How to Build Your Own Outdoor Furniture

From enjoying a cup of coffee on the patio on a spring morning to celebrating summer birthdays with a garden party, outdoor furniture can transform your outside space into a comfortable haven.

While you could pick up some ready made garden furniture, building your own can be a fun and rewarding project. You can customise your furniture pieces to fit your space perfectly and to reflect your personal style. What’s more, DIY furniture offers a great way to spruce up your garden on a budget.

Our DIY garden furniture guide is here to show you how to build your own outdoor furniture to create high quality, bespoke pieces. We’ll also talk you through the best and most reliable tools for the job - an essential factor in building durable, long lasting furniture.

Tools You’ll Need

Before we look at inspiration for your garden furniture, it’s worth exploring the essential tools and equipment you’ll need. Getting together a comprehensive toolkit will ensure you’re prepared and have everything you need to get the job done.

Cutting and Shaping

When making DIY furniture from scratch, chances are you’ll need to cut and shape the materials, particularly when working with timber. It’s important to have the right types of saws and blades to get smooth cuts, whether curved or straight. For this reason, we recommend investing in:

  • Circular saw: Circular saws are versatile and easy to use, capable of cutting wood, metal and plastic. With a DeWalt or Makita circular saw, you can benefit from these manufacturers’ reliability and ergonomic designs.

    We recommend the following models:
     
  • Jigsaw: Jigsaws are also incredibly useful to have in your kit. These saws can easily cut curved and irregular shapes, and a cordless jigsaw provides ultimate versatility when working around large pieces of wood. Makita and DeWalt jigsaws are widely considered the best on the market and can help you out with all manner of garden furniture projects.
     
  • Planer: When you need to smooth table edges, trim large planks of wood, or bevel seating, planers can help you achieve uniform results with minimal hassle. Add a Makita planer to your power tool collection and you’ll be ready to get precise cuts and shape timber before assembling your garden furniture pieces. 

Drilling and Assembly

No matter the DIY garden furniture project at hand, chances are you’ll need to assemble two or more components. This is where drills and impact drivers can help you get the most secure results. There are many drill types and impact drivers available, but we recommend picking up the following for all round versatility:

  • Combi drill: A reliable combi drill is an essential tool for any DIYer, with Makita and DeWalt’s combi drills being the most popular due to their power and reliability. A combi drill not only provides a drill function but also allows you to drive screws and hammer — ideal for putting furniture together. As you’ll see, a DeWalt or Makita combi drill is a key tool in many of our outdoor furniture projects below.

    Our top suggestions include:
  • Impact driver: If you need to fasten large wooden or metal structures, a DeWalt or Makita impact driver has the power and rotational force required to make sure it’s strong and stable. These tools combine consistent drilling with spring-loaded force.

Sanding and Finishing

Sanding is an important step in working with timber, but it’s essential to get the right sander for the intended effect. We stock a range of DeWalt sanders and Makita sanders that ensure excellent results — but which type do you need?

  • Random orbit sander: Ideal for general sanding tasks, these tools combine a rotating sanding disc with a figure-of-eight motion to reduce the risk of visible sanding marks. We recommend the DeWalt DWE6423 240v 125mm Random Orbit Sander).
  • Belt sander: If you need to take off large amounts of a surface, a belt sander is a good option. This type of tool is perfect for shaping at the beginning of a project.
     
  • Sheet sander: Choose a sheet sander if you need to smooth and finish a flat surface, such as a tabletop. We suggest the Makita BO4555 240v 200w Palm Sander.

Remember to get the right sanding belts, sheets, or discs for your sander model.

Storage and Setup

To get the most out of your tools, it’s important to store them safely, away from the elements. A Makita tool bag or DeWalt tool box will keep your components safe and allow you to move them around easily. 

You might also find it helpful to get a lightweight, portable workbench to help with your DIY garden furniture projects. This will create a dedicated, flat surface when cutting, shaping, or sanding.

DIY Furniture Ideas & Short Guides

Now you’ve got the key power tools you need, take a look at our DIY garden furniture guide for inspiration and step by step instructions on how to build your own outdoor furniture.

  1. Pallet Chair

A pallet chair is a great beginner project, and the ideal way to repurpose and upcycle old delivery pallets.

For this build, you’ll need:

  • Three or four wooden pallets (in good condition)
  • Screws
  • A circular saw
  • A combi drill 
  • A sheet sander 
  • Wood stain
  • Cushions

How to make it:

  1. First, you’ll need to stack two of your wooden pallets and fasten them together using your combi drill.
     
  2. Add a third pallet vertically as a backrest, again fastening with the combi drill.
     
  3. Use your sheet sander to smooth out all surfaces of the pallet chair.
     
  4. Apply a coat of wood stain and leave it to dry. Repeat until you have the shade you like.
     
  5. Once dry, add cushions, then sit down and appreciate your success!

Optional extra: If you want to go one step further, use your circular saw to carefully cut the fourth pallet to create armrests. Sand and stain them, then fasten them to the backrest pallet. Stain and finish them to match the rest of the chair.

