Engaging activities, such as woodworking, are an essential part of senior living. Studies have found that expressing one’s self through art can alleviate symptoms of depression and disease, and creative hobbies have been linked to improved memory and reasoning in healthy seniors. Consider these easy woodworking projects below.

3 Fun & Easy Projects to Create With Wood

1. Bird Feeder

Bird feeders are a common piece to create because they teach you the basics of woodworking. There are many designs available for bird feeders. A simple bird feeder can be created within 20 minutes using a miter saw and drill, a single 6-foot-long cedar board, wood glue, wood screws, and rope. 

Using the saw, cut a couple of 10x2” lip pieces, one 10x5” baseboard, two 9x5” sides, and a pair of 12x5” roof boards. Sand your pieces, then secure the lip components to the baseboard with wood glue. Screw the siding wood to the exterior of the base and lip cuts, then screw the roof pieces to the top of the siding. Finally, drill a hole through the roof’s center, and tie a loop with the rope.

2. Coat & Hat Rack

Coat & hat racks are easy woodworking projects that reward crafters with a wall-mounted decoration they can place their articles of clothing on. You need a 6-foot piece of 1x4 plywood, saw, power drill, some dry-wall screws and anchors, coat hooks, a stud finder, and paint.

For spaces that fit the uncut piece of plywood, sand the board smooth, then apply your paint and let it dry. Using a stud finder, secure the anchors to the wall, and put the plywood up near your entrance with the screws and drill. Finally, glue the coat hooks to the board.  If a 6-foot rack doesn’t fit your wall space, cut the board using a hand or miter saw to fit your wall’s specific measurements, sand the wood, paint it to match your decor, secure the anchors and plywood, and then glue the coat hooks onto the wood. 

3. Planter

Gardening is a large part of senior living for many, and a simple square planter is both decorative and functional. To create a 4-feet by 2-feet box, you will need two 12-foot cedar boards for the sides and bottom. You’ll need a saw to cut the boards down to two 2-foot boards and two 4-foot boards.

Drill holes on the sides to attach the boards using screws. You will also need a nylon or vinyl screen to place inside the bottom of the planter to prevent loss of the potting mix and protect the wood from moisture. 

Woodworking is only one of the senior living activities offered at Longhorn Village located on Steiner Ranch in Austin, TX. Residents at this assisted living center enjoy quality amenities such as a woodworking shop, fine arts events, travel packages, and wellness activities. Call (512) 382-4664 or visit them online to learn more about their community.