The snow has all melted, despite it’s likely return next week, but I’m super excited about this current warmer weather! It has been quite the challenge with my DIY projects this winter. I’ve been going from the garage to the basement and the basement to the garage. Yes, I’m a DIYer gone calf exercise enthusiast – against my will of course! Despite all my calf pain though I have a super simple DIY Outdoor Bench for you today! I’d just like to say this thing is STURDY and VERY HEAVY and even more so when you move it up and down stairs. But enough about my calf problems, let’s talk furniture plans!
This bench was originally inspired by a bench my father built when I was just a kid, except he is more awesome than I am and he build his out of just two chunks of wood. Needless to say I get my love for woodworking from him! He is such an inspiration to me!
This bench is so beefy, I just love how sturdy it is. It certainly holds up to all my kids! I’m also fairly certain it might hold up to a tornado (ok, maybe not)…. another quality I get from my dad, haha! I’ll never forget when I was a kid and at the time his company was building a prison… yeah, he wanted cement walls. Not sure I’ll ever go that far, but I’ve always understood his dream of having a house in an old water tower.
It’s official… I am my father’s daughter! : )
This new bench sits right outside my front door which seems to be the mailman’s new favorite place to put all my boxes!
Ok, enough rambling, let’s build this bench! You can get the tutorial and specs over on Ryobi Nation!
And because Ryobi ROCKS they are also giving one lucky Cherished Bliss reader a 10″ Sliding Miter Saw and a Drill Kit! All you have to do is sign up or sign in to your Ryobi Nation Account! It’s free, so if you don’t have an account yet it’s really easy to sign up!
DIY Outdoor Bench
This bench is seriously so cool! It looks indestructible!
This bench is awesome! So sturdy, would last forever. Thanks for the plans, I pinned them for later!
Love The bench! Thanks for sharing the plans”
We have been researching ways to make a table in our ‘in-progress’ homework room. I love chunky so I was trying to figure out how to make the top. I love the top of your bench and I think we are going to try and incorporate this look into the design. I love how this turned out. Way to go!
Love it! The clean design could work with modern or rustic styles! Best of all, I could make this with my skill set!
Love you blog and following your latest projects! Such great ideas. Just curious – where did you get the boxwood planter in this post? I’ve seen it on a few blogs now :)
Hi Kristen! Thanks so much! The boxwood planter is from Hobby Lobby in their spring section ; )
Gorgeous wood finish! Aaaah, love it! Nice job (: xoxo
Thanks ladies!!: ) xoxox
Your hot Ashley – thanks for the plans!
Very cute!!
Thanks Ashley!! : )
Awesome sauce, as usual!! xo
Thanks sweet friend!!: ) xoxox
Signed up! Would love to get to work making a table but I love the bench as well.
Thanks so much Shaunie! Good luck! I am getting ready to make an outdoor table, I’m super excited about it, they are so expensive at stores!
Such a beautiful finish! Can you share the type/color of stain you used?
Hi Micah- thanks so much!! I used 1 coat Minwax’s Special Walnut and finished it with a satin outdoor grade poly. : )
I love this bench! It is absolutely perfect! I want something similar in a dining table for my house. Maybe I’m been watching too much Fixer Upper? haha
Haha, there can never be too much fixer upper! I thing a big bulky piece like this in a dining room would be awesome!! Thanks for stopping by!
What a beautiful bench! It has so much character and is so beautifully built! Love the stain on it. Beautiful!
Thanks Maria! We are loving it…. my kids especially love jumping off of it, of course they jump off everything, haha ; )
I love, love just absolutely love this. You can either create a fancy table or a beautiful rustic look, gorgeous piece for any style home and it can be used all year long for each season. Just lovely.
Hey Ashley,
Love your Bench!! And the easy plans you added with it :) Quick question, did you use Pressure Treated 4×4’s or some other type? Because I am always looking for some good 4×4’s but everything I can find around here is all pressure treated… Thanks!
Come to Tampa, then lurk around waiting for them to demo another house! They dump heart pine, cedar and oak all the time. People don’t want it because it’s too hard!
This bench is awesome! I just came across it. What type of wood is used here…there are a few to choose from. THANKS!
I love to build too and I’m looking at this and thinking if you went taller and wider you could turn it into an island for the kitchen. I love the 4 x 4’s used this way. It’s a fantastic bench that will last for years and I bet it is heavy..
Hi! I just saw your post on the Scoop. I wanted to show you my bench that I made using your directions!! : ) https://www.b4andafters.com/outdoor-bench-made-with-my-kreg-jig/
Thank you! I love my bench– though I should take more time to actually sit on it.