Drag to turn it. 3D model render, drawn from the plan itself; photos of the finished piece are coming soon.
Frame Sofa
A resort-style outdoor sofa built from the same open-frame arms as the Frame Lounge Chair. Pick 2 seats (59-1/2 inches) or 3 seats (83-1/2 inches): both are in the plan, sized around standard 24-inch deep-seat cushions. Straight cuts and screws only, every board fits on an 8 ft board, and every screw was checked in 3D to land in solid wood.
- Skill
- Level 1–2
- Build time
- About a weekend
- Size
- 83½" × 32" × 26"W × D × H
- Lumber
- 19 boards, all 8 ft
- Sofa, 3 seats83½ × 32 in
- Loveseat, 2 seats59½ × 32 in
Each with its own cut list, shopping list, PDF and 3D guide, plus a finished-back version.
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 $715. 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
45 parts, 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
- 8 stepsEach with time, check and common mistake
Try the build guide before you buy.
The first 2 of 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2x8 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime | 4 |
| 2x6 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime | 6 |
| 2x4 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime | 9 |
| 2-1/2" exterior wood screws, rated for treated lumber (hidden joints) | 52 (1 × 1 lb box) |
| 2-1/2" exterior trim-head screws, rated for treated lumber (slats, arm tops) | 84 (1 × 1 lb box) |
| 5" structural wood screws (GRK RSS or SPAX) | 20 (1 × 25-pack) |
| Behr semi-transparent stain & sealer, Cedar Naturaltone | 2 qt |
- Estimated build cost
- $245–$270
- BudgetHampton Bay CushionGuard 24 × 24 deep-seat setSeat and back, per seat · 3 needed$64
- PremiumGreendale Sunbrella 24 × 24 deep-seat setSeat and back, per seat · 3 needed$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).
- 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. The list updates with the version you pick.
8 steps · about a weekend
- 1Cut the partsFree in 3D1 hr 15 min
- 2Build the two armsFree in 3D1 hr 15 min
- 3Stand the arms and fit the front45 min
- 4Add the back1 hr
- 5Add the cleats30 min
- 6Lay the seat slats1 hr
- 7Cap the arms20 min
- 8Finish and add the cushions1 hr + drying
Good to know
Which sizes are included?
Both: a 2-seat loveseat, 59-1/2 × 32 inches, and a 3-seat sofa, 83-1/2 × 32 inches, each with its own cut list, shopping list, PDF and 3D guide. Each also comes with the finished-back version.
Why not a 4-seat sofa?
The front, back and slats would need boards longer than 8 feet, which are hard to find and harder to carry. For more seating, the Frame Chaise Sectional and Frame L Sectional are built from units that each fit on 8 ft boards.
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. Every cut is a straight crosscut, and every joint is wood on wood with screws: no pocket holes, no glue-ups, no brackets.
Which cushions does it use?
Standard 24 × 24 deep-seat sets, one per seat, bought ready-made. Home Depot's Hampton Bay CushionGuard set is about $64 a seat, or a Sunbrella set about $112. The seat pocket is sized so the set fills it front to back with no bare wood showing, and the seat top lands at 17 inches.
What are the boards on the back?
Back uprights: a 2x4 on the back at each end and at every seat seam. They tie the back apron and both back rails into one stiff panel, so the long rails don't flex when three people lean back, and they stand on the floor as the back legs. Want it to look finished from behind? The plan also includes a finished-back version with vertical 2x6 boards across the whole back.
Can I build it in pine to save money?
Yes. Every version comes with a second shopping list in pressure-treated pine, with the same cuts and the same steps. Pine needs a couple of weeks to dry and a coat of cedar-tone stain, but costs about a third as much as cedar.
Does it match the Frame Lounge Chair?
Yes. Same open-frame arms, same 17-inch seat, same cushions and the same honey finish, so the chair and the sofa or sectional make a set.
Can one person build it?
Mostly. Every part can be lifted by one person, and the arms are built flat on the floor. A second pair of hands helps when you stand the arms up and set the front apron between them.