58+ Creative Ways to Use Scrap Wood
Leftover scrap wood can be a goldmine for creativity, offering a range of opportunities to craft unique items, enhance your space, or even solve practical problems around the workshop or home. Here are some starter ideas to find practical or decorative uses for those remnants:
Custom Shelving and Storage Solutions
- Floating shelves
- Shelf brackets
- Bookends
- Magazine holder or rack
- DIY wooden ladder for blankets or towels
- Smartphone or tablet stand
- Mini wooden crates for desktop organization
- Handmade wooden pen or pencil holders
Garden and Outdoor Projects
- Birdhouse
- Bat box
- Squirrel feeder
- Planter box
- Plant stand or small stool
- Small bench
- Garden markers
- Small wooden bridges for garden paths
Picture Frames, Small Signs, and Mirrors
- Unique picture frames
- Mirror borders
- Handcrafted picture frame with a chalkboard
- Earring organizer
- Necklace storage rack (this is essentially a wooden board with hooks)
For the Kitchen
- Cutting boards
- Cheese boards
- Serving trays
- DIY wood slice serving board
- Wall-mounted kitchen utensil holder
- Hand-carved wooden spoons or kitchen utensils
- Bespoke spice rack
Workshop Accessories
- Custom tool holders
- Workbench accessories
- Push sticks
- Small storage bins
- Spacers
- Jigs
Wooden Toys and Puzzles
- Building blocks
- Dominoes
- Wooden puzzles
- Wooden puzzle box
- Educational materials for children
Artistic Carvings or Sculptures
- Artistic carvings
- Small sculptures
Coasters and Trivets
- Wooden coasters (with or without laser-engraved designs)
- Trivets with custom engravings
Rustic Signs and Wall Decor
- Personalized signs
- Wall art
- Decorative items
Inlay Material
- Inlay material for furniture
- Flooring inlays
- Decorative plugs, splines, or bow ties
Odds and Ends
- Drawer pulls and knobs
- Key chains
- Candle holders
- Napkin rings
- Christmas ornaments
- Wooden bow ties
- Rustic wooden clock
- Wooden jewelry box
- Decorative wooden letters for personalized décor
Bonus Tip: Combine and Reimagine
Combine several small pieces to create a larger slab or panel. This can be used for a myriad of projects, from tabletops to artistic installations, giving new life to pieces that might otherwise be discarded.
All the above images are from our CNC plan downloads where you can find many more examples to get your imagination flowing.
When working with leftover scrap wood, the key is to see beyond its current state and imagine the potential it holds. With a little creativity and craftsmanship, those remnants can become valuable, functional, or simply beautiful additions to your environment.
