How to Make Rustic Wood Furniture

Simple rustic wood furniture can create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your home with little expense. Although some people focus on the biggest and the best, often the meager rustic furniture is what tends to be more endearing to the heart and can become the family furniture your children remember and cherish. Fortunately, you can make your own dining table and bookshelf with that rustic appeal quickly and easily.

Things You'll Need

• To make a table:
• 4 3-foot long, 1-by-6-inch boards
• Hammer and nails
• 4 3-foot long, 3-by-3-inch table legs
• 4 5-foot long, 1-by-10-inch boards for the tabletop
• Sandpaper
• Wood stain or paint
• To make a bookshelf:
• 2 3-foot long, 1-by-8-inch boards for sides
• Tape measure and pencil
• 2 30-inch long, 1-by-8-inch boards for shelves
• 1 3-foot long, 1-by-12-inch board for the bookshelf top

Instructions

Making a Rustic Table

1. Set the 1-by-6 inch boards into a square shape to create a frame. Nail the boards in place with two nails at each intersection.

2. Arrange each table leg to rest inside the corners of the frame you just created. Be sure the top edges of the legs (which are facing down) are flush with the top edges (also facing down) of the frame. Nail on each side of the frame to attach all four legs with two nails on each side.

3. Flip the table frame and legs over and make sure the structure is sturdy. Place the four top boards over the top, lined up next to one another. There should be a 1-foot overhang on each end of the table and 4 inches overhanging on each side. Nail two nails into each board and into the support frame along the width of the table.

4. Sand the tabletop, legs and frame smooth, with particular attention to the edges. The underside of the frame in particular is most likely to come into contact with your legs when you sit or scoot in, so be sure they are smooth. Add wood stain or sealant, waiting at least an hour between coats. Follow the manufacturer's instructions if the suggested wait time is longer.

Making a Rustic Bookshelf

1. Mark shelf guidelines on the side boards by setting a 1-by-8-inch board on end and measuring 13 inches down from the top. Mark a horizontal line across the width of the board. Create a second shelf line 17 inches down from the first line. Repeat on the other side board.

2. Hold the boards upright with the lines facing in and spaced 3 feet apart. Set a 30-inch shelf board between the side boards. Align the top edge of the board to the bottom marked line of one side. Nail through the side board and into the shelf, keeping the nails 2 inches apart. Secure the shelf to the other side board along the same bottom line, and nail to attach. Repeat the process to attach the top shelf along the top marked line of each side board.

3. Top the shelf with the 1-by-12 inch board, leaving an overlap of 2 inches on the front and back and 3 inches on the sides. Nail the top down with your nails spaced every 3 inches.

4. Remove excess roughness and splinters by sanding the bookshelf. Paint or stain as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• To give the table or bookshelf a distressed look before you stain, use a hammer or other hard surface (chains, other boards) and make different textured scars and crevices. Do not go overboard, as you are only adding detail, but hit it enough to create the effect you want. If you are painting your furniture, paint decorative motifs or use theme stencils as desired to change the look of the piece.

• Always wear protective goggles and gloves when doing any woodworking.