Easy DIY Farmhouse Bench Update using Paint and Drop Cloth
Easy DIY Farmhouse Bench – with the Farmhouse Hens
This month’s theme for the Farmhouse Hens is bench updates. Make sure to check out their creations at the end of my post. Each month I am excited to see what the other Hens are sharing and I am sure you will enjoy it as well. For my post, I am creating an easy DIY farmhouse bench update.
Farmhouse Bench Update Tutorial
This little wood bench is a $10 garage sale find. It was being used in the garage but I decided to fix it for Hub’s son as a thank you for giving me a bunch of birch wood. It is a solid little bench and I think it maybe IKEA, but there was no label so I can’t be sure. I love its simple lines.
They live on a farm so farmhouse decor is perfect and I used a bleached drop cloth, to make it durable and easy to clean. If you want to learn how to bleach and prepare drop cloth for home decor you can find the link here. Otherwise, you could use a heavy muslin or other plain thick cotton cloth.
Make the Fabric Top
Measure the top of your bench and add 3 inches to both the width and the length. Cut your fabric and then make small rolled hems along all four sides and sew.
To give it some flare add some simple farmhouse style stripes.
To make the stripes start by ironing your fabric and using painters tape to create the stripes. If you don’t have a good sewing ruler I recommend buying one similar to the one in the picture below. They have markings going both directions with makes it very easy to line up your tape.
Make sure that the large central stripe is in the middle of your fabric by measuring an equal distance from both outside edges to the far side of the central stripe. Then continue working along the dropcloth the entire length of the fabric. If it’s not perfect you can lift and reattach the tape several times, it still holds well.
My two outside stripes are measured and taped at 3/4 “. Of course, you can make your stripes any width you like, just make sure they are of equal width.
To add the chalk paint load a little bit of paint onto your brush. Then remove most of the paint by dabbing the brush onto a rag until your brush is almost dry and then paint the stripes.
Make sure to first place your brush on the taped surface and then pull the paint onto your fabric. I took half an hour to paint the stripes this way. Removing most of the paint prior helps prevent bleed.
Once painted let the fabric dry completely before continuing.
Painting the Farmhouse Bench
While the painted stripes are drying, remove the seat of the wood bench and set aside. The top of the bench does not need to be painted. Paint the legs and frame of the bench with two coats of matching chalk paint. Let dry.
Upholstering the Farmhouse Bench
To add much needed cushioning add two inches of seat foam. Unfortunately, as my craft stash is running low, I purchased a small piece of 2-inch foam from Walmart and cut it in half to fit the bench, then wrapped it all in polyfill batting.
Lay the fabric down first then the foam and finally the bench top. Wrap the cloth around the board and staple in place.
You can repeat the process by stapling the finished drop cloth to the bench. To make the bench easy to clean instead of stapling the fabric to the bench. I sewed ties to the fabric and then tied the cover on.
Sew two ties in the corner of the fabric so you can fold the ends in,(see the pink arrow in the next picture for placement) and three more along the length.
Tie the cloth ties together. Reattach the legs to the bench. Tuck in any stray edges of the cloth to make it as tight as possible. I used a putty knife.
I am sure this little bench is going to be very handy for a young family when extra little guests come for a visit. I am excited to give it to them.
Now let’s see the Farmhouse Hens bench ideas. I couldn’t wait to see what they came up with.
Easy Farmhouse Entryway Bench
Stephanie at Abbotts At Home! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
How to Make a Chair Bench with Dining Room Chairs
Denise at My Thrifty House! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
Five Quick and Easy DIY Bench Makeovers
Michelle at Our Crafty Mom! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
DIY Farmhouse Bench
Sam at Raggedy Bits! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
Refinishing an Old Storage Bench – How to make a No-sew Tufted Cushion
Tarah at Grandmas House DIY! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
What a great job, Leanna! 🙂
The bench seems like brand new and how clever to tie the cover instead of stapling.
Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing! 🙂
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What a great garage sale find!! I love the added grain sack drop cloth and that you can also remove it! Fabulous tutorial!
Hey Sam. That particular garage sale was amazing. I wish I had the pickup that day, this little bench fit in the car with a rather shocked large dog. Poor guy.
This bench looks charming and certainly will be used! I love your idea to use ties to secure the drop cloth onto the bench seat – it makes it so easy to clean. And with littles around, that is Priority 1 ! I HAVE one of those sewing rulers (mine is a little wider), and I am not sure how I was able to sew anything before I started using it (along with the cutting mat).
Hi Kristine. I hear you. Drawing a straight line should be easier. I love that ruler, it certainly worth the price I use it all the time. Like you I don’t know how I did it with the measuring tape.
That’s so beautiful Leanna. Those stripes definitely add to the whole look and I’m sure your step son and his family will treasure it for many years to come.
Michelle I am so late to creating with drop cloth fabric, and now I wish I had started it a couple of years ago. Its wonderful stuff to work with. I live surrounded by farms hundreds of miles of farms and you can’t find grain sack cloth, or flour cloth anywhere. Dropcloth and paint allowing me to copy the style and I am loving it.
Love how you cleverly made the drop cloth cover washable! I’m sure your son-in-law will be thrilled with his new bench.
Dropcloth is so durable and inexpensive, but being light it needs an easy way to clean it. Thanks, my friend.
The bench came out fantastic. I bet your son can’t get over the difference.
He will enjoy having a couple of extra seats.
Looks so cute, Leanna! I never even thought of using ties for the fabric. Clever. Pinned!
Thank you Stephanie, better for little ones, and much softer than plain wood.
Your bench is just gorgeous Leanna! I am sure your hubby’s son will love it! The addition of the grain sack stripe is perfect. How creative to attach it so it is removable! Great job as always!
Thank you Michelle. I thought of sewing a skirt around the bottom, but with little ones, I decided it wouldn’t be practical. Always great working with you!!