DIY Outdoor Sofa Full Tutorial
The moment you have all been waiting for! The DIY outdoor sofa tutorial. First, I want to say thank you to everyone who has commented and given me such positive feedback on the sofas! I can’t express how much your support means to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! This DIY modern outdoor sofa is a fairly easy DIY project that will elevate your outdoor space and give you a great place to relax! Now, onto the highly requested outdoor sofa plans! The best part is they are free plans 😉
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DIY Outdoor Sofa Tutorial
First things first. In order to build my outdoor sofa, you are going to need lumber. When I originally built our patio furniture, my local hardware store did not carry the 6×6 timbers I used for the sides of the sofa aka the arms. So I purchased mine from a local lumber yard. I have since seen 6x6s at Home Depot.
I should also mention that I ordered all of the wood for the outdoor furniture pieces (the two sofas and the dining table) at the same time and had it delivered because a) all that lumber would not fit in my Honda Fit 😉 and B) those timbers are pretty heavy. For one sofa you will need the following items to build the couch as I did.
All lumber sizes are noted as common sizes in inches x inches x feet.
DIY Outdoor Sofa Supply List
3 – 6x6x10 Timbers*
2 – 2x8x12 Boards
1 – 12in Sliding Miter Saw
8 – 2x6in L Angle Brackets
1pk – #8 1 1/4in construction screws
1pk – GRK 5/16in x 5-1/8in Structural Screws
1 – 3/4 in Spade Drill Bit
1 – Impact Driver and Drill **
1 – Impact Driver Extender
1 – Belt Sander
1 – Orbital Sander
1gal – PPG Timeless Semi Solid Exterior Stain in Chestnut Brown
1 – Speed Square
1 – Tape Measure
1 – Safety Glasses
1 – Work Gloves
3 – Deep Seat Outdoor Cushions
3 – Outdoor Back Cushions
Decorative Pillows
Note, this picture is all the wood I used to build the dining table and both sofas. I originally wanted to build an outdoor bench as well but decided against it. I ordered sizes that minimized the waste based on this. If you choose to build more than just one sofa, it might be more cost effective to purchase different lengths.
*I used smooth swan Douglas fir timbers. Mine were not pressure treated, however, I do recommend using pressure treated wood. This was the biggest mistake I made on this project because our wood has since produced sap. I have been able to clean it with a wet rag once it dries but I am looking for a more permanent solution.
**Make sure both your impact driver and your drill each have fully charged batteries and have an extra standing by if possible. You will need them.
Know before you build
If you are not an experienced builder you may not be familiar with wood sizing. Common wood sizes such as a 6×6 are not actually 6 inches by 6 inches, they are 5.5 inches by 5.5 inches. If you prefer a smaller size like a love seat or a larger size like an outdoor sectional sofa, you will need to account for this in your measurements. Always double check the actual dimensions of your lumber before making cuts.
Step 1
Cut the 6x6s to size. You will need to cut the 6x6s into 8 pieces, each 32 inches long. These will be the side pieces or the sofa arms. I used my 12 inch miter saw to cut these but the blade is not large enough to cut all the way through in one pass. So if you are in the same boat, you will have to rotate the wood until the blade goes all the way through.
Below is a video clip of how I cut ours. This will not produce a perfect cut, however, you will be sanding them a lot if you want to achieve the same look I have.
You will not be able to make this cut with a circular saw unless you have access to a timber circular saw. A circular saw will come close, depending on the size of your blade, but even after rotating you will still have a little bit leftover that you will need to cut with a hand saw or reciprocating saw.
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How to cut a 6×6 timber with a 12 inch
Step 2
Measure and cut the 2x8s for the seat base and the back of the sofa. I HIGHLY recommend purchasing your sofa cushions before starting this step. I used these seat cushions and back pillows. If you choose different cushions, you will need to adjust your measurements to accommodate the size of the cushions. This is why you should have the cushions on hand prior to making any cuts in this step.
Based on the size of my seat cushions (22w x 24d), I cut the 2x8s to 67 inches long. You will need three 2x8s that will span the entire couch for center support and one 2×8 for the back support, all cut to the same length.
Step 3
Sand all the wood smooth. I used my orbital sander on the flat surfaces of the pieces of wood and the timbers.
Then I sanded all the edges of the timbers with a belt sander to create a bevel. This can also be achieved with a router, but when I built these I did not have one.
I wish I could say this was a quick sand but it was not. This part was far from fun but gave the pieces a lot more character in my opinion. If you have never used a belt sander before I highly recommend you practice on some scrap wood first. They are pretty powerful and can damage your wood quickly if you are not careful.
Step 4
Attaching your timbers for the sofa arms. This part is a little tricky, so pay attention. I attached the timbers for the arms with screws, but before you drill any holes, determine the orientation you want for your wood. Meaning, if not all your pieces look the same on all sides or have a blemish you don’t want seen, stack them up the way you want to see them. Then when you are satisfied, flip each piece upside down and number them on the bottom so you remember the order.
