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I've built a few simple things like shelves and a basic coffee table, but I want to try some more challenging DIY furniture projects. The problem is a lot of plans I find online either seem way too simple or require professional woodworking shop equipment. Anyone have recommendations for good DIY furniture plans that are challenging but still achievable with a decent home workshop setup? I have a table saw, miter saw, and router but no planer or jointer.

For DIY furniture that's challenging but doable, I really enjoyed building a Murphy bed. It looks complicated but it's mostly just careful measuring and following the hardware instructions. The mechanism comes as a kit so you're really just building the cabinet around it. Took me about three weekends but saved thousands compared to buying one.

I built a dining table with breadboard ends last year and it was the perfect intermediate challenge. It teaches you about wood movement and requires precise joinery, but you can do it with the tools you mentioned. The key is taking your time with the mortise and tenon joints. There are some great YouTube tutorials that walk you through it step by step.

A built in bookcase or entertainment center is a great DIY furniture project that's challenging but manageable. You have to deal with walls that aren't perfectly straight and ceiling height variations, which teaches you problem solving skills. Plus you get custom storage that fits your space perfectly. I did mine with plywood boxes and face frames, no complicated joinery needed.

If you want to try something different, a live edge slab table is a good intermediate project. You can buy the slab already flattened and dried from a specialty supplier. Then it's just about building a base and finishing the wood. The natural edge makes it look way more impressive than it actually is to build. I used hairpin legs for mine to keep it simple.

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