Happy Monday!!

I am so excited to finally be sharing this DIY bench with you guys today!

Ana and I worked together on my Fancy X Farmhouse Table a few months back and it has been a hit!  It’s such a great table for the money, and is so versatile too.  I made mine for my back patio, but it would also make an amazing indoor dining table.

Since then the temperatures have been well over 100, and I have had no desire to sit outside!  When I heard the weatherman say they were dropping, I immediately told Ana I was ready!  Now the perfect table has some perfect matching benches!

DIY Bench - Farmhouse Style

I will share a few tips from my build here, and you can see the full set of plans for this great bench on Ana White’s site!

These are really easy instructions!  Basically… You build three ‘X’ bases for each bench, and then you attach them.  The base construction is very simple.  All cuts are straight or 45 degrees.

I used Gorilla Wood Glue and finish nails for all of my joints on the bases!

Once you have done those, you attach them with your 1×3’s.  I opted to go a bit smaller and have mine push fully under the table.  I will be adding metal chairs to the ends of the table, and I wanted to leave lots of room on each end.  If you want your benches longer or shorter, you would modify the length of these pieces.  I attached mine with my Kreg Jig®.  I made sure to keep all of my pocket holes on one side of the bench.  That will be the side of the bench that faces the table, so I didn’t have to worry about filling my pocket holes.

Now for the top planks!

Again… If you want the bench a different size, you would modify the length of these as well!  I decided that I wanted to attach these with my Kreg Jig® as well.  Once I constructed each ‘X’ base, I put 3 pocket holes on the top end of one side of each base like this.

That is a picture of the bases connected to the seat planks using Kreg Jig® using pocket hole screws.  If you don’t own a Kreg Jig® (you should;-)), you can countersink wood screws from the top of the bench into the base, and fill with wood putty before finishing.

One more detail shot..

My final step before staining was adding the small support pieces on the bottom.  I used wood screws on this part.

That’s it!  For my stain, I used the same stain I used on the table.  It is an outdoor semi-transparent stain that is tinted to espresso.  I found it at Lowe’s.  You just paint the stuff on, and you are done!

Now the math!  Total cost for lumber on each bench… Under $35 a bench!  Woohooooo!  That makes the cost for the table and both benches under $140 all together.  Now that fits my shanty budget quite well!

How great would this DIY bench be in an entry way or dining room?  LOVE.

DIY Bench - Farmhouse Style

DIY Bench - Farmhouse Style

DIY Bench - Farmhouse Style

Hope you love it as much as I do!!  There will be LOTS of dinners and fun at this DIY bench.  Thanks so much Ana White for working with me on these!  Can you tell I am pleased??

Remember to check out the full set of plans for these easy DIY benches over at Ana-White.com!

You can also check out my Fancy X Farmhouse Table right HERE!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Final Note…

Thank you, thank you to all of our sweet readers who continue to vote Shanty2Chic as best Craft Blog over at Country Living Magazine!! You can continue voting each day through the 17th, and we would so appreciate you voting and sharing with your friends!  It has been such an honor to be nominated, and we thank you guys SO much!  You can vote by clicking the button below! Thanks again!!!

 

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51 Comments

  1. I’d like to make the table and benches longer ( maybe 10 feet). Do you think additional supports would be needed? If so, do you have any tips or thoughts?

  2. I generally followed the blueprint and the bench is visually stunning. I made it for my mother’s kitchen and it will get a ton of use. I made a few changes that I thought would help the structure but after a few gatherings I’m already getting some movement from the joints. I have two horizontal braces, and I actually used wood screws to fasten the vertical 2x4s on the “x braces”. I’d imagine if I only used the finishing nails, this thing might be firewood already. I’m thinking I may have to add screws or pocket holes to the 1x1s

  3. Did you give the benches a coat of varnish? I’m building a set for my table (indoors) and I wasn’t sure if I should give it a coat of varnish or not.

  4. How many people sit comfortably on each bench when they are 63 inches…also is there enough leg room for people to sit at the heads of the table?

    Love the table and benches!

  5. OMG I just love all your stuff. We just bought a new home and the “shabby chic” style is so perfect for it. I want to make this table with a matching bench but I want to make it counter height could you help me adjust the cut list?

  6. Hi there, I’m looking for these plans on the Ana White site and can only find the plans for the table. Do you have a link for the bench plans?

  7. Hi! So, it looks like you did not use treated wood, even though they are going outside. Is that okay to do? What finish will protect them? Thank you – you two are AMAZING and truly inspirational!!!!!

  8. Could you help me out please? I’m looking for the dement ions and material list for this bench nod can’t find them on the Ana-white site. Do you have them that you could share?

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