You will be drilling holes to attach the pieces from the bottom side of each block. This way none of the screws or holes will be seen when fully assembled.
To begin, use the 3/4 inch spade drill bit to drill 4 staggered holes into block two about 3 inches deep (I actually measured mine every time so they would be the same). Remember, these are all upside down right now so you are drilling into the bottom of piece 2.
Word of caution. These timbers are pretty heavy duty and take some serious force to drill into. Wear gloves and hold onto your drill tight so it doesn’t pull you unexpectedly or swing around and hit you. As I mentioned above, you will need a fully charged battery for your drill as this drains the battery pretty quick.
Now stack block two (still upside down) onto block one (also upside down). Make sure all edges are lined up and it is positioned to your liking. Then use the GRK screws to attach the two pieces. Since the holes are drilled 3 inches deep, your screw will go through block two into block one securing them together. Note, if you choose to use different screws to attach the blocks, you may have to drill different size holes.
I chose to use the GRK screws because they are an alternative to lag screws. The entire sofa is fairly heavy and lag screws are usually the best way, but because of the depth, these were a better idea and easier to work with.
I found the impact driver to work best for this part since you are driving the screw through 5 1/8 inches of wood, about 2 1/2 inches on each block.
From a diagram perspective, this is what you are ultimately doing.
Once you have attached block two to block one, drill your holes in block three making sure to stagger them so they DO NOT line up with the holes you drilled in block two. To avoid confusion, I only drilled holes into one block at a time.
Once you have drilled the holes, stack block three on top of block two and use the screws to attach them as you did above. Repeat with the remaining block four.
When you have attached all the arm pieces only the bottom piece will have holes that can be seen from the underside. The top piece will not have any holes or screws visible.
Once all the blocks are attached you can flip the arm over and repeat for the second arm.
Step 5
Stain all the wood. I used an exterior deck stain to seal and stain the wood. This particular wood stain applied like a stain but cleaned up like a water based paint with just soap and water. A HUGE plus in my book.
I used the stain version of my favorite brush to apply the stain. And I used Dawn dish soap and a paint brush comb to clean my brush when I was done. Although this stain was not super smelly, I stained the pieces in the garage on some folding tables I had in the basement.
I applied one liberal coat to all sides and allowed 24 hrs of dry time on each side. BTW, please don’t judge me for our messy garage! The garage is on our list of spaces to overhaul someday, but for some reason it’s not high on my priority list, haha! 🙂
Step 6
Assembly. Note, these sofas are VERY heavy! I HIGHLY recommend assembling them where they will sit permanently. I made the mistake of building the first sofa in the garage and then I had to enlist a few people to help move it to the backyard. So the second sofa was assembled in place on the patio.
Lay each arm on the ground next to each other and lay out the support brackets for the seat slats. In the photo below, the inside timbers are the bottoms of each arm. I attached the brackets just above the bottom timber based on the height of my cushions. You will also want to consider the total depth of your cushions when spacing the brackets. The placement of each bracket should be the same on the right arm and the left arm. If not, your sofa will be crooked. This means measure them 🙂
I used #8 1 1/4in construction screws to attach the brackets.
Once the brackets are attached to each arm, stand them up and use a scrap piece of wood to prop them up. You will need to be able to lay underneath the sofa to attach the seat supports.
Then lay three 2x8s across the brackets. Make sure everything is straight and square. Also, the distance from the edge of the front 2×8 to the edge of the back 2×8 should equal the depth of your cushions. Once everything is lined up, lay on the ground under the sofa and attach the brackets to the bottom of the seat supports with the same screws used above.
For this part, I sat on the boards to keep them in place while Barry screwed them in from underneath.
Attaching the back slats is very similar, but I HIGHLY suggest placing your seat cushions and sitting on your sofa before deciding where to put the back support, which is exactly what I did.
Once I felt comfortable with it, I attached the first bracket with one screw not fully tightened straight up and down. By doing this, I could hold up the 2×8 and swing the bracket back and forth to help decide what angle to use. This was a two person job so I do not have photos. Theoretically, you could leave them straight, but I wanted a more lounge like feel.
Once I decided on a slight angle, I used the speed square to position each bracket at the same angle. I used a 35 degree angle. Then I attached the last 2×8 back piece to the brackets. You can use any degree angles you would like or none at all.
To save yourself some headache, I do recommend drilling pilot holes for the brackets so none of the wood splits.
Step 7
The last piece of this build step is to add cushions and pillows for those finishing touches! I purchased pre-made cushions because my sewing skills are sub par at best, but you could definitely do custom cushions or pillows.
