Drag to turn it. 3D model render, drawn from the plan itself; photos of the finished piece are coming soon.
Frame Lounge Chair
The modern resort lounge chair: thick open-frame arms 5-1/2 inches wide, a deep seat that sits at 17 inches with a standard cushion, and a clean, flush front with not one screw in sight. Every structural screw is hidden inside the posts or under the seat. It takes any ready-made 24-inch deep-seat cushion set, and you build it from 9 boards using nothing but straight cuts and screws.
- Skill
- Level 1–2
- Build time
- About 6 hours
- Size
- 35½" × 30½" × 24½"W × D × H
- Lumber
- 9 boards, all 8 ft
Make it a set: Frame Lounge SetFrame Sofa + Frame Lounge Chair + Frame Chaise Lounge plans for $69Save $18See the free 3D build guide previewGive it as a giftBuild-ready or your money back. If anything in the plan doesn't work as drawn, email us within 30 days for a full refund.
You buy the materials at Home Depot, not here. Cedar: from $415. Cushions extra, from $64.
- Printable plan and interactive 3D build guide
- One-trip Home Depot shopping list
- Yours to keep. Build it as many times as you like
31 parts, 10 cut letters, only 4 lengths.
Every part gets a letter you pencil on its end. The drawings, the cut list, the cutting diagrams and the 3D guide all use the same letters, so you always know exactly which board you are holding.
- DrawingsFront, side and top views with dimensions
- Cut listEvery part by letter, board and length
- Cutting diagramsWhich part comes from which 8 ft board
- 10 stepsEach with time, check and common mistake
Try the build guide before you buy.
The first 2 of 10 steps are free. It’s exactly what you’ll follow in the garage, on your phone or laptop.
- Watch each step build itself, board by board, screw by screw.
- Spin and zoom the model with your finger or mouse.
- Tap any board to see its letter and cut size.
Try steps 1–2 freeOne list. One trip to Home Depot.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x6 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime | 4 |
| 2x8 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime | 2 |
| 2x4 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime | 3 |
| 5" structural wood screws (GRK RSS or SPAX) | 30 |
| 3" exterior trim-head screws, rated for treated lumber | 10 |
| 2-1/2" exterior screws and trim-head screws, rated for treated lumber | 1 box each |
| Exterior construction adhesive (Loctite PL Premium) | 1 tube |
| Behr semi-transparent stain & sealer, Cedar Naturaltone | 1 qt |
- Estimated build cost
- $185–$210
- BudgetHampton Bay CushionGuard 24 × 24 deep-seat setSeat and back$64
- PremiumGreendale Sunbrella 24 × 24 deep-seat setSeat and back, Sunbrella fabric$112
- Pick #2 Prime boards and sight down each one. Take the straightest and grab one spare of each size.
- Treated pine comes wet. Stack the boards flat with scrap spacers between them, out of the sun, for 2–3 weeks before you cut. Dry boards don't shrink or twist after you build.
- Use screws labeled for treated lumber (most coated exterior screws are) and galvanized brackets.
- Sand the faces and edges smooth, then stain once the wood is dry. A cedar-tone stain gives it the honey look in the photos.
- Wear a dust mask when cutting and sanding treated wood, and never burn the scraps.
Estimates based on typical Home Depot prices; your store may vary. Same cuts and same steps in either wood.
10 steps · about 6 hours
- 1Cut the partsFree in 3D45 min
- 2Build the two arm laddersFree in 3D45 min
- 3Add the outer layers20 min
- 4Add the corner blocks15 min
- 5Connect the arms30 min
- 6Add the back rails20 min
- 7Add the arm tops15 min
- 8Lay the seat slats25 min
- 9Finish1 hr + drying
- 10Add the cushions5 min
Good to know
Which tools do I need?
A drill/driver, a miter saw or circular saw, a tape measure, a speed square, two clamps and a sanding block. If you own a drill and a saw, you are most of the way there.
Which cushions does it use?
Any standard 24 × 24 deep-seat set. Home Depot's Hampton Bay CushionGuard set fits for about $64, or a Sunbrella set for about $112. With a standard 5–6 inch cushion the seat top lands at 17 inches.
Can I use thick 7-inch cushions?
Yes. The plan includes a thick-cushion option: you mount the two seat rails 2 inches lower in step 2, so the deck drops and the cushion top still lands at 17 inches. The seat is sized so a standard set (24-inch seat, 5-inch back) fills it front to back; a thick set with a deeper back cushion sits slightly proud of the front edge, the way designer deep-seat chairs do.
Where are the screws?
Hidden. Each post is two boards: the structural screws go in before the second board covers them, and the seat is screwed from underneath. Only a few small trim-head screws show on the arm tops and the back.
What will the materials cost?
From $185 in pressure-treated pine or from $415 in cedar at Home Depot, including screws, adhesive and finish. Cushions are extra, from about $64. Prices vary by store and season. A comparable designer lounge chair sells for $1,250 or more.
Can I build it in pine to save money?
Yes. The plan includes a second shopping list in pressure-treated pine, with the same cuts and the same steps. Pine needs a few weeks to dry and a coat of stain, but costs about a quarter as much as cedar.
Does it match the Frame Chaise Lounge?
Yes. It shares the open-frame look, the honey finish and the linen cushions, so the two make a set.