Create something enjoyable to make your next gathering easier to host.
Do you enjoy entertaining or throwing parties, but feel somewhat overwhelmed while preparing, arranging and serving everything?
We enjoy welcoming friends and relatives into our home, so I have created and constructed a variety of things to simplify the process.
I enjoy DIYing everything, from furniture and kitchen tools to servingware and games we can enjoy, using them while entertaining so my evening runs more smoothly.
Whether your gathering takes place indoors or outdoors, let your next DIY project be something that makes hosting your upcoming event simpler!
Discover entertaining projects quickly! Use the links below to jump straight to the hosting DIY ideas you want, or scroll down to view them all.
DIY Entertaining Furniture
Furniture designed to accommodate additional guests can make entertaining more enjoyable!
Choose pieces with added storage for hosting supplies, furniture that expands as needed, or surfaces that are useful while entertaining.
Sideboard with Serving Dish Storage Shelf
Whenever you host a gathering, a sideboard or buffet becomes an ideal spot for serving appetizers, beverages or dinner. Having that extra room in the dining area is incredibly helpful!
This dining room buffet is more than an additional place to set food; it includes a spacious shelf that is ideal for keeping entertaining dishes between celebrations.
Display Cabinet with Glass Doors
Anyone who frequently hosts knows how difficult it can be to put away all the extra dishes, silverware, napkins and other entertaining essentials.
This attractive display cabinet is an excellent spot for storing and showcasing special dishes in your dining room. Thanks to its adjustable shelves, it can also accommodate unusually shaped items.
Dining Table with Leaves
A dining table that expands is hard to beat! I enjoy adding one or two leaves to our table whenever guests come over.
With the leaves removed, this table comfortably seats a family of six. Once fully extended, it can accommodate four additional guests with ease.
Large Dining Table with Benches
If you regularly enjoy hosting and have enough room, consider building a generously sized dining table for larger groups.
This 8′ table provides plenty of seating, while DIY space-saving benches can fit even more guests than chairs. They are especially handy when children will be attending.
Modern Rolling Kitchen Cart Build Plans
This rolling cart is ideal if your kitchen is compact or you simply need additional counter area.
Its leaf folds down when you need to store it, or lifts up to provide nearly 4′ of extra countertop space.
I keep my heavy mixer on the cart, so I do not need to move it. It has turned into my baking cart, making it easy to roll into position during holiday baking.
Folding Wood Picnic Table
This lovely table folds down the middle, making storage simple. I built it as a picnic table because we enjoy gathering during the summer.
However, its attractive design also makes it suitable for indoor use as an extra table. It can function as another dining table or as a buffet.
DIY Outdoor Kitchen Island
If you enjoy hosting outdoors, this outdoor kitchen island will quickly become your favorite DIY project. It turned our basic grill into a complete outdoor kitchen!
Featuring a spacious countertop for preparing and serving food, along with an overhang for seating, it makes outdoor cooking simple and enjoyable.
DIYs for Cooking
Cooking plays a major role when entertaining!
I enjoy creating useful items for the kitchen that make preparing food easier and more enjoyable. Many of these projects can also be made with leftover wood scraps.
Simple Folding Cookbook Holder
I couldn’t stand it when my cookbooks refused to stay open. While cooking, I would search for heavy objects to keep the pages in place.
Then I turned a couple of leftover boards into this lovely cookbook holder. It also folds flat, making it easy to put away when it is not in use.
Simple DIY Cookbook Stand
This is another DIY cookbook stand, although it includes a few additional components.
A piece of plexiglass on the front keeps the cookbook open. That makes it easy to read all the words on the page.
I also reused a wire hanger to make a back support that tilts to different angles. It can fold flat for convenient storage as well.
Beginner-Friendly Cutting Board DIY
After you begin using quality wooden cutting boards, you will not want to return to ordinary ones!
This simple edge grain cutting board is gentle on your knives, helping them stay sharp longer. It also looks attractive enough to use when company comes over.
Wood Cooking Utensils Without Carving
These attractive wooden utensils make cooking easier, and they can be crafted from small hardwood leftovers.
I use the two flat-bottomed utensils on the stovetop. They work especially well for breaking apart ground meat.
The round whisk is ideal for mixing batter or sourdough bread dough. The small scraper is my favorite tool for feeding my sourdough starter.
Simple DIY Cheese Slicer from Leftover Wood
Can a party happen without cheese? At my house, the answer is definitely not! Naturally, I had to create a basic cheese slicer.
This slicer works wonderfully for softer cheeses that a standard knife might crush. It can also be made from an attractive wood scrap.
DIY Tortilla Press Instructions
For the ultimate taco gathering, homemade tortillas are a must!
This gorgeous tortilla press is enjoyable to build—I have already made two more—and it presses both corn and flour tortillas. We use it on Tuesday nights for incredibly tasty tacos.
DIY Pasta Drying Rack Made from Scrap Wood
Impress everyone at your next dinner gathering with fresh homemade pasta.
I disliked making pasta because spreading it out to dry would take over the entire kitchen island. Now, I can quickly drape each piece over the rack as I cut it.
Best of all, the pasta rack folds closed without needing to disassemble it, then slides directly into the cupboard for storage.