Step 8
Final step! Sit back, relax, and have a great time enjoying your very own outdoor sofa! This modern outdoor couch is the perfect addition to your outdoor living space and a great way to get started with DIY. With mostly basic tools and solid wood you can have your own DIY sofa that definitely won’t blow away in the wind!
This modern design was inspired by a high end version sold by Restoration Hardware. I couldn’t afford to buy it for $20k so I found away to make it! The total cost to build was about $230 a sofa. Now I have a beautiful modern sofa with clean lines to soak up the summer on my back porch. The perfect place to enjoy good friends and food!
Check out the full reveal of the Backyard Makeover with source list here. You can also make the matching Outdoor Dining Table with Full Tutorial here. Curious how my DIY Outdoor Sofas are holding up? Check out my two year update and frequently asked questions here.
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This post, DIY Outdoor Sofa Full Tutorial, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.
Thank you! How much did all the lumbar for one sofa cost? Thanks!
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for stopping by! We bought all of the lumber for both sofas and the matching dining table at the same time, but if I break it down per sofa, it was about $230 in lumber. Still substantially less than the original RH inspiration 🙂 Hope that helps!
How large were your seat cushions? 24″x24″?
I linked the cushions we used above. They are 22wx24d 😉
Hey Lisa! I see the link for the pillows but it doesn’t show one for the cushions. Am I missing something?? these look FAB by the way!!!
Thank you so much Molly! I did link the seat cushions and the back pillows at the beginning of the post with the list of supplies (last two links) but it looks like the color we have is sold out.
Therese are beautiful. Did you add any support to the 3 seat boards? Are they sturdy enough with that span?
Thank you so much Cathy! No, there are not any additional supports under the seat but they are quite sturdy. We just had people over last night and had 3 grown adults on each sofa with no problem.
Great job! Looks classic and comfortable.
Thank you so much! 🙂
Dis you end up solving the pine sap problem? How do they look after fall and winter?
It is still winter here. We get snow through May so they are still covered. We were able to wipe the sap off with a damp cloth, but ultimately decided to wait on the matter until after winter since we may need to re-stain them anyway.
What are the dimension of your seat back cushions?
Would 4×4’s work?
No. I do not recommend using 4x4s. They are not substantial enough to construct the sofa in the manner I have outlined in my tutorial.
Thank you so much for the help making this. I’m at the half way point. Thanks for the tip to pick cushions first. I also purchase the Lil ones you posted. Love your style.
You’re welcome and thank you so much! 😊 I’m so glad you like it!
Can I use 6x6x8 instead of 6x6x10?
Hi Ashley! The length you choose will depend on how many cuts you want to get out of each 6×6. We used longer pieces because we built two sofas and a table and the longer pieces were better pricing per foot.
Love this so much!! Do you feel as though the height of it is tall enough/comfortable? Or would you make it higher sitting if you did it again? Like with 5 blocks on each side instead of 4 maybe?
Thank you so much 🙂 I was originally concerned about the height as well, but our cushions are thick enough that it is not an issue. If you choose thinner cushions, 5 tiers might be a better choice.
Hi Lisa- can you please let me know where you bought you lumber from? Was it online? Thanks so much
We purchased our lumber from a local lumber yard here in Colorado.
are the cushions on the bottom supported somehow? I feel like if you sat down overtime the cushion would slide through the back between the back support?
No, they are not and this does happen. We have definitely considered adding a piece of wood to the back to prevent this.
Hi,
Did you make the cushions yourself?
Thanks
No, they were purchased from Target.
We are starting our outdoor couches. So excited .Thankyou for pointing this out.We have rambunctious GKs..lol
We ended up using brown-treated wood and it looks fab! We also added an additional 6×6 on the bottom as it’s a little low and tough to get of over 40 😉
Has anyone made a coffee table to match? I wanted to used our tabletop fireplace in one….
I’m so glad it worked out for you! I haven’t seen a coffee table yet, but I bet it wouldn’t be too hard. I’d love to see it if you end up making one 😉
Kirsti, do you have a picture of yours?
So it looks like the back support wood isn’t very high/supportive. Any issues leaning back on the sofa and it not being tall enough? If so, what would you do differently?
We have not had any issues but we are also not accustomed to sitting in high back chairs.
I had this same thought, we’re tall and like to rest our shoulders. If you altered the design to accommodate the back height, I’d loved to know how you did it! I was thinking either adding one more bracket and back rail up top of their current design. if not enough space than that with the help of an additional side arm, but I felt the profile would be much bulkier. And this seems to be the best I’ve seen…Hmm!
Hi there I was curious the
Total amount approximately spent on this project?
We made them over a six week time span along with the dining table and other backyard improvements as a part of the One Room Challenge.
Where did you purchase the rug
The rug is from Target. It was part of the Dwell Studio Collection but I purchased it several years ago.
