Build your own coffin

Anyone who's ever been in the unfortunate position of having to plan a funeral knows that funerals are shockingly expensive, and that the coffin itself can be a large part of the cost. But if your wood shop skills are decent, it's totally possible to build your own coffin, to be used when necessary (even if "when necessary" means "at your next Halloween party").

Aside from that, there are some people out there -- who know who they are -- who think that coffins make smashing home decor. This kind of undertaking would be perfect for them as well. I realize that some of our readers will find this morbid: sorry about that. (Sunshine and kittens to resume soon!) Everyone else will find more details after the break.

Two of the links used in the Squidoo article will be particularly helpful to anyone wanting to build a coffin to use as part of their Halloween decor. This one is definitely for the Halloween stalwarts, who could use a small coffin as a crate to hold some of their other decorations when it's time for everything to go into storage.

Casket Furniture is probably the web's best-known proponent of the "get your own coffin in advance" idea: for a long time, they've been selling furniture that can be broken down for burial purposes when the time comes. Several shelving units, coffee tables, and gaming tables have a classic casket shape, the kind that widens at the shoulder area and then tapers in around the head (it's pretty obvious, so I suspect that only certain kinds of customers are interested in those items: goths, horror fans, rock stars, tattoo shops, and so on). However, Casket Furniture also makes items that are not obvious at all: one entertainment center is entirely modern, while another has evocative romanesque arches across its top.

I think the catalog of casket plans is of the most interest to DIY Life readers. Casket Furniture sells plans for four different styles of casket, from classic to contemporary, as well as several styles of casket hardware (two in metal, one in wood).

The Giovanni is the classic coffin style, while the Socrates and the Martin look like plain wooden versions of the oblong style you're more likely to see at an average American funeral. You can buy a package of all four casket plans at a discount, and kits to make the caskets.

Bert & Bud's Vintage Coffins makes custom coffins, but they also offer a "kit coffin" in pine or poplar (the poplar model is a little more streamlined and elegant).

You may also be interested in this article about "Outhouse Charlie", another creator of DIY casket kits, who explains some of the details that go into personalizing one of his products.

This project is so great for Halloween that it's quite possible to choose not to take it seriously. But funeral costs are often so burdensome on surviving family members that it also has genuine, non-decorative value. Decide which works best for you, then go for it!

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