Upcycling is becoming a trend among homeowners. Why? Because it’s a simple, affordable way to help the environment. So don’t trash broken chairs; turn them into a French-style Bench masterpiece!
Here’s the required supplies:
- Two chairs
- Sturdy hardwood
- Pine wood
- Long screws
- Molding
- Wood filler
- Plywood
- Paint
- Quilt batting
Begin by choosing two chairs that look great from their sides, ( the curvier the better!) and then remove their front legs and seats.
Depending on the desired length of the bench, cut sturdy hardwood to length and nail together a rectangle box with two wood screws on each end. Make sure to attach the box by screwing through the chair and into the box to make sure it is extra secure.
To provide even more support, add a bottom bench. This will be a thinner rectangle box made of pine below the hardier bench box. Attach this to the bottom of the chair legs in the same manner as before. Following this addition, nail vertical slats of molding to the rectangle to create an area for storage.
With construction complete, use wood filler to fill all the holes and then sand the material thoroughly. Once dry, paint the whole bench any color desired, though white is recommended.
Finally, add a 1/2″ plywood to the top of the bench and secure quilted batting and any material desired to finish off the backyard seating.
Enjoy the outdoors with a nearly new French-style bench!
For a step-by-step guide to how to build a French-style bench, check out Jami’s post from An Oregon Cottage!