Hi, could you please tell me what the sizes/numbers are in, centimeteres, inches, feet? Is it 6 inches x 6 inches x10 feet Timbers? And
2 inches x 8 inches x 12 feet Boards?
Yes Andrew, that is correct!
Beautiful!!!
I have a question on your “no” to 4 x 4’s. I see alot of diy sofas made out of 2 x 4’s. What makes the 4 x 4’s not substantial enough? Thank you so much!
Thank you! I appreciate that 😉 If you wish you make this sofa per my instructions here, I do not recommend 4x4s for this design. This is because of the method we used to attach them and the amount of surface area you loose with a 4×4. Other projects using 2x4s are not the same design I have outlined here.
Is there a reason you did not use a router to bevel the edge and sanded them down?
We don’t have a router. If you do, I am sure that would be easier 😉
What grit sandpaper did you use ?
I’m sorry if you answered this already. What are the measurements from the seat to the top of the back? I have high back cushions and I wanted to see if I needed to add a 5th arm rest and a 2nd back board.
The measurement from the seat to the top back will depend on how thick of a seat cushion you use, as your back cushions should sit on top of the seat cushion. With no cushions, the top of our seat is 15 inches from the top of the back. The top of our back cushions are not flush with the back rest though. I hope that helps 😉
What grit sandpaper did you use? Did you start with a coarse grit and work up to a fine grain? Or go straight to fine? Thanks!
To create the bevel I used 80 grit, and the rest I used 120 grit.
How sturdy this design is? I love the idea but are wondering if maybe I should use thicker boards and bigger brackets and screws. I am on the heavier side (weight) and want to make sure it will support me and others.
I am also considering making them longer seating area, if I do that should I add support in the middle?
Great job and ideas
I am glad you like it 🙂 It has worked out very well for us and we have not had any issues. I am not an engineer so I cannot speak to the specific amount of weight it can hold. The longer the span of the center supports for the seat, the weaker it will be. You could try using 2x10s or 2x12s with additional brackets for the seat, but I am not sure how much additional weight that would allow for.
Would you make this for purchase, fully assembled with cushions?? There’s no way we could ever build and it’s beautiful!
Thank you so much! I am glad you like it. I do not sell these. I create for my home and teach others how to duplicate. Many readers have made these sofas. Just take your time and I promise you can you do it 😉
Just finished our two sofas and dining table!! Took 4 people and 5 days but we did it! Made some small adjustments to the sofas to allow for a second back rest. And made the table longer to allow for a little wider chairs. Thanks so much for the amazing tutorials!!
That’s wonderful to hear! I am so glad they were helpful. Just in time to enjoy for summer 😉
Hi Lisa , we made this sofa last year ! It’s gorgeous!! But many of our 6x6s have split .. have you found this to be an issue with yours ?
Wood naturally splits in the sun over time, but how much will depend on your climate. We have definitely has some splitting but not a lot. I re-stained ours last year and added a coat of spar urethane. If yours is splitting a lot, it may not be sealed well.
love this cheap simple eye catching great work
Why did you cut the 6 x 6 at 32″ and not 30″? the 10ft lumber will only yield 3 pieces @ 32″. Can I use a 12′ post and cut at 36″ or 10 ft at 30″?
When I built this I had enough lumber delivered to build two sofas and a dinning table, so my allocation between 10 ft pieces was a little different. Assuming your cushions still work with 30 inches you could do that. I would make the decision based on the size of your cushions though.
how are the L brackets used to support the span on the couch holding up? wouldn’t it be stronger to mount them inversely like L brackets used for shelving?
I did not want to see the brackets hanging down. So far we have not had any issues, but these particular bracket are very heavy duty.
This is a beautiful design! I am interested in converting to a sectional. Any advice?
Thank you so much! I would really have to think on that one. You will definitely need some extra supports in there, thats for sure!
Thank you loads for the detailed plans. These are gorgeous! We have an outdoor raised deck – do you think one sofa and one chair would be too heavy?
I copied your design and tweaked it. Now everyone who finds out I built them wants a set.
I raised the seat higher and raised the back using 2 boards. Also I used hockey pucks on the bottom to allow water passage. All pressure treated wood with darkest stain I could get.
My pillows are light so they blow over when a bird farts lol. Always picking them up.
When birds fart, lol! Thank you so much for sharing! I am glad they have been well received 🙂
Bud would you please post your exact measurements etc… for the couch you built with the modifications? Thank you.
A 10 foot 6×6 cedar is currently 215$ in Canada so that makes this a no go I think.
Oh wow, I don’t blame you! They are 1/4 of that here.
Love these cushions so much!! Could you share the links please? The hyperlink in the post isn’t working?
If they no longer exists, could you share the size of the back cushions? I’ll try to find something similar online
I originally purchased the cushions at Target. The seat cushions are 22wx24d and the back pillows are 22×22. Target usually carries a similar version each year when they are in season.