39 Easy Jigsaw Projects For Woodworking Beginners

Did you know that 73% of DIY enthusiasts start with easy projects to boost their confidence? As an avid woodworker, I love getting stuck into mini-projects I can use around the home. My wife calls it clutter; I call it showcasing my masterpieces and skills.

The jigsaw is an excellent tool for novice DIY dads. It’s super easy to use and versatile, and the projects you can create are truly endless.

I will take you through my top 39 easy jigsaw projects. These can all be crafted at home with some basic woodworking tools and, of course, your trusty jigsaw.

These DIY project ideas are the perfect solution to build some confidence. From spice rack shelves to laying laminate flooring, there is so much you can do with a jigsaw.

39 Easy Jigsaw Projects At A Glance:

Wooden Serving Tray
Simple Wall Clock
Plant Stand
Puzzle Piece Wall Art
Smartphone Stand
Basic Birdhouse
Rustic Picture Frames
Floating Shelves
Wooden Coasters
Laying Laminate Flooring
Decorative Wall Signs
Bookends
Garage Tool Organiser

Wooden Candle Holders
Dog Food Stand
Simple Planter Box
Wooden Laptop Stand
Key Holder Rack
Bathroom Towel Rack
Wooden Doorstop
Shoe Rack
Magazine Rack
Wooden Game Board
Decorative Wooden Letters
Spice Rack Shelves
Simple Jewelry Organizer
Wooden Coat Rack

Desk Organizer
Wooden Cutting Board
Wine Bottle Holder
Bird Feeder
Simple Wooden Step Stool
Outdoor Plant Markers
Wooden Book Caddy
Basic Wooden Box
French Cleat Storage System
Simple Wall-Mounted Shelf
Wooden Address Plaque
Rustic Wooden Centerpiece Box

How Do I Know About These Easy Projects?

As an enthusiastic woodworker, I’ve spent quite a bit crafting various items for our home. My wife gets slightly exasperated whenever I come home with a new project idea. Most of the items listed below were made by me, whether for sale, as gifts, or for personal use, and all of them involved me extensively using my jigsaw tool.

39 Easy Jigsaw Projects To Get Stuck Into

Most DIY projects below are incredibly straightforward and require essential woodworking tools alongside woodworking clamps and a jigsaw.

1. Wooden Serving Tray

What better way to start than with a practical and stylish tray with raised edges to prevent spills? This tray is perfect for delivering breakfast in bed to your wonderful partner or, even better, getting it delivered to you. You can customise it with handles, paint it, or give it a wood stain finish. It is also great for learning basic box construction techniques.

2. Simple Wall Clock

This is one of my favourites. You can create a unique timepiece by cutting a wooden base for a clock mechanism. I always enjoy experimenting with various shapes, like circles and hexagons. Always remember to add a bit of personality with paint, wood burning, or incorporating found home objects as hour markers.

3. Plant Stand

If you have an obsession with indoor plants, like I do, you can start working on a custom plant stand. You can go big and design it with multiple tiers or keep it simple with a single pedestal. A great tip is to use contrasting wood types for a modern look.

4. Puzzle Piece Wall Art

Who doesn’t enjoy interlocking shapes on your wall to create a striking piece of art? Cut freeform curves or use your jigsaw tool’s templates for more uniform pieces. You can arrange these in abstract patterns or look to form recognisable images.

5. Phone Stand

I have about five of these knocking around my house. So why not craft a handy stand to prop up your phone for hands-free viewing? You can even be clever and incorporate a slot to charge simultaneously, ensuring the angle is adjusted for optimal screen visibility. These are great gifts for family and friends.

6. Basic Birdhouse

We’re not making the Ritz for birds, but you can construct a pretty decent, cosy home for them. Include a sloped roof for rain runoff and a small entrance hole. Add a perch or two to attract birds while complementing your outdoor space with a lick of non-toxic paint.

7. Rustic Picture Frames

There’s nothing better than showcasing your favourite photos or artwork with handmade frames. I always suggest experimenting with different wood types and finishes to keep the look unique. For a more advanced project, you can finish by creating decorative corners or layering multiple woods.

8. Floating Shelves

I love the sleek, modern shelving that appears to float on your wall. I always think hiding the mounting brackets offers a strong, clean look. You can customise the lengths to fit your space and needs. This shelving is great for displaying books, plants, or collectables while adding valuable space.

9. Wooden Coasters

Who doesn’t love a quirky drinks coaster? Cut various shapes like hexagons, circles, or leaf outlines. Something so small and simple is super easy to personalise with finishes like wood burning, paint, or epoxy resin to create a touch of gloss. It makes a great gift as a bundle.

10. Laying Laminate Flooring

Using a jigsaw can make laying laminate flooring so much easier. It’s more of a project aid than an idea, but you will never look back. Use your jigsaw to cut perfectly around obstacles and measure well for that snug, professional fit.

11. Decorative Wall Signs

Craft inspiring or hilarious signs for your home to hang and impress your guests or annoy your wife. Cut shapes or simple rectangles, and add text using stencils, paint, or wood burning. This is excellent for practising lettering and mastering your design layout skills.

12. Bookends

Keep your bookshelf or library organised with some custom bookends. Cutting unique shapes is always fun, or stick to classic L-designs. Add some weight to the base for stability; otherwise, they won’t make great bookends. Finish off by personalising with favourite quotes or decorative cutouts to match book themes.

13. Tool Organizer

Tame workshop clutter with a customised organiser. Cut holes of various sizes to accommodate different tools. Add hooks for hanging. Paint the outlines of each tool for easy identification and organisation.

