DIY Garden Bench
3 pros!
Nice outdoor furniture can be quite expensive but creating your own DIY outdoor bench means you can have quality furniture for a fraction of the cost and custom-fit for your space.
Top it off with custom paint or stain to create the perfectly customized outdoor oasis.
DIY garden bench supplies
• (6) 1x3x8s, red oak
• (8) 3x3x3 posts, red oak
• Wood glue
• Fine grit sandpaper
• One box Kreg 2-inch coarse pan head screws
• One box 1.25-inch finishing (brad) nails
• Brad nailer
• Kreg jig
• Drill
• Miter saw
• Exterior stain (I used Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck transparent in Canyon Brown)
• Chip brush, rag or sprayer
The pictured bench is 72.5-inches long, 17 inches deep and 21.25 inches high. You can adjust the measurements to make a smaller bench, if desired.
Note: For this project we've used red oak since it's a hardwood and it will be protected with an exterior stain. It will also reside on a covered patio. Red oak is also readily available in convenient 3x3x3 posts. If your bench will reside in a predominately wet location, using cedar or treated wood may be a better choice. You can create 3x3 posts by sandwiching three 1x3s of these other wood species together using clamps and wood glue. From there, follow the directions normally.
Start by cutting three 3x3x3 posts into six equal 18-inch sections with a miter saw. These will be the bench legs.
Cut six 18-inch sections. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Lott/Southern Revivals)
Cut one 3x3x3 post into three equal 11-inch sections. Two of these will form the short ends of your frame and one will form the middle brace for your bench.
Cut three 11-inch sections. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Lott/Southern Revivals)
The remaining four 3x3x3 posts will be used to frame the bench.
The remaining four posts will create the bench frame. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Lott/Southern Revival)
Use a Kreg jig to create pocket holes for each of the sections. See below for pocket hole spacing. Remember, you will also need to place the middle brace slightly off-center to accommodate screws.
Drill pocket holes for the bench assembly. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Lott/Southern Revival)
Make sure to assemble your bench on a level surface and take care to place pocket holes on the inside of each piece so that they don't show once your bench is complete.
Be sure pocket holes are on the inside so they remain hidden. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Lott/Southern Revival)
Assemble the bench pieces using 2-inch pocket hole screws. Take care to off-set your alternating or opposing pocket holes to prevent the screws hitting one another during assembly.
Assemble the finished bench and add a bench top. (Image courtesy of Jamie Lott/Southern Revival)
Add benchtop
Cut all six 1x3x8s so that they overhang 1/4-inch on each end, or overhang as desired. Use fine grit sanding paper to sand any rough edges and to prepare the wood surface for staining. Wipe away any wood dust.
The stain is cured when water beads on the surface.
Enjoy your gorgeous new bench!
Are you a DIY expert? Do you have your own blog or website to prove it? Contact us to learn more about blogging opportunities with Angie’s List.
