So my dad is working on a carpentry project and wanted to install a droplet effect using LEDs, basically make LED's fire off as if they're dropping. I can put this together using an Arduino and coding, but I was curious if I've over-complicating it, and if there's an easier way to do it? Many thanks!
It all depends on your experience and knowledge. There is always an easier way to do. For example you could do it similar to my bouncing ball example: Bouncing Ball | Blinkenlight (just use only the bounce down part of the loop.
On the other hand you could do it like this example: Knight Rider Without Flicker | Blinkenlight and then realize that this could also be achieved with some eeprom chips plus a counter. Thus implementing it without a CPU.
Another means would be to create a suitable analog circuit to compute the falling drops.
What you consider "easier" will depend on your expertise in the corresponding fields. So unless you define what you mean by "easier" no one can tell you.
My apologies, I meant that to me, using the arduino seemed like an over engineered option. I know how to put this together with the arduino, but if theres a better option that doesn't need an arduino, i'm happy to learn how to throw it together (my experience with circuits is limited). Many thanks, i'll look through those links, much obliged.
tt
If your only tool is a hammer everything looks like a nail 
Very true, and the arduino has been a capable hammer, but I need to learn about 556 timers and relays and all that other wonderful trickery lol. Many thanks again !
Hrm, I did the droplet thing, but I used an Arduino clone:
Look at around 33 seconds for the dropLEDs, and around 2:01 there's a double dropLED effect.