From this article you will learn how to make from, literally, pasture lumber:
- several options for simple but stylish shops;
- two options for benches;
- stool;
- table.
In addition, you will receive plenty of food for the development of your own design fantasies, the implementation of which depends only on your skills in handling tools and the availability of free time.
All garden furniture products that will be discussed are made in a “wild” or rustic style, or in country style. They are perfect for furnishing a relaxation area outside the home. And if you have a “wild log house”, then even more so, you can’t think of anything better to tastefully “furnish” the area around the house for summer outdoor recreation or gatherings with barbecue.
To immediately understand what we are talking about, here it is:
Bench and table without a single nail. With some skill in using a chainsaw, such a kit can be quickly made without a single nail.
... and about this:
The bench option is more complicated.
Such a product will require more time due to the larger number of parts and the need to fasten them together.
If you don’t mind, you can leave the log bench without protective treatment. But if durability is important to you, then the products should be protected with antiseptic compounds, treated with stain, or varnished.
Tools for making garden furniture
The set is, in general, standard. If you have a workshop, then most likely you have everything you need there. You may need a hammer, mallet, screwdriver (drill), grinder or grinder, axe, plane, stapler, saw...
In order to build a bench or other furniture in a “wild style” quickly and without extra effort, it is advisable to have a chainsaw or electric saw at your disposal. This will make your work a lot easier! Because the main idea in wild furniture projects is the use of half-logs as structural elements.
Of course, it is more convenient to cut whole logs and blocks with a chainsaw. But if you don’t have one, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have the technical ability to build a bench or table yourself. You just have to split the logs with a cleaver and wedges.
In fact, it is possible and not as difficult as it seems. Here is a video on this topic:
In this video they use a cleaver - an ax for chopping wood. Its difference from a carpenter's ax is that the working, piercing part has a noticeable expansion, and the sharpening angle of the blade is wider. You can also use an axe, you just have to drive in the wedges earlier.
On the left is an ax, on the right is a cleaver (the width of its blade may be thicker)
With this method of halving a log, it is important that the log splits along the plane of impact and that the crack does not go sideways. Much depends on the quality of the log. Firstly, it must be dry. In principle, it is advisable to work with dried lumber when building garden furniture, because raw timber can become deformed during the drying process, crack, and your bench, bench or table will become uncomfortable, unstable, or simply lose its aesthetic appearance.
Secondly, if you are splitting a log with a cleaver to obtain smooth materials suitable for building a bench, then it should not be too twisted. That is, the fibers must run more or less evenly, because the crack will go along them. Minor irregularities and deformations along the split surface can be removed with a plane and grinding. In addition, “wild” furniture does not have to be perfectly flat!
Assembly
Step-by-step instructions for assembling a garden table are as follows:
- Marking lines are applied on the log and sawed with a chainsaw (when making parts for the table top, it is better to use the services of sawmill workers).
- The parts are cleared of bark using a sharp ax or a chisel and hammer.
- Clean the surfaces with a grinding machine.
- The parts are assembled into a single structure.
- Self-tapping screws are used to connect products; they are screwed into the workpieces using a screwdriver.
After making the frame of the stand, they begin to secure the table top.
Fastening the table top
In practice, there are two options for securing the table top. In small-sized furniture with minimal load on the upper part, the frame is covered with a sheet of chipboard and the element is secured with self-tapping screws. The tabletop is covered with self-adhesive paper. The lid fastening option is suitable for furniture with top dimensions of no more than 1 x 1 meter.
In another case, longitudinal cuts of logs or wooden beams are used to make the tabletop. It is necessary to carefully process the front surface with a plane so that all parts acquire a uniform structure.
Important! Make the surface of the tabletop as smooth as possible, which will prevent injury when using the furniture.
Table finishing
After assembling the furniture, they begin to coat the structure with protective compounds. It should be remembered that the working solution must be applied to a surface that has been previously cleaned of debris and dust. When the protective layer is completely dry, the table is covered with transparent varnish.
The nuances of using a chainsaw when building garden furniture with your own hands
Here is a wonderful example of a garden bench that is as designer and unique as it is simple:
Exclusive bench carved from a single curved log
But the simplicity is only apparent. Indeed, its design is elementary - just one log, no other parts or fasteners. The entire structure - seat, back - was cut out with a chainsaw. However, to cut such a shaped product, you need to have excellent command of a chainsaw, a feel for the tool and the material. Therefore, this bench is not so simple.
