How to Build a Love Seat out of 2x4s

Arrange two 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-18-inch boards parallel to each other with their wide surfaces facing upward. Position them about a foot apart and set on top of them two more 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-18-inch boards perpendicular to them so the four boards form a square. Arrange the corners of the boards so that they are all even.

Make two holes in each corner with a drill for a total of eight holes. Drill down through the top board and into the lower board, making sure the drill doesn't pass into the working surface. Set a 2 1/2-inch wood screw in each hole and tighten them down so that the top of the screw head doesn't pass the plane of the wood surface. Repeat this process with two more sets of four 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-18-inch boards, to assemble the three couch legs.

Position the three couch legs parallel to each, standing upright, with the help of an assistant. Set the legs about a foot and a half apart. Spread four 46-inch 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-inch boards on top of the couch legs. Arrange these boards, which are the seat boards, so that the outside boards are even with the outside edges of the couch legs, and the inside boards are evenly spaced between them. Center the middle couch leg under the seat boards, and space the other legs three inches from the ends of the seat boards.

Drill two holes down through each seat board and into each couch leg underneath for a total of 24 holes. Set a 2 1/2-inch wood screw into each hole and tighten them completely.

Position two 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-44-inch boards parallel to each other on the working surface, with the largest surfaces facing upward. Spread the boards about three feet apart and set a 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-39-inch board against each set of ends of the two boards. Arrange the boards so they form a rectangle. Drill two holes through each 39-inch board and into the ends of the 44-inch boards, for a total of eight holes. Set 5-inch screws in each hole and tighten them completely.

Place three additional 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-44-inch boards inside the rectangular frame, spaced evenly. Drill two holes through the 39-inch boards and into the ends of each 44-inch board. Set 5-inch wood screws in the holes and tighten them securely.

Hold this assembled frame, which is the backrest of the couch, up against the assembled seat of the couch. Drill four holes through each vertical board of the backrest and into the couch seat and legs. Set 2 1/2-inch screws into the holes and tighten them completely.

Place a 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-10-inch board on top of each corner of the couch seat, with the edges of the board touching the corners of the seat and the largest surfaces of the board facing the front and back. Consider these boards the arm rest supports. Drill two holes up through the couch seat and into each arm rest support. Screw 2 1/2-inch screws into the holes and attach the supports to the seat.

Set a 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-18-inch board on top of each pair of arm rest supports. Drill two holes down through each board, which are the arm rests, and into each arm rest support. Attach the arm rests to the supports with 2 1/2-inch wood screws.