Outdoor sun loungers, chaise lounges, wood working project for my deck!
How I built simple outdoor sun loungers with changeable back rests for my deck. Way, way, WAAAAY back I was a little girl who spent the majority of every summer outside. I pretended I was Pocahontas! Now I am well away from those days lol I look more like Snow White these days but I remember my child hood in the sun very fondly and am always the last person to complain about any kind of summer heat. So, as you might imagine, I have had my heart set on an outdoor sun lounger project for my deck for a long time!
Last year I converted four goose hunting chairs into fun outdoor sun loungers out of table cloths and a little spray paint and they remain one of the most popular posts on this blog! I love them (I really do) but their “feet” would scratch up my deck something fierce and I really wanted something on my deck that could also double as benches for seating.
First thing was first, I ran out to pick up green treated deck boards for my outdoor bench project I bought plenty extra with this project in mind as well. First I built the base which was just a rectangle with a leg in each corner. Simple.
The rectangle ended up 24 inches wide by 73 1/2 inches long, the odd length was the exact center point of my 12 foot 1×6 deck boards, no need to waste an inch so I just cut them in half. From there I covered 2/3rds of my rectangle with deck boards, spacing them out with small gaps between them. Then I tackled the “head” of the outdoor sun lounger. I wanted to be able to have it up for a supportive slant or laid flat so the whole lounger could also be a bench if I needed the extra seating.
I made the “head” by screwing down the exact same deck boards I had already cut to lay across the entire sun lounger to a support board I cut to the length of the head laid down vertically under the boards. You can see I put two screws in each board into the support board behind. Note here: I cut the support board short so it would not hit the rectangle frame when I laid it down, instead what would be sitting on the frame would be the main boards so, when the “head” is laid down, it won’t look different from rest of the lounger at all.
With the head built I then needed to figure out how to hold it up at a slant. I did this by creating a channel on the back of the head (near the top) and a “shelf” at the bottom top of the sun lounger base using scrap 2x4s. And then I got to lay on it several times trying to figure out the perfect “slant” for the support rest. It ended up 17 inches tall. Perfect!
Of course I made two of them ๐ Pushed together I have a four foot wide day bed. Of course my next project needed to be a table to set drinks on… seriously what would a sun lounger be without a place to put a drink!? I may add hinges to the head rests in the future, it would make it easier to lift them and keep them centered. They are not necessary though and I’m going to see how they work before I go to the added expense.
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
That’s absolutely amazing. You made it so well. I wish i was this good ?
Thank you! ๐ These were really simple to make I think just about anybody could do it!
I LOVE it!!! :0) You did a marvelous job building it too!
Thank you so much!
These are great! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you Jann!
Awesome project. You make it look easy enough for me to want to try it. Thank you! Pinning.
Thank you Virginia!
Some of the best DIY on the web! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Thank you Sherry!
Loving the idea of creating these sun loungers – gonna have to add that to the ‘honey-do’ list for my hubby ๐
Thanks Jelica!
Lovely post! I wanted to make a suggestion. I have subscribed to your posts and I click on new post via the e-mail i received to my e-mail inbox about your new post. But when I read the post, a small window keeps popping up, suggesting me to subscribe to posts. It bothers just a bit. Iยดm sure You can get rid of it easily ๐
Hey Siiri, I really apologize for that I didn’t realize I had any pop ups still on my home page, I will definitely check into it! Thanks!
Thank you for writing this awesome article. I’m a long time reader
but I’ve never been compelled to leave a comment.
I subscribed to your blog and shared this on my Facebook.
Thanks again for a great post!
Thanks for coming by and commenting!
I will try making them they look great
Thanks Keith, I absolutely love mine! Can’t wait for summer to use them again!
I am going to have a bash at this it looks amazing.My first project was making a bench out of an old bed and decking boards. I am going to paint it but to say I was chuffed was an understatement.
I am a wood turner and have just started playing with wood for other things. This project is easy with very clear instructions. Thank you so much. As a beginner I need simplicity. I’m nearly 64 and having a blast with wood.
Hi Diane, its been a few years now since I made these and they’re still holding up great and are totally my go-to after work in the summertime!
Is this made with 1ร6 or 2×6? Thank you. Love these plans and instructions. Fixing to go get lumber as soon as I figure out for sure what size boards. Ready to make a couple of these loungers!
The feet and frame are made of 2x6s the top slats/boards are green treated deck boards so they’re basically 1x6s. Thanks!