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
Outdoor furniture is outrageous these days and my love for modern outdoor furniture doesn’t help the price tag. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect pieces for the perfect price and it was as close to seeing a flying pig. So in true Kourtni fashion I decided to build my own. I’m sharing the DIY tutorial and FREE plans!!
I originally fell in love with these West Elm Chairs and World Market Chairs, but they just weren’t in the budget for this project.
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.
**This post contains affiliate links, please read our disclosure and privacy policy if you have any questions.
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
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
For more behind the scenes on all of our DIY and home projects be sure to follow along on instagram. To see all of our inspo and upcoming projects be sure to follow along on pinterest.
Get girl may I ask where the cushions are from?
Hi there!
They are from IKEA 🙂
The project cost… was that for one chair? And did that include the cushions?
Hi Loriann,
The project cost varies depending on how many chairs you are building. The lower cost is for one chair ad the higher cost is for 2 chairs. The cost can also vary if you already have some of the supplies on hand. The cost does not include the cushions. If you include the cushions 1 chair would be around $100ish.
Hi, is there anyway you can drop a link for the cushions from ikea? They are beautiful.
Hi Nikki,
I just updated the Shopping List with the links for the cushions! 🙂
Hi! Thanks for posting these instructions!
I was wondering, did you design these with the size of the IKEA cushions in mind? If we were to use different cushions, would we need to size the chair differently? For example, if we were to buy the World Market Cushions, which seem to be quite a few inches bigger?
Thanks so much!
Hi Maura,
I designed the chairs and sofas before I had found cushions. The IKEA Cushions are actually a tad smaller than I’d like them to be but they made the project more cost effective. You could definite do larger seat cushions and larger back cushions if you don’t mind the back sticking up over a little. The seat cushions have a few inches of room so you could probably use the World Market Cushions! Just measure before building to see if you need to make any modifications.
Thank you so much!
Do you have the link for the cushions? 🙂
Hi Gabby,
I just updated with the links for the cushions in the Shopping List! 🙂
Hey! How are your chairs holding up? I was so excited to finish two chairs and a sofa a few weeks ago and am heartbroken that one chair already broke!
Do you think they would be more sturdy with 2×3’s instead?
Hi Makala,
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. Ours have held up great besides not covering them during off season. Ours really didn’t get a ton of use nor did they have a ton of weight bearing down on them. Our chairs are pretty sturdy and the sofa had some modifications after my husband sat down and used after a few times. I’d love for you to email me some photos so I can see how it broke and possibly troubleshoot the design – houseonlongwoodlane (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you so much!
Hey!!I LOVE the look of the chairs and the sofa and we’re planning to build the sofa next weekend! Do you mind sharing the modifications you made? Just want to know so we can make changes as needed. Thank you for the tutorial —your plans are beautiful!
Hey I was just wondering how sturdy they are in terms of weight limit? Hard to say I know but have you had anyone who is over 200lbs using them ?