DIY Farmhouse Inspired Outdoor Daybed

J and I love spending our summer nights outside around the fire pit- roasting s'mores and sipping on cool drinks. One of those nights last summer I had the idea of getting a projector to watch movies while we enjoyed our s'mores. Fast forward to this summer, we bought the projector 🎉 but we needed some comfortable seating so we could snuggle up together. I went on Joss & Main to look for an outdoor couch or daybed and everything was WAY over our budget! Like hundreds of dollars over... so I looked for some DIY plans. There are SO many out there, but none had the style that I wanted for a twin size mattress so I blended several ideas together and we got.... THIS! 

Supplies Needed

Miter Saw

2 1/2" Screws

1 1/2" Screws

Compact Drill 

Measuring Tape 

Sander & Sandpaper 

Weathered Oak Stain

Waterproof Poly 

Lumber List

1- 2x6x8

2- 2x3x8

5- 1x3x8

8- 2x2x8

2- 1x2x8

Cut List 

4- 2x2 at 40 1/2" Arm Rests

4- 2x2 at 28" Legs

2- 2x3 at 75 1/2" Front & Back Rails

2- 1x2 at 75 1/2" Cleats

8- 1x3 at 40 1/2" Supports

1- 1x3 at 75 1/2" Middle Support 

1- 2x6 at 75 1/2" Back Support 

1. Measure and cut your wood using the Cut List above. 

2. Measure 6" up your daybed legs (2x2 cut at 28") and mark your spot. Using a 2 1/2 inch screw, create an H with the two legs and armrest (40 1/2"). Do the same for the other side. 

3. Measure 6" up on your H legs and mark your spot. Using a 2 1/2 inch screw, attach your front and back rails (2x3 at 75 1/2"). 

4. Attach the remaining two arm rests using 2 1/2" screws to the top of the arm rests. 

5. Attach the middle support (1x3 at 75 1/2") to the bottom base. Add the cleats (1x2 at 75 1/2") to the bottom rails. 

6. Lay the supports (1x3 at 40 1/2") along the bottom and screw into place using the 1 1/2 inch screws. 

7. Attach the 2x6 back support to the back. 

8. This is probably the hardest to explain how we did it because I honestly don't know how it worked. LOL! We took the 2x2 and placed it diagonally across the rectangle, marked the angle (22.5) and cut both sides with a miter saw. Then, we did the same thing with the other piece going the other direction, this time tracing the first bar to cut out of that piece. Lastly, screwing them in place and repeating on the other side. 

9. Last thing was to stain and protect the entire piece! We chose a weathered grey because I love the rustic look of it! 

Once it was all finished, I made a fitted sheet with an outdoor fabric.