One thing many DIYers don’t realize is just how useful twigs, logs, and other dead tree branches can be. The best part is that there is basically an endless supply of them. Just take a walk in any nearby forest and see for yourself. If you are stuck on ideas or don’t know where to begin, don’t fret.
This list contains 50 of our favorite craft projects using fallen logs and tree branches to get you started. Use these pictures for inspiration and then find your own creative ways to upcycle natural timber into beautiful functional art pieces. As always, good luck and happy crafting!
Source:
Lauren B Murphy
1. Garment Rack
The long branch was stripped of all its bark and sanded down to create this outdoorsy garment rack. They painted it white to match the room, but you could also stain it and coat it with lacquer for a more natural look.
Source:
Aish
2. Bathroom Side Table
The stump works great as a little side table in the bathroom. If you position it right next to the bathtub, it makes for the perfect place to set items like soaps, wash cloths, and towels. It is coated in a water-resistant finish to prevent rotting.
Source:
Sublime Decor
3. Tree Canopy
This beautiful winter tree canopy wouldn’t be a hard DIY project to complete. It’s essentially just made by setting up barren branches at the corner of each of bedpost. Then hanging other whimsical decorations off of them.
Source:
frenchlarkspur
4. Tree Ring Trivets
They made them by drilling holes through the the branch slices and attaching them together with cord and glue. Wood is great for this purpose because it can easily absorb the heat. It’s much better than using plastics, cloth, or other materials.
Source:
Andrea Biffi
5. Wood Clock
Clocks aren’t as hard to make as you might think. The inner-workings are the trickiest part. One simple solution is to just buy a pre-made clock mechanism and attach it to the wood. That’s what the authors of this project recommend.
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Curiosity Shoppe
6. Bike Stand
There is nothing that looks more natural outside of a rural cabin than a mountain bike stand built from logs. Just saw a few slices out of the log to match the width of the tires and you’ll be all set.
Source:
Studio Sjoesjoe
7. Privacy Screen
We never would have thought of doing something like this, but it’s an excellent idea. Especially if you live really close to your neighbors. It will provide you with some much-need privacy while still letting light through.
Source:
Jamie Hilt Lodes
8. Christmas Tree Ornament
There’s nothing cooler than an all-natural Christmas tree ornament shaped like a leaf and made out of wood. Making your own is as simple as stenciling a design onto a slice of wood and cutting it out with a band saw.
Source:
laurel & bliss
9. Cake & Cupcake Stand
It is the ideal cake stand for a country wedding. It looks both classy and elegant while still staying true to its rustic roots. All of the different parts of the tree were incorporated into the project from its trunk to its branches.
Source:
Wedding Wire
10. Fridge Magnets
These wooden letter refrigerator magnets are super easy to create. Just slice up a branch into cross-sections and attach some magnets on the back. Then draw on the letters. The kids will have lots of fun writing messages with them.
Source:
houzz
11. Tree Lanterns
Hollow out a couple of small stumps to make lovely little custom lanterns. This artist chose to carve hearts in the side, however, you can make any design you want. Other fun ideas include carving stars, leaves, or smiley faces.
Source:
All Natural And Good
12. Coasters
These coasters would be amazing for an outdoor summer barbecue with friends. Each of them was made with a hole running through it so they are easily stackable. Just thread a dowel rod through the opening.
Source:
mikeasaurus
13. Wood Slice Flowers
These beautiful wooden starburst flowers are truly a work of art. They would look so lovely hung up outside on the patio. Indoors next to the window would be an excellent place to hang them up too.
Source:
Ashbee Design
14. Kitchen Island
This DIY island was crafted by setting a giant slab of wood on top of a couple of sawhorses. It’s a simple solution that looks pretty incredible. It serves as a fantastic food preparation surface.
Source:
Dave Lauridsen
15. Rustic Bench
It is not an intricate bench, but that is the beauty of it. It showcases all of the natural imperfections of the wood. The farmer simply nailed a big unfinished board to a couple of logs.