To evenly halve a log, you also need to have some skill. A couple of tips to make your work easier:
- make markings not only at the end, but also along the log;
- if the log is debarked, draw two lines - a strip along which the cut will go, 1 cm thick - this is the approximate thickness that the saw will “eat”;
- if you want to leave the bark and it is inconvenient to draw on a log, then you can stretch a cord from end to end and carefully saw along it;
- secure the log so that it does not “walk” due to the vibration of the saw, support it with wedges, bars, etc.
To decorate a bench or bench, you can lightly run a saw chain along the flat part of the half-logs - the seat and back - and make a few transverse scratches and gouges to age the wood and give the shape a natural look. When sanded, the chipped areas will be smoothed out and will not interfere with use, but the appearance of the bench or bench will become more interesting.
To age wood, firing and brushing are also used - scratching with a hard steel brush.
Chopped dog kennels
If your dog lives in the yard, then she simply needs shelter from the scorching sun, rain, wind and snow. After all, she, like a person, needs a place to rest and sleep. Sleeping on the ground or hiding under a bush during a rainstorm is not only unpleasant, but also harmful to a dog’s health. That is why log dog houses are the only correct solution in such a situation. By purchasing a log cabin for your pet, you not only keep him healthy, you also add a beautiful decorative element to the area.
Kennel for the dog “Baby” Art: 012 Price: 19,000 ₽
Buy online
Dog house “Terem” with architectural cuts of the end of the log Art: 013 Price: 20,000 ₽
Buy online
Large dog house “Caprice” with an extension under the porch, chopped from a log Art: 014 Price: 30,000 ₽
Buy online
DIY wild style bench
The simplest piece of garden furniture that you can make with your own hands is a bench. If you have a thick enough log, you can cut it out of a solid mass, and you will get something like this:
Solid log bench
We cut it out with a chainsaw and polish it. We burn it, cover it with varnish, stain – details to taste. This shop looks quite original, despite the simplicity of the design.
If there is no such thick log, then here is the second option:
The ideal combination of ease of manufacture and aesthetic results
It's intuitive how this is done, right? In general, all furniture of this type is folded, just like a log house - the upper elements are placed in cut-out grooves. In this case, the connection goes “into the bowl”, but it is not necessary to cut out an even “moon” groove; it is enough to cut out a triangular segment so that the main half-log sits firmly in the block legs. Such grooves are easy to cut out with an ax - no fine work is required.
The log for the seat does not have to be smooth and without knots; it can also be crooked. The same is true in the case of making a bench. The natural curvature of the material, on the contrary, will add spectacularity to the product - brutality and stylish “wildness”.
Bench made of crooked half-logs
Beautiful examples
You can create furniture for your home and garden yourself. It will be unusual and stylish just because you created it yourself. You can brag to your family and friends. Homemade products will help bring your ideas to life and reveal your individuality. For example, you can knock down frames for armchairs and a sofa from edged boards. Place soft, colorful pillows there, and also lay down a fabric of a suitable color. Such furniture will become the highlight of your summer cottage.
Be sure to find out the exact dimensions of each element so that you can make an original folding chair. It will always come in handy at the dacha. Such furniture can be easily rearranged and moved to the place you need.
When implementing your interesting ideas, do not forget that the models should fit the overall style of the room. Nowadays, the most common sets are those created in a modern or French style. High-tech, country, and minimalist styles are also relevant.
You can often see different combinations of materials. This could be, for example, wood, cast iron, metal-plastic trim. To create a romantic atmosphere, furniture in the Provence style is suitable. It can be made of wood or it can be forged options.
The main requirement for any product is convenience. Rattan structures are often used. They are not only visually attractive, but also quite comfortable and convenient. You can decorate the products with a variety of pillows and fabrics.
You can focus on fashion, but it is better to choose those products that you like. Then the interior items will only cause you delight and positive emotions. The main thing is to follow a single style, adhere to the color palette and not be afraid to experiment.
Now you know how to create furniture for your garden and dacha with your own hands
Don't forget about the most important step - creating a clear outline. Follow it step by step, and you will be able to create a real masterpiece that will delight you and your loved ones
Be sure to prepare the place for work, all the tools and parts, so as not to look for them later. This will help make the work process relaxed and easy. Unleash your talent by starting to create interior items with your own hands.
To learn how to make garden furniture with your own hands, see the following video.
A simple “wild” bench without a single nail
How to make a bench is already clear. To get a bench, you only need to attach the backrest. It can be attached without a single nail, screw, etc.
To do this, take two bars of triangular or trapezoidal cross-section. We get it from one, sawing it in the middle. A triangular section is needed to make a dovetail connection between the bars and the seat and backrest.
