When you want a bench, but don’t want to spend the money, you DIY it. I was on the hunt for something for our entryway that we could use to sit to put on our shoes {it ended up being perfect for the end of our primary bed}. and I kept coming up short. Everything I found that I liked was not in budget and everything that was in budget was not the style I was going for. I wanted something that was simple and basic, but wouldn’t take away from other parts of our home. Something that was useful, but ‘hidden’. Once I figured out the design I was going over, I realized that I could easily make it, so I did.

This is the perfect project if you are a beginner DIYer, plus it is budget friendly! With a few basic tools, you will have a new piece of furniture to add to your entryway or bedroom in no time.

Tools & Materials

• 1" x 12" x 4' Wood of Choice

• 1" x 4" x 6' Wood of Choice

• 2" x 2" x 8' Wood of Choice

• Wood Glue

• 1 1/2" Wood Screws

• Sandpaper

• Stain & Sealer of your choice - I used Early American and Polycrylic for this

• Clamps

• 1 1/2 inch Pocket Screws

• Drill

• Pocket-Hole Jig - this is great if you are new to pocket holes

*Any links provided contain affiliate links. Meaning if you purchase through my link, while it’s the same cost to you, I get a small commission – see my full disclosure here*

Cut List:

• 2" x 2" x 8'

  • Cut 4 18" for the legs. Then cut both ends at a 10 degree angle, making sure the ends are parallel to the opposite end.

  • Cut 2 7.5" for the braces between the legs. Then cut each end at a 10 degree angle, making sure the ends are cut at the opposite angle, forming a trapezoid.

• 1" x 4" x 6'

  • Cut 1 40" for a support under the bench

  • Cut 1 9.5" for the legs support and then cut in half to create 2 1" x 2" x 9.5"

Step 1: The Legs

On your 1" x 2" x 9.5" boards, measure where you want your legs positioned. Attach your legs by screwing 2 screws through, applying wood glue first. A little DIY Tip: after lots of trial and error, I found it best to clamp the leg flat on a table and then use another clamp to hold the base to the leg.

Here is a top view of what it looks like once the screws are in. *The leg support my hand is on isn't attached to the legs yet. It is much easier to do that once the legs are attached to the bench seat.

Step 2: Attaching Legs to Bench

Next, you need to attach the legs and the 1" x 4" x 40" bench support to the bench seat. Measure and layout your pieces until they are where you want. Add wood glue and clamps to help you keep your pieces in places and then use woods screws to secure to the bench.

For this part, you can simply drill the leg supports into your legs and the base into your bench seat, or you can drill pocket holes to help hide the screws. For the leg supports, do 1 on each side opposite of each other so it doesn't spin. For the bench support, do 2 on each side.

That is all there is to it. This is a very beginner and budget friendly piece of furniture that any beginner DIYer can do. Now for the finishing touches.

Step 3: Finish it off

Before the final step, if you want to give the bench an aged look like I did, take various tools {screwdriver, hammer, chain, planer, jigsaw} and go to town on the bench. Finally, sand down the edges, stain with your stain of choice and seal with a polycrylic.

That’s all there is to it! Are you ready to start your DIY journey {or continue} and DIY your own budget friendly simple bench that would be perfect for any space in your home? Let me know what you think and send a pic if you make your own!

with love, andi

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