Transform Two Old Chairs Into A Garden Bench
Homeowners are always looking for hacks specially designed for their outdoor areas, and it's easy to see why; most people will deplete their budgets on the insides of their homes and overlook their outdoor spaces during the construction. While many people will start with plants and flowers when designing their gardens, you'll definitely want somewhere to sit if you're going to enjoy your outdoor space for extended periods. After all, if you invest your energy in improving your patio, you'll want to spend some time in it!
After doing some research around the internet, we've found the best way to build a garden bench out of two old chairs you may have lying around or could buy dirt cheap at a garage sale. If you own a patio or a garden, are not afraid of basic woodworking, and want to take on a DIY project to elevate your outdoor space without spending too much money on it, we have a cool hack with repurposed chairs to get you going.
Building the bench
To build the garden bench, you'll need at least two chairs that you won't use, a screwdriver, wood screws, a jigsaw, enough sandpaper, and a Sharpie marker. You'll also need a staple gun if your chairs have cushions. First, clean the chairs thoroughly and use sandpaper to make everything even. Then, decide how to arrange them before cutting. Right after, take the seats off with your screwdriver. If it's stuck with glue, inject denatured alcohol and wiggle a knife into the joint to separate both pieces. If your chairs have arms, take the arms off at this point, depending on the style you want.
Now you'll need to paint the chairs with the finish you're going for, either colors or just varnish. Then, it's time to make a seat — and even backrests — for the bench. You can use high-density foam with fabric on top stapled to a cheap board or a natural better-looking wooden board without any cushion, depending on your style.
Finally, you'll need to screw everything together. Arrange the chairs and place the seat on top before using your screwdriver. If you made backrests for your bench, this is also the moment to put them on top and screw them to the piece. If you find it unstable, you may add a bit of structure between the chairs' legs. This will bring old chairs back to life.
Different styles for your garden bench
You can build different types of benches depending on the style you're going for in your garden, whether it's a classic style or a different kind of vibe. If you're trying to go for a more luxurious look, try the French-style bench. This model will work perfectly for a small garden or a gazebo placed in a lush garden. You'll need chairs with curves for this to come up perfectly. To achieve the look, place both now-armless chairs facing each other before screwing everything together. A fancy-looking cushion will elevate this bench.
If you like a more rustic look, try arranging both chairs facing in the same direction and use a wood board on top as a seat for the whole piece, like in this video. This method is incredible for chairs without curves that could look weird in other arrangements. It's also great for arrangements with more than two chairs. Plus, it's easier, as you won't need to deal with a staple gun. If you're into DIY woodworking projects, this is an accessible project to repurpose two or more old chairs lying around at home. If it's your first time going at it, you'll enjoy it even more. Have fun!