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Woven Leather Upgrade
An Ikea bench gets the custom treatment with a top made of woven caramel-colored leather strips. Once cut, the leather is attached to the underside of the bench with a staple gun, then laced across the top in a basket-weave pattern. This simple upgrade infuses the modern DIY bench with rustic charm.
From Chair Backs to Bench
Give old thrift store chairs a new look with this surprisingly simple DIY project. Remove the seats, make two simple rectangular boxes from lengths of wood, and attach them to the chair backs. Top the upper box with an upholstered plywood seat (easy to do!), and you’ll have an affordable bench with the appeal of a European high-end antique. This classy piece will look comfortably at home in your entryway or dining room, or even at the foot of your bed.
Storage Bench with Sliding Doors
This DIY bench is ideal for any room where you need a little extra storage, such as a kid’s room or an entryway. The bench gives you a place to stash scarves, hats, and gloves in the entryway, or books and toys in the playroom. And because it features convenient sliding doors, whatever you choose to store will be neatly hidden from view.
Spindle Headboard Bench
Rescue an old spindled headboard as well as its companion footboard from the trash heap, then give these discards new life as an entryway bench. Cut the footboard in half, then attach it to the headboard to form the sides of the bench. Salvaged bed slats, cut to size, form the seat. After all the pieces are in place, the bench needs nothing more than a rustic paint job (this blogger used petroleum jelly for a layered paint look) for a beachy, coastal vibe.
DIY Storage Bench
The flip-top seat of this storage bench opens up to reveal ample space to stow hats, shoes, throws, and more. To build your own, download a set of free plans. Feel free to customize the finished product to complement your space by painting or staining it to match your decor. The project takes some time to build, but it offers immense rewards in the form of plentiful storage.
Vintage Door
The marriage of a vintage door and an old bench seat yields this one-of-a-kind hall tree. Not only does it offer a delightful perch for taking off or putting on your shoes at the door, but it also sports two large hooks to hold bags and coats.
Related: 18 Inviting Entryways We Love
Tufted Leather
A tufted leather seat turns this DIY bench into a luxurious accent. In reality, though, the components are simple and not terribly difficult to come by—plywood, buttons, a length of leather hide, and some hairpin legs. The result is a fresh twist on an old classic.
Simple and Solid
This simple, rustic bench requires little more than some stock lumber and a pocket-hole jig to construct. Stain or paint the finished bench in the color of your choice, and before the weekend is out you’ll have a sturdy spot to kick off your shoes.
West Elm Knockoff
Why pay a big-name furniture store nearly $700 for a bench you can DIY yourself for $15? All that’s required for construction are some mitered cuts in 2×4 studs, a piece of pressure-treated lumber, and 2-1/2-inch screws. By using pressure-treated wood, you’ll create a bench that can work either indoors or out.
Upholstered Bench
Even a DIY beginner can knock together this great-looking upholstered bench from Ana White for $50 or less. Made of 2×4’s and plywood, the bench is both strong and economical. This version is upholstered with a striped fabric and nailhead trim, but you could top yours with a slipcover, giving you the flexibility to swap out the cover with the seasons, or wash it as needed.
Related: 14 Jaw-Dropping Remodeling Ideas You Can Copy for Less Than $1,000
Shoe Storage Bench
The more people you live with, the more shoes you find jumbled into a pile at the front door—but not if you have this smartly designed DIY bench in your entryway. The shelf of this cheerfully painted bench accommodates several pairs of shoes, making them easy to find and put on when it’s time to head out.
Mudroom Bench
You can tuck a mudroom bench into an awkward spot sandwiched between a few different rooms, such as this small foyer that opens onto a laundry room, powder room, and coat closet. Custom built to hold a trio of perfectly sized wire baskets, the bench stands ready to capture all the shoes, bags, and coats that come tumbling into the house every day with this busy family.
Related: Start Fresh: 10 Essentials for an Organized Entryway