TikTok's Best Ideas For Those Pieces Of Scrap Wood You Have Laying Around

Most woodworkers have a piece or two of scrap wood lying around, if not an entire pile. There's always something you can do with these cut-offs, so we don't blame you for saving them. Drawing inspiration from TikTok, we've collected some of the best scrap wood projects so you can use up some of your stash. If you already have a wood pile, we figure you have at least a project or two under your belt. With that in mind, many of the projects on this list are suitable for novices, but not complete beginners. A handful of them are suitable for your first project, but for the most part, we assume some previous knowledge.

Since this list is catered to woodworkers with a bit of experience, we've included some harder DIY projects that require a pocket hole jig or a Forstner drill bit. These are two useful tools for woodworking hobbyists to have, and there are affordable options out there, so they're worth having in your hobby kit. For pocket hole jigs, the Kreg R3 Jr. Pocket-Hole Jig System and the Milescraft 1324 Pocket Jig 100 are two budget-friendly options. As for Forstner drill bits, you can shop for individual ones, like the Steelex D1007 1" Forstner Bit, or grab a set, depending on your needs. Also, it's possible to complete many of these projects with a hand saw, though an electric one makes the cutting job much easier. Build some new decor or furniture with some of TikTok's best scrap wood project ideas ahead.

Transform a boring mirror into a boho version of itself with this easy project. It involves attaching a wooden frame to the mirror to give it a natural rustic feel, and then adding your choice of boho statement piece on top (browse craft and thrift stores to find the right fit for your mirror). This project shows a pocket hole jig, though it's not totally necessary. You can use small L-brackets or even a strong wood glue to make the frame instead. These options aren't as secure as pocket holes, so also consider gluing the wood pieces around the perimeter of the mirror frame for extra hold. Don't fancy this project? Here are some other ways to upcycle old mirrors. 

Craft a table runner you can show off to your dinner guests with this project idea. It uses small squares (or rectangles) of wood, stained or painted to your liking, and then glued edge-to-edge to a fabric backing. You can mix all sorts of colors and make it as neutral or bright as you like, or even draw a pattern with different colored blocks. We like this project idea since it uses very small pieces of wood, so it's a good way to repurpose scraps that are too small for other projects.

This is one of the easiest projects on this list, and you can make the riser as small or large as you like. It really just involves placing short legs beneath a flat plank of wood. You can also adjust the riser height. Just like in the above video, you can rough up a piece of wood to make it look more rustic by using a hammer to create imperfections. Just be careful with this tool and always make sure to direct it away from yourself to lower your risk of getting injured if it slips.

If you have dowels and thin pieces of wood, this decorative lantern can put these scraps to good use. In this video, they use a Forstner bit on the drill to make holes for the dowels. Luckily, these bits aren't expensive. For example, the Steelex D1007 1" Forstner Bit is $4.95, which is cheaper than buying most decorative wood lanterns! Otherwise, the lantern mostly comes together with a strong glue. If you don't want to use extra tools, It's also possible to eliminate the dowel step and just make the rest of the lantern frame. Wood, some glues, and fire don't mix well, so we recommend using a flameless LED candle inside this lantern instead of the real thing.

Add levels to your indoor plantscape with this minimalist wooden plant stand. It looks a lot like pricier plant stands out there, but you can build it for cheap entirely out of scrap wood. A pocket hole jig is a must for this project: it hides the screws and gives the stand its polished look. Also, pocket holes offer more strength, so the stand can support heavy soil-filled pots. The steps of this project are easy, so you can adjust the plant stand size to your needs once you're confident on constructing the frame.

This plant stand build doesn't require a pocket hole jig — so it's perfect if you don't have this tool. Since it has three arms, it also holds multiple plants, so it's our scrap wood project of choice for greenery-loving households. You can adjust the tier heights to your liking, depending on your plant display. We like the finish of this project, with a high-contrast, two-toned aesthetic that's very eye-catching. Here are some more ways to make your own indoor plant stand. 

These simple wall-mounted bookshelves are easy to make, requiring just three similarly-sized planks. Once mounted to the wall, their shallow design and small lips are perfect for displaying books or framed photos. You can adjust the length depending on the size of your scrap wood, even creating a small shelf for a single book or picture if there's something specific you want to showcase.

As far as beginner woodworking projects go, this DIY is pretty useful. The finished product can be used as a simple end table or stool. The building process is pretty straightforward, and woodworkers with experience should be able to figure out how to piece it together. But if you're a newbie, there is also a full YouTube tutorial you can follow. If you plan to use it in the backyard, similar to how this video shows, you'll need to weatherproof the wood for outdoor use.

This project is just as simple and creates another stool or end table option with a minimalist design. Use four pieces of wood to create a rectangular frame (one for each side), then place planks on top to create the top surface. The rectangular frame legs look a bit more modern than the previous stool (which is more traditional and clunky), so this project idea is a fabulous alternative if you want that sleeker look.

This is one of the easiest projects on this list, perfect for even first-timers. First, cut and then paint or stain the wood piece to your liking. Then, if you want the project to look the same as this video, use mini eye hooks like the ECKJ Eye Screw Pins. This project is a great way to show off small, delicate hanging decor. Or, if you want to put it to use for organization, you can use open hook screws along the bottom for more hanging options. For example, the Relbro Screw Hooks are a good choice for hanging house keys, dog leashes, and other small entryway items.

