• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Partner
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Southern Hospitality

Adventures in Decorating, Thrifting, Cooking, Fashion & Gardening

  • My Home
  • Categories
    • A+ Blogs
    • My Blog Story
    • Decorating
    • DIY/How-To
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • In the Kitchen
    • My Home Tours
    • Thrifting
    • Travel
  • DIY Gallery
  • Fashion
  • Feature Friday
  • Shop My Home
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

A Little Bench Makeover

February 18, 2013 By Rhoda 33 Comments

0 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Before I left Birmingham, I hit a sale at the Catholic Rummage Sale in Homewood and found a cute $10 bench that I couldn’t pass up.  I always found some good stuff at their rummage sale, so if you’re in Birmingham, be sure to look it up on the 4th of July.  I had kept this old bench and had plans to use it somewhere, so I finally got around to giving her a makeover.

bench before

Here she is in her Before state.  Cute, but definitely needing some sprucing up.  That old gold velvet has seen better days. You can see the veneer is gone on the side.  But, I’m painting it so that doesn’t matter.

under bench

I turned it over and took off the seat.

top off bench

Ready to recover.

striped green fabric

I am making a couple of pillows for my bed out of this striped fabric, so for now I used some of it since I already have it, but I may change it out later for something not striped, since this is going to sit on my striped rug.

corners stapled

Using an electric stapler and this method, turn the corners under and staple all the way around.

stapled cover

That’s it!  Stapled and ready to put back on after painting the base of the bench.

Annie Sloan Old White

I painted the base with 2 coats of my Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint and left some of the brown showing through on the legs.

Bench After

Added the seat back on and how cute is it now?  A far cry from the original.  All it needed was new paint and fabric.

Bench legs

I love those legs, so cute!

bench by bed

I did get out my clear wax and a little bit of dark wax (Annie Sloan) and gave it a quick coat of wax, rubbing it in and letting it dry and now it’s sitting at the end of my bed.

Legs

I’m still not a wax expert, but once you rub it all over the paint, let it dry and then go back and buff it with a soft cotton rag to bring out the sheen.

bench

I didn’t spend a lot of time waxing and rubbing, but I’m happy with how it came out.

It’s a cute updated piece at the end of my bed for now.

Do you have something that needs a new paint job and maybe some new fabric? Think of the possibilities!

Today, I’m posting over at My Way Home, Wayfair’s blog about organizing a pretty office and I’m happy to say, I’m a brand new contributor over there and will be sharing posts once a month, all about sprucing up the home. 

Joining Linda’s Nifty Thrifty party today!

Related


Don't Miss a Post, join my list!

Filed Under: Decorating Ideas, Projects and How-To 33 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    February 18, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    Rhoda…the bench was such a find…and you turned it into a great treasure…love the striped fabric!!…

    Reply
  2. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    February 18, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    Rhoda,
    Now you have made this $10 bench…super duper cute (love that fabric). I would love to have you share it at my party today:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
    • Mary says

      February 18, 2013 at 7:39 pm

      I have a piano bench I need to redo. Thanks for the inspiration!

  3. Elisabeth says

    February 18, 2013 at 8:10 pm

    How sweet! Your little bench looks happy with her new cheery makeover!

    Reply
  4. Janet says

    February 18, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    What a transformation!! You definitely got a deal for your $10. So pretty now. Kudos.
    Janet

    Reply
  5. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says

    February 18, 2013 at 9:51 pm

    Your little bench turned out great, Rhoda. The two stripes look like they coordinate really well.

    Reply
  6. kathy w says

    February 18, 2013 at 10:10 pm

    Your update on your bench is so cute. Also, like that new picture on your blog.

    Reply
  7. Pam says

    February 19, 2013 at 12:01 am

    Hi Rhoda!!!!

    Love your new photo!!! So elegant and beautiful!!!

    I have an ottoman that needs redoing and haven’t had time, but, seeing your cute one makes me want to get going with it.

    I love the material and the paint color. Pulling the blue in the rug that it sits on would be beautiful, but, then again I do love blue, so I’m prejudice towards that color.

    Enjoy the rest of the week!!

    Pam
    xox

    Reply
  8. Cynthia says

    February 19, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    Great price, great bench and you gave a lot of love and it looks great.

    Cynthia

    Reply
  9. Carol says

    February 20, 2013 at 9:23 am

    I also wish someone would do a tutorial on the chalk paint and waxing. I have not ever heard of these techniques but love the look. Just not sure what it is and what it does. See several different products on all different blogs. Don’t even know where to start.

    Reply
  10. Christina @ The Frugal Homemaker says

    February 26, 2013 at 10:20 pm

    Love this, Rhoda! I have a coffee table with similiar legs that I am hoping to reinforce and turn into a bench for the end of the bed.

    Your house is turning out so pretty! I know you love it! Look forward to one day seeing it in person.

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Thanks for stopping by! I'm Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn't have to cost a fortune and I've spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I'm here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won't you join me?

Subscribe

Click Here

Click Here

Subscribe to the Blog
How to Decorate in
Classic Timeless Style
.....without breaking the bank!

House Renovation Journey!

Our Paint Colors

Archives

Categories

Footer Widget Header2

Featured here:

Better Homes and Gardens
Atlanta Magazine
Better Homes and Gardens

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Partner

Copyright © 2025 · Southern Hospitality · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy