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

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Refinishing an Old Storage Bench – How to make a No-sew Tufted Cushion

Tarah at Grandmas House DIY! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter

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