The next set of plans we’re posting in our series of DIY outdoor chair plans are these simple garden chair plans. These plans are much more of your basic, classic outdoor chair with a little hint of Adirondack mixed in. The seat and back are designed to have a slightly relaxed sitting position, to make them more comfortable for relaxing. These are not really meant to be dining chair due to that slope, though they could easily be adapted by leveling out the seat. The dimensions allow you to add most cushion sets from the big box stores.

When building, if pressure treated wood is used these chairs should last years with minimal care. If you prefer to use untreated lumber a coat of paint or stain every few years will help preserve them.  You could also use a wood like cedar and these chairs will age and get more beautiful naturally over the years.  Each chair should only take about two hours to build.

Materials Needed

• 1 – 1×6 (or 5/4 x 6 deck board) at 6’ for armrests
• 3 – 1×4 at 8’ for slats
• 3 – 2×4 at 8’ for legs and frame
• exterior wood glue
• sander and/or sandpaper
• 2 1/2″ exterior wood screws
• 1 1/2” exterior wood screws
• 2 1/2″ exterior pocket hole screws
• stain or paint as desired

Tools

• Miter Saw or circular saw
• Jig saw or bandsaw
• Drill/Driver 
• Pocket hole jig
  • There are several options from Kreg you can choose from based on your budget and how much you plan on using it:
    • Kreg 720 pro on the high end
    • Kreg 520 jig with face clamp
    • Kreg 320 jig on the low end
• Square
• Tape Measure
• Quick-grip bar clamps (optional)
• A right-angle clamp comes in handy when doing pocket holes too

Step 1: Cut all of the parts

Let’s start by cutting all of the parts needed in these DIY simple garden chair plans. We’ll list the square cut pieces, the boards for the legs and armrests are shown in the diagram below. All of the pieces are cut from 2x4s unless otherwise noted.

• 2 – 22″ boards for seat slat supports
• 2 – 22 1/4” pieces for front legs (see diagram below)
• 2 – 26 1/2” pieces for back legs (see diagram below)
• 2 – 30” pieces for backrest (see diagram below)
• 1 – 20” piece for top of backrest
• 9 – 23” boards from 1x4s for seat slats
• 2 – 20” boards from 1x4s for the front two seat slats.
• 2 – 28” boards from 1x6s for the armrests (see diagram in Step 3)

Step 2: Assemble the legs

After cutting the six boards for the legs, you’ll need to drill two pocket holes on the 30” and 26 1/2” boards as shown in the diagram below. Remember that you want the pocket holes to be on the inside of these frames so they are hidden. That means you’ll drill them on different sides of the boards for the left and right frames. Using 2 1/2” exterior pocket hole screws and your right angle clamp, screw the leg boards together as illustrated below.

Step 3: Cut the taper and rounding of the armrests.

The next step in these DIY simple garden chair plans is to cut the armrests and attach them. These armrests can be made from either 1×6 boards, or standard deck boards which are 1 1/4” thick. Use the two pieces you cut to 28” long in Step 1, then follow the diagram below to create the rounded front, the taper, and the cutout for the backrest.

Step 4: Attach the armrests and seat slat supports

Now that you’ve cut the armrests for your garden chair, it’s time to attach them. Predrill the holes, and use two 2 1/2” wood screws into the front legs and two into the backrest supports.

After the armrests are attached, it’s time to attach the seat slat supports. Take the 22” boards and attach them 3/4” back from the front edge of the front leg, 9 3/8” off the ground in the front. To get a comfortable 5° slope to the seat, attach the back corner at 7 3/4” from the ground. Use two 2 1/2” exterior wood screws in the front and two in the back.

Note: that the top of the front leg will not be parallel to the ground. You want to lay the armrest flat on the top of this front leg and let it follow that angle into the backrest support.

Step 5: Attach the back support top, and front slats

Step 8: Attach the seat and back slats

The final construction step in these garden chair plans is to attach the nine 23” 1×4 slats. Use the 1 1/2” exterior wood screws to screw these slats into the 2×4 supports. For a cleaner finished look make certain the slats are evenly spaced and that the screws are all in straight lines.

Step 9: Sand and finish

Now that the assembly is complete, it’s time to give this garden chair a good sanding. You don’t want your guests getting splinters! If you used non-treated lumber, take the time to add a coat of paint or outdoor stain to help it stand up to the elements. Now add some cushions, then sit back and enjoy your handiwork!

If you have comments or question, please feel free to connect with us via the comments section below or use our Contact Form.  We love the feedback!  Also, don’t forget to check out our other free DIY furniture plans.

Don’t forget to show off your work in our Share Your Build section. We truly appreciate it when people share their work and let us know how our plans turned out for others.

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