Skip to Content

5 DIY Outdoor Sofas to Build for your Deck or Patio

Outdoor furniture is expensive, but building your own is simple! Here are 5 DIY outdoor sofas you can customize to fit your deck or patio.

 collage of DIY outdoor sofa images with text overlay

Spring is finally here, and that means summer is just around the corner! Our deck is one of our favorite spots to hang out, and I've been scouring the internet checking out DIY outdoor sofas to make it a relaxing retreat.

You'd be surprised how easy it is to build an outdoor couch, and you'll save a bundle too! These are my five favorite DIY sofa and couch plans to get you started.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Purchases made through these links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please visit my disclosures page for more information.

We had our deck rebuilt a few months after we moved in, and stained it after letting it weather for six months. We bought a cheap IKEA table and chairs, and received a fabulous grill from my in-laws as a house warming gift.

But we didn't have a spot to kick up our feet and relax with a good book. I don't want another summer to go by without a comfy outdoor couch, so I'm started my building plan search early.

empty deck before building DIY outdoor sofa

We have enough space in this corner for two outdoor sofas, or a small sectional. Cushions are usually the most expensive part of outdoor furniture, so keep your eyes open for deals over the winter (I scored mine on clearance!) Then build your DIY outdoor couch to fit!

I compiled a list of DIY outdoor sofa plans that are easy enough for a beginner to tackle. There are so many fabulous ideas here, I'm having a hard time deciding which one is my favorite!


2 x 4 Outdoor Couch by Ana White

2x4 outdoor couch with cushions

Ana White's plans create a fairly simple DIY outdoor sofa that can be built quickly. This 2x4 outdoor couch is made of cedar, which is weather resistant and extra sturdy when kiddos are jumping on it! 

There is also a DIY outdoor sectional version of the same sofa, or get my DIY outdoor loveseat plans in the woodworking plans library if you need a smaller size.


Reed Sofa by The Design Confidential

DIY outdoor sofa plans

I love the angled back on the Reef Sofa from The Design Confidential. A slanted back support would be much more comfortable for lounging purposes. The slats on the arms would also help keep pillows from falling out during impromptu outdoor naps!


Planked Outdoor Loveseat by Rogue Engineer

DIY outdoor sofa with cushions and varied colors on arm rests

How gorgeous is this planked wood loveseat from Rogue Engineer? It would be pretty easy to stretch this out to a full sized outdoor couch, and would add a nice pop of color on the deck.


Modular DIY Sectional Outdoor Sofa by More Like Home

DIY outdoor sectional sofa

If I go the sectional route, a modular DIY outdoor sofa like this beauty from More Like Home would be perfect. It would be easy to add more sections if we decide to make it bigger, and we can even use the armless sections as extra chairs at the table for guests!


Weatherly Outdoor Sofa by Ana White

white DIY outdoor sofa with blue cushions

And finally, we're back to another Ana White build. I'm drooling over her Weatherly outdoor sofa, which also includes sectional sofa plans! I would probably leave off the finials so no one impales themselves after a few too many drinks. 🙂 But the X design is truly eye-catching.


All of these DIY outdoor couch ideas would look great on your deck or patio! Which one is your favorite?

Joel

Monday 14th of May 2018

I should have done this before, but I was having a hard time with the decking boards. Thank you for sharing your ideas. I will note this!

Heather

Monday 1st of May 2017

These sofa designs are gorgeous and add so much style and comfort to an already eye-catching deck. Thanks for sharing!

Make Your Own Outdoor Sofa and Loveseat - The Handyman's Daughter

Monday 13th of March 2017

[…] month I wrote about five options for outdoor sofas I was considering building for our deck. In the end, I went with the first couch […]

Woodworker Oliver

Wednesday 1st of March 2017

Hey Vineta,

Looks interesting! I'd like to make my patio looks like this soon. Very inspiring--love all those! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Oliver

Jessica

Sunday 26th of February 2017

Vineta, is there is a specific kind of wood that you advise for an outdoor sofa in cold/rainy weather?

Vineta

Sunday 26th of February 2017

Cedar is definitely the go-to wood for outdoors because it won't rot, and it's easy to find at home improvement stores. The outdoor sofa and loveseat I built out of cedar have been sitting out for the entire rainy Seattle winter and still look brand new!

Comments are closed.