DIY Eames Lounge Chair | How To Make DIY Eames Chair

An Eames Lounge Chair is a great invention by Charles and Ray Eames. Afterwards, lots of versions of this Eames Lounge Chair have been recreated. There is something special about this chair, i.e. the bentwood technique used on the frame.

Now you must be thinking making an Eames Lounge Chair will never be a cup of your tea. Well trust me, anyone can make a DIY Eames Lounge Chair if they actually want to. It all requires fine instruction.

This article is there to help you. Just go through the steps.

DIY Eames Lounge Chair (How To Make DIY Eames Chair?)

We know, it would be surprising for you how a normal citizen can make a grand Eames Lounge Chair. But trust me, it is super easy to make if you follow a step-by-step guideline.

You don’t have to rush for the Eames Chair Kit. Normal plywood, foams, fabrics, nails, staplers, hand drills, etc can do the job. Let’s not make any delay and jump to the steps of making our own Eames Lounge Chair.

Step-1

The first step is cutting out a bunch of wood. For the bottom, for the legs, for the neck, and also for the feet rest. It would be better if you used plywood. It will help you to see the texture and understand how much you are cutting.

Leave one and a half layers. You will see the blade is not going to pass all the way. There will be no problem if you don’t cut the last layer.

Before you start cutting the wood, draw five random lines that go straight. This can help you to practise. While using the blade over the wood, make sure you don’t go deep and leave at least two layers, i.e. half of the plywood. Then cut all the pieces in a curvy way so that you can attempt on the original piece.

This will be the back part of your Eames Lounge Chair. And it is actually a technique on how to make an Eames plywood chair.

Step- 2

Now it is time to cut the bottom. of the couch. You have to first create some lines at both the parts and ride the blade on them. Remember not to cut the wood completely, but leave two layers at least.

Perhaps, the wood won’t curve at the first attempt. So, you can use some water to moisturise the wood and make it bendy. To keep this in shape, use a rope or string.

Step– 3

Add some glue inside the holes. That is how it has to dry. So you have to fill every single hole with glue. Then curve the wood to leave it to dry in the exact position you want it to dry. This will be the end position where the pillow is going to fit perfectly inside.

Step– 4

Once you have got the measurements, more or less, it is time to tie a knot from one part to another part in a curved position. Then leave it to dry.

If you are thinking you have to browse how to build an armchair frame, you don’t have to. Following the same process, you can make two arms for this chair. You just need to take a smaller piece of wood for that.

Step- 5

You have to make a pillow for your Eames lounge chair based on how higher you have made the sides of its base. In clear words, you have to figure out the Eames Lounge Chair height adjustment.

For example, your wood’s sides are 10 centimetres higher. For that, you can take two big foams where one is 5 cm, and the other is 5 cm. Spray the bottom and top of the foam.

Let it rest for like 10 seconds and put something heavy on it. After waiting, the foam is going to be super stuck.

Step- 6

Now place both the wood bases of your chair on the top of the foams. Then take the measurements with a marker and cut them following the trace lines.

Since the wood is curvy, you have to make the edges of the foam smooth. Take the measurements with a marker pen and cut accordingly.

Step– 7

Find the two middle points of the foam and literally stab at those points. We are going to put two buttons that we see on every pillow and create a Chesterfield.

Step- 8

Now cover the curved woods that you have made for the arms. And make sure to fold the foam over the top as well so that you don’t feel the wood. That’s why you have to cut extra foam.

This will be your DIY upholstery armchair.

Step- 9

It is time to attach the foams to the woods. Start with attaching the foam of the armrest by stapling them. Get a fabric that you want to use for your chair. Don’t staple it directly on the base. Or else, it will be seen from the bottom. Instead, you have to make some little boxes.

Step- 10

Add a little flat box inside the fabric so that we can staple it without seeing it in the external cage. We have already stabbed our couch before. Because we are going to make this on the wood so that we can pull the bottoms and create a Chesterfield effect.

Pull the fabric all over the couch as tight as possible and staple it from all sides. Hopefully, your back, bottom, and feet stand are ready.

The fabric that you will attach to the arms should be stapled directly without any boxes. Also, make sure to bend the cloth by putting it inside so that it stays clean and stable.

Step- 11

Now connect the pieces of wood together. According to the shape of the original one, you have to place the wood at the bottom and back by attaching some spacers. Then add the neck part. Like the original Eames chair, you have to place the neck part in a tilted shape.

Step- 12

You can make two curvy little things by drawing them on a hard object like wood according to shape and cutting them. Thus, you can easily attach the wood of the neck too in a tilted shape.

Step- 13

Now it is time to paint the frame. You can choose a darker denser colour or a light colour. After you are done painting, leave it to dry. Manage the legs of the chair. You can take it from another chair or just buy them.

Step- 14

Now place the pillows inside. And because there are pieces of wood inside the pillow itself, we have to screw it from the bottom. Keep your hands on the above so that the box remains stable.

You will be screwing on those parts where you have stabbed the foam. While attaching the legs of the chair at the bottom, use short nails.

Step- 15

Now you have attached all the pillows and the legs. So it is time for the arms. As you know they are completely made of wood, you can place them on top and hook them on the beams of wood directly inside.

This is all. Your Eames Lounge Chair is ready now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Materials In The Eames Lounge Chair?

An Eames Lounge Chair includes moulded plywood and leather that has been designed by Charles and Ray Eames.

Why Are Eames Chairs So Expensive?

Eames chairs are expensive because they have moulded plywood from bonded wood, robust aluminium frames, and high-quality leather.

Final Thoughts

We hope you have now acknowledged enough ideas about the DIY Eames Lounge Chair. But lastly, we would say to keep some techniques in mind.

Like- as taking the measurements, cutting the curved shapes, keeping the woods in shape, assembling the chair, cutting the foam, getting the materials, and creating the Chesterfield effect. Then, connect the pieces together, build the chair, and attach the handles.

After you have tried out all the steps, we are sure that the fancy Eames Lounge Chair is at your home right now.

Thank you.