How to Build a Simple Morris Chair

Cut a piece of four-by-six wood into a curved form at least 24 inches long to shape the slats. Cut a two-by-four into 4 pieces, 1/2 inch thick and 24 inches long, and soak them for one hour in warm water.

Attach the pieces, one at a time, to the form, and clamp them tightly. Allow the wood to dry, and unclamp it to get curved slats.

Saw the ends of each curved slat to make them flat, and attach them to two two-by-two pieces of lumber using four 1 1/2-inch-thick screws per slat, to form the back of the chair. The sides of the back should be 22 inches apart. Saw off any excess.

Cut two two-by-fours into two 36-inch armrests and two 2-inch-thick, 22-inch-long seat supports. Cut two three-by-three beams into four 24-inch legs. Cut four one-by-four boards into four 20-inch rails and two 22-inch slats. Cut one two-by-six board into two 22-inch rails. Cut 1/4-inch plywood into ten 2-inch-thick strips measuring 12 inches in length.

Assemble the pieces using 6-inch screws. Screw one of the 20-inch rails into the legs, about 4 inches off the ground, and another at the top of the legs. Repeat for the other side. Secure the plywood strips into the 20-inch rails, spacing them 2 inches apart. Top each side section with the armrests, flush with one side of the legs and extending over the other. The armrests should extend about 6 inches past the back of the chair and about 2 inches in the front.

Connect the sides by screwing them into the 22-inch rails, ensuring that the flush sides face inward. The front rail should be approximately 4 inches higher than the back rail. Once the rails are in position, screw the seat supports into the rails with 3-inch screws spaced evenly, leaving 3 inches of space at the top.

Slide the slats onto the seat supports, spacing them evenly. If they are too long, trim any excess off the ends. Screw them into position with 2-inch screws.

Using 6-inch screws, secure the back into the chair at the desired angle, screwing through the rear sides of the armrests. Use 4-inch screws to secure the bottom of the back section into the rear legs, screwing through the sides.

Trim any unappealing excess off the back. Stain the chair as desired.