I had spent quite a bit of time searching the internet for cute benches to decorate my apartment. What I found was a lot of EXPENSIVE pieces of furniture. I try to be as budget friendly as possible since I am still paying off student loans so those were not an option. I then scoured pinterest for ideas on exactly the kind of bench I like. From there, I decided the only way to get that kind of bench within my price range would be to make it myself.

Finding the supplies

First, I found hair pin table legs from amazon for around $20 each. Then, I went to wander the home improvement stores for wood. I had no idea where to start or what kind of wood to get. All I knew is that it had to be a thick piece, wide (between 12-16 inches) and long and the store has a saw there so I can get it cut to whatever size I wanted.

Way in the back of the store, where all the lumber is stacked, is where you need to go. I felt so lost strolling around back there but I found what I needed. I picked up a 2in x 12ft x 12in board. The worker then cut it in one 5ft piece and then the remaining chunk I just told him to cut it in half. So I got 3 benches out of one piece of wood that cost $31. *I made these in spring of 2021. As of June 2021, that same piece costs $43*

When I was first looking in to making these I was just going to stain and seal them and call it good. Then my boyfriend mentioned burning them. So of course I wanted to try that. I was weary of buying a torch but its not near as scary as I thought it would be. TOTALLY DO-ABLE! And not as expensive as I thought they would be either, I just picked up a $17 one while at the store along with this little thing that lights it. 

We went to the garage at his work-since neither of us have a garage-on the way home and burned them real quick. Actually it took about an hour and a half. I will admit that it was FUN! I’m already brainstorming what else I can make!

 

Woodburning

Since this was my first time using a torch and burning wood there are only 1 piece of advice I can give.

  • 1- Go SLOW! Hold the torch steadily (sometimes I used two hands) but try to keep it steady and the distance between the flame and wood consistent. I found that going slow makes it a more even burn. That way you are able to get more of a yellow, golden kind of color out of the whiter golden wood that it originally is. I started with one slow swipe down and then angled the torch up and went over the same spot in the other direction. When I went over it the second time that is when the wood grain burned and made the really dark “stripey” parts.

I was able to make two benches that are the same size and this one I left at my boyfriends place because honestly I really don’t have the room for 3 big benches in my apartment and it ended up working perfectly with his decor. so, win win!

For the longest, 5 foot, bench I decided to put it in my bedroom and I continuously change up the decor. It not only looks nice but it provides me with storage underneath as well.

You can always add a clear coat with polyurethane or a stain over the wood with a sponge. Again, super easy! You can’t mess this project up!

Have Fun and Enjoy!

 

For you frugal folks, check out my post How I Paid off Nearly $14,000 of Debt After Divorce