An Easy to Build Chair for a Desk or Dining Table

I really like building chairs! They are so easy plus I can use quite a few of the scraps of lumber I’ve been accumulating! Today, I will share plans to build a desk chair that are really easy . I built my example entirely out of plywood. Yep, I used Purebond plywood to make this beauty but I’m having a hard time picking a finish…

The plans include a lumber list for regular off-the-shelf boards but if you want to build one out of plywood scraps also, email me at designsbystudioc@gmail.com, and I’ll tell you how I did it!

Click on the drawings to enlarge them!

Materials:

2-1/2″ pocket hole screws

2″ pocket hole screws

1-1/4″ pocket hole screws (<– affiliate link!)

Pocket hole plugs or wood filler

1-1/4″ brad nails

Edge banding for the exposed edges of the plywood seat (optional)

Wood glue

Finishing supplies

Tools:

Kreg jig

Drill

Brad nailer

Saw – miter, circular, or jigsaw

Lumber:

One 2×2 at 8′

One 1×3 at 6′

One 1×2 at 8′

2′ x 2′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood

Cut List:

Six – 2×2 at 16-1/4″ – Legs

Two – 1×3 at 11-1/2″ – Aprons

Two – 1×3 at 14″ – Aprons

Four – 1×2 at 11-1/2″ – Back Slats & Center Stretcher

Two – 1×2 at 14″ – Stretchers

One – 3/4″ plywood at 14-1/2″ x 17″ – Seat

Step One

Cut the pieces for the legs. Two of the pieces will have a 1/16″ angle cut at the bottom. This angle is necessary for the angle of the back. Set the Kreg jig for 3/4″ material and drill pocket holes in the bottom of the upper back pieces (the pieces with the angles). Attach to the back leg pieces using glue and 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws. (See drawings) If you choose the back to be straight in line with the back legs, one continuous piece can be cut at 32-1/2″.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the aprons. Drill pocket holes in each end and attach to the legs as shown setting them 1/4″ back from the outside faces of the legs. The 14″ aprons will be the sides and the 11-1/2″ aprons will be the front and back. Use glue and 2″ pocket hole screws.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the back slats. Drill pocket holes in each end and secure to the back legs as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the stretchers. Drill pocket holes in each and and secure tot he legs as shown using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Locate them about 4″ up from the bottom of the legs.

Step Five

Cut the piece for the seat. Apply edge banding, if desired, and attach to the chair frame using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails through the top of the seat into the aprons and legs.

Thoroughly sand and finish the chair as desired!

** Please note – these plans are designed and created by me. They are not to be sold without express written consent from me. They can be shared on any site as long as they are credited back to me!