How to Select Furniture Making Plans

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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You should select furniture making plans primarily on your skill level. Plans that are too complex or which require special equipment may only serve to frustrate you. Fortunately, furniture making plans and furniture "how-to" articles are widely available in books and magazines and on television and the Internet.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Determine Your Capabilities

Step 1

Take stock of the tools you have available for furniture making.
Step 2

Choose a location to use for your project. Think about how large the piece of furniture will be.
Step 3

Determine where you will store your project if you cannot complete it in one session.

Choose a Piece of Furniture to Make

Step 1

Decide what type of furniture you would like to make. Having a general idea of what you want to build will help you select the correct plans.
Step 2

Measure the area in your home or yard where the finished furniture will go.
Step 3

Write down the room's measurements, as well as your idea of how large the piece of furniture should be.

Find the Right Plan Online

Step 1

Visit websites such as the DIY Network (see Resources below). Many do-it-yourself websites offer links to free furniture plans.
Step 2

Download a few of your favorite plans to review.
Step 3

Review the plans you have chosen for complexity, tools needed, availability of materials and readability.

Visit Your Local Bookstore or Library

Step 1

Travel to the bookstore or local library. Bring your measurements with you to compare to various furniture plans.
Step 2

Ask the store clerk or librarian if he recommends a book containing easy to read furniture plans.
Step 3

Select a few books to browse. Use the index to find the type of furniture plans you are looking for.
Step 4

Compare your measurements and your knowledge of your skill to the plans in each book.
Step 5

Purchase or borrow any books containing appropriate furniture making plans.

Get Advice From Professionals

Step 1

Search for discussion groups for professional or hobby furniture builders on sites like Yahoo!! (see Resources below). Post a request for plans that suit your needs.
Step 2

Read a woodworking magazine such as Wood Magazine to get tips from professional furniture makers (see Resources below).