Make an Outdoor Sofa

Edited by Maria Quinney, Eng

I would like to thank Home Made Modern for the awesome video on How to DIY Make an Outdoor Sofa. I organized it into a wiki for anyone with a hearing impairment, or for those who just prefer to read the steps. Hope you enjoy it. :)

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Steps

  1. 1
    Today we're going to make an outdoor sofa
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas3 966281.jpg
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  2. 2
    I made the sides of the Sofa out of 2 4x8s
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas9 692721.jpg
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  3. 3
    The bottom and the back are made out of 2x8s
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas12 08832.jpg
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  4. 4
    I used L-Brackets to hold everything together
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas16 158929.jpg
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  5. 5
    I bought outdoor cushions from IKEA
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    I don't remember their names there is something weird in Swedish, but you can find out on my website.
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas19 99657.jpg
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  6. 6
    To start, take the 8ft long 4x8 and cut them into 3 32inch long pieces
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    The easiest way to do this with the Compound Miter Saw.
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas33 888046.jpg
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If you don't have the compound Miter Saw you can do it using the circular saw. You just have to make two paths because they're so thick.

  1. 1
    Next, cut the 2x8 to length, as their length must equal the length of the three sofa cushions combined
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas62 288564.jpg
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  2. 2
    Sand each piece of wood that you've cut with an orbital sander
    .
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas67 484005.jpg
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  3. 3
    To be able to screw the 4x8 blocks together and as it is hard to find screws that are long enough to go all the way through, so you need to drill large holes about half way through the 4x8
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas72 992443.jpg
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  4. 4
    Then you can take a Lag Screw and screw through the bottom of these holes and into the other 4x8
    .
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas90 914026.jpg
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  5. 5
    I used a socket attachment on the driver to drive the lag screws through the bottom of the hole and into the bottom of the 4x8
    .
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas117 257769.jpg
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  6. 6
    "Now with my previous indoor Sofa project I just biscuits and glue to hold them together, but since it's going to be outside I didn't really trust the glue against the element, so that's why I ended up using Lag screws to hold these all together
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    Basically, the concept is the same, I am going to make a panel that's three pieces of wood tall".
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas118 953438.jpg
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  7. 7
    Now that the two side panels out of 4x8 are done, you need to screw the L-Brackets and add in the 2x8 and the Sofa is finished
    .
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas130 259376.jpg
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  8. 8
    Lay out the L-Bracket so that the bottom of them would align with the same between the 4x8
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas142 714816.jpg
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  9. 9
    Lay in the 2x8 and then screw up through the L-Brackets and into the 2x8 to fasten it all together
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    "It's probably a little bit easier to assemble it upside down but I wanted to see how it will look as if it put together, that's why I did it this way".
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas154 201867.jpg
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  10. 10
    For the back piece, and to have a slight angle you need to measure it with a speed square
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas175 578329.jpg
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  11. 11
    And that's to make sure that you have both angle-brackets at the right angle
    .
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas179 472297.jpg
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  12. 12
    The Sofa looks pretty good as it is but since it's going to go outside so eventually the sun will make the wood pretty gray so better to stain it gray with a mini wax product
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas194 881168.jpg
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  13. 13
    Apply the stain and leave it for 20 minutes before you wipe off the excess stain with a clean rug
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    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas200 72904.jpg
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  14. 14
    Once the stain is fully dry throw on the cushions test it up
    .
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas209 50045.jpg
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  15. 15
    For more detailed instruction check on my website
    :
    \\homemade-modern.com.
    How to make an Outdoor Sofa---LmKf8JOvrmY.mp4-canvas215 14299.jpg
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  16. 16
    If you want to see what I am working on next, just follow me on social media
    .
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  17. 17
    And if you have in already be sure to hit the subscribe button
    .
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Video: Make an Outdoor Sofa

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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Categories : Home Improvement | Arts & Crafts

Recent edits by: Maria Quinney

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