Instructions to Make Rustic Furniture

Choose the wood you want to use. The project you wish to undertake will determine, in part, the wood you choose for building. Dried beech, elm, ash and similar wood works well for building furniture with the joints and angles found in stools or tables. Meanwhile, pliable green woods, such as willow and cottonwood, are suitable for bending and weaving techniques such as that found on the back of the chair. You can also use wisteria and other vining wood to add decorative touches to your project.

Look close to home for suitable wood. Many species of wood suitable for building furniture are considered weeds and grow in abundance in many places. You may find what you want in your backyard, at a friend's home or on your favorite wooded walk. Look beside the road and near rivers and creeks.

Harvest wood with pruning shears, snips, a hand saw or any tool appropriate to the wood you are cutting. Wear goggles and gloves when you are cutting and assembling the parts for your furniture. When you harvest the trees, leave some of the shoots behind so the tree will continue growing.

Cut more wood than you think you need. This allows you to find the right piece for the project. If you have leftovers, you can use them on a different project.

Draw a rough plan of your project if you are creating it yourself. This will help you discover potential problems before you start to work.

Predrill holes before attaching pieces of furniture together. Use a drill bit that is smaller than the screw so it will stay secure. Predrilling prevents the wood from cracking as the wood dries and ages.

Attach pieces with rust proof screws. Screws allow you to disassemble a piece if you don't like it. Rusty screws leave rust marks on the project and your clothes and they don't last as long as rust proof screws.

Focus your construction around the frame of the project. Although rustic furniture is largely artistic, it is also functional, so you need to observe standard furniture building techniques. Some examples include having even leg lengths and creating angles for chair backs that are comfortable.

Use gnarled or twisted pieces. You can add these creative lengths of wood to the piece when you are done or you can incorporate them in the frame as you work. For example, cross pieces that you add for stability can be of different lengths or have multiple branches. Furthermore, a piece used to create the chair's back may have a Y junction or a twist in it that adds to the decorative look of the piece without hampering its stability.

Forgive your failures, as they are part of the creative process. Some pieces will come together easier than others, so you will need to keep practicing.