Outdoor

Easy Modern Outdoor Sofa

Build your own DIY outdoor furniture at a fraction of the cost to purchase it new!

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 3.8–7 hours
Cost: $$

About this build

Build your own DIY outdoor furniture at a fraction of the cost to purchase it new! This modern styled outdoor sofa is the average 72 couch size, can be left in the outdoors, and will make your outdoor living space great for entertaining...not to mention stunning!

Tools

Essential

Brad Nailer
Drill / Driver
Pocket Hole Jig
Random Orbit Sander
Table Saw

Optional / nice to have

Bar / Pipe Clamps
Combination Square
Tape Measure

Materials

Item	Qty
Board, 2x4 96"	4 board
Board, 2x6 96"	2 board
Board, 1x6 96"	4 board
Board, 1x8 96"	3 board
2" Kreg Outdoor Pocket Hole Screws	40 each
Wood Glue	1 each

Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.

Cut list

Part	Qty	T × W × L
3 Seat Frame Boards & 4 Armrest Boards	7	1" × 4" × 22 1/2"
Seating Frame	2	1" × 6" × 72"
Seating Frame, cont.	2	1" × 6" × 22 1/2"
Armrest	4	1" × 4" × 32"
Backrest	1	1" × 4" × 72"
Decorative Slats (Armrest)	6	3/4" × 8" × 25 1/2"
Decorative Slats (backrest)	1	3/4" × 8" × 79"

What to buy

Buy 9 boards at 8 ft.

1" × 6"

2 boards

72"22 1/2"
72"22 1/2"

1" × 4"

4 boards

72"22 1/2"
32"32"22 1/2"
32"32"22 1/2"
22 1/2"22 1/2"22 1/2"22 1/2"

3/4" × 8"

3 boards

79"
25 1/2"25 1/2"25 1/2"
25 1/2"25 1/2"25 1/2"

Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →

Start building →

Instructions

1Build Seat Frame
After making all your initial cuts, start by framing out your seat base. Using a Kreg Jig place pocket holes in either side of two 1 1/2" x 6" x 22.5" seat frame pieces, and attach to inside of the 1 1/2" x 6" x 72" seat frame pieces. Use a little wood glue when attaching all pieces moving forward, and a carpenter square to ensure all joining pieces are square.
2Complete The Frame
- Add pocket holes on either side of three of your 1 1/2" x 4" x 22.5" boards.
- Attach them within the frame, spaced evenly apart.
- Attach each one flush with the top of the frame. This is your seat base where the slats will lay across later.
3Assemble Armrest Frame
- Place pocket holes at both ends of four 1 1/2" x 4" x 22.5" boards.
- Screw one 22.5" armrest boards between the two 1 1/2" x 4" x 32" armrest boards, flush to the top.
- Mark 12" from the bottom of either arm/leg piece, then attach the second 22.5" board flipped on it's side, with the top at that 12" mark. Follow these steps again to create the second armrest.
4Prepare To Assemble
- Put pocket holes in either end of the 1 1/2" x 4" x 72" backrest board.
- Then position the seat frame, armrest frames, and backrest to prepare for assembly.
- Place pieces so the sofa is oriented on it's side for easier assembly.
5Attach Armrest To Seat Frame
- Attach the armrests to the seat frame while on it's side.
- Screw directly through the armrest frame into the seat frame, and do the same from the seat frame side into the armrest.
- Stagger where you place your screws.
- Set your seat upright.
6Attach Backrest
Once upright, attach the 72" backrest piece (pocket holes facing back) flush between the two armrests.
7Add Seat Slats
Evenly space the four 3/4" x 6" x 72" wooden seat slats atop your seat frame, and nail down to the seating frame.
8Optionally Add Decorative Slats
Optionally nail evenly spaced 3/4" x 8" x 25.5" decorative slats to the outside armrest, and the single 3/4" x 8" x 79" slat across the inside back. These are not necessary for support, but give a modern appeal to the bench. Sand the entire bench well, and stain!
9Cut List & Wood Selection
Select treated lumber so your sofa bench can stay in the outdoors year round. Pre-cut all your boards, or have them cut for you at the hardware store to save time. It is important to consider whether you have a saw that can handle 2"x 6" and 2" x 8" boards...if not you will want to have them cut at the hardware store. The armrest and backrest is built solely from 2"x4" wood, while the seat is framed out with 2"x6" wood but I will reference the actual rather than nominal sizes moving forward.