Pretty Paper Towel Holder from Scrap Wood
This fast, simple project helps keep your kitchen tidy while adding an attractive touch.
This uncomplicated paper towel holder is a creative way to use a beautiful piece of scrap wood. You can proudly leave it on the counter when visitors arrive.
DIY Bread-Slicing Cutting Board
With this one-of-a-kind DIY cutting board, you can create perfectly even bread slices every time.
Featuring 3 cutting guides, it lets you make thin sandwich slices, medium pieces for toast, or thick sections to cube for dipping.
How to Make a Pull-Out Spice Rack Cabinet
Keeping my spices and oils beside the stove in this pull-out cabinet makes cooking much more convenient.
If you are installing new cabinets or have available space in the cabinet beside your stove, discover how simple it is to create one for your kitchen.
DIY Pull-Out Pantry Drawers
Converting my pantry shelves into pull-out drawers was the best kitchen improvement I have ever made.
Everything is now easy to locate, and nothing gets lost in the back corners. It also makes preparing meals much quicker!
DIY Serving Projects
Whether you are presenting an entire meal, enjoying an appetizer, or bringing a dish to a gathering, you are sure to appreciate these DIY serving pieces.
These attractive wooden trays and carriers will make your food presentation look especially impressive!
DIY Round Wooden Trays in 2 Styles
Whether you are presenting appetizers or dinner, food simply looks more appealing on a wooden tray!
Building this lovely round tray also gives you a second bonus tray without sides. Use it as a cutting board or for additional serving space.
Simple DIY Breadboard
When bread or a baguette accompanies dinner, present it on a dedicated breadboard.
Designed with a convenient handle, this long cutting board is easy to carry. It also allows you to slice bread as you eat, helping it stay fresh longer.
DIY Pie Transport and Display Box
This gorgeous carrier is designed to transport 2 pies, such as for Thanksgiving dinner, or to showcase them as a display case.
An adjustable plexiglass shelf even leaves room for mile-high pies. Your guests will be eager to enjoy a slice.
Plans for Building a Tiered Serving Tray
When your serving space is limited, building upward is an excellent way to create additional room.
This enjoyable tiered serving tray project includes two wooden trays that stack easily, leaving plenty of space for guests to choose their favorite treats.
3 Easy DIY Wooden Trivets
Instead of placing hot dishes on a grimy fabric hot pad, protect your table with a DIY trivet!
These trivets are enjoyable to create from the small scraps you have on hand. You can add personality to your table while keeping it safe from heat.
Cake Stand with Dome from Scrap Wood
Here is another excellent project for leftover wood! Combine many small pieces to create an attractive cake stand.
After finding a large glass bowl, I routed a basic groove so it would stay securely in position. It is ideal for serving and storage.
DIY Tray with Marble Tile Inlay
Turn those gorgeous marble tiles into an even more stunning serving tray and enjoy the process.
For this project, I used a CNC to carve openings for the tile inlay. I also used it to create handles on the sides, making the tray simple to carry.
DIY Wood Cake Stand
Cake stands are useful for more than serving cake on your buffet. They provide an excellent way to bring height and visual interest to your display.
These playful wooden cake stands consist of multiple circles cut out and stacked onto a dowel. Have fun experimenting with different designs.
Handmade Marble Cheese Board
Take one marble tile and transform it into an ideal cheeseboard. During your gathering, the marble helps keep the cheese chilled.
Wood is attached along the sides to create a cutting area. It is also placed beneath the tile to shield your table.
DIY Games for a Crowd
Once the meal is finished, entertain everyone with an enjoyable game. We love playing
Easy DIY Wooden Cornhole Boards
Everyone enjoys a game of cornhole! You do not need any experience to have fun playing.
Organize a straightforward tournament so everyone can join the excitement. Simply match seasoned players with beginners when possible.
DIY Mölkky Game with Carrier
Mölkky is known as Yard skittles or Skittle scatter as well. This entertaining game works for two players or a larger group.
When the weather cooperates, play outdoors in the yard. If necessary, move the furniture aside and enjoy the game on the carpet instead.
Ultimate DIY Horseshoe Pit
With enough space in your yard, these DIY horseshoe pits keep you prepared for a game whenever you like.
Invite everyone outdoors for a friendly match or tournament.
Outdoor Scoreboard for Summer Games
This scoreboard makes a fantastic addition to any outdoor activity! I carved the design with my CNC, though painting it is another option.
Write the team names in the chalkboard section, then use the wooden beads to follow the score with ease.
Easy DIY Tabletop Cornhole Game
Even if poor weather sends the celebration indoors, you can still host an entertaining cornhole tournament.
This compact tabletop cornhole board is both enjoyable and easy to use. Since the rounds are quick, everyone can participate.
DIY Dice Tower with Tray
For anyone who enjoys dice games, a dice tumbler is a wonderful addition. It randomizes every roll and keeps the dice from spreading across the table.
It is entertaining to use, too! Hearing the dice bounce against the ledges as they fall is especially satisfying.
Colorful DIY Yard Dice
These oversized wooden dice are ideal for outdoor dice games.
Roll them across the grass for a fast round of yard Yahtzee or Farkle, our family’s favorite.
Now everything is ready for the party! Keep your guests entertained again and again with your new DIY projects.
