Hey everyone! I’m putting the finishing touches on my kitchen so that I can post it on Monday! Can you believe it, my kitchen is actually almost finished?! I know, I won’t believe it either…until I see it posted! ???? But, in the meantime while I’m putting the final touches on the kitchen, I wanted to give you a little something to keep you occupied! Here’s a quick little build that is so cute and inexpensive, I give you the plans for this Diy Small Modern Bench! I saw a larger version of this on Joanna Gaines’ Instagram feed, I’m sure her bench is an actual antique but I love my little replica!
I love this little bench so much, I was able to build it from first cut to stain…meaning completed…in just 3 hours! So, naturally I built the larger one too (the plans will be live for it Thursday-ish)! Yeah, I needed a quick couple of builds to make me feel productive, since it seems everyone else in the world can complete whole home renovations in a month and I can’t renovate one room within one year! Lol! Anyway, I created both plans because I didn’t have room for the larger bench, but then I realized I could totally use it at my dining table since I still haven’t built the matching bench to the Restoration Hardware Table I built 2 YEARS AGO! ???? Yeah, I am a sloth when it comes to getting stuff done! I should have named my blog The Sloth’s Workshop! ????????????
Enough about me, let’s get this bench built!
Note: Links below may be affiliate links! That means I make a small commission off your purchase at no cost to you! It helps keep this little ole blog running!???? Thanks in advance if you shop at a link provided in this post!
Materials List:
1 – 1x12x48″
2 – 1x2x8
drill
wood glue
miter saw
Cut List:
1 – 1×12 @ 30″
4 – 1×2 @ 28 1/2″
4 – 1×2 @ 15″ mitered 13 degrees off square, ends parallel
2 – 1×2 @ 7 1/2″ mitered 13 degrees off square, ends NOT parallel
2 – 1×2 @ 13″ mitered 13 degrees off square, ends NOT parallel
Building the Small Modern Bench
This build is a breath of fresh air if you are looking for some instant gratification! Lol! It is super cute, but takes so little materials and time! The perfect little pre-holiday build! Let’s get started!
Step 1
Start by cutting your 1×12 down to 30″. You can sand it and have it ready to go when the legs are built!
Step 2
Cut all the mitered boards listed in the cut list and build the legs. Use pocket holes drilled at 3/4″ deep and use wood glue along with 1 1/4″ screws to attach. You will build two of the legs shown below.
Notice the pocket holes that are drilled at the top going up into nothing, this will allow the attachment to the 1×12 in the next steps!
Step 3
Attach the legs to the 1×12.
Make sure again to use plenty of glue!
Step 4
Add the stretchers between the legs. They are cut at 28 1/2″ and pocket holed on the ends and along the top. Using the same 3/4″ drilled holes and 1 1/4″ screws with wood glue to attach!
Step 5
Add the stretchers along the bottom of the legs! They are also cut at 28 1/2″ and pocket holed only on the ends of the boards to attach to the legs…I was so excited at this point, I kinda forgot to take pictures! ???? I know you can manage it though by looking at the finished product! I have total faith in your abilities! ???? I raised my stretcher up 1 1/2″ on the front and back, which is slightly higher than the bottom stretcher of the leg…if that makes sense!
Step 6
Sand and finish in the way your heart desires! I used Old Barn Milkpaint in Weathered to stain mine! I cannot rave about this stain enough! It is nontoxic so I can stain in the comforts of my house when it is super hot or super cold outside, which is a HUGE plus for me! Anndddd, this color is perfection…I mean when it’s not clashing with my floor! Lol! I have a rug that is going to go under it here so it won’t clash with the floor any longer! ????
I enjoyed this little project so much that I had to build the bigger version too…originally I was just going to offer y’all the plans but I had to build it! Lol! So here are the plans for the Large Modern Bench!
Hope you build one…it would make a great holiday gift for a family member, I know I would still love to receive something like this as a gift even though I can build my own!
Happy Building!
