If a chairman handles all the affairs of an organization, a chair takes care of all the seating arrangements. You pull up a chair whenever you’re restless. You sit on a chair whenever you’re tired. Given its overall usefulness, the chair is a necessity in almost every setting. Try making your own chairs. You can customize each item to suit your standards for relaxation.

Chair Materials

Chairs are made from a variety of items. The usual materials for chairs are:

• wood
• plastic
• metal
• wicker.

Except for wooden chairs, producing the furniture piece is more economical if done by professionals. Chairs, particularly the plastic and metal ones, are strictly made using machines from factories. The raw materials must be melted, processed then molded before a chair is produced. Wicker chairs, on the other hand, require exceptional weaving skills. An average person will not have the means to construct such items.

Handmade Chairs

As for wooden chairs, you can create them if you have intermediate carpentry skills. You simply need to modify the raw materials and nail them together to form the chair. In place of the plastic, metal and wicker chair, you can construct chairs made from stone, scrap metal and even cardboard.

• wooden plank chair
• basic wooden chair
• basic metal chair
• stone garden chair
• cardboard chair

Each chair has its own appeal so choose according to your home’s theme. You can also have some of the chairs upholstered to add more elegance and comfort.

Wooden Plank Chair

The plank chair is made of only a couple of wooden boards. The boards are connected to form an uneven cross mark. The shorter protrusion serves as the seating surface, while the longer one will be the chair’s backrest. Constructing the chair is just as simple as it looks.

Materials Used:

• Wood plank (8 feet x 12 inches x 2 inches)
• handsaw
• sandpaper
• jigsaw
• measuring tape
• paint/varnish
• pencil

Procedure:

1. Purchase the wood plank from a lumber shop. You can secure the rest of the materials from a hardware store.
2. Saw the plank in two. One board should be about 40 inches long while the other is about 51 inches. If you want a large chair, just modify the lengths accordingly.
3. From the top of the longer board, measure 15 inches. Mark that point with a pencil.
4. Saw two inches from each side of the longer board.
5. From the bottom of the shorter board, mark 15 ½ inches with your pencil.
6. Position the tapered end of the longer board above the mark that you made on the shorter board.
7. Use a jigsaw to cut a rectangle that fits the tapered end.
8. Connect the boards together through the hole. Adjust their positions depending on your height and the chair’s comfortability.
9. Sandpaper the chair then apply varnish or paint.

The plank chair is typically an outdoor chair. Its rugged style fits most lawns, gardens, and playgrounds. Its inclined backrest provides much comfort as you engage a seating position that seems like a compromise between sitting and lying down.

Basic Wooden Chair

Wooden chairs are sturdy, stylish and easy to construct. If you want to build a regular chair, you can use wooden planks as the base material. You can upgrade to using hardwoods if you prefer to have sturdier and classier seats. Construction is simple. You just have to follow the principle – construct then combine.

Materials Used:

• wooden board (medium density)
• 4 wooden pegs
• handsaw
• hammer
• nails
• sandpaper
• chisel
• pencil
• plastic laminate
• 4 – 6 circular wooden pegs (optional)

Procedure:

1. Think of a theme for your chair, especially the backrest. You can view chair designs on the Internet or in home improvement magazines.
2. Purchase the wooden board and pegs from a lumber shop. You can get the remaining items from a hardware store or simply borrow from your neighbors.
3. Sketch the outline of your seating surface on the wooden board.
4. Saw the seating surface off the wooden board.
5. Shape the four pegs to form four rectangular blocks with a chisel. You can also use the chisel to form patterns on the legs if you choose.
6. Nail the four legs to the bottom edges of the seating surface.
7. Outline the pattern of your backrest on the wooden chair.
8. Saw the pattern of the backrest off then nail them together. You can also circular wooden pegs if you want your backrest to have grills.
9. When the backrest is formed, nail to the back of seating surface.
10. Sandpaper your chair until its surface becomes smooth.
11. Varnish the chair.
12. When the varnish dries, cover the chair with plastic laminate.

If you are not satisfied with the appearance of the chair, you can add a cool-looking cushion or have it upholstered. You can also have a carpenter tweak it to match your dining room’s theme.

Basic Metal Chair

Stylish metal chairs with intricate with intricate designs are too complex to create if you don’t have industrial equipment. What you can create is a basic metal chair made of metal bars and sheets. You can secure the raw materials from a construction equipment dealer or from used metal items. You can also substitute the metal sheets with plastic. As for your tools, you will need a power drill, screws, and welding equipment.

Constructing the chair is similar to the basic wooden chair. You have to work your way up as your start with the chair’s legs. The legs are to be welded (metal seat) or screwed (plastic seat) to the seating surface. The same goes with the backrest, which is connected at the back of the seat.

Stone Garden Chair

Large rocks become unconventional seats when you go hiking. The smooth sides of those rocks are usually the seating surfaces, since they provide the most comfort. With several different cutting tools, you can actually turn the uneven surfaces of rocks into good seating surfaces. You can even etch patterns if you like.

Materials Used:

• sandstone (18 inches x 3 feet)
• chisel
• mallet
• power water sander
• pencil

Procedure:

1. Purchase sandstone from a stone seller.
2. Mark the height of your chair on the sandstone.
3. Pound the sandstone with your chisel and mallet, leaving the marked portion intact.
4. Continue pounding on the stone until you have shaped the flat seating surface and backrest. The operation is strenuous, so having a companion is definitely an advantage. You can switch places when you get tired from all the hammering.
5. Think of a good pattern for the backrest. Remember, you’re dealing with rock. Committing design errors early on can ruin your chair.
6. When your chair has been formed, carefully etch the patterns of your backrest. Keep your strikes precise.
7. Smoothen your chair with a power water sander.

You can leave the chair as is for a natural look. Of course, adding a soft cushion will be better if you want more comfort from your seat.

Cardboard Chair

The cardboard chair is the least durable among the handmade chairs but it also has the biggest “Wow!” factor. Not many people know that cardboard can be used to create chairs, much less support the weight of a full grown man. By modifying a cardboard box, you can create a simple chair for your lounging pleasure.

Materials Used:

• cardboard box (at least 45 x 60 inches when opened)
• measuring tape
• pencil
• cutter

Procedure:

1. Open the cardboard box and lay it flat on the ground.
2. Sketch a 45 x 15-inch rectangle at the bottom surface of the flattened box.
3. Divide the rectangle into three 15-inch squares.
4. Draw a horizontal line above the top square. You should have a T-shaped figure inside the rectangle right after, which creates a total of six 15-inch squares.
5. Cut the the t-shaped figure using your cutter. Crease the two squares that intersect with the ‘T’ to form a triangle, which will be the base of your chair.
6. Turn the box over. Set the triangle on the ground.
7. You will find a slanted sheet on top of the chair. Fold it down and it will be the chair’s seating surface.
8. Fold the final two squares at the back to form right angles. Those two will be the backrest.
9. Press the seating surface down to fortify the base’s stability.

Initially, the cardboard chair looks a little shabby. You can paint or color it, so it will look like a nifty toy that blends with your room’s contents.

Chairs are some of the most important furniture pieces in every household. Simple as they are, not many household items can provide as much comfort as the chair. It adds the word ‘relaxing’ to the description of every living room.

Chairs come in different kinds, but if you’re looking for one you can take to the beach, or place right beside your pool, then you must know how to make a delightful and relaxing deck chair instead.

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