This beginner-friendly tea station project looks so polished you can even make it as a homemade gift for the tea-lover in your life. This project uses a Forstner drill bit to make a hole for the dowel pegs. It provides a clean look that makes this DIY look more elevated. However, if you don't have one, you can use screw-in hooks on the post to hold the mugs. A product like these Screw-in Mug Hooks will get the job done just as well.

Use your scrap wood to build a creative wall-mounted entryway unit. This video shows one possible idea. Use a mish-mash of wood to make a crisscrossed base, allowing you to use up random pieces of scraps. Then, add coat-hanging hooks along the front. The shelf is optional, and you can play with the design layout. Another option is to add even more hooks, like some small hooks for hanging keys, hats, and accessories above your coats.

This simple caddy build is an easy project if you have some leftover 1x6s and 1x4s. It uses a single 1x6 as the base, so you should measure your wood pieces accordingly. Another option is to use plywood for the bottom, cut to size. This will make a less bulky caddy. You can also adjust how many dividers you want inside depending on what you want to use it for. This project doubles well as a stylish storage box. Here are more details on this scrap wood DIY. 

Take advantage of exposed garage studs by making and installing this simple but useful shelf. It's a fast build that shouldn't take much more than a couple of hours. Just measure the base piece to fit between two studs, then attach your shelf piece to that. Side rails (and you can add front ones too) are optional if you want to keep items in place. For extra utility, install some hooks along the bottom — there are almost always some tools or accessories you can hang. You don't have to stain or paint this shelf if you don't want to; unfinished, it looks right in place with the garage wall studs.

This rustic wall shelf is an incredibly easy project that's great for beginner woodworkers—it can even be a first project if you're sourcing scrap wood from a friend or family member! It just involves sticking two wood pieces together at a perpendicular angle. This is a great product to learn how to make simple cuts and how to stain or paint wood. Once mounted, you can then place plants, lamps, decor, or candles on the shelf. (If you go with candles, we recommend LED ones to avoid any possible fire hazard.)

This project is great for using a piece or two of wood that's too small for a bigger project. All you need is a couple of book-sized wood scraps, which you can attach together and then decorate to your liking to make them look like a personalized book stack. If you have a Cricut machine, you can print designs on tissue paper, and then attach them to the wood using an iron-on decoupage method. This makes it look like the text is printed right onto the wood rather than a piece of paper. If you don't have a Cricut machine, you can use letter stickers to decorate the side of the books.

This is another fabulous project for small wood scraps that's also very beginner-friendly. You can create a variety of display boards, depending on the wood pieces you have. This project idea is a good way to utilize roughed-up wood pieces that might not work for other builds — it really just lends to the rustic aesthetic. All you need is a shelf bracket to attach to the back and then a clip to mount to the front, and you can display anything from dinner menus at a wedding to cherished snapshots on the mantle.

It's straightforward to make this bench: it's essentially just a three-sided frame for the legs, plus a top plank that creates the bench. The simple look is part of what makes this project feel minimalist and modern. However, depending on the size of the wood planks, it's not the best for seating. Choose a wider base plank if you plan to use it as such. Otherwise, if you just want bed-end benches for blankets and decor, narrow planks will work well and look contemporary, too.

A piece of wood can make a long-lasting and durable base for an art project. It won't tear, wrinkle, or stretch like paper or canvas can. Just choose the right type of paint (not everything will stick). In this video, @simplybellabyjulie uses chalk and acrylic paint. If you aren't confident in your painting ability, you can use stencils instead of freehanding your design. For a similar style to this video, consider the Marspark Wildflower Stencils. These are made of plastic, so they're reusable for a range of projects.

If you want an extremely simple and low-effort DIY scrap wood project, this is the one. It doesn't get much more complicated than a plank of wood. Paint or stain it to your liking (this is a good way to practice this skill) and you can paint decorative details onto it if you want to add more character. Once it's dried, just screw in some knobs or hooks for you to hang items on. You can use the finished project in the entryway for coats or in the bathroom for towels.

You can easily build a modern towel holder out of a few lengths of wood. You'll want to choose thinner pieces (like 1x2s), so it doesn't look too clunky. This type of holder is popular in contemporary bathrooms for storing rolled towels. It's a very basic rack that just involves attaching the wood pieces at four joints (per side) and then installing it to a wall. If you love your hot showers or live in a humid climate, you might want to finish the wood with a water-resistant product. If you have an excess of 1x2s in your scrap pile, check out these stunning DIY projects you can create with 1x2 wood. 

Turn chunky wood pieces into candle holders. The wood material, your stain of choice, and some weathering can make these holders look beautifully rustic. We like how they create different heights in this video from @makingmycasita. In this video, they use a spade bit like the Irwin Hanson 88815 Drill Bit. However, it's also possible to use a Forstner drill bit — just make sure that either option fits the diameter of the candles you plan to use. To prevent wax messes and a possible fire hazard, we recommend using LED taper candles, like the GenSwin Flameless Ivory Taper Candles.

Add more storage and decorating space with this multi-tiered DIY shelf. This project provides a flexible base idea: depending on what you need, you can use a longer foundation plank and add more shelves vertically. Alternatively, add longer horizontal pieces for longer shelves to fill a larger space. You can create either a floor standing or wall-mounted shelf with this design.

Divvy up a wood plank or a plywood piece into squares to make wooden coasters. This is an incredibly simple idea that you can make with minimal wood scraps. To prevent water stains and damage, choose a water-resistant finish, like the clear-drying polyurethane shown in this video. Bundle four coasters, tied together with ribbon or twine, and this makes a lovely housewarming gift.