10 DIY Outdoor Furniture Ideas (with Plans)
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While outdoor furniture can make or break an outdoor area, you don’t want to spend a mint at the store buying everything that you see.
That’s where DIY outdoor furniture ideas come in. These typically look better than what you can find at the store, and they cost far less to make. Even better, when people ask about where you got them, you can proudly tell them that you built them yourself.
If you’re looking to transform your outdoor space with great DIY furniture, keep on reading!
The 10 DIY Outdoor Furniture Ideas with Plans
1. A Firepit by Keeping it Simple Crafts
| Materials | 36 12” pavers, 15 square pavers, 10 rectangle pavers, and paver’s sand |
| Tools | Hammer and a chisel |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
Who doesn’t love the idea of a firepit out in their garden? What’s even better is an awesome-looking firepit that you can build without spending much cash.
This DIY firepit guide breaks down everything that you need to know to build your awesome fire pit. It’s a straightforward design, and you don’t need special tools. Just be ready to break a sweat preparing the area and the pavers to get everything done. But the final result should last for years.
2. A Porch Swing by Ana White
| Materials | five 2×4 @ 8’ long, two 1×6 @ 8’ long, one 1×6 @ 4’ long, and one 1×4 @ 8’ long |
| Tools | Tape measure, speed square, pencil, safety glasses, hearing protection, drill, circular saw, sander, and a drill bit set |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
A porch swing is an outdoor furniture staple, but if you ever looked at the cost of a high-quality porch swing, it’s astronomically high. So, having the ability and plans to build your own porch swing is a huge perk.
That’s exactly what this guide provides: a breakdown of everything that you need to know to make your own porch swing. If this guide weren’t so detailed, we’d say that this is one of the more challenging DIY projects on this list, but it explains things in a way that makes it easy to know what to do.
The final result is an awesome porch swing that will last for years at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.
3. A Cooler by Shanty 2 Chic
| Materials | six 1×4 boards @ 8’, five 1×2 boards @ 8’, three 1×3 boards @ 8’, one 2×3 board @ 4’, two ½” zinc narrow hinges, rubber stopper with chain, one 6.5 zing utility pull silicone sealant, one sink flange, one ½” U bolt, an ice scoop, a zinc bottle opener, gorilla wood glue, and three hooks |
| Tools | Miter saw, Krej jig, nailer, drill, pencil, sander, and a knife |
| Difficulty Level | Challenging |
Who doesn’t want a great-looking cooler that they can leave outside for the next barbecue or picnic? This DIY outdoor cooler looks phenomenal and can double as a table when you’re not actively using it.
Just know that it uses many materials and isn’t the easiest DIY outdoor furniture project to complete. That said, it costs less than going out and buying something of the same quality.
4. Storage Box by While They Snooze
| Materials | 2” x 2” Weathershield sticks: four 24” leg pieces, two 20.5” pieces, two 48” pieces, one 18” piece, four 17.5” pieces, four 45” pieces; ¼” plywood: two 20” x 48”, two 21” x 45”, 2 21” x 17.5”; beadboard: two 18.5” x 45”, two 18.5” x 17.5”; quarter round molding: four 45” pieces, eight 18.5” pieces, four 17” pieces; fence boards or pallets, two hinges, screws, nails, wood glue, and water sealant |
| Tools | Drill, vice grip, nailer, Kreg Jig, miter saw, tape measure, weights, speed angle, sander, and a pencil |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
If you could benefit from more outside storage, this storage box provides just that while adding a great look to all your outside furniture. If you build it properly, it’s water-sealed and provides plenty of space for outside toys and activities.
This DIY guide breaks down everything that you need to do to build it. Keep in mind that it requires quite a few supplies and tools to get the job done. If you already have the tools on hand, it’s not the most challenging DIY project, but if you don’t, the price can be high to get them.
