How to Make Your Own Bookcase Chair

Cut four lengths of 2-by-4 timber 21-1/4 inches in length with a circular saw. Cut four lengths of 2-by-4 timber to 10 inches in length. Cut four lengths of 2-by-4 timber 7 inches in length. Screw one of the 10-inch-long pieces to one end of a 21 1/4-inch-long piece with two countersunk 6-inch-long screws to form an “L” shape that is 14 inches long and 21-1/4 inches tall.

Measure then cut a sheet of 3/4-inch-thick plywood that is 7 inches long by 18 inches wide. Screw a second 21 1/4-inch-long piece to the other end of the 10-inch piece on the “L” shape with a drill equipped with a screwdriver bit. Screw a second 10-inch piece between the two 21 1/4-inch pieces at the opposite end to form a rectangular frame. Screw together a second rectangle with the same dimensions.

Screw the rectangles together into a frame by screwing the 7-inch-long pieces between the rectangles, one at each corner of the frame. Screw two hinges to one 18-inch-wide edge of the sheet. Screw the hinges to the top of one of the 18-inch-long sides of the 2-by-4 frame.

Cut another sheet of 3/4-inch-thick plywood that is 22 inches long by 18 inches wide. Cut two sheets of 3/4-inch-thick plywood 16-1/2 inches in length and 9 inches wide. Cut two sheets of 3/4-inch-thick plywood that are 20 inches long and 9 inches wide. Cut another sheet of 3/4-inch-thick plywood 16-1/2 inches in length by 9 inches wide.

Screw one of the 16 1/2-by-9 inch pieces onto one end of a 22-by-9 inch piece with two countersunk 6-inch-long screws. Screw the other 22-by-9 inch piece to the other end of the 16 1/2-by 9-inch piece to form a “U” shape that is 18 inches long by 22 inches high. Screw the second 16 1/2-by-9 inch piece into the open end of the “U” to form a rectangular frame.

Measure 9 inches up from the inside of the bottom of the rectangular frame. Screw the 16 1/2-by-8 1/4 inch piece into the rectangle at this point with two countersunk 6-inch-long screws per joint. Screw the 20-by-18 inch sheet to the back of the rectangle. Screw the bookcase to the front of the 2-by-4 frame with three countersunk 6-inch-long screws on both the left and right sides.

Cut another sheet of 3/4-inch-thick plywood that is 33 inches long by 20 inches wide. Cut four sheets of 3/4-inch-thick plywood 18 1/2 inches in length and 9 inches wide. Cut two sheets of 3/4-inch-thick plywood that are 33 inches long by 9 inches wide.

Screw one of the 18 1/2-by-9 inch pieces onto one end of a 33-by-9 inch piece with two countersunk 6-inch-long screws. Screw the other 33-by-9 inch piece to the other end of the 18 1/2-by-9 inch piece to form a “U” shape that is 20 inches long by 33 inches high. Screw the second 18 1/2-by-9 inch piece into the open end of the “U.”

Attach one of the remaining 18 1/2-by-9 inch pieces into the frame 9 inches from the inside bottom of the frame with two countersunk 6-inch-long screws per joint. Screw the other 18 1/2-by-9 inch piece into the frame 9 inches from the inside top of the frame.

Screw the 20-by-33 inch sheet to the back of the frame with four countersunk 6-inch-long screws. Screw the bookcase to the left of the 2-by-4 frame so its rightmost edge is flush with the front of the first bookcase. Repeat Steps 6, 7 and 8 to build an identical bookcase. Screw a 20-by-33 inch sheet to the back of the new bookcase. Screw the bookcase to the right side of the 2-by-4 frame.

Cut one sheet of 3/4-inch-thick plywood that is 36 inches in length by 33 inches wide. Cut five sheets of 3/4-inch-thick plywood 33 inches long and 9 inches wide. Cut two sheets of 3/4-inch-thick plywood that are 34-1/2 inches long and 9 inches wide.

Screw one of the 34 1/2-by-9 inch pieces onto one end of a 33-by-9 inch piece with two countersunk 6-inch-long screws. Screw the other 33-by-9 inch piece to the other end of the 34 1/2-by-9 inch piece to form a “U” shape that is 36 inches long by 33 inches high. Screw a second 34 1/2-by-9 inch piece into the open end of the “U” to form a rectangular frame.

Measure 9 inches up from the inside of the bottom of the rectangular frame. Screw a 34 1/2-by-9 inch piece into the rectangle at this point with two countersunk 6-inch-long screws per joint to form a shelf. Measure another 9 inches up from the shelf and screw another 34 1/2-by-9 inch sheet into the frame.

Measure 9 inches up from this second shelf and screw the final 34 1/2-by-9 inch sheet into the frame. Screw the 36-by-33 inch sheet to the back of the rectangle to form the final bookcase. Screw the bookcase to the back of the chair with three countersunk 6-inch-long screws through the left and right 2-by-4 pieces.

Cut a piece of furniture foam 20 inches long by 18 inches wide. Place the foam on top of the hinged plywood sheet on the chair so the end of the foam is flush with the front of the front shelves. Measure the distance from the top of the foam to the top of the back bookcase. Cut a piece of furniture foam as long as the distance you measured and 18 inches in width.

Glue the second piece of foam on top of the first piece of foam with PVA glue to form an “L” shape. Wait one hour for the glue to set. Wrap a sheet of furniture upholstery around the “L” shape and cut the upholstery to length. Sew the upholstery together around the furniture foam with needle and thread to finish the cushion. Place the cushion on the chair.