24 Outdoor Woodworking Projects To Do This Fall

Jenny StanleyUpdated: Dec. 03, 2021

There’s still time to build (and enjoy!) these outdoor woodworking projects this fall. Each includes full plans, so you can start one today.

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Folding Stool

This nifty stool is lightweight, small and easy to carry. It folds flat and is sturdy. I carry mine in my trunk and use it all the time for camping trips, watching Little League games and parades. Follow the video tutorial and steps below to build a few of your own.

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Cantina Bird Feeder

Bird feeders are an incredible way to enjoy the best of wildlife. They involve about as little work as possible for the most enjoyment when sitting and reading a book on your porch or working in the yard. You can pay a fair amount of money for one of these, and even more for one that looks like it is made by hand.

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Trestle Bench

A sturdy, serviceable bench, its many design details combined in bold form and strong lines are reminiscent of Santa Fe styling. And, it’s small and light enough to lift and move around easily. We used cedar because of its rich warm color, light weight and weather resistance. All surfaces were sanded and corners slightly rounded.

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Perfect Patio Chairs

If you're looking for outdoor chairs that are lightweight and easy to move around, look no further than these DIY patio chairs. These smartly cushioned chairs are extremely comfortable, and the arms are wide enough to rest your drink or a small snack plate. If you choose pine, this project will cost around $60, while cedar will increase the cost to $90. Suitable for a beginner, this DIY outdoor furniture project only requires a little experience and basic tools. The instructions are detailed and include skills such as how to use a speed square to ensure that the legs are plumb.

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Garden Closet

If you don’t have room in your yard for a large, freestanding shed, you can still create plenty of space for garden tools with a shed attached to the back or side of the house. This garden closet project is easy to build, even for a beginner. If you’re an experienced builder, you can build this shed in a couple of weekends.

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Cornhole Boards

This classic backyard game is easy and inexpensive to make yourself. And with legs that fold up, it’s easy to tote along for tailgating, camping and more. Plus, watch the video tutorial for a quick how-to!

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Outdoor Storage Bench

It’s just a box made from four frames with legs that wrap around the corners. The panels that fill the frames are plywood with waterproof fabric stapled over them. Covering the plywood seat with foam and fabric is something even an upholstery novice can manage. This bench is easy to customize, too.

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Simple Folding Chair

This folding wooden lawn chair is the perfect project for a beginner. It boasts a simple design, with a carrying handle cutout in the back for easy portability and a neat interlocking look. This DIY wooden chair requires mainly basic woodworking tools, although you'll need a table saw and a belt sander for best results. It costs $20 to $100 to make, depending on the wood. The chair shown is cedar, but you could also use Cypress fir or pressure-treated wood. You can easily build a chair like this in a day.

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Add Interest with a Garden Arbor

This timber garden arbor can be your place to get away for a quiet retreat or a nook to chat with friends. Get the plans here.

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Backyard Boardwalk

Paths built with concrete, stone or pavers are expensive and labor intensive. They require a lot of digging, hauling of tons of materials and the disposal of tons of soil. If you’re looking for an easier path, consider a wooden walkway, especially for wet or sloped sites.

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Trail Bench

Chances are that your cabin has its own set of trails and walkways surrounding it, either public or of your own making. And building a bench as a rest spot or at a particularly nice lookout spot can give hikers on the trails a chance to catch their breath and enjoy the view. A bench can be pre-assembled or be built in sections, ready to be secured on-site. And the bench featured here is portable and can be easily relocated, but if you want a more solid, permanent solution, check out these plans for a campfire bench.

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Adirondack Chair and Love Seat

With its classic design, this Adirondack chair and love seat project not only looks gorgeous but is completely customizable to your dimensions. The curves are designed to cradle your back. And because the slope is gentler than the traditional Adirondack style, you won't struggle to get out of this chair. This chair and love seat set is made from pressure-treated pine, and you can paint or stain them afterward to customize this DIY outdoor furniture even further. You also can vary the back design, choosing from curved, gable or round styling. You'll need basic tools, and it only costs around $20 to $100 to make this stunning outside wooden furniture set!

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Fire Table

This fire table is a fun build because it entails a variety of skills: woodworking, masonry, metal work and a little mechanical. It does require a few more-advanced tools, but if you shop for one, you could easily spend a couple thousand dollars.

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Wooden Bench for Less

Need some extra seating for an upcoming outdoor get-together? You can build this super-simple DIY outdoor bench in just a few hours!

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Install Outdoor Lighting and an Extra Outlet

Add a charming outdoor light plus an easy-to-access outlet anywhere in your yard! Here are the step-by-step plans.

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Patio Combo With Built-In End Table

Relax and enjoy your outdoor space with this DIY patio furniture consisting of a sofa and chair. You can adjust the size to make them fit perfectly onto your patio or deck, and the sofa and chair feature arms that double as trays for al fresco dining. Make your cushions to fit, or buy store-bought ones and learn how to add ties to outdoor cushions! Deceptively simple to build, this DIY furniture project is made from pressure-treated wood, so remember to lay your timber flat while it dries thoroughly to avoid warping. This project can be completed over a weekend and will cost between $100 and $500.

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Outdoor Storage Locker

Assemble this easy-to-build storage locker for your outdoor tools. It’s low and compact, yet spacious enough hold your lawnmower, long-handled tools and all your gardening materials.

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Folding Adirondack Chair

The chair? It’s an Adirondack chair, of course. Our version is designed for maximum comfort. It has a deep seat with a rounded front edge, spacious arms, and a curved, laid-back back. When summer’s gone, fold up the chair for easy moving and storage.

You can build these chairs from a variety of wood species. If your chair will live outdoors, redwood, cedar, white oak or Philippine mahogany would be good choices. They can be left unfinished to weather naturally, or given a clear preservative finish. I built mine with cedar, which is lightweight, readily available and moderately priced.

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Matching Adirondack Table

Got an Adirondack chair? This matching table is a perfect partner for it (or any comfy patio chair). You’ll learn some tricks to expedite the process and a way to hide unsightly screws. With just a few basic tools, you’ll have this table built and be relaxing next to your creation in a couple hours.

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Giant Backyard Jenga

Easily make your own version of this classic game for tailgates or parties using simple tools. How will you stack up?

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Garden Arbor

Don’t be put off by all those difficult-looking curves and arches; this arbor was designed with simplicity in mind. If you have a drill, a jigsaw and a circular saw—and some experience using them—you can build this arbor in two or three weekends.

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Wood Outdoor Railing

Decks and outdoor stairs can develop wobbly railings, often due to a wobbly bottom post. Here’s how to do it right, without having to set the post in concrete.

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Simple Cedar Bench

After searching unsuccessfully for an outdoor bench that was comfortable, sturdy and affordable, senior editor Travis Larson took matters into his own hands. He measured and doodled until he came up with this design. According to Travis, “The beauty of this cedar bench isn’t just that it’s inexpensive and easy to build—it’s that it’s so doggone comfortable. You can sit on it for hours, even without cushions.”

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Mini Greenhouse

Whether you want to prolong your growing season or get a jumpstart on spring planting next time, this mini greenhouse is for you. Start with some cedar boards and a few basic power tools, and you can knock out this outdoor project in just a couple of hours!

Originally Published: October 14, 2019