Build the ultimate garden lounger yourself in just four hours!
- Difficultyeasy
- Cost150 €
- Duration4-5 h
Introduction
If you want to build a lounger but don’t want to spend a lot of time making it, read on.
Search for ‘Build your own wooden garden lounger’, and you’ll find one of two things: either a rectangular plank bed, which are usually quite uncomfortable despite having an adjustable backrest, or an ergonomic wave lounger that is so difficult to build that you need a firm understanding of how to use bevel gauges, squares and overheap joints.
Now for the good news: We’ll show you how to build an ultra-comfortable garden lounger yourself in no time. The model we chose is also suitable for use on the balcony or patio. Our five tips for patio design will help you create the right ambience for your DIY lounger.
Now it’s time to start planning and building your lounger!
- Torx bit set
- g-clamps
- Pencil and string
- Straight edge or similar as a ruler
- sanding block
- folding rule
- 1x three-ply board for the side panels
- 16x frame timbers (250 x 4.4 x 2.4 cm) for approx. 50 slats for the reclining surface
- 1x framing timber (300 x 5.4 x 3.4 cm) for the cross-connections of the side panels
- Stainless steel chipboard screws (60 mm)
- Impregnating pre-treatment
Planning
Building your own garden furniture is not only fun, it also takes you one step closer to creating your dream garden.
However, you always need to plan ahead, even if you’re doing a simple project like building a lounger. In our example, we’ll be making a wooden reclined lounger with a curved frame for added comfort. Because this type of lounger is often found along hiking trails, it is sometimes also called a forest sofa. It is also ideal for relaxing after a sauna, which is why it’s often also referred to as a sauna lounger.
The first step is to find the right type of wood. This always involve a trade-off between weather resistance, workability, weight, cost and, ultimately, availability. The easiest way to build a forest sofa is to use three-ply board. You can get this at your local DIY store in standard spruce (easy to work with), pine (lots of knotholes) and larch (the most expensive). The glued layers make the board very strong and stable, which is why it is ideal for building your own lounger.
One thing you will need to do is to decide on the size and dimensions of your forest sofa. Most reclined loungers are made for people who are 180 cm or shorter. To make it comfortable for people who are taller than that, we choose a total length of 190 cm here.
The lounger should also be sufficiently wide. 80 cm is a good size for a single-person lounger (if you want, you can also design it for two people). The lowest point of the seat should be at least 30 cm above the ground, so that you can get off and on with ease.
Custom-sized cushions
Place the slats for the seat approx. 12 mm apart from each other (use spacers to make sure they’re even). This way you’ll avoid unpleasant pressure points on your back.
The great thing about this wave lounger is that ergonomic comfort is built into the design. Plus, you don’t have to install swivel and folding functions or an adjustable backrest.
Of course, you can also add a few extra features. For example, you can easily attach a simple frame covered in a cloth to the backrest to serve as a sunshade. You have to decide if this is the look you are going for or if you’d rather use a parasol instead.
A small tray attached to the side of the lounger can offer added comfort, too. For example, take a piece of pipe and two clamps and mount a small board on them, Here, you could use the scrap wood left over after cutting the three-ply board. Once you’re done you can place a book or a cup of coffee on it.
Also make sure that the colour of your lounger matches your garden. If you don’t like the look of the varnished wood, you can paint it or, better still, apply a coat of paint using a paint spray system.
Colour combinations are also possible, of course. With the curved lounger described here, it’s best to leave the side panels in their natural wood look and only paint the slats of the seat. Or you can paint the entire lounger in any colour you like.
Let’s get started – step-by-step instructions
You can use these measurements to build your own garden lounger.
Let's go - step by step
Marking and sawing the side panels
At first glance, this looks more difficult than it really is. First, draw a 10 x 10 cm grid with a pencil on your three-ply board. You don’t need to do this across the full length of the board. Up to the 200 cm mark is enough.
Then you’ll need a string and a nail. At the midpoint of M1, draw a semicircle with a radius (= string measure) of 80 cm. This will be the bottom left arch of the lounger. Then do the same around M2, this time with a radius of 65.5 cm. Then draw another semicircle with a radius of 12 cm around M3 using the string measure. Connect the remaining points according to the intersections on your grid.
Next, cut the first side panel using your jigsaw. Make sure to use the right saw blade, in this case a curved saw blade for soft wood. Once you’ve cut the first panel, use it as a template for the second one. Then place both panels on top of each other, use G-clamps to lock them in position and then drill and countersink holes for the connecting slats at the top, centre and bottom (two per slat).
Sanding and oiling the side panels
Break off the edges of the side panels using the sanding block. You can then smooth off the surfaces using a random orbital sander. Our guide to sanding provides information on how to use these tools. Then carefully apply a coat of impregnating pre-treatment.
Connecting the side panels using cross-beams
Now, assemble the base of the garden lounger. To do this, simply connect the frame wood, cut to three pieces of 60 cm each, with the side panels with your pre-drilled holes. Don’t forget to glaze the frame timbers beforehand.
Preparing the slats for the seat
In this step in our guide to building a wave lounger, you’ll be cutting 16 frame timbers down to pieces of 80 cm each. Then cut off all the edges and apply a coat of stain to everything. Next, drill and countersink a hole at the end of each slat using your cordless drill, for example.
Please make sure that the slats are spaced correctly on the base frame. To achieve a consistent look, each hole should be in the centre. Use a simple drilling template to get the best results. If you have a drill stand, use it because the holes will be straight and the slats can be screwed on flat.
Screw the slats onto the base frame.
If you don’t want to spray-paint the lounger, this will be the final step. Once this is complete, your DIY garden lounger is ready to use. Simply start at the top at the back of the head piece and screw on one slat at a time. Make sure that the spacing between the slats is consistent by placing two 1.2 cm thick pieces of wood or other material between them.
That’s it. Now you can relax on your DIY garden lounger.
Additional tips
If you like the style and want to save money, you can also make a wooden garden lounger out of pallets. Check out our tutorial on how to build a pallet sofa with a backrest and handy drawer. You can now buy furniture pallets at your local DIY store for around €30. The main advantage here is that the surface of the wood is planed, making for a more pleasant experience, especially if you are building furniture you will sit on.
If you’re looking for more unusual ideas, you can also build your own garden lounger from bamboo. Fast-growing bamboo has many great properties, including being sustainable and environmentally friendly. Cut into flexible strips, it can be used to easily and flexibly create an ergonomical surface to sit or lay on.
Now that we’re on the topic of beds, why not learn how to build a hanging bed for the garden, or a DIY child’s bed
And if you’re really in the mood, how about making a colourful DIY garden bench, or a garden bar made from pallets .