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
Kristen says
April 2, 2015 at 12:10 pmThis bench is seriously so cool! It looks indestructible!
Linda@MixedKreations says
April 3, 2015 at 7:53 amThis bench is awesome! So sturdy, would last forever. Thanks for the plans, I pinned them for later!
Sandi Allen says
April 3, 2015 at 8:39 amLove The bench! Thanks for sharing the plans”
Michelle Lepak @ Dandelion Patina says
April 3, 2015 at 8:43 amWe 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!
Carol Stratford says
April 3, 2015 at 11:05 amLove it! The clean design could work with modern or rustic styles! Best of all, I could make this with my skill set!
Kristen says
April 3, 2015 at 2:05 pmLove 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 :)
Ashley says
April 14, 2015 at 9:10 pmHi Kristen! Thanks so much! The boxwood planter is from Hobby Lobby in their spring section ; )
Lolly Jane says
April 3, 2015 at 2:21 pmGorgeous wood finish! Aaaah, love it! Nice job (: xoxo
Ashley says
April 14, 2015 at 9:09 pmThanks ladies!!: ) xoxox
Derek Johnson says
April 27, 2015 at 10:30 pmYour hot Ashley – thanks for the plans!
Ashley @ Simply Designing says
April 3, 2015 at 8:20 pmVery cute!!
Ashley says
April 14, 2015 at 9:09 pmThanks Ashley!! : )
Kelly says
April 3, 2015 at 10:53 pmAwesome sauce, as usual!! xo
Ashley says
April 14, 2015 at 9:08 pmThanks sweet friend!!: ) xoxox
shaunie says
April 4, 2015 at 7:41 pmSigned up! Would love to get to work making a table but I love the bench as well.
Ashley says
April 10, 2015 at 7:59 amThanks 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!
Micah says
April 6, 2015 at 6:26 pmSuch a beautiful finish! Can you share the type/color of stain you used?
Ashley says
April 10, 2015 at 7:57 amHi Micah- thanks so much!! I used 1 coat Minwax’s Special Walnut and finished it with a satin outdoor grade poly. : )
Logan Cantrell says
April 8, 2015 at 2:38 pmI 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
Ashley says
April 10, 2015 at 7:53 amHaha, 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!
Maria says
April 10, 2015 at 8:24 pmWhat a beautiful bench! It has so much character and is so beautifully built! Love the stain on it. Beautiful!
Ashley says
April 14, 2015 at 9:03 pmThanks Maria! We are loving it…. my kids especially love jumping off of it, of course they jump off everything, haha ; )
Debra Kirkley says
May 2, 2015 at 5:52 pmI 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.
Matt west says
May 11, 2015 at 3:55 pmHey 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!
terre tulsiak says
September 12, 2015 at 1:39 pmCome 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!
Tim says
November 18, 2016 at 5:00 pmThis bench is awesome! I just came across it. What type of wood is used here…there are a few to choose from. THANKS!
Carole West, Garden Up Green says
July 15, 2017 at 7:52 amI 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..
Liberty says
June 4, 2018 at 9:09 pmHi! 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.