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Your First 3D Model in SketchUp: Make a Simple Chair in 15 Minutes

Ever opened SketchUp and stared at the screen, unsure where to click first? Don’t worry — everyone feels that way at the beginning. The good news is that in just 15 minutes, you can make your very first 3D model: a simple chair. I’ll walk you through each step, keep things simple, and make sure you finish with something you can be proud of.

Step 1: Set Up Your SketchUp Workspace

Open SketchUp Free in your browser (or use the desktop version). Start a new file and pick a simple template like “Feet and Inches” or “Millimeters.” You’ll see a big open space and a little person standing there — that’s just SketchUp’s way of showing scale.

Take a moment to orbit, zoom, and pan. Getting comfortable moving around will make the whole process easier.

Step 2: Draw the Seat

Select the Rectangle Tool from the left toolbar. Click once to start your rectangle, drag your mouse diagonally, and click again to finish. This flat shape is the seat of your chair.

If you want to be precise, type in the dimensions before you click the second time — SketchUp will use those exact numbers.

Nice work! You’ve just created the base of your chair.

Step 3: Make the Seat 3D with Push/Pull

This is where the magic happens. Choose the Push/Pull tool, click on the seat shape, and pull it upward. You’ll see your flat shape turn into a solid block. Congratulations — you just made your first 3D object!

If it doesn’t work, check to make sure your shape is fully closed. Redraw the rectangle if needed and try again.

Step 4: Add the Legs

Draw a small, thin rectangle at one corner of the seat. Use Push/Pull to pull it downward and turn it into a 3D block. This is your first leg.

Right-click the leg and select Make Component. This keeps all legs linked together. Copy and place this leg at the other three corners under the seat. Now, if you edit one leg later, all four will update automatically.

Take a look around your chair — it’s really starting to take shape!

Step 5: Build the Backrest

Draw a rectangle on the back edge of the seat. Use Push/Pull to pull it upward until it looks like a chair back. You can keep it simple or add curves and slats for style later.

Experiment with thickness — thinner backs look light and modern, while thicker backs feel sturdy.

Step 6: Add Color and Texture

Open the Materials panel and choose a wood texture or color you like. Click each part of the chair to apply it.

Suddenly, your model feels real. Play with different materials — maybe a bright seat color and darker legs for contrast.

Step 7: Orbit Around and Check Your Work

Use the Orbit tool to spin around your chair. Zoom in to admire your details and pan to see it from every angle.

Take a screenshot — you deserve to celebrate! You’ve built a complete chair model from scratch.

Conclusion & Next Steps

You just built your first 3D model in SketchUp. That’s a big step! The tools you used — Rectangle, Push/Pull, and Components — are the same ones used to build more complex furniture.

Your next project could be a matching table, a stool, or even a small shelf. The more you practice, the more creative you’ll get.

To Learn in depth Click below !

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need the paid version of SketchUp for this tutorial?
No. This guide works perfectly with SketchUp Free, which runs right in your browser.

2. How long will it really take me to finish?
About 15 minutes for most beginners. A little more if you’re brand new, but you’ll get faster.

3. My chair looks weird — what did I do wrong?
Check that all legs are the same length and your seat is flat. Use Undo and try again — SketchUp makes it easy to fix mistakes.

4. Can I reuse this chair model in other projects?
Yes! Save it as a component or export it as a .skp file to drop into new projects.

5. What should I make next?
Try a small table, stool, or even a bookshelf. Each one uses the same tools you learned here.