Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
DIY wood entryway bench inspired by Crate and Barrel
Print

DIY Entrance Bench

Learn how to make a stacked wood bench inspired by a Crate & Barrel find!
Course Furniture
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 8 hours
Dry Time 12 hours
Total Time 21 hours
Servings 1 bench
Cost $60

Equipment

Ingredients

  • Finished pine Cut list in Notes
  • Wood glue
  • Orbit sander or sanding block - 120 grit
  • 8 Wood screws 3"
  • 2 bottles FolkArt Home Decor Wax 8 oz bottles - 1 Antique and 1 Clear
  • Staining rags
  • 4 Cork circles 2", to use for no scratch bottom

Instructions

  • Take your two 1" x 6" x 8' and 1" x 4" x 8' finished pine boards and cut each into two pieces. This will give you six pieces.
  • Glue two 1" x 6" x 4' together on top of each other, two 1" x 6" x 4' together on top of each other, and two 1" x 4" x 4' together on top of each other. You will have three separate, long pieces. Hold together with clamps while they dry several hours.
  • Lay the planks side by side and glue them together lengthwise - clamp and let dry (as shown in the top view diagram). This is your bench top. You will trim it in the next step.
    Glued boards for bench top
  • Using a miter saw, cut one of the 1" x 2" x 6' boards into two pieces: one that is 15 3/4" long and another that is 49 1/2" long. Repeat with the other board. Cut 45° angles on the ends of all four trim pieces.
  • Use wood glue to attach the frame pieces to the outer edges of the bench top and clamp. Let dry. Sand the bench top with 120-grit sandpaper.
  • You'll now make the legs. Each leg takes 22 pieces - 11 of one size and 11 of another. Using a miter saw, cut your five 1" x 6" x 8's into (22) 1" x 6" x 10"s and (22) 1" x 6" x 10 ½"s.
    Cutting wood for bench legs on a table saw
  • Take the (22) 1" x 6" x 10"s and, using a table saw, mill off a ½" strip off the 10" side, bring it down to 5 1/2" wide.
    Pieces of wood cut for stacking bench legs
  • Take two of the 1" x 6" x 10 ½"s and glue them to the underside of the bench top. Mine are attached 6" in from each end and centered.
    Applying wood glue to the bottom of a wood rectangle and applying to the bench bottom
  • Take two of your milled 10” pieces and glue them in the center of the 10 ½” pieces. This should give you a ¼” boarder all the way around each 10” piece.
    Finally, glue a 10 ½” piece on top of each 10” piece. Let the glue cure for a few hours; these are your bench leg bases.
    Glued bench leg pieces
  • Drill four pilot holes at the bottom of each leg as shown -  screw in four (4) 3” wood screws.
  • To complete, each leg will take 19 more pieces each: (10) 10” pieces and (9) 10 ½” pieces. Start with a 10” piece and glue a 10 ½” piece to it, remember to center the 10” piece on the 10 ½” piece to give you a ¼” boarder all the way around.
    Continue gluing the alternating sized pieces of wood and clamp. You will start with a 10” piece and end with a 10” piece.
    Glued bench legs held together with clamps
  • After the glue on the legs cures, flip the bench top over and attach the legs with glue; let the glue cure overnight.
    Stacked wood bench legs glued together onto the bench top
  • To stain the bench, use the home decor wax and a rag. Rag the wax on to get the shade you like. Let dry.
    Adding FolkArt Home Decor wax to the bench with a rag
  • Rag on the clear wax to add another layer of protection. Let dry completely.
    Clear FolkArt Home Decor wax and a rag
  • Finish your bench with cork on the feet to protect your floors and keep from sliding. Use wood glue to attach the circles.
    Cork feet on the bottom of the bench legs

Notes

Cut List*

  • 2 - 1" x 6" x 8' pine boards cut into two equal pieces each (1" x 6" x 4' each)
  • 1 - 1" x 4" x 8' pine board cut into two equal pieces (1" x 4" x 4')
  • 2 -1" x 2" x 6' pine boards cut into two pieces each: one that is 15 3/4" long and another that is 49 1/2" long
  • 5 - 1”x 6”x 8' pine boards cut into (22) 1" x 6" x 10" pieces and (22) 1" x 6" x 10 ½" pieces
*if you are a newbie woodworker, remember that wood sizes are given as the cut from a log. For example, a 2" x 4" is cut that size, from a rough log but then it dries smaller (around 1.5" x 3.5"). So your EXACT measurements may vary, though they will be close.
Step 5: You can use an orbital sander or a foam sanding block.