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30 Exciting DIY Driftwood Projects You Can Build Today (With Pictures)
Ed Malaker
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Driftwood is any wood that has been washed up on the shore of a sea, lake, or river. It could have been a fallen tree that has been battered by the ocean’s waves. It could have been a wooden crate that has been discarded from a ship. It may have been a wooden bench that was washed into the river a few miles downstream. You can even make your own driftwood. Regardless of its source or its most recent use, you will need to gently brush it off and boil the wood before use. Boiling the driftwood removes organisms and is an alternative to bleaching the wood, although this may be a more practical solution in some cases.
Once the wood is prepared, there are numerous crafts and projects that you can undertake. Below, we have found 23 projects for you to work on, or to modify to your own needs.
One of the great features of driftwood is that every piece is unique, which means that your finished item will look a little different from those listed, and you may want to choose a project according to the dimensions and look of the pieces of wood that you have collected.
There are plenty of ways you can turn driftwood into a mirror frame. The natural shape of the wood means that it lends itself perfectly to a freeform and rustic shape, but you can also use multiple pieces to create a more formal and geometric design. Keeping some semblance of natural shape serves to enhance the appearance of the wood, though.
The key to getting the most from driftwood is to do as little as possible to the individual pieces. The more you see and treat each piece, the less natural it looks. Work with the shapes you have and try to avoid over-manufacturing them. You can still create something tidy-looking, despite being simple in design.
Clock kits are great. They consist of a clock mechanism and are usually battery-powered. They can be modified through the addition of your choice of hands and they can be mounted onto virtually any surface. In this case, the clock is mounted to a single piece of driftwood, although you could create your own wreath or circular clock face, instead.
A driftwood wreath is pretty much a starburst mirror but without the mirror. You could add a picture, turn it into a clock, or you could hang it as a natural-looking wreath because the driftwood has enough natural appeal that it doesn’t need anything else added.
Driftwood is packed with natural beauty. If you have a good source of natural wood, you can find different colors and shades, as well as a variety of shapes, to create your own piece of stunning wall art. Alternatively, use sympathetic and rustic-looking pastel paints to enhance the look even further.
With this driftwood star, the small pieces of driftwood all face the center of the star, drawing your eye in. This is another piece that’s great for collections of smaller pieces of wood, but you don’t have to adopt such a uniform direction.
It’s easy to embellish an existing wooden picture frame with a variety of materials. Lay the driftwood out in the design and shape you want, ensure that you get the design right, and then use a glue gun to attach the pieces from the bottom layer up.
If you’re lucky, you’ll find a single piece of driftwood that is naturally shaped like a bowl. Depending on its size, you can use it to hold keys, as a fruit bowl, or for a host of other purposes. Alternatively, and with some practice and good driftwood selection, you can weave driftwood branches together and make a driftwood bowl this way.
9. Driftwood Blanket Ladder by Mindful of the Home
A blanket ladder, which can actually be used to hold towels, clothing, or any other fabric, is a simple design. Using driftwood, you can use the natural notches of the wood to tie yarn or rope around and connect the horizontal slats. Fortunately, the horizontal pieces don’t have to be perfectly straight.
A single piece of driftwood, some metal hooks, and a wooden backboard to connect the whole piece to the wall: are all that’s needed to make a rustic and natural-looking towel rack that will look great in the bathroom or bedroom.
11. Hanging Driftwood and Rope Shelf by Sustain my craft habit
This is another piece that perfectly combines driftwood and rope, or twine. You will need to choose the driftwood you use, carefully, or you can plan the items you put on the shelf according to the natural shape of the driftwood shelf.
12. Unique Driftwood Shelf by Sustain my craft habit
Driftwood not only includes trees and branches that have fallen into rivers and oceans, it can also be created when planks undergo a similar journey. If you have a unique plank or flat piece of driftwood, you can use it to make an attractive and unique-looking shelf.
To make a driftwood floor lamp, you are going to need more than just a piece of driftwood. This one requires the lamp fitting, a natural-looking lampshade, and a cast iron base, so it will require a trip to a blacksmith or reclamation yard, but the result is worth it.
Tripod floor lamps are really popular and while most of them use modern and engineered wood, typically also including metal accents and hardware, you can create an equally attractive piece using driftwood.
Chandeliers can be large and intricate designs with dozens of arms and sections. Alternatively, you can create a simple chandelier from a single piece of driftwood and a couple of fittings. The end result is just as impactful.
