I got a request for a very simple, farmhouse bench for a dining table.
My client wasn’t looking for anything fancy. She just has a very large dining table and couldn’t find any benches that matched the height/width/color she wanted.
Hello DIY!
I completed this build using nothing but 1×10’s, 2×2’s, and 2×3’s.
My client needed her bench to be about 72” L x 20” W x 42” H (floor to top of back) x 25” H (floor to top of bench seat)
This tutorial is for those specific dimensions, but this build is crazy easy to modify so please do make those adjustments to whatever fits best in your home!
Let’s get to it:
Materials Needed:
(3) 1x10x6
(2) 2x2x8
(5) 2x3x8
Tools I Used:
I started by building the support for the bench seat.
I cut (2) 2×3’s at 70.5” long and (5) 2×3’s at 17.5” long.
I laid them out in the pattern above and connected everything using wood glue & 2.5” wood screws.
I pre-drill all of my holes using a countersink bit to make sure I don’t split the wood, and also so that I can easily fill those screw holes with wood filler before I paint.
I use an L square to make sure all of my angles stay at 90* during the build.
I’m also paying close attention as I screw each board to ensure the short supports are staying flush with the long support boards.
That way the 1×10 bench seat boards will sit flat on the surface when I get to that step.
Once the bench support was assembled, I drilled pocket holes into (6) 2×3 boards cut at 22” long (which will be the legs).
I attached one leg on the right, one on the left, and one right in the middle. I did this on both the front and the back of the bench.
Next I added supports for the legs.
I added a 2×3 board connecting the front and back leg on all 3 sets.
I wanted all of these supports to be the same height off the ground for a clean look. So I marked 4” from the bottom on all the legs. This way, I could just line the 2×3 board on my pencil mark and know they’ll all be right where I need them.
Again, countersinking my screws and attaching with wood glue and 2.5” wood screws.
For the dimensions, I measured the distance between the front leg and back leg. I cut that measurement using my miter saw (but added a little bit of length so I could chop it down as needed) then dry fit it in place. I checked the 90* angle with my L square. If things were wonky, I recut until that square showed 90*
Then I added a 2×3 support running along the bottom back of the bench. I used the same tactic as above to determine the right length for these boards.
& the bottom is done.
Next up: bench seats.
Full confession: I messed mine up, lol.
I intended to only use (2) 1x10x6 boards for the bench seat, but I messed up my dimensions when building the base structure.
I made the base a little too wide. So I had to use (3) 1x10x6 boards. I ripped all (3) on my table saw to make sure they were all the same width (about 7.5” each). There are so many ways to avoid this, so please do haha
Once I had my bench seat boards right where I wanted them, I used a pin nailer to hold the boards in place. This way, they don’t shift around while I screw them down.
I countersunk all of my screws and attached the bench seat boards directly to the 2×3 base using 1-1/4” wood screws.
Weight capacity = tested
For the back, I switched back to pocket holes.
I attached (3) 2×3 boards measuring 18” long (one on the left, one on the right, and one dead center).
I attached these boards to the base using wood glue and 2.5” pocket hole screws.
I attached a horizontal 2×2 board across the top to connect the (3) vertical 2×3 boards.
I used the same method where I measured the distance first, made the cut, dry fit, and used my L square to make sure the length was right.
I attached everything on this top portion using wood glue & 2.5” pocket hole screws.
Lastly, I added (6) vertical 2×2 boards (3 on each side, in between the 2×3’s). There was roughly 7” of open space between each board.
& that is it!
I filled all of my screw holes with wood filler.
I sanded the entire bench down with 220 grit sandpaper, softening the edges that would get contact most often.
Then I used my paint sprayer to apply 2 coats of gray paint (Behr – mined coal) and 2 coats of polyurethane.
Building your own furniture is not only a satisfying accomplishment but allows you to get the exact height, width, and color for every project.
This was such a fun, quick, and simple build.
I would love to see any benches you have built or plan to tackle soon. Find me on instagram or Facebook to share a photo!
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