DIY Couch or Sectional

Save on money and space with this DIY couch project.

For the same amount of time it takes you to visit several furniture stores and choose a couch, you can build your own for a fraction of the price. Complete with built-in storage, complement your minimalist decor with this sleek, square sofa.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Sheet of plywood, 1/4-inch thick, 17 5/8 by 72 inches wide
• 1 Wood piece, 72 inches long, 2 by 4 inches wide
• 1 Wood piece, 72 inches long, 2 by 6 inches wide
• 2 Sheets of plywood, 1/4-inch thick, 30 by 72 inches wide
• 2 Wood pieces, 65 inches long, 2 by 2 inches wide
• 2 Wood pieces, 28 1/2-inches long, 2 by 2 inches wide
• 2 Wood pieces, 72 inches long, 2 by10 inches wide
• 3 Wood pieces, 22 inches long, 2 by 4 inches wide
• 3 Wood pieces, 27 inches long, 2 by 10 inches wide
• 4 Wood pieces, 5 inches long, 4 by 4 inches wide
• 4 Wood pieces, 2 by 6 inches wide and 24 inches long, tapered at 8 inches
• Spray adhesive
• Wood glue
• Screws, 1/4-inch
• Screws, 3-inches
• Hinges
• Staples
• Burlap, 2 1/2 yards
• 2 Bags of pillow stuffing, 20 ounce bags
• Upholstery batting, 6 yards
• Paint drop cloth, 9 by12 inches
• Cushion, 30 by 72 by 3 ½ inches
• 2 Fabric pieces, 31 by 73 inches
• Measuring tape
• Carpenter square
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Electric drill
• Sander
• Nailer
• Staple gun
• Level
• Countersink drill bit

Instructions

Sofa Back

1. Attach a 2 by 4 wood piece, 22 inches long, in between four wood beams, 2 by 6, 24 inches long, making sure that the 2 by 4 is flush with the 24-inch beam at its 8-inch height. Use wood glue first and adjust with the carpenter square. Drill with 3-inch screws.

2. Fit the 2 by 4, 72 inches long, over the tapered 24-inch beams to form the top of the sofa back. Apply wood glue first, then attach with 3-inch screws. Repeat this step with the 2 by 6 wood piece, 72 inches long. Attach it to the bottom of the tapered 24-inch beams, with glue and screws.

3. Lay the smaller sheet of 1/4-inch plywood, measuring 17 5/8 by 72 inches, across the top of the sofa back along the tapered edge of the 24-inch beams. Glue and screw the plywood to the frame.

4. Stretch the burlap tightly across the sofa back without the plywood. Staple the burlap to the top and bottom of the sofa frame.

5. Wrap the batting on top of the burlap and over the top of the plywood. Use spray adhesive to stick.

6. Drape the fabric, measuring 31 by 73 inches, over the frame evenly. At the sides, tuck the fabric under a half-inch and glue using the spray adhesive. Make sure no raw edges show. At the bottom, tuck the ends under and staple in place.

Storage Body and Base

1. Screw the two wood pieces, 2 by 10, 72 inches long, to the two shorter wood pieces, 2 by 10, 27 inches long, to create a rectangular body. The third wood piece, 2 by 10 piece, 27 inches long, should be placed in the center for added support. Screw in the plywood, 30 by 72 inches, to the bottom.

2. Take the cushion and attach it to the second plywood sheet, 30 by 72 inches, with spray adhesive. Attach batting to the top and sides of the cushion in the same way.

3. Drape the second piece of fabric, 31 by 73 inches, over the batted foam. Tuck the fabric under at the corners and then staple the fabric to the plywood underneath.

4. Build the base by using the 4 by 4 wood pieces, 5 inches long, as the four corners. Glue and screw the 4 by 4 wood pieces to the sides: the two pieces, 2 by 2, 28 1/2 inches long, to the the two wood pieces, 2 by 2, 65 inches long.

Final Assembly

1. Use the 3-inch screws to attach the sofa back to to the storage body through the tapered 2 by 6 wood pieces and the 2 by 10 wood pieces.

2. Flip the sofa back and storage body over. Screw in the base to the storage body using the 3-inch screws.

3. Attach the cushion to the storage body with hinges and 1/4-inch screws. The hinges must be installed at the front of the storage body. The cushion should open and close easily, allowing for storage inside.

References

• Ana White Homemaker: Storage Sofa
• Real Simple: 5 DIY Decorating Projects