2 x 4s are available everywhere, which make them an easy and inexpensive building material. They can be cut down into smaller sizes or used as-is to make furniture and projects of all sizes.

One important tip before you build 2 x 4 projects: Run your wood stock through a jointer and a planer if you have one, to make sure your boards are flat and square. That's because the 2 x 4s you find at the lumberyard are often warped and twisted, which doesn't make for good furniture.