You don’t need to be an experienced builder or own a workshop full of expensive tools to make something great from plywood.

One of the best things about plywood is how easy it is to work with. With a few basic tools, some careful measuring and a little imagination, you can create useful furniture, storage and home décor that looks fantastic.

Whether you're looking for a weekend DIY project or simply want to try woodworking for the first time, here are five easy plywood projects perfect for beginners.

You can check out the full range of plywood available from 2BuyPly here:

View our plywood range

1. Simple Plywood Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are probably one of the easiest places to start.

They work in almost any room and can be used for books, plants, photos, kitchen storage or displaying your favourite bits and pieces.

What you'll need

• A piece of plywood

• Saw or circular saw

• Sandpaper

• Drill

• Wall brackets or floating shelf brackets

• Screws

• Paint, stain or clear finish if desired

A simple shelf can be as easy as cutting your plywood to size, sanding the edges and attaching it to the wall.

For a clean natural timber appearance, Oak Plywood or Bleached Birch Plywood are great choices. Both have attractive finished veneer faces that can be stained or clear coated.

Beginner tip: Start with one or two small shelves before tackling a full shelving unit.

Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆

Weekend time: Around 1–2 hours

2. Plywood Bedside Table

A simple bedside table is another brilliant beginner project.

You don't need drawers or complicated joinery. A basic open-box design can look modern while being incredibly straightforward to build.

You can create one using:

• Two side panels

• One top panel

• One bottom shelf

• Optional back panel

Simply cut the pieces to size, lightly sand them and screw or glue everything together.

For a Scandinavian-style look, try Bleached Birch Plywood. For a warmer timber finish, Oak Plywood or Okoume Veneer Plywood can look fantastic.

Add some small timber legs or leave it as a simple plywood cube.

Beginner tip: Ask someone experienced with a table saw or circular saw to make the main cuts if you're not confident cutting full sheets yourself.

Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆

Weekend time: Around 2–3 hours

3. Easy Plywood Storage Box

Every home can use more storage.

A simple plywood box can become:

• Toy storage

• Shoe storage

• Garage storage

• A blanket box

• Workshop storage

• A laundry basket

• A box for sports gear

It's also a great project for learning the basics of measuring, drilling and joining plywood.

You'll generally need four sides and a base. You can then add handles, castor wheels or even a hinged lid.

If the box will be used indoors, standard veneer plywood can work well. If you're building storage for a shed or outdoor environment, make sure you choose plywood appropriate for the location and intended use.

Beginner tip: Put small castor wheels underneath and suddenly you've got movable storage that can slide under a workbench or table.

Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆

Weekend time: Around 2–4 hours

4. Plywood Desk or Study Table

A simple plywood desk can be surprisingly easy to build.

The easiest version is simply a plywood desktop mounted on timber legs, steel legs or two small drawer units.

You could create a desk for:

• A home office

• Kids' homework

• Gaming

• Crafting

• A workshop

• A spare bedroom

For a premium furniture-style finish, Oak Plywood or Bleached Birch Plywood are excellent options.

If you want an easy-clean surface without needing to paint or coat it, you could also consider Melamine Plywood, which has a hard-wearing finished surface and is particularly suited to cabinetry and shelving.

Sand any exposed plywood edges carefully and either leave them visible for the modern plywood look or finish them with edge banding.

Beginner tip: A desktop around 600mm deep gives you plenty of working space without taking over the room.

Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆

Weekend time: Around 2–3 hours

5. Plywood Plant Stand

Here's a great first project if you want something small.

A plywood plant stand can be made from just a few pieces of ply and is perfect for indoor plants.

One simple design uses:

• A square plywood top

• Four timber legs

Or you can make the entire stand from plywood by creating two interlocking panels with slots cut into the centre.

Sand the plywood smooth, leave it natural or give it a coat of paint.

Bleached Birch works particularly well if you're going for that light, modern interior style.

Once you've made one, you'll probably find yourself making three or four!

Beginner tip: Start with a pot you've already got and design your stand around its dimensions.

Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆

Weekend time: Around 1–2 hours

What Plywood Should You Use?

The plywood you choose depends on what you're making and the finish you want.

2BuyPly stocks a range of plywood and specialty panels including:

Bleached Birch Plywood – A beautiful light-coloured veneer that's great for shelving, furniture and modern interiors.

Oak Plywood – Ideal when you want the warmth and appearance of natural oak.

Okoume Veneer Plywood – A versatile interior plywood that's suitable for shelving, linings, furniture and cabinetry.

Melamine Plywood – A hard-wearing finished panel that's particularly useful for cabinetry, shelves and other easy-clean surfaces.

Marine Plywood – Designed for applications where marine-grade plywood is required, including boat building and certain specialist projects.

You could also use the Enviro Products the 2BuyPly have.

You can explore the range, available thicknesses and specifications here:

View the 2BuyPly Plywood Range

A Few Tips Before You Start

If this is your first plywood project, keep things simple.

Measure twice before cutting, sand exposed edges thoroughly and don't worry about creating complicated joints.

A drill, saw, measuring tape, pencil and some sandpaper will get you surprisingly far.

And remember — plywood edges don't necessarily need to be hidden. The layered edge of quality plywood can actually become part of the design.

Most importantly, start with something manageable.

One shelf or plant stand successfully completed is far more rewarding than a giant DIY project sitting half-finished in the garage!

Ready for Your First Plywood Project?

Whether you're building shelving, furniture, cabinetry or simply experimenting with your first DIY project, 2BuyPly has plywood options to suit a wide range of projects.

Based in Papamoa, 2BuyPly supplies plywood to DIYers, renovators, builders and trades throughout Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa, the Bay of Plenty and beyond.

2BuyPly – The right ply for every project.