They are small enough to ship or carry to a market. They use a modest amount of lumber. They can be made repeatedly, with the same plan, without reinventing the process each time. And they solve a simple problem or look good enough that someone wants one without a long explanation.
Here are project types that fit that description, and what to watch out for with each.
1. Cutting boards and serving boards
Cutting boards are the classic starter product for a reason: they are useful, they are giftable, and they do not take a huge amount of lumber or time. A good board needs careful gluing, flat sanding, and a food-safe finish — and that finish matters, so follow the finish manufacturer's instructions and do not guess.
What to watch out for: boards that warp or split because the wood was not dry, or because different species were glued together without thinking about movement. Use dry, stable lumber, and finish all sides, not just the top.
2. Shelves, floating shelves, and small wall storage
Shelves sell because almost everyone needs storage, and a well-made shelf looks better than a flat-pack one. Floating shelves, plant shelves, and small wall cabinets are all in this group.
What to watch out for: fixing. A shelf is only as good as its wall fixing, so be clear in your listing about what wall type it suits and what fixings are included or required. A shelf that falls down is a refund and a bad review, however nice the wood is.
3. Small furniture: stools, side tables, and benches
A stool, a plant stand, or a small side table is a step up from a board, but still manageable to make in batches. Batching is the key to selling: make three or four of the same piece at once, cutting all the same parts together, rather than making one from scratch each time.
What to watch out for: finishing time. Sanding and finishing often take longer than cutting and assembly, especially on small furniture. Price for that time, not just for the lumber.
4. Outdoor pieces: planters, birdhouses, and garden benches
Outdoor projects sell well in spring and summer, and they are forgiving to build. Planters, in particular, are popular because they are useful, decorative, and easy to customise in size.
What to watch out for: weather. Use wood and finishes suited to outdoor use, and be honest about maintenance — an outdoor piece that is not finished for weather will not last, and the buyer will notice.
5. Small gifts and home decor
Coasters, bottle openers mounted on wood, wooden signs, phone stands, and desk organisers all sell as gifts. They are quick to make, easy to post, and easy to photograph well.
What to watch out for: pricing too low. A small item that takes an hour to sand and finish properly is not a £5 item, once you count lumber, finish, packaging, and your time. Price for the finished piece, not just the raw wood.
How to price, simply
A simple starting formula that many small makers use is: materials + a fair hourly rate for your time + a margin for tools, finish, and packaging. If that price feels high compared to mass-produced furniture, that is the point — you are not competing with mass production. You are selling a handmade, solid-wood piece, made to a plan, finished properly. The right buyers understand that difference. The wrong buyers will always want it cheaper, and they are not your market.
Where plans fit in
Selling repeatedly is much easier when you are working from a complete, tested plan each time — cutting list, materials list, assembly order — rather than redesigning a piece from a photo every time you get an order. That is where a plan library helps: you pick a proven project, you make it the same way each time, and your quality stays consistent.
TimberCrafty's guide to one such library — over 16,000 plans, searchable by project type — is here: TimberCrafty — 16,000 Woodworking Plans, Step by Step
Start with one project type, make it well three times, photograph it in daylight, and list it honestly with dimensions, wood type, finish, and care instructions. That one repeatable product will teach you more about selling woodwork than ten different one-off pieces.
See the plans for yourself
Browse the full library, categories and examples on the vendor's page first. There is no obligation to buy.
See the 16,000 Plans →Price and guarantee as shown on the vendor's page — please confirm before buying.