DIY Outdoor Sofa
Jenni Jarvis • April 22, 2021
Outdoor Sofa
While sitting outside at the table on the deck, I looked over to the other side and imagined getting an outdoor sofa for a little extra seating and lounging. Once I had the vision, I couldn't get it out of my head and had to find a way to make it happen. I thought it would be as simple as ordering an outdoor sofa, but once I started shopping around, I couldn't believe how expensive pieces like this were! Everything was around $1,000 or more! Our deck is entirely un-covered, so the idea of leaving it out in the open at that price didn't appeal to me, so I found a way to make one myself!
Your Base
I looked at different sets of free plans on Pinterest and eventually landed on this design by Angela Marie Made. Basically, I built the frame to fit my cushions. I knew I wanted something large--3 wide, so I had to adjust some of her measurements. I learned lots of new things along the way, including making invisible pocket holes! I bought a single Kreg pocket hold jig for around $20. You have to use a separate clamp with it and it's definitely more tedious than a more expensive jig, but it got the job done.
I also cut everything with my hand saw. I am no expert at woodworking, but it was an easy-enough project for me to complete, but it was definitely a challenge and I also used my parents for a couple extra hands. I was going to use cedar, but I ended up buying pine because with wood prices being sky-high right now, I didn't want to spend that much. Also, if I messed up something, I didn't want to feel too guilty.
I won't share my plans, because I literally went by Angela Marie's and they are much better than anything I could show you. The only thing I left off was the decorative side rails on the arms. I just kept mine simple. It's sturdy and very comfy with the cushions. I also added an extra support under the cushions on the sides of the middle one, so they won't fall down into the frame when you sit on it.
Finishing
I sanded everything with my electric sander after it was put together. You could also do it before. I wanted the look of cedar, so I found a reddish stain + sealer by Thompson's and I love how it turned out.
Cushions
I originally built my frame to fit 24x24" cushions, but ended up finding these Allen + Roth cushions
at Lowe's that were 25x25". It actually worked better having the cushions fit tighter, so I'm glad I found these cushions. I also picked up these adorable throw pillows at Walmart for $5 each!
Seating Area
I pulled everything together with this 5x7 black and white striped rug by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart for $49.98. I just love how it turned out and want to build another bench!
Pin for Later!
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I can't remember the first example of fluted wood furniture I saw, but it was probably either this gorgeous custom wood bathroom vanity from Chris Loves Julia , or the DIY fluted coffee table Fariha shared on Pennies for a Fortune . The custom cabinetry was done professionally using a router for each line, which isn't something I possess the skills to do. This did help inspire the colors I used in our bathroom remodel, though! I really connected to the method Fariha used to build the coffee table--wooden dowels. What a fabulous idea!
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