I’ve been wanting an outdoor sectional for years now, but they’re all thousands of dollars. And that’s just not a price I want to pay for something that is never going to last forever anyways!
So I worked up the courage to build my own completely out of cedar 2x4s, and I’m going to teach you how you can build one too, cut list and all! So you can save your money and enjoy your own outdoor oasis!
HOW I BUILT THIS SIMPLE OUTDOOR SECTIONAL (AND HOW YOU CAN TOO)
First I determined what cushions I wanted and what size sectional could fit on my patio. I came to the conclusion that my sectional could take up a footprint of 97.5″ x 77.5″. That would get me 4 seat cushions across the back and 2 additional seat cushions on the side.
Here’s what I ordered…
- Cushions from Amazon – the exact ones I purchased are currently sold out, but click here for a very similar alternative.
- Pillows from Ballard Designs
- 18 2x4x8 Cedar Boards (maybe grab 20 just in case you mess up a cut or two!)
- 2.5″ Exterior Pocket Hole Screws
- 2.5″ Exterior Wood Screws
Here are the tools you need…
- Kreg Pocket Hole Jig
- Miter Saw
- Drill
- Sander
- Tape Measure
Here are my overall dimensions…
- Overall: 97.5″ x 77.5″
- Seat depth: 28″
- Seat depth with cushion: 25″
- Floor to seat height: 14.75″
- Floor to seat with cushion: 19.75″
- Leg height: 11″
- Floor to top of back: 30″
- Base: 96″ x 28″, 28″ x 24″, 28″ x 24″ ottoman
- Back: 97.5″ x 30″, 52.25″ x 30″
And here is my 2×4 cut list…
- 2 x 8′
- 15 x 24.75″
- 12 x 11″
- 18 x 21.5″
- 4 x 24″
- 4 x 30″
- 3 x 90.5″
- 3 x 45″
Start By Building Your Seat Bases
I started with my long base. This contains 2 8′ boards, 5 24.75″ boards (all with pocket holes on the back – 2 on each side), and 12 21.5″ boards to act as slats. These also have 2 pocket holes on the back – 2 per side. Use your Kreg pocket hole jig set to 1.5″ thick wood to drill your holes!
Connect your 2 8′ boards with 2 of your 24.75″ boards to create a rectangle.
Then measure out and add your remaining 3 24.75″ boards evenly in the center to provide support, leaving 21.5″ of space between each.
Lastly, install your slats flush with the top of your base frame! All with 2.5″ exterior pocket hole screws.
Repeat these steps to build your small side and ottoman using 2 24″ boards, 2 24.75″ boards, and 3 21.5″ slat boards each. You’re basically building two smaller rectangles here.
Now Build & Attach Your Legs
I added 3 legs to the longer base and 1 leg to the side base. Each leg has 2 11″ sides and are connected by a 24.75″ board on the bottom. All secured with pocket hole screws hidden on the backs!
Once built, screw your small side base into the main base on the lefthand or righthand side, depending on your preference! I used 2.5″ exterior wood screws for this.
Build & Attach Your Backs
Now you’re going to build your backs! The longer back uses 2 30″ boards and 3 90.5″ boards. Build a flat rectangle secured with pocket hole screws. Then add your 3rd 90.5″ board 14″ from the top of the bottom board.
The smaller side back uses 2 30″ boards and 3 45″ boards. Repeat the instructions from above to assemble this! Then screw in the smaller side back using 2.5″ exterior wood screws straight into the base, making sure its FLUSH with the longer base BEFORE the longer back is installed.
Once the smaller back is installed on the side, install the longer back. It should be flush with the armless side & cover the raw edge of the smaller side back.
Add An Arm, Sand, & Finish!
This is an armless build, but feel free to use some scrap wood to build arms if you’d like! I ended up doing this. I also sanded mine down with medium grit sandpaper and cleaned it off before adding my cushions and pillows.
My total cost breakdown was $342 for wood and $486 for cushions for a total of $828. Still thousands under my inspo piece!
Don’t forget to make it your own! Now that you know all the steps… think you’ll try building this on on your own??
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