Obviously, you have to take some care when combining driftwood with candles. But, as long as you are careful, you can create a candle holder from your reclaimed wood. You can always add a glass holder between the wood and the candle for extra safety.
A tealight holder can make a pretty addition to any room but is especially popular in bathrooms and for mood lighting on window ledges. You will need a Forstner or spade bit to bore out the tealight holes in the wood.
Simple but highly effective, these door signs take a single piece of driftwood, some yarn, and a couple of hooks. The hardest bit is getting the lettering to look attractive, but you can find stencils to help with that.
19. Night Stand with Driftwood Legs by Sustain my craft habit
The maker of this coffee table got the glass tabletop from Craigslist, which is almost as great a find as coming across attractive driftwood on the beach. You may be able to recover a tabletop from an old table in a thrift store or get the glass new.
Another great looking outdoor driftwood piece is the windchime. Find the center of multiple small pieces of wood, hang them on a wire or string atop one another, and place them somewhere where the wind will blow them.
A piece of driftwood, a driftwood branch, and an old tea towel or other pieces of upcycled cloth will create an attractive sailboat that will look especially attractive and appropriate in a bathroom or WC.
Whether you’ve got kittens that prevent you from having a tree, you’re lacking the room for a decent indoor tree, or you simply want to add another festive decoration to your interior, the driftwood Christmas tree is a great addition to your home during the festive period. It’s also not as difficult to make as you might think.
24. Driftwood Succulents by Peace love and gardening
Driftwood Succulents is a great project for any gardener, as you can recycle driftwood into an attractive pot for your succulents. In many cases, you can find a piece of driftwood with a hole that you can use to hold the soil, or you can create one easily with a drill or chisel. The author walks you through preparing the driftwood and dirt and planting the succulents.
The Driftwood Orb is a fun project that is perfect for beginners. It’s easy to create, and you won’t need any tools—only driftwood and a Styrofoam ball. You can finish it in only a few minutes, and it makes a great ornament for any room in your house. Build several for almost no cost and each one will look unique.
The Driftwood Heart is a fun project for builders of any skill level. It uses driftwood, cardboard, and glue to create an attractive heart-shaped ornament that looks great anywhere in the home. The author clearly explains how to create the heart, and you can add the driftwood differently in each one, so it looks unique. It only takes about an hour to complete.
The Beach Driftwood Wall Art project might look more difficult than some others on this list, but it’s easy enough for beginners to complete. You cut the shapes out of cardboard and glue them on the driftwood. You can arrange it to enhance the design, and you will likely be able to complete it in about an hour. You can use several shapes to create wall ornaments for every room.
The DIY Driftwood Star is a great project showing you how to create a star out of driftwood with an attractive seashell center. You only need a few pieces of driftwood to complete it, so it’s easy to make several, and it’s a great project for the whole family. The author walks you through the entire process with plenty of images, so you can see if you are on the right track.
29. Driftwood Vase by Nova Scotian Wood Worx by Chris Morris
You will need a lathe to build the Driftwood Vase, but it is a great project if you do, and it results in a vase that is as attractive as it is unique—no one will expect that it’s driftwood! The author walks you through each step, from cutting the driftwood to shaping and polishing it, so your finished project is top quality. This finished project will only take a few days and is great for gaining experience on the lathe.
The DIY Driftwood Art project is great for people who like driftwood’s overall appearance and enjoy finding ways to turn it into art that others can enjoy. The author of this video shows you the process of filing and shaping the wood until it’s ready for stain and varnish. Patience and attention to detail will pay off with an attractive piece of art that you can show off to visitors.
Exciting DIY Driftwood Projects
Driftwood is a beautiful and natural material. It can be used to create indoor and outdoor furniture, decorative items, and even a clifftop shed. If you already have a pile of driftwood, choose the project to match your wood. Alternatively, choose a design you love and then buy the driftwood you need to match that. Alternatively, you can make your own driftwood with a few materials and a bit of patience, although it can be difficult to replicate the great work that nature herself does.
Ed Malaker is an experienced writer who has brought his knowledge to a wide range of blogs, including home improvement, guitars, computer programming, tools, fitness, and pets. If you don't catch him writing, you can usually find Ed working in the garden or taking on DIY projects around the house. Ed’s also a talented musician, spending time composing music for independent films or helping people fix their guitars.
Ed Malaker
