This bench came about as a birthday present to myself. I had just finished up my daughter’s loft bed and I wanted to do something as a reward to myself. I’ve found I have to schedule in just – for – me projects or they remain forever on the back burner.
The entryway had been bothering me for quite a while. Mainly because nothing was there and I decided to put up a shelf and faux wainscoting.
This bench was the finale.
I learned alot along the way and wanted to share my how – to. I hope you find it helpful.
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How to Create a Sturdy Base for the Farmhouse Bench
This Farmhouse Style Bench is 11″ in width, 17″ high and 2′ long. The width was determined by the board size at Home Depot. I determined the height by going a little shorter than my table chairs. I wanted kids to be able to sit and tie their shoes.
At Home Depot all the 8′ boards had cracks in them. The 10′ x 2″ boards looked great. This determined my bench length as I was able to get two 4′ benches and one 2′ bench.
To simplify things, I will only discuss the building of the 2′ bench in this post.
Each bench leg was positioned a 1/2 inch in from the seat width.
I found that by building the shoe platform first (10″x 1’10”) I could get my bench square and much more sturdy.
Attach Legs to the Base of the Farmhouse Bench
The bench legs were then attached next on the shoe rack. Here you can see I placed spacer boards to keep the shoe rack slightly elevated off the floor.
The legs and shoe rack are sitting on the bench top in this picture. I did this to make sure everything was positioned where I wanted them to be before I attached the bench legs.
I used an air nailer for this part, but you could easily use a Kreg Jig – I haven’t purchased one yet, but I really want one.
For ease of assembly, stain the shoe support and paint the legs before you attach them together. I did not do this and ended up having to paint and stain with a small brush where the pieces come together.
The shoe rack gave good support, but to make this bench really stand the test of time it needed support on the bottom and the top.
Create Diagonal Supports for a Classic Farmhouse Look
For a more classic farmhouse look I chose to add slanted supports on each leg.
To do this you’ll need a miter saw, I use a Chicago Electric miter saw, but you can also go with a Combo Miter Saw Kit which cost significantly less.
To create an angle cut for a 90° corner, you will want to angle your supports at 31.6°. This is a common angle so it is marked on my miter saw.
It can be difficult to get your angle going in the right direction. Before I cut, I place my board where I want it to go and draw a light line indicating the direction of the angle. Then I use the numbered degrees on my miter saw to get the exact angle I need.
It can be useful to do a few practice runs to get a feel of where to start the blade and make sure you have the correct angle for the job.
If you plan on doing alot of wood working I would definitely recommend an electric miter saw. Also get the 12″ over the 10″ blade. There are so many more things you can do with a 12″ size.
Attach the Bench Seat of the Farmhouse Bench
Attach the bench seat to the legs, then add the diagonal supports.
Add Finish to the Farmhouse Bench
Protect the stained wood either with water or oil based polyurethane.
Or I used a finishing wax and it worked great. I like using the wax because you can ease it into all the wood crevices and get a nice smooth finish. It also doesn’t smell as strong as the polyurethane.
I also distressed the edges with sand paper and stain to complete the farmhouse look. And it was ready to be used.
I absolutely love wood grain. Each piece tells its own story.
When finished this piece adds function and style to your living space. Our large bench was immediately put to work.
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Until then, have a great day😊
Natalie
Your bench is just adorable. I love the idea of putting it in the entryway. It is so nice to be able to sit down and take off your shoes or put them on. It is great to put down your purse while you are taking your coat off too.
Thank you Deb! You are so kind. The bench has been nice.
Love seeing the progress of your entry way. It looks great. It just shows how little projects here and there can go a long way! Thanks as always for sharing.
Erin you are the best. I also love seeing all your projects and writing. You are a wonderful writer. 😊
Take care,
Natalie