DIY Modern Outdoor Chairs

Who likes spending thousands of dollars on outdoor furniture? Yeah, me either! We have lived in our home for 2 summers now and have yet to enjoy our backyard patio. So what started out as needing to clean the back windows and it snowballed into a mini backyard makeover. That’s how most of our projects start out and they always snowball into so much more! So who’s ready to build their own DIY modern outdoor chairs out of wood for around $70 bucks?!

How to make your own DIY Modern Outdoor Chairs

DIY Modern Outdoor Chairs Tutorial

Be sure to read through the instructions thoroughly and FAQ’s on our DIY Outdoor Furniture.

Step 1: Build arm base

Cut your arm base pieces using a miter saw and the 1x3x8 select pine boards. By cutting all of these pieces at once you can also make all the pocket holes for the arm bases as well! Cut 4 pieces at 26 1/2″ and 4 pieces at 30″.

Make your pocket holes using a Kreg Jig! I use the the Kreg Jig K4 and absolutely love it. Set your drill guide to 3/4″ thickness and a screw length of 1 1/4″. The pocket holes will ONLY go into the 26 1/2″ boards.

You can peep the baby bump in some of these photos y’all 😉

Step 2: Attach arm base seat mount

Cut 2 more 26 1/2″ boards from the 1x3x8 for the center base mount. Measure 10″ from the bottom of the 30″ board and attach the 26 1/2″ board with pocket holes facing inward.

Attach the 26 1/2″ board to the innermost side of the arm rest frame. You may want to use some scrap pieces to brace the piece while you attach.

Step 3: Attach seat frame

Cut a 1x3x8 @ 25″ for both the front and back of the chair to form the seat frame. Make 2 pocket holes on each end and face pocket holes inward to hide when attaching.

Step 4: Attach 2×2 slat supports

Cut a 2x2x8 @ 26 1/2″, you may need to cut to fit. One chair I made had one side at 26 5/8″ and the other at 26 1/2″. This will be a snug fit and you may need a hammer or mallet to push into place. The 2×2 should be lined up with the bottom of the 1×3. Attach the 2×2 with (5)  2″ wood screws!

Step 5: Attach seat slats

Attach the 6 – 1×2 seat slats at 25″, again, measure to fit if needed! Use wood glue and 3/4″ brad nails for each slat. Evenly space out the slats at about 3 1/2″ apart, the back and front slats will fit snug against the 1×3 seat frame.

Step 6: Attach back slats

Attach the back slats with 1x3x8 @ 25 1/16″. Each slat should have 2 pocket holes on each end attached with the pocket holes on the inside.

Step 7: Finished product

Now that the chairs are finished it’s time to stain them! I used a new stain Varathane came out with this year called Flagstone available at Home Depot. Before staining sand with 180G and 220G sand paper. For a more in-depth tutorial on staining check out this post here!

Check out how these babies turned out y’all! These are just the chairs, but the sofa is somewhat of a larger replica, but it definitely completes the set. These chairs are spacious enough for me and my husband who is 6′ – 220lbs!

Now, who’s ready to build their own DIY modern outdoor sofa with me? Checkout the full tutorial and FREE plans for the DIY Modern Outdoor Sofa!

To see the whole mini patio makeover, be sure to head over to the reveal post here: Mini Patio Makeover.

Download the PDF plans if you’d like to build these DIY Modern Outdoor Chairs. It’ll have the step-by-step directions, along with dimensions and a complete materials and cut list.

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To “Get the Look” for this space check out the Mini Patio Makeover with a full list of sources for everything!

SHOPPING LIST :

• 2 – 1×2 select pine @ 8FT
• 5 – 1×3 select pine @ 8FT
• 1 – 1×3 select pine @ 6FT (making more than one chair you do not need the 1x3x6 for the second chair, use the extras from the previous chair)
• 1 – 2×2 @ 8FT
• 10 – 2″ wood screws (for 2×2 base)
• 36 – 1 1/4″ Kreg screws
• 12 – 3/4″ Brad Nails
• 180 and 250 grit sand paper
• Wiping Cloths (for stain)
• 1QT Varathane Stain in Flagstone (will be enough for 2 chairs and sofa)
• 2 cans – Varathane Poly in Satin
• Wood Glue
• Back Cushions
• Seat Cushions

**If you are making 2 chairs be sure to double the shopping list and only purchase 1 – 1x3x6.

TOOLS :

Tape Measure

Pencil

Safety Glasses

Ear Protection

Mask

Drill

Miter Saw

Sander (or Sanding Sponge)

Kreg Jig

or 

Brad Nailer

SKILL LEVEL :

Beginner/Intermediate

PROJECT COST:

$72 – $136 (*project cost may vary)

 

Be sure to check out the FAQ’s on our DIY Outdoor Furniture!

Let me know if you have any questions about anything building wise or product questions! I’m an open book

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