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Farmhouse Bench - No Pocket Holes Version

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Submitted by Ana White on Tue, 06/04/2019 - 13:26
Difficulty
Starter Projects
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This farmhouse bench is easy to build and is rustic and substantial.  It is designed to match our Farmhouse Table Plans. 

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No Pocket Hole Plans
farmhouse table with matching bench

Reader submitted photo by  EHAYS216 

We love this sturdy and substantial farmhouse bench.  Designed to be built using standard off the shelf lumber, just the way farmhouse furniture has been built for hundreds of years.

Build it to match our farmhouse table plans, or use it as a stand alone piece on the end of a bed, or in your entryway.

Farmhouse Bench Plans

Dimensions
dimensions image for farmhouse bench
Dimensions are shown above

Preparation

Shopping List

4 – 2x4s, stud length or 8 foot length

2 – 1x4s, 8 foot length

1 – 1×2, 8 foot length

2 1/2″ screws

2″ screws 

Common Materials
Elmer's Wood Glue
Elmer's Wood Filler
120 grit sandpaper
primer
wood conditioner
paint
Cut List

8 – 2x4s @ 16 1/2″ (Legs)

2 – 1×4 @ 2 1/4″ (Spacers)

2 – 1×4 @ 6″ (End Aprons)

2 – 2×4 @ 12″ (Stretchers)

2 – 1×4 @ 61″ (Side Aprons)

2 – 1×4 @ 9 1/2″ (Inner Aprons)

5 – 1×2 @ 9 1/2″ (Supports)

4 – 2×4 @ 65″ (Bench Seat Boards)

2 – 1×4 @ 14″ (Breadboard Ends)

 

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Circular Saw
Power Sander
Drill Bit Set
General Instructions

The Farmhouse Bench is designed to work with this Farmhouse Table, but there is no reason you could not modify the dimensions or use it as a coffee table or outdoor bench. If you plan to build the Farmhouse Table, starting with the bench will give you a chance to test out your skills on a smaller version. For those of you who have a pocket hole system, you can use the pocket holes to build your bench seat separate. You can also fasten your aprons directly to the legs without spacers.

Instructions

Step 1

Legs The notches and stretchers on the legs is optional. Notch out your legs (for full instructions see the Farmhouse Table post) and laminate your legs together in pairs of 2 with glue and 2 1/2″ screws. Then take note of the placement of the spacers and attach to the insides of the legs. This will differ depending on the leg. Attach with 2″ screws and glue.

Step 2

End Aprons Attach end aprons to the spacers as shown above. Use glue and 2″ screws.

Step 3

Stretcher The stretcher gets attached in the same method. Screws and glue.

Step 4

Bench Frame Build the bench frame, keeping the 1×2 supports flush to the top. Easy method is to flip it all over and keep the supports flush to the bottom :)

Step 5

Step 6

Seat Boards Find the center of the supports and begin attaching seat boards from the underside. Work with the boards to minimize gaps as you go. Attach all seat boards. If you have a pocket hole system, you would build your bench seat separate, and then attach.

Step 7

Breadboard Ends If you have a pocket hole system, you would attach the breadboard ends directly to the seat boards in step 6. Otherwise, attach to leg bases.

Step 8

Finishing If you are staining, be very careful to not let glue dry on the project, as these areas will not take stain. Fill holes with wood filler, sand and paint or stain as desired.

Project Type
Bench
Room
dining room
entry way
Style
Farmhouse Furniture
Rustic Furniture Plans

Comments

Jaimi (not verified)

Wed, 03/09/2011 - 08:34

My husband finished building this bench the other night fairly quickly. This was our first project of this sort and it took him about 2 hours and we followed the changes to the plans that Don listed above.
Another change that we made was that we built the top of the bench out of all 1x4's and the frame and supports out of all 2x4's therefore eliminating the need for the 1x2's.
This change made the frame more sturdy, but required a couple more 1x4's to cover the top. We also made our bench about 4 feet instead of the full size like Ana's.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PCAG6ujD9-g/TXe_rPV3Y7I/AAAAAAAAArU/…

Guest (not verified)

Tue, 04/05/2011 - 19:00

Super cute :) I've got all the materials to do 2 for my table, now to get to work on them :)

Kristen umansky (not verified)

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 13:04

Sorry I was just looking for plans and came to see my bench :)

The lights are from Pottery Barn.

emmarosemc

Mon, 04/18/2011 - 13:57

Ive had the lumber for a while, just cut all of it - first time using a miter saw - still got all my fingers lol.

Something weird though, we have a 12" saw and when i lined up the wood to the fence the blade wouldnt cut through the wood all the way? So i had to move it up a couple inches and fear a kick back to get a clean cut.
Edit: Made some major mistakes but thats what i expected for my first project. Waiting on a sander because the belt sander just has too much kick me. Need to pick up more screws too.

cannelle9

Thu, 04/21/2011 - 21:09

Received a second hand table when we got married almost seven years ago.  It *finally* fell apart.  Started shopping for a new table but just couldn't spend many hundreds of dollars for fake wood laminate.  Hubby bought a cheap table for 175$ second-hand.  I hate it, its so ugly lol.  I think I'm going to attempt this one, with a bench, then attempt to make 2-4 chairs using this site's plan (parson or the simple chair?  not sure yet).  Can't wait to have a little time off work and some sunshine :) 

Thanks Ana for all your work!  Much appreciated!

tashacordel

Thu, 01/05/2012 - 07:43

Hey all...I love the simple Farmhouse bench...but would really like to see plans for one with a slightly slanted back to it. Anyone out there have some suggestions?

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 03/30/2012 - 20:16

hello,

i am soo inspired by the bench and would love to build the table and bench together but can't seem to find the plans for this specific table? can you please help ?!