Dovetail connection: trapezoidal tenon into trapezoidal groove.
In the half-logs for the seat and back, triangular (trapezoidal) grooves for supports are cut out so that the wide part is inside the half-logs. Then all the elements are connected in these grooves. In the video you will see that it is easier than it sounds in words:
But this is more difficult than it looks. The main difficulty is to cut grooves of the desired shape at the desired angle in the rounded surface of the half-logs. Without certain dexterity and experience in working with a chainsaw, this is not easy.
There is a simpler option - do without the dovetail, use self-tapping screws or nails to attach the backrest supports to the bench. The supports are attached to chocks, which serve as legs; they can also be attached additionally to the seat mass. The back can be secured in the same way by cutting out moon grooves in the supports themselves, if they are thick enough. We get approximately the following:
Simple and stylish - a bench made of logs.
To make the benches and benches described above, you need initial logs from approximately 35 cm in diameter (if we take the same ones). This is dictated by the comfortable parameters of the bench or bench itself. Its height is 40-50 cm. The height of the seat plane is about 1.5 times the diameter of the log. The final calculation depends on the depth of the groove, but it is not necessary to cut it deep.
Another important note:
For two benches, it is advisable to cut the log in half, but for a bench, it is better to move the cutting plane away from the diameter plane, so that the beam for the back is smaller than for the seat. Firstly, your bench will be 5-10 cm higher, which is important if the log is not thick enough. Secondly, do not forget about the center of gravity of the bench.
If the half-log for the back is as massive as the seat, and the back is sloped, then the structure may be unstable. This problem can be solved if you rigidly attach the seat to the lower supports, but you will also be sitting on this bench! And you'll want to sit back!
To prevent the center of gravity from shifting so that the bench will tip over or wobble, the top of the backrest should not extend beyond the vertical axis passing through the extreme points of the lower supports and legs. It is better if the legs protrude further than the back of the bench.
The relative position of the extreme points of the rear legs and the back of the bench
Another significant parameter. There are various original design benches, chairs, etc., but for a standard bench or chair, the backrest slope is within 30° from the vertical axis.
Labor and cost
Preparing wood, sawing logs, making grooves and other operations is a rather complex process that requires maximum care and experience from the performer. For professionals, it will take at least 2 hours to complete all operations, for inexperienced users – much more.
The cost of furniture will depend on the type of wood (if the material needs to be purchased) and the price of consumables. For example, one self-tapping screw costs at least 5 rubles, plus additional funds for protective compounds: the price of 200 milliliters of varnish is about 200 rubles, a can of protective impregnation will cost at least 600 rubles.
Another bench made of logs that is easy to make with your own hands
This option is suitable if you have logs of small diameters. To make it clear, it’s better to see it once:
Log bench, front view
The same bench, rear view
Everything here is also clear from the picture. The logs are connected - articulated into longitudinal grooves. Half logs - for the back and seat. For the backrest supports, grooves are cut out in the logs of the “legs”, but, in principle, they can be secured with screws or nails. The bottom bar is necessary for the rigidity of the supports.
What's the main thing here? The main thing is to fasten the supporting logs, “legs”. They can be fastened together:
- dowels - metal or wood; as such, reinforcement can be used;
- nails;
- screws, self-tapping screws.
The fastening elements should be staggered between different logs. When attaching the supports for the backrest to the body of the main lower supports, you need to make sure that the fastening elements do not intersect inside the solid wood.
Checkerboard arrangement of dowels in the joints of logs
Important: Do not screw in a screw or drive a nail from scratch! This way you can split the log, especially if it is small in diameter. Pre-drill the holes with a drill equipped with a long drill bit!
Care
In addition to watering, there are two other activities that should be kept in mind. It's rain and wind. In a homemade flower garden, the volume of soil is small, so until the plants reach the required root size, the flowers need to be protected from heavy rain. The soil in the flowerbed is usually covered with small shavings and wood chips, which prevents the soil from being washed away.
The second problem is weeds, which need to be removed in the first weeks of warm weather. If you start a flowerbed, the flowers may not gain the necessary green mass
For hanging plants, it is important to regularly trim the tops, otherwise the process of uncontrolled moisture loss will begin.
DIY log table
For example, in this video you will see in two minutes how a master will make a simple set of a bench and a table in a “wild” style without a single nail:
By the way, to strengthen the structure, no one bothers to use glue, nails, etc.
The tabletop can also be installed on a wide stump, which remains from a cut down tree. In general, if there are stumps left on your site, take a closer look at them before uprooting them. Perhaps, if they are positioned well, it will be possible to install a bench on them, but certainly - you can put a table! In this case, it is better to knock down the tabletop from rough boards, or use a homogeneous array.
