Today, outdoor furniture is an indispensable attribute of a suburban area where there is a green corner, even if it is small. Without a comfortable lounger and a comfortable set, you won’t be able to fully enjoy your outdoor recreation. After all, there is nothing better than eating in the shade of an apple or pear tree, and there is little that can compare with dozing in a hammock. Those who have already purchased comfortable wicker furniture for their garden, for example, a rattan chair or a comfortable garden sofa, are well aware of this. However, most likely, everyone knows firsthand that buying such furniture is not exactly a cheap pleasure, so not everyone can afford this luxury. Do-it-yourself garden furniture is an excellent alternative for those who are not eager to part with a tidy sum. And making garden furniture with your own hands is much more pleasant.
Types of furniture
Outdoor furniture can be divided into two groups: furniture for placement directly in the open air and for decorating gazebos and terraces.
The first set of garden furniture is selected based on its practicality, the second sets are more protected from rain and sun, and therefore are distinguished by greater comfort and a choice of materials for manufacturing and decoration.
All furniture elements can also be divided according to their mobility. Easily portable items include tables and chairs, which can be moved from place to place with relative ease if necessary. Heavy objects will be stationary benches, garden swings and tables firmly embedded in the ground.
Garden furniture differs in the material it is made from. Garden furniture sets can be made from cheap plastic, budget wood, exquisite rattan, and expensive metal.
Practical plastic
When buying a set of furniture for one or several seasons, you can pay attention to plastic furniture with different designs and designs.
Modern material with polymer additives does not deteriorate under the influence of solar radiation, it is not afraid of adverse weather conditions, and furniture of various shapes and sizes is made from plastic.
Rattan furniture
A set of furniture made from tropical palm stems becomes the most attractive design option for gazebos and covered terraces.
Rattan garden furniture is perfect for decorating the most sophisticated recreation areas. Completely ecological raw materials, elegant appearance, and the respectability of natural wicker helped to gain the love and respect of thousands of owners of this unusual set.
But it is advisable to use such furniture design elements in enclosed spaces. Rattan is a very capricious material. He does not like temperature changes, active sunlight or large amounts of moisture.
Caring for elegant furniture will require periodic updating of the varnish and careful cleaning, and it must be used quite carefully, trying not to overload elegant objects.
The high price also does not increase the purchasing power of rattan furniture.
Drawings and diagrams
Having decided on the material from which your furniture will be made, you need to think in advance where it will be located and what kind of items you want to make. After all, despite the fact that these are not apartments, you should still determine the optimal size and style for you.
Shop
The simplest and most traditional material here is wood. There are several simple schemes for country shops. You can make seats for them from either boards or solid wood. Based on the diagrams given, you can easily build a comfortable and practical bench or bench of the required size. After completing the assembly, do not forget to treat the wood with a preservative.
As for colors and design, it all depends on your imagination. You can leave clear, laconic lines or cut out graceful curves. The natural pattern of wood is an unchanging classic, so you can only cover it with varnish. But if your idea requires it, then you can easily give it any color.
Table
The simplest version of a table is considered to be a product with four supports (legs) and a solid tabletop. By the way, it can be made from either boards or solid wood. A solid cut of a large tree looks very unusual, and the log itself can be sawn both along and across the trunk.
Often you can see solid tree stumps as a small table. The more impressive its size, the more intricate the pattern the “tabletop” itself will have. The choice of place where the table will be installed is also important. Make sure the surface is level. Otherwise, the tabletop will tilt or the table will wobble.
The base for a country table can also be made of metal - the product will be truly strong and durable. In addition, metal combines very well with wood and wickerwork. But a tabletop made of glass and other fragile materials is completely unsuitable in this case.
Firstly, even small drops of rain will be immediately visible on it, and, secondly, it can break even from a slight mechanical impact.
Chaise lounge
It cannot be said that a chaise lounge is the most necessary piece of furniture in the country. But remember your vacation somewhere on the seashore and that pleasant feeling when you, relaxed, lay down on it and basked in the rays of the sun. Creating such an atmosphere at your dacha is a dream that can easily be made into reality.
The most comfortable option would be a chaise lounge with an adjustable backrest. With this design, you can choose the perfect angle to read a book or just watch the children frolic nearby.
To make it you will need boards, beams and slats. Once you have assembled the frame, you can begin laying the slats. Don't forget to leave small gaps between them. The height of the sun lounger can be any - it all depends on your preferences. If in doubt, it is better to stick to the standard size of 35 cm.
Garden sofa
The main difference between a garden sofa will be that it will not be upholstered with soft foam rubber and fabric. If you are used to gathering at your dacha with a large group, then such a stationary object in the recreation area will be indispensable. It can be either simple or angular, or even U-shaped.
Models made from a large diameter tree trunk look quite brutal. In this case, you will only need to place the log in the right place and cut out 1/4 of it so that you get a seat. You can complement such a masterpiece with armrests of dimensions that emphasize the massiveness and reliability of the structure.
