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How to Save an Old Bench

ByDiana Hours Published: Hours Last Updated:
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Hi everyone! I have a pretty quick project that I wanted to show you today–a makeover for an old bench. Last spring I revived a similar bench for my master bath. In that post, I gave the details for recovering the seat.

How to Save an Old Bench
Doesn’t it feel good to turn an ugly old piece of furniture into something attractive and useful?
How to Save an Old Bench
This poor bench had seen better days. The original fabric had been covered at some point in its past with this terribly unattractive vinyl. I think the piece dates from the 1910s or 20s, so it’s almost an antique.

I purchased about two yards of this duck cloth last summer at a garage sale.

How to Save an Old Bench

I think it was a good choice for the stool.

How to Save an Old Bench

I painted the bench using a process that I’ve used many times before. First, I give the piece a light sanding to ensure that the paint will stick. If your piece has any gloss or shine to it, that means it still has some smooth finish on it that needs to be given some “tooth,” again, so your paint will stick.

I mix regular old acrylic craft paint with a little bit of cornstarch to create my own chalk paint, then apply 2-3 coats until I get the coverage I want.
How to Save an Old Bench
I let the final coat dry over night, and then I sand it using a combination of a sanding block, sand paper, and steel wool to get the look I want. In this case, I distressed it quite a bit. 

How to Save an Old Bench

After wiping off the paint dust, I gave it a light coating of clear Minwax paste wax, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then rubbed it to a smooth, hard surface. The wax both protects the surface from chipping and scratching and adds a nice “finish” to your piece, making it look more professional (I think).

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Bye for now,

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11 Comments

  2. Your post reminds me I have an old bench in my furniture stash that I need to give a makeover. The floral duck cloth you found at a garage sale is the perfect compliment to the grey paint. Thank you for sharing how you make your own chalk paint. Your bench turn out quite lovely.

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  11. Oh, I love the duck cloth and the color you painted it is wonderful! I have a little wooden ottoman base that I need to do. I just need to take the time and get some foam and plywood.
    Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply

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