How to Build a Couch: Overview of Couch Building Plans

Daybeds come in a few varieties—some flipping down, others flattening out—but this DIY daybed remains in place.

Manda McGrath of The Merry Thought designed this daybed so that, in sitting mode, pillows form the couch’s seatback. In sleeping mode, the pillows are removed to reveal a generously sized 36-inch-wide bed that’s perfect for afternoon naps.

Build this couch for small apartments, studios, guest rooms, or for a home office. Wherever work and napping mix, a daybed is essential. And this DIY couch fits the bill.

Building This DIY Daybed

The beauty of this daybed couch design is that most of it is made from 3/4-inch plywood. This means that you have fewer small pieces to assemble. The most difficult part of this project is ripping two-by-six boards into narrower boards.

But once that’s done, it’s just a matter of assembling the large plywood pieces. This is a simple, fast, and inexpensive couch to build.