But it is not recommended to repaint such a sofa in bright colors to cover the wood texture, since it is in its natural form that it will look most impressive.
In addition to the chopped model of a garden sofa, you can also make it from ordinary beams and boards. Recently, making furniture from pallets has become a real trend. In fact, you already have “semi-finished products” that you just need to combine and give them an aesthetic appearance by painting.
Rocking chair
It is quite possible to assemble a rocking chair yourself. But if you have never held a plane or jigsaw in your hands, then we advise you to start with simpler furniture models: here you will need an accurate calculation of every detail. In addition, due attention will need to be paid to the connecting elements: increased demands are placed on them due to the increased load that the chair will have to face during operation.
The design can be absolutely anything. Most often, this can be a classic version of a wooden chair, in which you can sit comfortably on a warm evening, wrapping your feet in a warm blanket and drinking hot coffee. For lovers of minimalist, hi-tech and loft styles, options with a metal base and slatted seat are suitable.
This homemade rocking chair will become a real favorite both among the adult generation, who values silence, and among little fidgets, who will be happy to use it for its intended purpose.
Drawings of a table with benches
You also cannot do without a comfortable and durable dining table. The following diagram shows the structure of a simple and functional table combined with benches.
This type of garden furniture is suitable for children, although the size can be increased and adults will find it just as comfortable. The main materials used in the structure are boards and beams. It consists of the following parts:
The tabletop is made of seven boards with a cross-section of 100*20 (you can also use thicker lumber), and three bars with which these boards are tied. The dimensions of the tabletop are 1400*700 mm.
Advice! Please note that the central beam is laid on the boards with the wide side. Galvanized steel corners are attached to it, to which the slopes will fit, which will create perpendicular rigidity of the structure and prevent the legs from moving apart.
- The mowings themselves. For their manufacture, timber with a cross section of 50*50 mm is used. Its length is 600 mm. The edges of these parts are sawn at an angle to make it possible to conveniently join them with steel corners. For the connection, 5*40 self-tapping screws and M 10*60 bolts are used.
- The legs are slanted trusses consisting of 6 parts of different sizes and shapes. For their manufacture, the same board was used as on the tabletop. The legs are crossed by two parallel lintels that protrude beyond the boundaries of the tabletop. A seat will be attached to them, and it is also possible to additionally attach a backrest.
- The last detail is the seat. A more powerful board 150*30 mm is used here. Along the edges with a certain indentation, bars are wound, which will be inserted between the crossbars of the trusses and tightened with them using self-tapping screws or bolts.
- The imperfection of this design is that there is nothing to attach the central supports to if you want to increase the length of the table and benches, and without additional support the seat will sag. Therefore, the scheme will have to be complicated and altered a little if you want a large table for adults.
Artificial rattan furniture
To minimize purchasing costs and time for care procedures, natural rattan can be replaced with its artificial brother.
Furniture made from artificial rattan is more durable and less capricious. She tolerates the vagaries of the weather well and does not require careful care. An inexperienced person is unlikely to be able to distinguish between natural and artificially created fibers, and a durable aluminum frame will give interior/exterior items greater strength.
The advantage of such furniture will be its low price, which will help create a cozy and stylish environment.
Metal furniture
Wrought iron elements can be used in any design and will look lovely among foliage or in an open space.
Clear and complete lines will become a beautiful harmonious completion of straight or winding paths, hidden or open corners of the garden. The charming swirls of metal jewelry will add special appeal.
Metal furniture is durable and not capricious, easily withstands all weather conditions, and is not afraid of even heavy loads. An elegant appearance will help decorate stone, brick, and wooden buildings and create the atmosphere of an ancient castle.
The disadvantages of such furniture will be the high cost of the products and too good thermal conductivity of the material. When exposed to the sun, the metal becomes hot, and when the temperature drops it will become scorching cold. Decorative pillows and blankets will help to cope with this problem.
How to make a wooden table.
For fans of more traditional options, we offer a wooden table project.
This table will look good both in the garden and in the house or gazebo.
First, we assemble the two side supports of the table, as shown in the diagram.
Then we make a tabletop from the boards. To prevent the boards from warping over time, we decorate the side edges of the tabletop with perpendicular wooden planks. We make the bottom shelf and fasten the tabletop with the side supports.
From wooden boards you can make a bar counter with chairs for your dacha.
For structural rigidity, the frame is reinforced with metal pipes.
Requirements for garden furniture
A place to relax should be cozy and comfortable, and the items filling it should have a large margin of strength, stability, and wear resistance.
Appearance will be another indicator of the good taste of the owners, so even homemade products should be beautiful and consistent with the style of the garden.
Ease of use will help you get a truly high-quality relaxation among the blooming and fragrant garden splendor.
Photos of garden furniture will help you choose the most suitable elements for decorating your site.
