Building your own furniture not only lets you create designs with your own personal stamp on them, it also allows you to size your benches and chairs.

Clothes and shoes are sold to fit, but furniture is generally sold for that theoretical person--the average. Slight changes in dimensions can mean the difference between relaxation and discomfort.

All of the furniture on these pages have only two constants: seats that are 10 degrees off of level, and backs that are 80 degrees from the seats. And you can experiment with these for your own personal comfort. Seat depth for us is 17 inches, and we are both small people. Distance from seat to ground or footrest is about 11 inches. These are the two measurements that should be adjusted for sizing your furniture. Attaching Rhododendron Legs to the Seat shows a good way to get the seat angle and adjust seat height while attaching the legs.

Height of the back is purely a function of aesthetics. Comfort can be improved, but only slightly, by curving the back or seat in a chair. With a bench, a separate curve is needed for each sitter, so it is usually not worth the effort.

Width of the bench is determined primarily by how many people will be accommodated, and how big those people are. For more than two people, I like to make a double bench (Rhododendron Bench #9, Rhododendron Bench #11). or three singles (triple lawn bench) with the sides angled towards each other to facilitate conversation. Otherwise, it seems like strangers sitting in a line waiting silently for a bus.