14. Wooden Candle Holders

Create quirky little shapes with handmade candle holders. Experiment with different heights and shapes. A cool idea is to group multiple holders together for a striking centrepiece or mantel display.

15. Dog Food Stand

Have your dog dine like royalty with a raised dog food stand. Have a play with the height for your pet’s ultimate comfort. Etch out holes sized for specific bowls and add your dog’s name on a plaque for that personal touch.

16. Simple Planter Box

A handmade planter lets you bring nature indoors or out onto your patio. You can size it up for your plants or turn it into a herb garden box. Ensure to include drainage holes and consider lining it with plastic for indoor use.

17. Wooden Laptop Stand

As I write this article, my laptop sits on my newly crafted wooden stand. I adjusted the angle for comfortable typing and viewing and included ventilation cutouts to prevent overheating. I also added a slot for storing my pens and cables.

18. Key Holder Rack

A wall-mounted key rack will help keep your entry halls nice and organised. Add hooks, a small wallet shelf, or a letter storage slot. You can get creative with your jigsaw and create a chalkboard section to leave notes.

19. Bathroom Towel Rack

A handmade towel rack is a handy tool for organising your bathroom storage. Combine shelf and hanging bars for all-around versatility. Include hooks for those his-and-hers robes. When crafting, choosing water-resistant woods or applying a protective treatment to help the rack endure dampness is recommended.

20. Wooden Doorstop

A chunk of sloped wood for an easy way to stop your door closing. Next.

21. Shoe Rack

Organise your foyer and footwear with a tiered shoe rack. When deciding on the shelf spacing, consider your shoe sizes. A great tip is to angle the slats to improve the view of your stored shoes. You could engineer a fold-out design to save space if you feel fancy.

22. Magazine Rack

If you’re someone or someone who has a partner who still reads magazines, then a custom rack will come in handy. Design with slanted shelves to display magazine covers. Also, add side pockets for newspapers if you’re still old school. Chuck a handle on there, so it’s easy to move around.

23. Wooden Game Board

Craft a classic game board like tic-tac-toe or checkers. Engrave or paint the game grid. Create storage for game pieces within the board design. Make it portable with a folding design for on-the-go fun.

24. Decorative Wooden Letters

Personalise your space with large wooden initials or words. You can experiment with various fonts and sizes using stencils to cut around. A great tip is to layer different wood types and create a cool 3D look. These are ideal for nursery decor or displaying family names.

25. Spice Rack Shelves

Organise your kitchen with distinctive spice rack shelves. Create tiered shelves so you can actually see your spice collection. Your jigsaw will help carve decorative sides or slits for the angled display.

26. Simple Jewelry Organizer

Surprise your wife with a stylish solution for jewellery storage. Incorporate things like an earring holder, hooks for necklaces, bars for bracelets, and dishes for rings. You can also add a mirror for convenience so your wife can look at herself and realise how lucky she is.

27. Wooden Coat Rack

Create a helpful coat rack to keep all your jackets tidy in your hallway. Varying the hook designs is always a great way to spice it up. You can also add a shelf to hold keys or other decorative objects.

28. Desk Organiser

Design compartments for your specific office supplies. Include things like a phone charging station and stationary drawers, and add risers for monitors or laptops to improve desk space.

29. Wooden Cutting Board

Everyone needs chopping boards in their kitchen, so why not craft one? Experiment with different wood combinations, add juice grooves around the edges and create handles or holes to hang them easily.

30. Wine Bottle Holder

If you’re a big wino, you could design a unique way to store and display your most treasured bottles. Add balanced angles to hold bottles securely and make them stackable for your expanding collections. You can even add chalkboard sections to label wine varieties or years.

31. Bird Feeder

A homemade bird feeder will quickly bring some wildlife to your garden. Use your jigsaw to cut an opening for seed access and perches. Add clear panels to monitor seed levels. Customise with bright colours or natural finishes.

32. Simple Wooden Step Stool

Create a multifunctional wooden step for accessing those high-to-reach places. Build in stability with strategically placed supports and add nonslip treads. A great idea would include a carry handle and consider using a foldable design for compact storage.

33. Outdoor Plant Markers

Create labels for your garden plants and shrubbery. Cut various shapes to indicate different plant types. Make them tall enough to be visible among mature plants.

34. Wooden Book Caddy

Create a portable library for your children. Include a convenient handle for carrying. I made one of these, and I divided it into divisions to separate books of different sizes. You can also add wheels to move around the house.

35. Basic Wooden Box

When crafting a multipurpose box, follow basic woodworking tips. Try out several joinery techniques for corners. Include a hinged lid or sliding top. Customise sizes to meet unique storage needs or for gift-giving.

36. French Cleat Storage System

Make a wall storage solution out of a French cleat system. Cut long pieces of wood at a 45-degree angle with a jigsaw. Mount one component to the wall and attach matching parts to custom storage containers. Create various bins, shelves, and tool holders to help organise your workspace.

37. Simple Wall-Mounted Shelf

An easy-to-install shelf can help you make the most of vertical space. To achieve alternative looks, experiment with brackets or covert mounting. To add interest, round or decoratively cut the front edge. This shelf is ideal for displaying collections and plants.

38. Wooden Address Plaque

Greet visitors to your home with a personalised house number display. Choose fonts that are easily readable from the street. You can add decorative pieces to this that complement your home’s style.

39. Rustic Wooden Centerpiece Box

Enhance table design with a multipurpose centrepiece. Design it to hold candles or flowers. If you like the farmhouse look, you can add metal accessories.

These easy jigsaw projects provide a variety of opportunities for beginners to hone their jigsaw skills while producing practical and stylish items for their houses. Each project is customisable to individual preferences and skill levels, making it a perfect starting place for people new to jigsaw woodworking.