One-Day DIY: Modern Farmhouse Furniture

This pleasingly straightforward debut guide from YouTubers Spate and Spillman makes a good case for one-day projects as the way to go for aspiring DIYers. Projects range from the very simple “Showcase Shelving” to the more complex, 14-step “Double Duty Console Table.” After an opening “helpful tips” section, which provides a concise list of only absolutely necessary tools, the book is arranged room by room, starting with a chapter titled “Love Your Living Room,” the initial project for which is the “Urban Loft Coffee Table.” Each piece’s design strengths and possible uses are highlighted. The “Upgrade-Your-Look-Mirror,” in the “Sanctuary Bathroom” chapter, features a “shelf where you can display everything from your hipster beard oil to your favorite razor.” Don’t know what to do with all those winter blankets piled in an unseemly manner on the couch? The easy “Cozy Corner Blanket Ladder” is the answer, relying on “just two pieces of lumber and some straight cuts.” With clear instructions, an easygoing tone, and brightly lit instructional and aspirational photographs, there is a lot to love—and tackle—in this encouraging book. (Jan.)