The Shabby Creek Cottage

Hundreds of ideas for creative ways to eat, make & decorate!

Building an outdoor bench

Building an outdoor bench is one of the easiest furniture pieces you can make. It’s pretty straight forward with clean lines and can hold up to years of wear and tear (this one is 7 years strong and still with us!) Although we repurposed spindles to make ours, you could easily use some from the hardware store and paint them. This build takes about an hour and is one of my favorites of all time.Easy DIY outdoor bench - such an easy way to create more seating outside!

HOW TO BUILD AN OUTDOOR BENCH

how to build an outdoor bench

We lucked out and found these spindles at a yardsale. If you can’t find any to repurpose, they are fairly inexpensive at the lumber store (and much less than buying a bench).

frame of DIY outdoor bench

Using spindles for the legs, I cut them off at the length I wanted (looking for a spot that made sense on the round areas and trimmed extra from the solid shank part.) Then I used 1x4s and created a frame with cross beams in the middle and used supports on each inside corner for strength and to help keep the legs secure.

DIY outdoor bench using spindles as legs

I used screws to put the cut off spindles on as legs and cut braces for extra support.

Outdoor Bench tutorial via The Shabby Creek Cottage

We used a 1/2 inch block for a spacer, so that the water will drain off, because it is an outdoor bench after all. And of course, we gave it a coat of outdoor paint to help keep it sealed. {we recoat it every 2-3 years}

Quick and easy outdoor bench tutorial

Once it was done we painted the top but left the spindles to weather with their original paint, and it has brought a beautiful patina over the years to our outdoor bench. From putting beside a long dining table for family get togethers or just hanging out on the porch by the pool, we’ve found this outdoor bench to be one of the most useful furniture projects we’ve ever built.

Love this outdoor bench - looks so easy to build!


Filed Under: DIY

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Comments

  1. Amazing! So pretty–and I bow to you…you used the table saw. I’m not allowed to (for my own safety, honestly…stroke in 1994 left me with a wee bit fine motor control. I stand there and boss him around instead ;D)

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  5. Very cool ! What a deal and how creative you have been. Great having a handy hubby ! It will be so pretty outside !
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  6. I love your bench, and the color you chose is lovely! I always grab spindles when I see them. I’ve made 2 tables so far, and a plantstand. I have no idea what I think I am doing with the rest of them!

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  19. I love it!!!! Very creative. Come by to see my transformation! If you like what you see, please subscribe to my blog in the right hand column. Just hit the word “Follow” and stay updated on lots of great tips!

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  21. You rock! I love using power tools too! Great vision for using the spindles for a bench. Love your other posts too. Thanks for visiting my blog today.
    Blessings,
    Traci

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  22. The bench is adorable. I am very impressed that you built it yourself. I need to get over my fear of power tools. 🙂

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  25. This is great. I too like power tools, and have used spindles for various things besides their intended purpose. Boys shouldn’t have all the fun with those tools!

    Scribbler

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  27. * I ADORE seeing projects like this ~~~ “Something for (basically) nothing”, except a creative mind & knowledge of hammmer & nails… SOOO COOOOL!!!!!!! HUGE KUDOS!!!
    Best, Linda *

    Reply

  33. What a great idea. I have about 9 or 10 spindles that my friend gave me because they are redoing an old house and they took them off their porch. They have been sitting in the basement for almost a year with good intentions. Now I know exactly what to do with them. Thanks

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