5. The Grilling Station by This Old House
| Materials | wo 14” square planter boxes, 4’x4’ sheet of ½” plywood, 2’x4’ sheet of 0.09 galvanized sheet metal, 2.5” deck screws, 1’ deck screws, 4d galvanized nails, four 3” caster wheels with locks, two cabinet door catches, and four 4” strap hinges |
| Tools | Tin snips, circular saw, drill/driver, marker, pencil, needle nose pliers, clamps, hammer, and a nail setter |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
Some things just go together, and outdoor furniture and grilling are two of those things. This DIY grill companion cart will have your outdoor décor be the talk of the barbecue, and it’ll turn even more heads when everyone finds out that you built it yourself.
It provides everything that you need while grilling, and the top acts as a great storage area for your food. If you’re looking for something that makes it easier to grill and take things to the next level, it’s hard to top this grilling station.
6. Planter Bench by Shanty 2 Chic
| Materials | 20 1x6x6 fence boards, four 2x3x6 cedar boards, three 1x4x6 cedar boards, two 1x3x8 cedar boards, multiple pocket hole screws, a few 1.25” brad nails, wood glue, and wood finish |
| Tools | Kreg Jig, miter saw, drill, clamps, tape measure, weights, pencil |
| Difficulty Level | Challenging |
If you’re looking for a signature outdoor furniture piece for a larger space, this DIY planter bench is a great fit. There are planter boxes for various plants on each side, and in the middle is a spacious bench that has plenty of room for people to sit.
Be aware that this is a complicated job, and it shouldn’t be your first DIY project. But if you’re confident in your skills and want a large piece to set the tone for the rest of your outdoor décor, this just might be it.
7. Ladder Shelf by Ana White
| Materials | One 24” x 48” ¾” plywood panel, four 1×2 boards @ 8’ long, four 1×3 boards @ 8’ long, 2” and 1.25” brad nails, wood glue, and finishing supplies |
| Tools | Tape measure, speed square, pencil, safety glasses, circular saw, miter saw, brad nailer, sander, and a drill bit set |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
If you’re looking for a simple yet functional piece of outdoor furniture to start your DIY furniture adventures, this DIY ladder shelf is a great option. It’s simplistic but looks great and is extremely functional.
It also doesn’t take up much space, and if you already have the tools, it’s not expensive to make either. It opens up storage for you outside, and you can use this space however you want to match the rest of your outdoor décor.
8. Patio Privacy Screen by Organized Chaos Online
| Materials | Three lattice panels, 1×3 boards, hardware, wood glue, hooks, and chain |
| Tools | Circular saw, tape measure, frame corners, nailer, and a drill |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
Sometimes we have grand visions in our heads, and we don’t quite know how to bring them to life. That’s the case for many people when they think about patio privacy screens. With this DIY patio privacy screen, you can bring those visions to fruition without too much work.
Compared to many of the other outside furniture ideas, this is one of the easiest to complete and one of the best looking. It also costs less than most other DIY outside furniture projects.
9. Outdoor Benches by Engineer Your Space
| Materials | Six 1×6 @ 6-foot pine boards, one 2×3 @ 6-foot stud, weatherproofing stain or paint, and decking screws |
| Tools | Corner clamps, drill, tape measure, and clamps |
| Difficulty Level | Level: Easy |
Sometimes you’re looking for something a little simple. That’s exactly what you get with these DIY outdoor benches.
Not only are they easy to build, but they also add a stylish element to your outside furniture and match varieties of décor. In fact, if you get your wood cut to size when you purchase it, you don’t even need any power tools to complete this DIY project!
10. Outdoor Side Tables by The House house
| Materials | Two wire mesh trashcans, charger plates, decorative rope, E6000, seashells, and spray paint |
| Tools | None |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
If you already have seating options, all you need are end tables to finish the look! With these DIY side tables, you get outstanding and functional pieces of furniture.
Even better, you don’t need any tools to build them, and they’re durable enough to last years of use. You can pick up most of the materials at various craft stores. Compared to most other side table options out there, you’ll be spending far less money and getting a better-looking final product.
Final Thoughts
With so many great DIY options out there, all that’s left is for you to pick a few of your favorites and start gathering supplies. With a bit of time, patience, and skill, you can build any of these outstanding DIY outdoor furniture projects and completely transform your outdoor space.
Featured Image Credit: rhyslud, Pixabay
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