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Step 1
Keep your tools, your skill level and your final goal in mind. Working with wood ranges from simple projects that are seldom seen around the home to advanced creations that enhance a space's aesthetic value. Being honest about your budget, your skills and the tools you possess keeps your project manageable.
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Step 2
Decide between a hardwood or a softwood. Hardwoods, which come from trees that lose their leaves during the winter, tend to be dense and sturdy, making hardwoods a good match for projects that require durability. Softwoods come from trees that never shed their leaves, and these woods tend to be softer, making them easier to work with but more easily damaged.
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Step 3
Select the grade of wood. Grades of lumber range from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates an unblemished and attractive surface and 5 means a low quality wood where the surface appearance doesn't matter. When appearance matters--such as in cabinetry--choose a higher grade wood, and when looks and quality are less important--as in unseen or painted projects--choose a lower grade wood.
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Step 4
Think about the wood's purpose. If you want lasting, beautiful furniture, hardwoods like mahogany and walnut work well. For flooring, oak or maple might make a better choice. While pine is sometimes used in furniture, typically soft woods like pine, hemlock, fir, and spruce work best for paneling, ladders, boxes, outdoor furniture and other jobs where damage matters less.
