Free Plans to Build a Brooklyn Chair

An Easy to Build Chair with Tapered Legs Suitable for All Skill Levels! – Updated 10/3/19

I absolutely love the design of this chair, and what’s even better is that it’s super easy to build! Not only that, but the free plans for the Brooklyn chair, as well as the next two pieces in the collection (the table and the barstool), are perfect for indoor use too!

As a side note, the front legs are not tapered and the back legs are which gives this piece tons of character, and I have updated the plan to make the rear legs in one piece.

Materials:

• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws
• 2″ pocket hole screws
• 2-1/2″ pocket hole screws
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• Edge banding
• Finishing supplies

Lumber:

• 1 – 1×3 at 6′
• 1 – 1×4 at 6′
• 2 – 2×2 at 8′
• 1 – 2′ x 2′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood

Cut List:

• 2 – 2×4 at 40″ – Legs
• 4 – 1×4 at 17″ – Back Slats
• 2 – 1×3 at 17″ – Back & Front Stretchers
• 2 – 2×2 at 17-1/4″ – Front Legs
• 2 – 1×3 at 17-1/2″ – Side Stretchers
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 20″ x 20-1/2″ – Seat

Click on the drawings for a larger view!

Step One

Cut the pieces for the back legs. Draw a line on the 2x4s 18″ up from the bottom, then draw a line 3-1/4″ below that.  make a mark at 13/16″ from one edge of each of these lines (this is the FRONT of the leg), and 9/16″ from the opposite edge (this will be the BACK of the leg). On the bottom edge of the board, make a mark 3/4″ in from the back edge. Draw a diagonal line at the mark above at the front edge (on the lower line) to the mark at the lower edge. Draw another diagonal line from the mark at 9/16″ to the lower corner of the board. This will create the taper on the lower end of the legs.

Make a mark 3/4″ from the top end of the back edge of the leg. Draw a diagonal line from the 13/16″ mark on the upper line at the middle of the leg to this mark. Draw another diagonal line from the 9/16″ mark on the upper line to the top edge of the board to form the taper for the top of the leg.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the back slats and the back stretcher. Drill pocket holes in each end. Position the stretcher as shown then secure using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Secure the back slats along the angle of the upper back, with 1″ spacing between them, using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the front legs and the front stretcher. Drill holes in each end of the stretcher. Position as shown then secure to the legs using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the side stretchers and drill pocket holes in each end. Position as shown then secure to the legs using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws in the front and 2″ pocket hole screws in the back legs.

Step Five

Cut the piece for the seat and cut the notches using a jigsaw or a bandsaw. Apply edge banding, if desired. Attach to the seat frame using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Finish as desired!

This chair is part of a really neat collection that can be finished in a variety of ways. The entire collection is easy to construct, and very inexpensive! Have questions about the free plans to build a Brooklyn chair? Leave a comment below!

Originally posted 2013-06-11 08:00:01.