

When, after all the steps described above, the facades and sawn laminated chipboard are finally delivered to you, you can breathe easy, because now all that’s left to do is to drill, assemble and install.

We won’t talk about how to drill, it’s all said in your drawings, the main thing is not to forget that the thickness of the laminate is 16 mm, the end is drilled with an 8 mm indent. Let's move on directly to assembling the cabinets.

8mm edge margin

At the end for Euroscrews, use a drill with a diameter of 5.5 mm or 6 mm

Floor stands

Lay out in front of you all the parts needed for one cabinet (start with the sink cabinet).
Start twisting them with Euroscrews.
The legs are screwed to the bottom with a distance from the edge of no more than 5 cm.
You can mark the holes for the door hinges.

Cabinets with drawers:

They are collected in a similar way.
On the side walls, as the instructions say, guides are marked depending on their configuration.

This is what the side stand of a cabinet with drawers on roller guides looks like

The back wall is pierced with nails at the very last moment.

The pitch between nails should be no more than 15 cm

Upper cabinets

Assembling the upper cabinets is quite easy; you should follow the same principle as for the floor cabinets. The exception is the back wall of the cabinets, in which it is necessary to make holes with a jigsaw or knife for adjustable awnings.

How to decorate finished furniture?

When the wooden furniture is ready, all that remains is to decorate it if desired. It is best to use safe and hygienic materials for this purpose:

Silicone water-based paint;
Textile;
Decoupage.

You need to choose one of the above methods for upgrading wooden furniture, guided by the purpose of the room and the style of its interior.

Photo of DIY furniture made of wood

Read here - Instructions on how to make a computer desk with your own hands: drawings, projects and ways to build a modern, functional and comfortable computer desk (125 photos and videos)

Progress

We cut a log 40-45 cm long from a log. I used a pine tree fallen by the wind.

Make the desired number of longitudinal cuts. I made two longitudinal cuts crosswise, which means I will have a stool with four legs.

But you can make a stool with three or five legs - as you like.

Then you need to light a fire on the cuts and wait until the fire descends into these cuts. You can use liquid fuel (this is the so-called “Finnish candle”).

To ensure that the legs of the future stool were the same length, retained their base and did not fall into the ground, I limited the spread of fire by hammering 4 wooden pegs into the cuts. In the future, the pegs will burn out, but they will manage to fulfill their function - to protect the ends of the stool legs from fire.

The fire must be monitored and extinguished in time. Otherwise, the log may burn out completely.

Then, if desired, you can knock down the coals and cut off the sharp corners of the seats with a knife - this will be more beautiful and more convenient.