Best Furniture & Carpentry Crafts Books of 2026

The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker, Revised Edition by Bob Lang is an excellent handbook that provides step-by-step guidance on designing and constructing every kind of kitchen and built-in cabinet. The book takes the mystery out of cabinetmaking and offers practical tips for saving time, materials, and money. It covers everything from measuring a room and developing working shop drawings to constructing traditional face-frame cabinets and Euro-style frameless cabinets. The book also includes technical instructions for cutting and joining the basic box, fitting it to drawer stacks, sinks, corners, appliances, and islands. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in DIY woodworking projects.

The Great Book of Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture, Revised & Expanded Second Edition is a must-have for any intermediate woodworker looking to build authentic replicas of valuable period pieces at a low cost. The book provides complete working shop drawings for 61 classic furniture pieces in the legendary Craftsman style. The author, a master cabinetmaker, measured original Craftsman antiques to create these detailed plans. With full perspective views, elevations, sections, details, and cutting lists for each project, this revised collection gives today's woodworkers the heart of the Craftsman aesthetic, along with all the information needed for workshop success. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in woodworking and furniture design.

If you're a woodworking enthusiast and want to make your workshop more efficient, then "How to Make Workbenches & Shop Storage Solutions" is the book for you. This compendium contains 28 projects from American Woodworker magazine, each designed to help you organize your tools and work smarter, not harder. From workbenches to storage cabinets, this book provides step-by-step instructions and tips for achieving the organized workshop you've always dreamed of. The bonus projects for building the torsion box make this book unique. Overall, this book is a must-have for any woodworker looking to improve their shop's efficiency.

The Ultimate Guide to Furniture Refinishing & Repair, 2nd Revised Edition is a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to restore, rebuild, and renew wooden furniture. With over 500 step-by-step instructions, photos, and detailed drawings, readers will learn how to repair loose or broken joints, splits, fractures, and more on chairs, chests, tables, beds, and drawers. Written by furniture repair expert Brian D. Hingley, this authoritative DIY guide is packed with shop-tested and approved methods, helpful information on selecting tools, materials, and supplies, and tips on how to renovate bargain furniture and fix family heirlooms. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in antique and collectible furniture.

The book "Bookcases, Cabinets & Built-Ins" is a comprehensive guide for anyone who needs extra storage in their homes. It features 25 how-to articles from recent issues of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking magazines that provide step-by-step instructions for building practical and beautiful units for keeping life straight. The book includes a range of projects from bookcases to entertainment center built-ins, mudroom clutter busters, and custom kitchen cabinets. The expert advice from America's most accomplished craftsmen makes it easy for carpenters, woodworkers, and DIY-ers of all skill levels to design and build the cabinets, built-ins, and bookcases they will love. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone who wants to create sturdy and attractive storage units for their homes.

The Woodworker's Guide to Live Edge Slabs is a comprehensive how-to guide for creating live-edge furniture. The book covers everything from milling, drying, and preparing your slab to using epoxy, adding inlays, and creating a waterfall edge. With eight projects that vary in size and scale, including a charcuterie board, shelves, tables, and desks, both beginner and advanced woodworkers can accomplish stunning projects with the comprehensive guidance inside this book. Written by George Vondriska, an experienced woodworking pro, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in incorporating organic, natural wood pieces into their home decor.

Simple Japanese Furniture: 24 Classic Step-By-Step Projects is a woodworking book that presents timeless Japanese designs for furniture. The book offers 24 projects with detailed instructions, notes on key design elements, and the necessary tools and techniques needed for each piece. The designs are well-suited for working with cuts of coniferous trees, especially cedar. The book is perfect for woodworkers and hand-tool enthusiasts who want to make simple and practical furniture for their homes while appreciating Japanese design. The author, Group Monomono, is a project team that has been a leader in the revival of woodworking and furniture making in Tokyo.

The Great Book of Woodworking Projects is a comprehensive guide for woodworkers of all skill levels. With detailed instructions and illustrations, this book provides plans for 50 functional and attractive projects for every room in the home, as well as outdoor living spaces. The projects range from small, quick weekend builds to more challenging pieces, including furniture in the Shaker, Stickley, and Craftsman styles. The book also includes tips and advice from experts at American Woodworker. Overall, this is an excellent resource for those looking to spruce up their home with handmade, well-designed projects.

Illustrated Cabinetmaking: How to Design and Construct Furniture That Works is the ultimate visual guide to furniture construction. With over 1300 drawings and diagrams, it covers everything from furniture styles and dimensions to joinery and construction solutions. This comprehensive sourcebook takes the guesswork out of furniture joinery, assembly, dimension, and style. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced woodworker, you'll benefit from the detailed drawings and classic solutions to age-old problems. The book includes plans for most furniture pieces, making it a valuable resource for any furniture maker. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in furniture and carpentry crafts.

Wood Pallet DIY Projects is a comprehensive instructional guide that teaches readers how to upcycle salvaged pallets and transform them into beautiful and useful products for their home, garden, and community. With 20 step-by-step projects, readers will learn how to make everything from raised garden beds to bookshelves and benches. The book also includes practical advice on where to find pallets, how to process them into usable lumber, and important safety tips. The authors' inspiring story of their inner city Abba Woodworks project, which creates jobs and opportunities through reclaimed wood, adds a unique and heartwarming touch to this must-have woodworking manual.