This piece continues our Chesapeake Collection and takes it to a whole new level! Yay for outdoor lounging! I need to get myself a bigger backyard so I can build myself a resort style outdoor room. The fabulous thing about this chaise lounge is that it is so beautiful, you can use it without a cushion if you prefer. I did construct it according to the Potterybarn dimensions so that their cushions and other standard lounge cushions will fit and work well.
If you prefer a chaise lounge that is twice the size, try our Free DIY Furniture Plans to Build a Chesapeake Double Lounger
$25-$50
- 6 – 1×2 at 8’
- 9 – 1×3 at 8’
- 2 – 1×6 at 10’
- 1 – 1×8 at 6’ – optional for wheels
- 1 – 2×2 at 8’
- 1 – 2×4 at 6’
- 1 – 3/4” Dowel at 3’
- 1-1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
- 2-1/2″ Pocket Hole Screws
- 1-1/4″ Wood Screws
- 2 – 8” wheels optional
- Axle Rod – will need to be cut to size at 29″
- Rubber Stoppers
- 4 small hinges – butt hinges will work perfectly
- 3/4″ Spade Bit
- Pocket Hole Plugs – Paint Grade, Pine, Oak – optional
- Clamps
- Safety Gear
- 3/4″ Edge Banding – optional
- Wood Filler
- Wood Glue
- Sanding Supplies
- Paste Wax
- Finishing Supplies
- 2 – 1×6 at 83 3/4″ Frame
- 2 – 1×6 at 26” Frame
- 4 – 1×2 at 44 1/2” Interior Frame
- 3 – 1×2 at 26” Interior Frame
- 2 – 1×2 at 28 1/2” Vertical Back Rest Supports
- 1 – 1×2 at 25 1/2” Back Rest Support (Lower)
- 4 – 1×2 at 2 1/2” Back Rest Stops
- 2 – 1×2 at 2” Back Rest Stop
- 2 – 1×2 at 4 1/2” Back Rest Stop
- 2 – 1×2 at 14 1/2” Lower Back Rest Bar
- 2 – 1×2 at 24 1/2” Leg Stretchers
- 30 – 1×3 at 20 1/2” Seat Slats (Lower 17 and Back Rest Portion 13)
- 2 – 1×3 at 46 3/4” Seat Outside Runner Boards
- 2 – 1×3 at 35 1/2” Back Rest Outside Runner Boards
- 1 – 2×2 at 26” Back Rest Stand
- 1 – 2×2 at 11” Back Rest Stand
- 2 – 2×2 at 21 1/4” Back Rest Stand
- 2 – 2×4 at 9” Front Legs
- 2 – 2×4 at 7” Back Legs
This project has some options for the wheel section for you to decide on. You can opt to skip wheels altogether in which case you will make all 4 legs the same length and skip the last 2 steps in this post. You can also opt to either purchase wheels, or create your own wheels (I would recommend giving this a try) in which choice you will simply carve circular shapes from 3/4” stock and drill a hole halfway into the wheels in the center to hold the axel rod (dowel). Easy peasy… Consider using a specie of wood suitable for outdoor use such as cedar, redwood, teak, etc., and be sure you choose galvanized or coated hardware to avoid rust. Be sure you finishing materials and products are suitable for outdoor use as well. Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found on the main page of my site.
Build the Frame: Use your Kreg Jigs® set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue.
Add the Interior Frame: Build using your Kreg Jigs® set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue, then fasten to the Frame using 1 1/4” Wood Screws and glue. Place the Interior Frame 3/4” from the top edge of the Frame to allow for the Seat Slats to rest flush in the next step.
Construct the Lower Seat: Fasten the Slats in place using your Kreg Jigs®set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue to fasten the slats to the Outside Seat Boards. Leave 1/4” Overhang at one end of the Seat (the end that will sit in the center of the lounger and connect to the back rest).
Construct the Back Rest: Use your Kreg Jigs®set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue to construct the back rest portion of the seat, then attach to the Lower Seat using standard butt hinges.
Add the Back Rest Supports: Use your Kreg Jigs®set for 3/4” stock and your 1 1/4” pocket hole screws and glue to attach your supports to the back rest. They will attach in a vertical position to the back rest and should be spaced 11 1/4” apart (yellow bars) to adequately allow for the back rest stand in the next step. The lower support (blue), will simply attach in the center of the lowest board to provide extra support for the back rest.
Construct the Back Rest Stand: Use your Kreg Jigs® set for 1 1/2” stock and your 2 1/2” pocket hole screws and glue to construct the stand. It will be something of a T Shape, only with 2 legs and a bottom, so not really a T Shape at all, but you get the point. Once you have fastened the stand together, attach it to the Back Rest using standard butt hinges as shown (it’s shown in an attached position, but please note that other than with the hinges, it doesn’t attach to the back rest itself, it needs to be able to move and rotate) .
Add the Back Rest Stops: Use your 1 1/4” Wood Screws and glue to fasten the 1×2 sections in place. You will place the stops 3/4” from the top edge just as you did with the interior frame, and each small section should be place about 2 1/2” from the next small section, but you are free to place these as you see fit for allowing the back rest to sit at comfortable positions in recline. Just be sure to allow for adequate space between the last stop (the 4 1/2” section in yellow) and the seat itself so that when the back rest is in the completely flat position there is plenty of room for the back rest stand to sit. The lower stop bar, will sit just below the actual back rest stops to act as a stop for the stops, so to speak, and will sit under the top bar of the interior frame and rest against the top portion of the frame itself.
Create the Legs and Attach them: To carve the shape for the legs, begin with a 2×4 and carve the curve from the top edge down to the location 2” in from the outside. The front and back legs will be different heights to allow for the wheels in the next steps. If you prefer to skip the wheels, you can make all 4 legs the same length and stop after this step! This is up to you.
Add the Axle: This is really simple and you will use a drill bit to create a hole in the back legs at the distance that equals the same distance as the bottom of your wheel to the axle hole (don’t forget the back wheels sit higher and don’t rest fully on the ground – factor this in!). The hole needs to be just slightly bigger in diameter than the axle you are using so a 3/4” bit should be perfect. You will need to cut your axle rod down to size. Do not glue the rod, simply insert and move the the next step.
Add the Wheels: Slide the wheels onto the outside of the axel. Measure the length your rubber stoppers will sit on your rod by placing them on the ends of your rod and marking off at the bottom edge. Measure this distance and cut your axel to size considering the following things it needs to account for: Your axel rod length will equal the distance between the legs, through the legs, through the wheels and then you will want to leave enough axel rod to go inside your rubber stoppers (all the way into the stopper). You can place a bit of epoxy on the edge of your rod to secure the stopper or simply leave as is.
Fill any Screw Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired!
If you enjoyed this post, comment below, Share it or Like it, and subscribe to my feed to stay up to date! You can now also: Follow my blog with blog lovin!
**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential. I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it.
Question; Why is step 3 & 5 26.5 and step 1,2,and 6 26 inches