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A simple accent chair with a 2x4 back-leg frame, an angled seat back, and a padded seat you staple and upholster yourself.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair back legs Practice on scrap first; front cut inset 1/4" for rounded 2x4 edges. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 38 1/4" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Side aprons | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 17 1/2" | Pine 1x4 | ☐ |
| Front legs | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/4" | Pine 2x2 | ☐ |
| Front and back aprons | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 16" | Pine 1x4 | ☐ |
| Base support corner braces Both ends cut at 45°, not parallel to each other. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 4" | Pine 2x2 | ☐ |
| Seat back top | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 16" | Pine 1x2 | ☐ |
| Seat back | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 16" | Pine 1x6 | ☐ |
| Base side supports Longest point measurement, one end cut at 8° off square. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 19" | Pine 1x2 | ☐ |
| Base center support | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 16 3/4" | Pine 1x2 | ☐ |
| Seat top panel | 1 | 1/2" × 19" × 19" | Plywood | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Pine, 1x6, 3 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x2, 8 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x4, 6 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x4, 8 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| Plywood, 1/2", scrap, 19" x 19" | 1 each | ☐ |
| Upholstery fabric | 1 yard | ☐ |
| Foam, 19" x 19" x 1" thick | 1 each | ☐ |
| Staples, 3/8" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 2 oz | ☐ |
| Sandpaper, assorted grit | 2 sheet | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Circular Saw, Jigsaw, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Pine, 2x4, 8 ft
Mark and cut the back legs, insetting the front cut (where the leg connects to the side aprons) by 1/4" to account for the rounded edges on 2x4 stock. Make as many cuts as possible with a circular saw, finishing the interior cuts on the back with a jigsaw. Practice the cut on a scrap piece of 2x4 first. Once cut, lay both legs together and check that the top, bottom, and front sides all match — the other edges matter less. Sand the cuts smooth.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 1x4, 6 ft
Attach the side aprons to the back legs, flush to the bottom of the front cuts, checking that the two leg pieces still line up — a mismatch here means a crooked chair.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x2, 8 ft
Attach the front legs to the side aprons, tops flush, checking the chair parts still line up.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: Pine, 1x4, 6 ft, Wood glue
Attach the front and back aprons, predrilling carefully. Pocket hole screws and glue work well here, tops flush.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 1x2, 8 ft
Attach the seat back top piece.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: Pine, 1x6, 3 ft
Attach the seat back boards, using pocket holes from the back or predrilled screws from the legs.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 1x2, 8 ft
Attach the base side supports — these add considerable strength to the chair.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x2, 8 ft, Pine, 1x2, 8 ft, Wood glue
Attach the base center support to the sides. Add the corner braces for extra strength, with glue.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Staple Gun. Materials: Plywood, 1/2", scrap, 19" x 19", Upholstery fabric, Foam, 19" x 19" x 1" thick, Staples, 3/8"
Spray-glue the foam cushion to the plywood seat top. Lay the fabric face-down on a table with the seat top on top of it, foam side down. Staple the fabric carefully to the underside of the seat, tucking corners neatly. Attach the finished seat to the cross supports with 2" screws or pocket hole screws.
Tools: Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Sandpaper, assorted grit
Sand every exposed wood surface and paint or stain as desired.