Source:
betterfarm
16. Flower Vase
The inside of the log was hollowed out to make this charming flower vase. It would look fantastic as a centerpiece at a rustic wedding party or sitting on the windowsill of a country home. Insert a jar with water in the center of the log or use a dried floral arrangement.
Source:
PlaceCardHolderShop
17. Shelf Brackets
What a cool way of supporting a shelf! We never would have thought about doing something like this, but it makes perfect sense. You’ll just need to find two Y-shaped branches to use.
Source:
Remodelista
18. Garden Path
They turned a bunch of log slices into one of the most beautiful garden paths we’ve ever seen. Cedar chips and baking soda were placed in the areas in between the logs to keep weeds and other invasive species from intruding.
Source:
Alternative Gardening
19. Feature Wall
This cool wall art was crafted from thousands of tiny cut wood pieces. They were fit together like a puzzle to form a backdrop for the moose mount. While the moose head is not entirely necessary, it certainly is a nice complement.
Source:
Mechant Design
20. Coffee Tables
You don’t need to cut down an actual tree to make coffee tables like these. In fact, it’s almost better if you use reclaimed wood. These ones were made from solid cypress that was harvested from fallen trees.
Source:
SheffordWoodlands
21. Floor Lamp
The stick allows the hanging lamp to be converted into a captivating floor lamp that can be moved around to wherever you need lighting. Making one is just a matter of locating a nicely shaped branch and attaching it to a wooden base.
Source:
DuBruitAuGrenier
22. Outdoor Gazebo
It would be really cool to have one of these in the garden to hang out and unwind in. In case of rain, a tarp can be hung over the roof to create a makeshift shelter. Otherwise, just sit back, relax, and soak up the sun.
Source:
Home Talk
23. Perimeter Fence
The branches were interwoven together to build a perimeter fence around their property. It blends in with the surroundings a lot more than a regular picket fence. It is almost like surrounding your house with a giant wicker basket.
Source:
Gardenista
24. Painted Ornaments
These beautiful ornaments utilize the cross-sections of the branches as a natural canvas. The original look of the wood is preserved. Then new creative designs are painted on top with the tree bark framing the images.
Source:
Mimikry
25. Curtain Rod
It’s made from a random twig from the forest. A curtain rod like this would go great in a cabin, treehouse, or any other rustic building. If it happens to break, no worries. Just replace it with another twig.
Source:
Lynne Knowlton
26. Raised Flower Bed
Instead of wasting money on a garden fence or other type of fancy raised planter, why not build your own instead with logs? That’s what this individual did using birch trees. It’s an excellent gardening strategy.
Source:
PHD In Parenting
27. Cat Tree
This creative crafter utilized a tree as a tree! Although, it’s not just any tree. It was sanded and the branches were sawed off to create a cool hangout spot for cats. They even added a basket on top in case the cats want to take a nap.
Source:
ozziesworld
28. Tea Light Holder
It’s made from several tree branches lashed together with twine. The tea lights can be placed in the glass container in the middle. Set a couple of these out on the porch at night to create some wonderful mood lighting.
Source:
CatalinaInspired
29. Tree Branch Ladder
Not only is it a lovely addition to the garden, but it’s also functional. If you are ever in need of an emergency escape route, just climb the ladder and hop over the fence. Its main use though is probably as a decoration.
Source:
Tahlulas Treasures 2
30. Birdbath
This inspiring DIYer inserted four birch twigs into the soil. Then placed a wooden bowl on top to make a fun birdbath for her garden. We’re sure the birds appreciate this simple project.
Source:
The Art Of Doing Stuff
31. Rolling Side Tables
Who knew that stumps could look so fashionable? The secret is to strip the bark off of the outside. Then apply some wood stain. Get more details about how they completed the project here.
Source:
A Beautiful Mess
32. Carved Couch
While it might not be as comfortable as a plush leather sofa, it is still pretty neat. It would be so fun to sit on one of these while gathered around an outdoor campfire. For additional comfort, just bring a couple of blankets along with you.
