Summer is here and we all want to spend time outside with our family and friends.
But outdoor seating can be expensive! So we’ve scoured the internet to find ideas for you to create a great DIY outdoor sofa that you can complete in a weekend.
Standard Sofas and Loveseats
1. Slatted Outdoor Sofa by Houseful of Handmade
This is probably one of my favorite DIY sofas because it doesn’t look DIY! Kati from Houseful of Homemade based this design on the Adirondack style and I truly love the end result. The sofa generally uses 2 x 4’s with narrow spacing between the slats.
The darker stain gives it such a rich finish and it doesn’t require full cushions as you can see.
She has a link included in the post to the detailed plans they used, even down to the screws.
If you’re looking for a sturdy exterior bench-style sofa that looks professionally made, I highly suggest you give this a thorough review.
2. Modern Outdoor Sofa by Fix This Build That
If you’re looking for a more modern feel, Fix This Build That has a fairly detailed set of plans and video you can follow.
While this design is fairly uncomplicated, I do like the deep cushions and the overall dimensions.
You could easily fit three adults without rubbing knees and elbows. Personally, I would be a bit bolder on the cushions as a contrast to the simple design.
While modern design by definition excludes a lot of extra details, I think a different pattern or maybe some contrast pillows would still be okay.
3. Build This Plywood Couch by Melly Sews
Here is another modern sofa which Melissa Mora of Melly Sews says only cost about $75 for the wood!
She spent a bit more than that on the cushions but they’re definitely worth it. She modified this sofa from her own inspiration drawing which focused on minimalism and clean lines.
She was able to achieve that through the use of large pieces of plywood and large pressure treated 4×4 pieces for the legs. The back braces allow the sofa to be slightly slanted but with solid support.
A light grey exterior stain is her finishing touch and it looks great with those turquoise cushions.
4. Outdoor Loveseat Plans by Her Tool Belt
Amy’s sofa at Her Tool Belt is based on a design by Ana White which was presented at a DIY conference several years ago.
She studied mechanical engineering so she’s already ahead of most of us with regard to woodworking.
She modified the original sofa design to be a smaller sofa and chair combination.
Entire plans available
She has provided detailed DIY plans on its construction and it seems simple enough that even I could do it!
I also love the color palette she chose which goes nicely with the natural wood frame coloring. She has also included a small side table which complements the seating area as well. This would look cozy on the back porch.
5. Sturdy DIY Couch by HomeMade Modern
Here is another DIY modern outdoor sofa from HomeMade Modern which looks very sturdy. The absence of the additional floor brace makes the outdoor design feel minimalist and thus more modern.
Additionally, the use of 4x8s instead of 2x4s, coupled with the grey stain, gives it an impressive first impression. On the other hand, the darkness doesn’t tend to lend itself well with your traditional decking lumber.
This outdoor sofa would be more appropriate I think in a formal tiled patio setting than adjacent a grill.
6. Build Your Own Sofa by The Shabby Creek Cottage
Gina from the Shabby Creek Cottage has classified her outdoor sofa project as modern, using large wood pieces and sloped backs that are recessed.
The stain that she has chosen though, coupled with the bright striped cushions, lends itself well to a traditional build and look.
Create an Entire Outdoor Seating Area
I love how she has created an entire seating area with the two additional chairs and cushioned table. I would love to have this grace my deck.
7. DIY Outdoor Sectional by Gray House Studio
I am really intrigued by Brent and Courtney’s DIY sofa project. Not only did they create an entire outdoor sectional but they also did it using cedar fence pickets!
This project did take a lot of time and effort to create a final design that matched a pricey sectional they wanted to purchase. Lucky for us they have included the project plans so we can skip right to the easy part.
I say easy but this project does require the use of table saws and miter saws so it might not be the first woodworking project you want to take on. I love how they kept the cedar natural and then paired it with a colorful outdoor rug and cushions.
Pallet Sofas
If you’re looking for a simple and inexpensive option, reusing pallets is a great choice. You can find wood pallets fairly easily – you just need to make sure they are heat treated (stamped with HT).
8. Outdoor Pallet Loveseat by Hello Creative Family
Crystal and her husband at Hello Creative Family have created a small DIY love seat using about six pallets to create the sitting area as well as the arms and back.
He was able to basically assemble the sofa by stacking and arranging the pallets – along with some minor saw work – and then simply fasten it together.
Once the initial assembly was complete, the pallets were sanded and painted and allowed to dry. They did recommend that you complete the final assembly close to the final spot because it will be extremely difficult to move.
9. DIY Beginner’s Pallet Daybed by Lovely Greens
If you’re looking for a DIY outdoor couch project that is great for beginners I suggest you take a look at this pallet outdoor daybed. Tanya Anderson, author of Lovely Greens makes use of a wall on her patio that allows her to forego building backs and arms for the sofa.
Simply nail them together along with some finishing boards along the front and you’re done! Cushions, pillows or even a light mattress are all that is needed to call this project done!
There aren’t a lot of detailed plans and photos, but for an outdoor DIY project this simple you really don’t need them.
10. Sectional Outdoor Sofa by Place of My Taste
Here is another DIY pallet sofa project but it is more detailed and intricate than the two previous examples. Aniko from Place of My Taste also uses an existing deck railing to avoid creating an entire sofa.
While the focus is on reusing pallets, this DIY outdoor sofa design is more ambitious with an L-shape large enough to comfortably seat 5-6 adults.
The pallets themselves were cut down o create a more narrow sectional. Given that this design is larger it does require tie plates and thick supports for legs. Aniko also used a colorful array of cushions along with foam padding to make the seating more comfortable.
Aniko also includes a simple design for a rolling pallet table which really rounds out the design.
References
- Header image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay
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