How to Make Furniture Out of Wooden Shutters

Shutter Screens

• 1

  Select three shutters the same height and width. Choose shutters that match, or mix and match colors for a contrasting effect. Clamp two shutters together with quick clamps so that the ends are flush and one long edge is flush.

• 2

  Position two dual-directional (can fold in either direction) hinges 3 inches from either length edge, with one plate on the edge of each shutter. Mark the screw holes and bore 1/8 inch pilot holes. Attach the hinges with ½ inch wood screws and release the clamps.

• 3

  Align a third shutter to one side of this pair and install hinges in the same fashion. Stand the shutters on end, folding the hinges as desired so that the shutter support each other upright. Use the screen as a room divider or to hide things like radiators or cat litter boxes.

Shelf Unit

• 4

  Select two shutters the same width and height. Measure the width. Cut ¾ inch thick hardwood lumber to the same width as your shutters with a table saw. Cut three pieces of this lumber to the width you want your shelf to be with a circular saw. Three-quarter inch lumber can support medium weight--up to 36 inches.

• 5

  Attach one pair of 1 inch L brackets at the bottom of the shutter, flush with each long edge so that the L portion is up, and points out from the face of the shutter. Attach a second pair, ¾ inch from the top of the center solid rail in your shutter. Position the third pair ¾ inch from the top edge of the shutters. Attach the brackets with one ½ inch wood screw in each hole in each bracket.

• 6

  Place one shelf board between the shutters at each height, so that each shelf is supported by an L bracket at each of its four corners. Attach the shelves with one ½ inch screw through each hole in each bracket into the bottom of the shelf

Shutter Bench

• 7

  Cut a shutter down the middle of its center rail with a circular saw into two equally sized pieces to make the bench legs. Select one shutter as wide as these two pieces are tall,or cut a shutter to that width on the table saw, leaving at least 1 inch of width on each side rail. This is the leg brace. Select one shutter the same width as your legs, and a little longer than the leg brace, plus the thickness of both legs. This is your bench top.

• 8

  Stand the leg pieces on end, with the leg brace centered between them, on one long edge. Use a pin nail gun to nail through the top and bottom rails of both legs into the ends of the side rails of the leg brace. Drill pilot holes with a 1/8 inch bit into the end of each leg brace side rail, through the leg from the outside, so that there is one top and one bottom hole through each leg. Drive a 3 inch treated deck screw through each hole.

• 9

  Set the bench top, centered, on top of the leg assembly. Nail down through the end and center rails to attach the top to the legs and leg brace.