How to Make Your Own Minimalist Sofa

Set two 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-20-inch boards on the ground. Arrange them parallel with each other, with their largest sides facing downward. Space them about 1 foot apart. Set two more 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-20-inch boards on top of these boards, but perpendicular to them. Adjust the boards so that they form a 20-inch square frame, overlapping in the corners but even along the sides and ends.

Drill two holes through each corner into the board on top, and down through the board on the bottom. Drill a total of eight holes. Screw a 2-inch wood screw through a hole in the top board and into a hole in the bottom board. Repeat for the rest of the holes. Repeat the entire process with four more 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-20-inch boards to create two identical square frames to serve as the couch legs.

Have an assistant turn each couch leg frame vertical. Space the couch leg frames about 3 feet apart and perpendicular to each other.

Lower five 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-44-inch boards across the leg frames, evenly spaced on top of them so their ends hang an equal distance off of each leg frame. Space the five boards, which are the seat boards, so that the front and rear boards are even with the front and rear edges of the leg frames. Maneuver the middle three seat boards so that they are evenly spaced between the outer two.

Drill two holes down through each of the five seat boards and into each leg frame underneath them for a total of 20 screw holes. Set 2-inch wood screws within each of the screw holes and tighten them completely, using a drill. Drape a 20-by-40-inch woven mat over the top of the sofa.