11 Incredible 2 x 4 Projects You Can Build
The price of wood is finally starting to drop. You can use this common lumber stock to make almost anything.
Lumber prices have skyrocketed this year. Demand is high and supply chains have been disrupted, thanks, in part, to the pandemic. This makes it tricky to tackle those 2 x 4 projects without emptying your wallet. (Until prices return to normal, Pop Mech’s senior home editor Roy Berendsohn has a few helpful tips on how you can score some inexpensive options and conserve the supplies you have.)
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Typically, 2 x 4s are inexpensive and readily available. They can be cut down into smaller sizes or used as-is to make furniture and projects of all sizes. These qualities make them an excellent building material.
Pro Tip: Before you build 2 x 4 projects: Run your wood stock through a jointer and a planer if you have one, to make sure your boards are flat and square. That's because the 2 x 4s you find at the lumberyard are often warped and twisted, which doesn't make for good furniture.
If you've got a few pieces of lumber lying around, we've got some ideas on how to turn those 2 x 4s into something magical.
Modern Bench
This bench from Modern Builds is an easy project that requires little more than cutting the 2 x 4s down to size and using a good amount of glue and clamps. After sealing and staining, you'll have a bench that can be used indoors or out and will look like it cost you a lot more than it did.
Sawhorses
Every workshop needs a pair of sawhorses and they don't get much easier to build than this design. Each sawhorse consists of seven 2x4s cut to two different lengths. You can use nails or screws to assemble the sawhorses and they can be stacked for easy storage.
Coffee Table
This DIY coffee table from A Beautiful Mess uses 2 x 4s stacked in a staggered design. Hairpin legs lends a modern touch and a clear stain finishes off this beautiful piece.
Firepit Bench
These elegant firepit benches from Ana White are made from 2x4s and 2x6s, technically, but they were too gorgeous to not include. The table on top makes a great platform for drinks and snacks and the storage underneath keeps bottles and bags out of the way.
Giant Jenga
Store-bought tabletop Jenga is a fun (and frustrating!) game for people of all ages, but it's so... small. You can easily build a set of giant Jenga pieces using 2x4s. Just make sure they are all exactly the same size and sanded down.
Bar Stools
These beautiful bar stools from Jay Bates are built from 2x4s and assembled with lap joints. The finished look is sharper than most stools you'd find in any store, and with these you choose the height, dimensions, and stain.
Settlers of Catan
Here's a DIY version of the popular board game Settlers of Catan that's built entirely from a single 8-foot 2 x 4—that includes the board tiles, game pieces, dice, robber, and everything else. The game cards are made from the wood and thin shavings.
Wall Storage Shelves
You can never have enough storage, that's why these easy-to-build garage shelves are a no-brainer way to make use of vertical wall space.
Garage Storage Shelves
Here's another 2 x 4 storage solution. These garage shelves from DIY Design Fanatic are custom-built to fit storage boxes of the same size. This ensures that there is no wasted space and maximizes the number of boxes that can fit in the room.
Plant Wall
Empress of Dirt designed a DIY plant wall made of 2 x 4s and burlap bags to hold the plants. It is secured against a wall, and once the plants mature you'll have a vertical green garden.
Floral Centerpiece
This floral centerpiece from Infarrantly Creative is made from a 2 x 4 frame with holes drilled into it to hold test tubes. These test tubes make great individual vases for all types of flowers.
Timothy is a lifelong DIY enthusiast who is fixated on smart home tech, beautiful tools, and wrenching on his FJ62 Land Cruiser. He’s the DIY editor at Popular Mechanics and also the founder of the home improvement site, Charles & Hudson, the Webby-nominated family site, Built by Kids, and Tool Crave. When not working, you’ll find him on his board or bike enjoying the LA weather with his family and friends. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
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