Source:
The Berry
33. Lounge Chair
Here we have another really cool piece of furniture made from logs. It actually looks surprisingly relaxing. We could totally see ourselves lounging out on one of these.
Source:
Homemade Modern
34. Pendant Light
This hanging pendant light was made entirely from twigs. It’s so amazing what can be recycled from nature. All those dead branches you find on the ground after a storm can easily be repurposed into something brand new.
Source:
TheLightStore
35. Branch Coat Rack
This coat rack made out of cut-off branches can hang several coats at a time. Every country farmhouse needs something like this in the foyer of the home. Follow the instructions here to make your own.
Source:
The Owner Builder Network
36. Pencil Holder
With a couple of power tools, anyone can make a stylish pencil holder like this. All you really need to do is saw the wood to the desired height and then drill a bunch of holes in it.
Source:
Strawberry Chic
37. Garden Markers
These basic garden markers make it really easy to keep track of where you planted all of your different seeds. Just shave off a bit of the bark and write the plant names on the sticks with a sharpie. Find more details here.
Source:
Home Road
38. Wood Chalkboards
The crafter had the pieces of wood leftover from when a tree in the yard was cut down. They turned out to be pretty useful. She turned them into these beautiful chalkboards.
Source:
Megan Brooke Handmade
39. Toilet Paper Holder
The best part about this tree branch toilet paper holder is the little bird perched on the end of it. At first glance, we thought it was actually real. Either way though, it’s one of the coolest toiler paper holders we’ve ever seen.
Source:
vrijdagvrij
40. Log Bowls
The outside of the hollowed-out log bowls are left natural looking while the insides are perfectly finished. They are a great addition to any family kitchen. Each member of the family can have their own custom-sized bowl to eat out of.
Source:
loyalloot
41. Twig Birdhouse
It’s like a miniature version of a log cabin, built specifically for birds. They would have so much fun living in one of these and raising a bird family in it. It’s just like living in a nest in a tree except more fashionable.
Source:
heimwerker
42. Christmas Tree
We’ve seen Christmas ornaments made out of tree branches, but how about an actual Christmas tree? That’s what this artist did. Unlike a normal Douglas fir, this handmade version can be enjoyed over and over again every year.
Source:
Kara Rosenlund
43. Bookcase
They hollowed out small compartments in the giant logs to create a public library. Each compartment is used as a shelf for books and has a glass cover on the outside to protect the books from the weather.
Source:
On The Booksheld
44. Twig Window Pendant
We had no idea, but it appears that all kinds of cool pieces of jewelry can be created from twigs. For example, this little window pendant. The hand-painted scene in the background is absolutely stunning.
Source:
workingforcarrots
45. Bracelets
We also really love these little cut wood bracelets. They are made from slices of branches attached to twine. When you wear one, you carry around a small piece of nature with you everywhere you go.
Source:
luvmibugANDtim
46. Towel Rack
They are built just like the wooden ladders made out of branches. The only difference is that they are much smaller and more house-friendly. When placed in a bathroom, the ladders are instantly transformed into towel racks.
Source:
knorkan
47. Business Card Holder
The roots of a tree were turned upside-down and converted into an enchanting business card holder. Each business card is attached to sections of the root using clothespins.
Source:
vrijdagvrij
48. Jewelry Organizer
Mount a painted branch up on the wall to make a creative place to hang up your necklaces and other jewelry items. Really, it’s all about searching around until you find the perfect branch. The rest is easy.
Source:
1creativemomma
49. Faux Antlers
Not a fan of hunting but still love the way antlers look up on the wall? No problem. You can make a set of faux antlers out of tree branches. They are an excellent statement piece.
Source:
Farmhouse Urban
50. Twig Reindeer
You can also make an actual reindeer. Although, they aren’t as big as real reindeer. It’s hard to tell from the picture, but these miniature versions made out of twigs are small enough to be set up on the mantle.
Source:
The Lottery House
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