This easy bench DIY might just be one of my favorites that I’ve done. It was absolutely free and looking at it, you’d never know it was an old TV stand!
When I bought my own house at age 23, I had a small budget and ZERO furniture. I was blessed by so many relatives and friends who generously gave me furniture they no longer had a use for. Desperate for anything, I accepted whatever I could! Including an outdated TV stand.
It served me well for a few years, but when it came time for an upgrade, I didn’t know what to do with the old stand. I didn’t want to throw it away- it was in good condition.
A bench was something I had been wanting for our entryway for a long time so when I came up with this easy bench DIY idea, I couldn’t wait to tear it apart.
Easy Bench DIY Transformation
The whole process is incredibly simple. So simple that it doesn’t even seem right.
My sweet husband removed the top part of the TV stand with a saw. I don’t typically touch power tools so I usually hand that part over to him.
When he was done, I removed the drawer and the cabinet doors. All it took was a handy screwdriver and that was done!
Then I painted the whole thing with some white paint we had from a previous project. You can choose any color, but I really wanted white.
I didn’t sand the TV stand down or really do anything to prep it before painting. It has a laminate coating on it that makes it feel smooth and polished. If you look closely at the doors in the picture above, you can see it starting to peel off. Thankfully, it’s only peeling off in that spot and the base of the stand is in good condition.
TIP: If you have a similar material, I’d recommend using a deglosser to remove some of the polished feel so that the paint would last longer.
Next, my husband nailed an old wooden board on top. The previous owner of our house was a carpenter and had an old shed behind the house full of old barn wood. So we chose a board we loved and placed it on top.
And… THAT’S IT! No really! It was that easy!
From an outdated TV stand to an easy bench DIY that is now a statement piece in our entryway! SO EASY!
DECORATE IT!
Baskets- For some reason I am having the hardest time finding baskets that I want for this bench. The square spaces are a perfect size for just about any medium sized basket or even a 13X13 storage bin, but I have been looking for something just right.
I found the two that are currently holding the space at The Christmas Tree Shop for $13 each. They’re amazing quality and I love the color with the bench, but when I got them home and slid them into their spots, I felt like they looked a tad too short. They’re going to hang out there for now, but eventually I’ll find something to replace them.
Shelf Decor- There are so many different things you can do on the shelves of this bench. I love that they have a different amount of space within them making it so you can have a variety of decor. Try to stick with a theme and pull colors together from the top and bottom shelf. Use different shapes for variety and try not to overcrowd or leave too much of a gap.
On Top- I love to drape a blanket over the corner and add pillows to give it an inviting feel right when you walk into our home. Other great ideas are to add a large vase with some flowers or add some simple decor to create a gorgeous statement piece right when you walk in.
At one point, I thought of making a bench cushion for the top instead of the barn wood. I personally love how it looks with the barn wood top, but you could definitely do a cushion for a more comfortable and homey feel!
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