If you make a table entirely from logs, then the principle is the same as in the construction of benches. The structure is assembled in the same way as a log house - the elements are placed in grooves. If it is necessary to increase rigidity, fasteners and glue are used.
The following image shows a one-piece structure that combines both a table and benches. Doing this is technically no more difficult than a separate bench. The only difference is that you need to tinker with calculations and drawings; you can’t do it by eye.
Single chopped design of a table and two benches made of thick logs and half-logs
Materials
Solid wood furniture is popular. Unlike metal, it is environmentally friendly and safe. As already noted, country furniture can be made from different types of wood. The most popular are conifers. They have healing properties, but are notable for the release of epoxy resin, so the wood should be deresined so that the furniture does not stain clothes.
Buyers often prefer to purchase products made from pine. It can be classified as a soft breed. However, it is not durable enough. However, the products from it will turn out to be the most creative and fantastic. Eucalyptus options are attractive. Larch models will require special care when using such products outdoors.
The most reliable and durable options include products made from hardwoods - yew, birch, dogwood. They contain special oils that protect against the effects of natural phenomena. They will serve you for many years. Teak furniture is also a great option. This breed is resistant to various climate changes. This type of wood is used in shipbuilding. You can distinguish furniture made from this material by the attractive natural patterns on the wood.
If you want to make attractive wicker structures, you should pay attention to flexible tree varieties. For example, these could be bird cherry branches
They are quite pliable, soft and plastic. This will help you show your imagination and create real masterpieces.
Garden furniture with logs at the base will look good. They won't even need to be processed. You just have to cut the appropriate size and install them at the required distance. The table can be made quickly and easily. It is enough to place a thick stump in the middle, build a tabletop, and the furniture is ready. You can use different types of wood.
You can make garden furniture from boards. This particular product has a predetermined flatness and a small thickness. All this allows you to successfully connect the boards together using nails. Using a regular grinder you can sand the product. It is worth noting that in this case you should first create a tabletop. This is done by fastening the boards together. Then you can move on to the base.
A simple way to make a “wild” stool from thick wood
... which you won’t be ashamed to put in your home. Look how easy it is:
Please note that it is not at all necessary to master a chainsaw, since the scale of the workspace allows you to correct the unevenness of the first cut.
Such a stool will fit into the interior, as well as a table made of logs, especially in a log house in the “wild style”.
Another method of making a stool, where you don’t even need to cut anything out:
A thick enough piece of wood can make an excellent chair. If you burn it, sand it and varnish it, you get an exclusive product that would be a pity to take outside:
Recommendations for masters
To ensure that wood furniture pleases you for a long time, there are some tips that should not be neglected:
- Be sure to protect wooden furniture from precipitation and temperature changes. For this purpose, you can find special solutions and compositions in stores.
- Be sure to treat all corners and surfaces that come into contact with the body. This way you will protect yourself from splinters and other injuries.
- Don't neglect drawing up a drawing. This will help you calculate the amount of material and think through all the details.
In these simple ways you can assemble an amazingly beautiful wooden table.
After watching the video, you will learn how to make a table from a log with your own hands.
For inspiration
Any material can be used to make garden furniture if you get creative. Any snag, branch, or stump. Below are photos that confirm this.
Using curved branches to decorate the back of the bench and armrests
Wild-style bench made of half-logs and crooked branches
Designer bench made of logs and branches with an awning from rain and sun
Designer swing bench made from driftwood and naturally shaped branches
Simple and elegant
How to collect?
In order to make the process of assembling garden furniture as easy as possible, we recommend stocking up on all the necessary tools in advance. Professional jigsaws and planes in stores are quite expensive, so if you plan to assemble one bench and settle down there, then it is not advisable to purchase them for personal use - ask your country neighbors or friends.
The process of making furniture will be much easier if you find the necessary instructions or drawing in advance. Once you gain experience, you can easily improvise and create your own unique projects. But in the initial stages, it is better to stick to proven schemes.
Implementation of unusual ideas
Furniture made on site
To create interesting items for decorating the landscape, you can decorate tables, chairs and benches with beautiful original branches. Such furniture will become a wonderful and appropriate element of the garden exterior and will not leave any of the guests indifferent.
Another option for making a table for a summer house is to use a large cut of the trunk as a support and a horizontal cut of the butt as a cover. The horizontal cut is fixed on a shield made from parts of the trunk. To make the structure reliable, it must be supported with logs, the tops of which have been previously hewn off, and secured to support pillars.
