Use Cinder Blocks For Incredibly Easy-To-Build Fireplace Wood Storage

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Ahhhh, fall. It's the time of year when the crisp scent of fireplace smoke fills the air with hickory-scented cheer. Not coincidentally, it's also the time of year when you realize you probably don't have enough space for all the firewood that's about to take up residence in your home. Fortunately, finding a solution for storing your firewood during the cold months of the year doesn't have to cost a lot — maybe $10 or less. It doesn't have to be complicated, either. All it takes is a cinder block and four two-by-fours, which you'll use to create a firewood holder. With a few clever touches, you can even make this cheap, easy-to-put-together rack look stylish.

For this DIY wood holder, you need a cinder block with large holes, like this 8-Inch-by-8-Inch-by-16-Inch Concrete Lightweight Standard Block from Home Depot. The block should have holes that are wide enough to fit two two-by-four planks. Of course, if you already have a suitable cinder block in the garage, you can use that instead of buying a new one. You'll also need four two-by-fours, plus a few shorter pieces of wood to create a shelf for kindling. Wait to buy the shorter pieces of wood, though, since you'll determine the measurements once you decide how much space you'll need for kindling. You'll also need outdoor spray paint and wood stain in your preferred hues, sponge brushes, and a saw. For tools, grab a tape measure and a carpenter's pencil.

This type of firewood storage rack is best for you if you need storage fast and like contemporary design. Start with the block. Spray paint it in your color of choice and set it aside to dry. Or, as noted in our ultimate guide to industrial decor, plain concrete would look great, too, and should last outdoors just fine. Concrete doesn't always have to be sealed. Next, if you haven't already, cut the two-by-fours so that they're 4 feet long. Stain the boards. Once the stain is dry to the touch, place one end of each two-by-four in the holes of the cinder block. They should lean outwards from the block at an angle, forming a V-shaped rack.

Next, measure the space between the planks in the center of the V, about 1 foot above the top of the cinder block. Cut some pieces of scrap wood to fit the measurements and wedge them tightly into the center of the V, forming a sturdy shelf. Stack your kindling below this shelf, on top of the cinder block. Then stack your firewood on top of the shelf. If you feel like you need more space for kindling, simply cut longer scrap wood for the shelf. The rack should remain stable once loaded. The combined weight of the firewood, kindling, two-by-fours, and cinder block should keep everything in place.

Using a large cinder block allows you to place two two-by-fours in each hole. You could also use more cinder blocks with smaller holes, allowing you to store longer pieces of firewood. Simply place multiple cinder blocks side by side and slide wood planks in the holes as before. How many cinder blocks and planks you need depends on the length of the firewood you want to store. You could also add a second kindling shelf a foot or two above using longer pieces of scrap wood. Then you could store different grades of kindling in each section. For example, you could use the lower shelf for tinder and light kindling, while reserving the upper shelf for heavy kindling.

If you decide to make a second kindling shelf, you can combine different types of kindling and firewood in visually attractive ways. Just because this is a utilitarian DIY project doesn't mean you can't make it look good. You probably had no idea how creative people get with storing their firewood in winter. For example, try filling the bottom shelf with pine cones, neatly stacking twigs and branches on the upper shelf, then piling your firewood on top. The materials will constrast dramaticallly with the cinder block and two-by-fours, adding more texture to your outdoor space. Go a step further and paint the wood a bright, trendy hue, like coral, golden yellow, or brick red to add a pop of color to what is otherwise probably a dreary storage area.