Update: After seven years of being outdoors, these chairs are still strong, sturdy, and hold up great! It’s finished well too, with no chipping or peeling paint. The new pictures are of the same chairs seven years after they were built.
Are you looking for beautiful and sturdy benches for your outdoor space? Have you thought about building your own? You can save a lot of money and get exactly what you want!
For $20 apiece, I built these outdoor chairs!
We love the way they look. We love the durability. We love how heavy it is – no one likes chasing outdoor furniture in the wind. We love how easy they are to build!
Build modern outdoor chairs
These chairs were very simple and easy to build!!! All 2×4 and 2×6 lumber only, ready to use right away!
Here’s how I built it –
I cut all of my boards according to the cutting list below using a compound miter saw. You can also use a circular saw and a box saw, or even ask your local home improvement store to cut the boards for you. Good cuts at the straight end are very important.
I then attached the legs to the longer 2×6 boards using 2-3/4 inch screws. Note the spacer between the slats – it’s scrap 1x 3/4-inch thick.
Here’s how it would look with both legs.
Then add the upper armrest piece, and repeat for two arms (for one chair).
It’s ideal to have two people to assemble, but if not, I used a screwed board between the slats to support the back panels while installing them. This is the most challenging step in the entire build.
Once the arms are attached to the back and front pieces, two cleats are attached to the inside of the arms, and the seat slats rest on top. Tip: For added comfort, consider installing the seat at a slight downward angle.
Turned out really well!
Good luck, and if you build, share photos (you can add a post bragging about it or tag me on instagram @anawhitediy or #anawhite) – I can’t wait to see what your outdoor chairs turn out to be!
Follow the plans, have fun and share!
Lovesite version
After many requests, we have created a two-seater plan version for your convenience.
Image provided by reader by Joshh81
Thank you for posting the brag posts, they are helpful and encouraging!