  1. Coffee Table

Another great beginner project, this pallet coffee table matches the pallet seating above. 

For this build, you’ll need:

  • Pallet (in good condition)
  • 4 x hairpin legs 
  • Circular saw
  • Combi drill
  • Sheet sander
  • Screws
  • Paint
  • Glass panel (optional)
  • Varnish, paint, or stain (optional)

How to make it:

  1. Clean and sand the pallet wood until it’s smooth and splinter free.
     
  2. Turn the pallet over and use your combi drill to fix a hairpin leg to each corner.
     
  3. Turn the whole thing back over and, if desired, add your choice of paint, varnish, or wood stain. 

You can also add a glass top — either simply place the glass panel on top of the table or use adhesive pads to stick it down.
 

  1. Outdoor Dining Table

If you want to create a stylish place for all the family to gather, this dining table is the ideal project. 

For this build, you’ll need:

  • Timber (teak, rosewood, and cedar are all good choices as they are robust and can withstand varied weather conditions). You’ll need enough for the tabletop, legs, and support bars.
  • Screws
  • Circular saw
  • Combi drill 
  • Random orbit sander 
  • Sealant

How to make it:

  1. First, measure and cut your wood to size, creating a large table surface and frame, four legs, and support bars.
     
  2. Assemble the tabletop by attaching the surface panel to the frame with your combi drill.
     
  3. Build and attach the legs, securing them to the tabletop frame with screws.
     
  4. Add the support bars for extra strength.
     
  5. Sand the whole table. You could use a sheet sander, but a random orbit sander can give you more flexibility for reaching more intricate parts of the table.
     
  6. Apply a wood sealant suitable for outdoor use to add extra protection against the elements.
     

  1. Raised Garden Beds

Another rewarding DIY garden build is to create your own raised beds for flowers, vegetables, or herbs. This is a beginner friendly project that can add flair to gardens of any size.

For this build, you’ll need:

  • Timber planks (you can choose how big your raised beds are)
  • Screws
  • A garden liner 
  • Soil and compost
  • Combi drill
  • Circular saw
  • Sheet or random orbit sander
  • Paint or sealant (optional)

How to make it:

  1. Measure and cut your timber planks using the circular saw to ensure smooth, straight cuts.
     
  2. Assemble the planks into a rectangle and secure the four corners with screws. 
  3. Sand any rough edges to get a neat finish.
     
  4. You can leave the structure rustic or add a sealant or coat of paint if you prefer.
     
  5. Line the base of the bed and add soil and compost.
     
  6. Your DIY raised bed is ready for planting!

  1. Storage Bench

A storage bench is a two in one piece of furniture that can be a satisfying beginner or intermediate project. You can store gardening supplies, blankets and cushions, or garden games inside, and enjoy a stylish seating area at the same time. 

For this build, you’ll need:

  • Timber 
  • Hinges 
  • Screws
  • Jigsaw
  • Combi drill
  • Sheet or random orbit sander
  • Outdoor cushions
  • Paint, varnish, or oil

How to make it:

  • The first step is to build a basic box frame by cutting your timber into five pieces using a jigsaw (you could also use a circular saw). Secure the five pieces together, with one as a base and the other four forming walls.
     
  1. Cut and shape a matching lid and attach hinges using your combi drill.
     
  2. Attach the hinged lid to the bench base.
     
  3. Sand all surfaces until smooth.
     
  4. Add your choice of paint, varnish, or oil.
     
  5. Top the bench lid with an elegant cushion to create a comfortable place to perch.
     

  1. Foldable Garden Chairs

Ideal for gardens and patios with limited space, these foldable chairs pack down for easy storage. It’s a little more complex than the pallet chair project, but can be a very rewarding task for DIY enthusiasts. 

For this build, you’ll need:

  • Timber (enough for the frame and slats)
  • Circular saw
  • Combi drill
  • Planer
  • Random orbit sander
  • Bolts
  • Screws
  • Outdoor varnish

How to make it:

  1. You’ll first need to measure and cut your wood to create a chair frame and slats for the seat and back. Use your circular saw and ensure smooth edges with the planer.
     
  2. Build the seat frame by creating an outer rectangle, then attaching the horizontal slats to half of it. This will leave two legs at the other end.
     
