I spent months hunched over my desk, switching between a flimsy office chair and folding my legs under me on the floor like a pretzel. My lower back screamed, and my knees complained. Then I saw the Soul Seat, a fancy cross legged office chair that costs hundreds of dollars. I nearly clicked “buy” until I realized I could build one myself for under 40 bucks. This DIY version changed my home office setup completely, and I want to show you exactly how I made it.
The Problem With Standard Desk Chairs
Most office chairs force you into one position: sitting upright with your feet flat on the floor. That’s fine for an hour, but after three or four my hips locked up and I started slouching. I’m a squirmer, someone who likes to kneel, cross my legs, or sit sideways while I work. Traditional chairs just don’t allow that range of motion without wobbling or tipping.
I tried ergonomic kneeling chairs too. They helped for a while, but the hard surfaces and narrow seat pan made my legs fall asleep. I wanted something wider, softer, and flexible enough to let me shift positions throughout the day. That’s when I stumbled across the concept of a floor-based work chair that supports multiple postures.
What the Soul Seat Does (and Why I Made My Own)
The Soul Seat is a low, cushioned platform with a backrest that sits on the floor. You can kneel, sit cross legged, or stretch one leg out while keeping your back supported. It’s popular for yoga-style workspaces and meditation desks. But the real version costs around 200 dollars, plus shipping. That felt steep for a piece of foam and plywood.
So I set out to build a Soul Seat alternative using basic tools and materials from the hardware store. I wanted the same flexibility without the designer price tag. After two prototypes and a few design tweaks, I ended up with a sturdy, comfortable chair that I use every day.
Materials List for Your Own DIY Office Chair
Here is everything I used. Most of these items you might already have lying around, or you can grab them for a few dollars each.
- One 24-inch by 18-inch piece of ¾-inch plywood (or a solid wood board, if you prefer)
- A 2-inch thick memory foam cushion, cut to the same size as the seat
- Fabric of your choice (I used a remnant of outdoor upholstery fabric for durability)
- A staple gun with heavy-duty staples
- Four rubber furniture feet or a small rug pad for the bottom
- A wooden backrest (I recycled a small cutting board, roughly 12×8 inches)
- Two L-brackets and short wood screws to attach the backrest
- Spray adhesive or double-sided carpet tape
- Scissors, measuring tape, and a jigsaw (or a handsaw if you have patience)
Total cost for me was about 38 dollars. That included buying the plywood and foam. If you already own a staple gun, it’s even cheaper.
Step by Step: Building Your Cross Legged Seat
I started by cutting the plywood into a rectangle. I made mine 24 inches wide and 18 inches deep, which gives enough room for cross legged sitting. Round the front corners with a jigsaw so the edges don’t dig into your thighs.
Next, I cut the foam to match the plywood using an electric carving knife (a serrated bread knife works too). I sprayed adhesive on both the foam and the wood, waited a minute, then pressed them together. After that, I laid the fabric on top, flipped everything over, and started stapling. Pull the fabric tight as you go, like you’re upholstering a cushion. Start at the center of each side and work outward.
For the backrest, I attached the small board to the back edge of the seat using two L-brackets. I angled it slightly backward, around 15 degrees, so it leans with my spine. Screw the brackets into the wood, and you are done. Finally, stick four rubber feet on the bottom so the plywood doesn’t scratch your floor.
That whole process took me about two hours on a Saturday morning. It’s not a perfect furniture store finish, but it feels solid and looks good enough for my home office decor.
How to Make It Match Your Home Office Decor
You can customize this project to fit almost any room. Choose a fabric that goes with
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