Your sofa is probably one of the most expensive pieces of furniture you own. This wood framed sofa is simple and durable with a timeless style. It can be built around almost any sofa cushions you might have or even a single mattress if you want it to double as a daybed. I salvaged some cushions from an IKEA sofa whose frame had broken. Pile pillows along the sturdy, solid-wood sides and back makes this a perfect daybed for a couple to lounge on.

SUPPLIES:

Five (5) 8' Long 2×10s of Construction Lumber
Available at The Home Depot or your local lumberyard

Two (2) 8' Long 2×3s of Construction Lumber
Available at The Home Depot or your local lumberyard

Four (4) 8' Long 2×4s of Construction Lumber
Available at The Home Depot or your local lumberyard

3" Screws
Available at The Home Depot

2.5" Screws
Available at The Home Depot

#10 Biscuits
Available at The Home Depot

Ruler
Available at The Home Depot

Pencil

120 + 220 Grit Sandpaper
Available at The Home Depot

Rag
Available at The Home Depot
For applying the stain.

Clamps
Available at The Home Depot

Sofa Cushions
Available at IKEA or salvage/recycle

Danish Oil
Available at Amazon.com

TOOLS:

RYOBI 18 Volt Cordless Drill with Screw Bit
Available at The Home Depot








RYOBI Orbital Sander
Available at The Home Depot








RYOBI 10" Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser
Available at The Home Depot







RYOBI Biscuit Joiner
Available at The Home Depot

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Cut the 2×10s, 2x4s + 2×3s
Using a ruler and pencil, measure, mark the 2×10s, 2x4s and 2×3s into the lengths shown in the diagram and cut with a compound miter saw:



Download the Box Sofa Plan »







STEP 2: Sand the Pieces
Give the cut pieces a light sanding before assembling them. Using the orbital sander, start with 120-grit sandpaper followed by the 220-grit sandpaper.





STEP 3: Assemble the Panels
Lay the 2×10s for 3 panels on the floor. Use the biscuit joiner to cut notches in the 2x10s. Insert glue in the notches and place a glue covered biscuit into the notches. Use the pipe clamps to clamp the boards together while the glue dries.













STEP 4: Screw Together the Bottom Frame
Assemble the bottom frame of the sofa using the 3" screws.







STEP 5: Attach the Side Panels
The easiest way to attach the panels to the base is to screw them together. For a more finished look, align the screws, spacing them at even increments. If you want to go the extra mile, recess the screws and cover them with wood plugs made from dowels. You can also add metal L-brackets on the inside for additional strength.







STEP 6: Screw the Frame to the Panels
Screw the bottom frame to the back panel with the top of the frame aligned with the top of the first 2x10 in the panel.











STEP 7: Finish
Paint the wood using the TK or stain it using the TK, if you like. I prefer to leave it raw, letting life add its own patina.





STEP 8: Add the Cushions + Pillows
Set the cushions on the frame, add a bunch of pillows, stockpile some snacks and you have the perfect fortress for a weekend-long Netflix binge!











Good luck making your own box sofa and please email, tweet or hashtag photos to @benuyeda, ben@homemade-modern.com or #homemademodern. For more detailed instructions, dimensioned drawings and different variations of the project, check out our soon-to-be-released book.

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