We have had a set of 6 dining room chairs sitting in our shed for ages. A little thought popped into my head after my blogging pals and I set a Patio/Outdoor Project for this months Inspired Makers Challenge. After our recent front porch makeover, the back patio has been screaming for some attention too! We recently threw out our old outdoor setting chairs because of our cheeky dog Matilda, who thinks she is a human and LOVED to sit on them. Let me explain, she is a labrador cross greyhound so she is not a tiny dog. In climbing her way onto the chairs she ripped all of the covering’s and they became unsalvageable. Hence my next project on how to make a Farmhouse Garden Bench from Old Chairs.
How to make a Farmhouse Garden Bench from Old Chairs
Supplies needed:
- 6 old chairs
- Tongue and Groove – For this project, I used 8 pieces and was able to make 2 benches. It may vary on the width of your chairs.
- 19 x 19 mm Scrap wood approximately 6m
- Drill and screws – Screw size will depend on the width of your chair bases.
- Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint – Farmhouse White
- Paint Brush
- Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint Bonding Agent
- Transfer paper
- Americana Lamp Black Acrylic Paint
- No. 5 Round Brush
- Sander and 120 grit sandpaper
- Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint- Beeswax
- Circular Saw
- Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint- Antiquing Wax
- Soft Cloth
Step 1 – Remove any chair padding. Cut the 19mm x 19mm into 9 (18 if you’re making 2 benches) 300mm pieces. Screw 3 pieces to the inside and front of all three chairs level with the top of the base.

Now for the fun bit Step 3 – Mix up equal parts MMS Farmhouse White, water and bonding agent. Let sit. Use your circular saw to cut the desired overhang over the sides of each bench.

Stencill Time
Blocking in – Step 6 – Take your round brush and Black paint and block in.
Step 8– Take your soft lint free cloth and apply Miss Mustard Seed – Antiquing Wax to the chairs only.

Final Step 9 – Apply Miss Mustard Seed – Beeswax to the seat of the chair only.
And there you have a fun way to add some farmhouse charm to your outdoor entertaining area. Or if you don’t have 6 chairs to work with, 3 sure would make a cute garden bench on the front porch. I was hoping to have the table made over as well for this challenge but that will have to be for another day!
Be sure to see all of the other fun Patio/ Outdoor ideas from my blogging pals below!
Happy painting!
Join us the last Friday of each month for a different Inspired Makers Challenge
Follow with #InspiredMakers and #InspiredMakersChallenge to see more amazing projects each month!
The rules are simple – whatever the project is, it has to fit the monthly challenge theme, which is something different to inspire you each month!
May Challenge: Porches and Outdoor Spaces
Load up on all the Outdoor Inspiration from your hosts:
Lisa @ The Purple Hydrangea | Kim @ Farmhouse Made | Sarah @ 1915 House |
Anika @ Anika’s DIY Life | Sam @ Raggedy Bits | Leanna @ Faeries and Fauna |
Victoria @ Dazzle While Frazzled
Don’t have time to make now? Be sure to PIN for later 🙂
32 comments
Another clever idea, Sam. Love it!
Amalia
xo
Thank you, Amalia! It feels so good to have it all finally complete! Well apart from the table 🙂
Sam, your bench is a treat! I chuckled reading about your cheeky dog.?
Yeah, she sure is cheeky! I wish I had captured a snap of her sitting up at the table! Absolutely hilarious!!
I love this look and always wanted to try it! It came out great, Sam!! you are amazing!!!
Thank you, Kellie! You should try it! It was super fun! 🙂
Great job Sam!!!
Thank you, Deborah!
I love your bench! Such a cute and sweet idea.
Thank you, Lauren!! It sure was fun to make and now have them complete!
Sam it’s amazing how easy you make this look! You just keep those projects coming! Great tutorial!
Hahaha Sue there was a few times where I wanted to give up but kept on swimming!
Hahaha Sue there was a few times where I wanted to give up but kept on swimming!
This is such a nice bench now Sam. It would look gorgeous inside or out, as part of a table set or on its own.
Personally I would love to have one sitting in a big flower garden with a flowering crab tree nearby. Its beautiful lady.
Oh that would be beautiful Leanna!!! I love crab apple trees!
I love your farmhouse bench from chairs Sam, you are so amazing at all you do! I wish I had the skills to pull off something like this. WEll done!!!
I am sure you could with all of your cleverness Katrin!! Thank you for your kind sweet comment 🙂
Ooh, I love this cute bench. I have been on the lookout for a few chairs because I’d love one on my front porch. I love the stencil as well, and your cute kitty is adorable.
Ahhh thank you Toni! She sure is a cheeky cat and keeps me company while I’m working on my projects! 🙂
Totally love this! Such an adorable project!!
So glad you love it Kim! Thank you 🙂
What a fun idea for a bench, so creative!
Thank you Tara! 🙂
This turned out GREAT Sam. This looks like it should be outside a flower shop. Love it.
I love how your bench turned out, Sam!! What an awesome idea!! You’re so creative!! Please come share it at my party!! Hugs dear lady!
Thank you so much, sweet Theresa! I have been so bad at linking up my projects everywhere!! There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day!! Once I get my shop all sorted I’ll be over to my favourite party for sure!! Hugs to you also <3