Real Cedar is rot, decay, and insect-resistant—making it a long-lasting material to use for backyard projects.
It’s not only durable, but it’s sustainable too. Unlike other building materials, cedar removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. You can feel good about creating something new, but doing good, as well.
4 DIY Woodworking Projects
Need some inspiration? Check out some of our favorite projects using Real Cedar.
Display Your Garden in a Cedar Planter Box
You can show off your gardening skills, and increase your curb appeal with a lush cedar wood planter. Here’s one you can make yourself out of durable, rot-resistant western red cedar that will last a lifetime.
Design Detail: This Old House general contractor Tom Silva designed the planter to look like a piece of furniture, with four tapered legs that allow the underside to dry out and the deck or patio underneath to be cleaned. He also provided an air space between the wood and the soil by putting the potting mix in two milk crates lined with fabric grow bags, so water drains freely through them.
Materials You’ll Need: The project calls for 5/4×6 western red cedar for rails, top, and stringers; 4×4 cedar for legs and crosspieces; and 1×4 cedar for side panels. Use stainless steel pocket screws and deck screws to prevent rust staining on the wood, and finish with a penetrating oil finish rated for decks to protect the cedar over time.
Build a Garden Arbor with a Bench
Create an elegant and relaxing escape in your own backyard with this hand-built cedar bench, framed by an arbor.
This Old House Magazine’s design incorporates classic touches such as profiled rafter tails, alternating wide and narrow boards for the seat and backrest, and trellis sides to let your favorite climbers ascend to the overhead structure. The posts are secured with post anchors, and all lumber is western red cedar for lasting weather resistance. The project calls for a three-day timeline: setting and leveling the post anchors and building the legs on Friday, installing the legs, seat, backrest, and lattice sides on Saturday, and cutting and installing the rafter assembly on Sunday.
Create Space for Outdoor Dining
Looking for a table that is both welcoming and functional? This trestle-and-slat design makes for a beautiful table worthy of any backyard cookout.
Cedar Ice Chest Cooler
Need a place to store drinks and treats during your backyard cookouts? Build this stunning cedar ice chest for your patio or deck. We sized our cedar ice chest around an off-the-shelf 50-quart plastic cooler.
Made of cedar, the box features a brass spigot to take the heavy lifting out of draining melted ice, a stainless-steel continuous hinge for the lid, and a classic bottle opener right out front, sparing you that frantic hunt for a way to open your frosty beverage.
Are you ready to tackle your next wood project? Visit RealCedar.com for even more outdoor projects, inspiration, and locations to buy Real Cedar near you.