  3. Create the backrest in the same way, and then angle it slightly before bolting it to the frame. This will create a foldable chair.
     
  4. Sand the chair and then add a layer of varnish for weather resistance.

  1. Outdoor Bar Cart

Bring a bit of luxury to your space by creating a stylish mobile drink or snack station. This bar cart looks great and features wheels for ultimate portability. It’s a more intricate design so it would best suit a confident DIYer.

For this build, you’ll need:

  • Wooden planks
  • Screws
  • Castor wheels
  • A handle
  • Jigsaw
  • Combi drill
  • Random orbit sander
  • Paint, stain, or wood oil

How to make it:

  1. First, plan, measure, and cut the wood to create:
    1. 4 x legs
    2. 4 x long side rails
    3. 4 x short end rails
    4. 2 x shelf bases
       
  2. Sand the edges of all components smooth.
     
  3. Use the long and short rails to make two rectangles, then attach the shelf bases.
     
  4. Stand the legs upright and attach the shelves to them (one near the top, one near the bottom).
     
  5. Flip the construction over and attach the wheels to the bottom of the legs.
     
  6. Return the cart upright and attach the handle to one of the sides.
     
  7. Give everything a final sand and then add your choice of paint or finish.

  1. Pergola

A pergola can be a stunning feature that offers shade and shelter, and also provides an opportunity for climbing plants. These open sided structures have a roof and can be placed on decking, patios, or lawn areas.

We have a full step-by-step guide on how to build a pergola, but here’s a quick overview.

For this build, you’ll need:

How to make it:

  1. Prepare post holes or supports
  2. Install the timber posts
  3. Attach the support beams and rafters
  4. Add diagonal bracing 
  5. Sand all edges smooth

  1. Garden Swing Bench

What could be more relaxing than resting on a garden swing bench? With this DIY garden furniture project, you can create a sturdy bench that swings from a frame or a tree.

For this build, you’ll need:

  • Timber
  • Strong chains
  • Bolts and hooks
  • A cushion
  • Combi Drill
  • Jigsaw
  • Sander
  • Sealant

How to make it:

  1. Cut your timber to size so you have a seat, backrest, and armrests (optional).
     
  2. Construct a strong bench frame by fastening your timber elements together.
     
  3. Drill four holes on the bench seat, close to each of the corners and install eye bolts or screw hooks — this is where you’ll attach the chains.
     
  4. Choose a sturdy beam or tree branch, and then attach the chains from the seat to the overhead support structure. 
  5. Adjust the chain lengths so that the seat is level and far enough off the ground.
     
  6. Carefully test the swing’s strength before trying to sit on it.
     
  7. Apply a coat of outdoor sealant to the timber, then, once dry, add a cushion for comfort.

Tips for Success

Learning how to build your own outdoor furniture can be a fun and rewarding experience but it can also be a steep learning curve. As with any other skill, practice makes perfect. With this said, here are some top tips to help you get the best results from your garden furniture projects so you won’t need to worry about wasted time and money.

  • Measure twice, cut once: This phrase is a favourite among woodworkers, and for good reason. Once you’ve cut your pieces of timber, you can’t undo it. A tape measure is indispensable, so make sure you always have one in your kit and double check every measurement to the millimetre.
     
  • Choose furniture plans suited to your skill level: It can be tempting to jump ahead and try complex projects to enjoy the outcome. However, it’s important to build and perfect your skills so you feel confident before progressing to more advanced tasks.

    So start simple, get your pallet furniture and raised beds impeccable, then build up, trying your hand at swing seats, storage benches, and pergolas.
     
  • Use pressure treated wood or outdoor sealant: The last thing you want is for your bespoke handmade furniture to rot in the rain. By starting with pressure treated wood and adding protective sealants, you can ensure your DIY furniture will withstand the Great British weather.

Invest Wisely in Versatile Tools

Our biggest piece of advice? Make sure you have a good collection of tools. These will make the tasks easier, quicker, and more successful — not to mention more enjoyable. It’s a wise idea to invest in reliable tools that offer multiple functions. For example, a DeWalt combi drill can be used to drill into wood, drive screws, drill metal, and more. Similarly, a Maita jigsaw will allow you to cut pretty much anything, from circular and straight cuts to 45 degree bevels.

Another benefit of choosing high quality tools from renowned brands like DeWalt and Makita is safety. These manufacturers ensure their products are rigorously tested for safety, and they feature ergonomic designs for comfort. 

At ToolStore UK, we stock a full range of power tools and equipment to help you get the best from your DIY garden furniture projects. Our products come with a one year manufacturer’s warranty as standard, which can be extended. 


Explore our range and enjoy next working day delivery when you order before 4pm!

1st August 2025

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