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    DIY » Build It » Hopkins 2x4 Farmhouse Bench

    Hopkins 2x4 Farmhouse Bench

    Published by Gail | Published March 10, 2017 | Updated April 9, 2019
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Making easy projects out of 2x4 boards is so much fun. I have the easiest 2x4 farmhouse bench project tutorial for you, perfect for beginners!

    make a farmhouse bench-side table-coffee table-or picnic table with anysize table MyRepurposedLife.com

    PIN IT!

    *this post contains affiliate links, you can read more here. *

    hopkins any size table 2x4 farmhouse bench partsThis project starts with this awesome product called 2x4 basics any sized table. I’ll share more details about the various options below.

     

    hopkins any size table

    When it says any sized table, that is exactly what it means. All you need to purchase is the 2x4’s you prefer and any paint or stain to finish the table/bench the way you want. You can find your “cut list” right on the box. I chose a 4’ bench, so I needed (4) 4’ 2x4’s and (1) 42” 2x4 (for the brace). Easy peasy folks!

    I purchased (3) 8’ 2x4’s and cut two of them in half, one at 42”, which gave me an extra 2x4 for another project!

    Not shown—I sanded all of the 2x4’s with my orbital sander after I cut them to size.

    hopkins any size farmhouse 2x4 farmhouse benchUsing your drill simply secure the 2x4’s with the included screws. 2x4 stock is very soft—no need to pre-drill any pilot holes. I started with securing 1 screw in each end of the brace 2x4, then proceeded with the other brace screws.

     

    easy 2x4 farmhouse benchI used a scrap piece of ripped material to space the 2x4’s as I was attaching them to the legs. I chose to put the branding of the legs on the inside of my bench so it won’t be seen.

     

    2x4 hopkins table benchAs hard as I tried, there was a little shifting when I attached the 4 2x4’s for the bench seat. Rodney mentioned that I should have used a carpenter’s square to accomplish this.

     

    trim bench ends with circular saw and guideTo trim a little of the edge, I used some Irwin quick clamps and a metal yardstick as a straight edge to guide my circular saw. I’ve had this yardstick for so many years, I used it every day in my former career as a pre-k teacher. Who knew it would still get so much work in my “shop”.

     

    hopkins any size 2x4 table easy benchThis is how nice it looks after I trimmed up both sides. I LOVE it!

    time to paint!

    diy chalky paint primerMy favorite way to paint is using my Homeright Finish Max and my own diy chalky paint primer. In this case I used Behr Marquee brown paint with Plaster Of Paris. Because the plaster can be a little lumpy, I always use a mesh paint strainer to insure I don’t get any clogs in the sprayer. I few extra steps really will make for a better paint job.

     

     

    paint bench with homeright finish max MyRepurposedLife.comI like to begin with my projects upside down when I’m using the paint sprayer. It was a little tricky getting between all of the boards, and in every nook and cranny. If you’re staining your 2x4’s you might want to stain them before you put your project together. Raising the project off the ground onto my easy diy sawhorses makes it easier on my back. I painted two light coats of the diy chalky paint primer. If I were not doing the brown as a base coat, I would have finished it off with a regular coat of the brown (out of the can) to seal this project.

    However I was looking for more of a farmhouse look.

     

    distress painting with vaseline MyRepurposedLife.comA simple way to distress is using vaseline. I generally keep a tub in the shop, but it was getting old, so I put a little onto a lid and used a cheap chip brush to apply the vaseline. I typically use my finger or a q-tip, but I really thought using the brush did a much better job. After I applied the vaseline where I though a bench would normally receive wear and tear, I proceeded to paint a topcoat of Behr Polished Pearl (I used satin, but you could use whatever sheen you have) The distressing was immediately obvious.

     

    vaseline distressing MyRepurposedLife.comOf course you could use sandpaper to get a similar result, but I’m really loving how natural this looks! To make sure that all the distressing showed through, I rubbed the bench down with a rough rag.

     

    seal with aerosol spray sealerAfter the paint dried, I used Rustoleum Clear Sealer to protect the finish.

     

    diy 2x4 easy bench for table or patio MyRepurposedLife.comHere is the bench in my kitchen.

    2x4 bench coffee table easy tutorial MyRepurposedLife.comAfter staging the bench in the kitchen, the weather turned ugly and instead of moving it back outside to the garage, it found it’s way into the living room. Jamie was visiting for my 60th birthday celebration and used it as a coffee table/footstool while she was here. It was quite handy!

    outdoor 2x4 farmhouse bench MyRepurposedLife.comThis bench is very sturdy. I’m so happy with how it turned out. It really can be used in so many ways.

    2x4 outdoor farmhouse style bench MyRepurposedLife.comHere it is with my latest outdoor lighting feature, a repurposed lamp and chandelier.

    I’m wondering, how would you use this bench? Indoors? Outdoors?

    gail

    Shop the products used for this post using the Amazon Affiliate Links Below:

       

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    1. chris aka monkey

      March 15, 2017 at 10:07 pm

      gail i am pretty sure my old butt could make this, how cool xx

      Reply
    2. Wendi@H2OBungalow

      March 12, 2017 at 5:08 pm

      What a cool product! You ALWAYS find the funnest gadgets! This is perfect for a new tool user. Love that the base is so flexible and makes so many different items. Smart! Pinned too 🙂

      Reply
    3. Becky Cassera

      March 10, 2017 at 12:40 pm

      I love this! It is gorgeous!!

      Reply
    4. girlfromwva

      March 10, 2017 at 12:04 pm

      i would probably use it indoors, but like the fact you can take it outside!

      Reply
    5. Anne

      March 10, 2017 at 7:55 am

      love it!!!

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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