• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Repurposed Furniture » Toddler or Doll Bench

    Toddler or Doll Bench

    Published by Gail | Published October 19, 2011 | Updated April 9, 2019
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
     In this post I'll show you how to make this cute child's or doll bench from a thrifted headboard.
    how-to-toddler-bench-repurposed-bed


    100_9813Over the summer I picked up two headboards for $5.00.

    Repurposed Headboard
    This is one of my  signs  from a repurposed headboard.

    100_9505Cutting headboards on the table saw when I’m alone makes me nervous. I have been using my circular saw for these types of projects. I use a scrap board as a guide so I can get a straight cut.

     

    100_9506My readers are very familiar with this Kreg Jig® K4   . It allows you to drill “pocket holes”. Pocket holes make a really tight joint that rarely needs wood glue. Here I am drilling the holes into the two pieces (left and right) that I cut off the headboard. These pieces will be the armrests for my bench.

     

    100_9510I use a speed square to make sure I have the correct angle.

     

    100_9511

    100_9513This is where things got a little silly. I make a LOT of headboard benches, generally they are much larger. This is the first one I’ve made ON a table. When I went to stand it up, I was surprised that it didn’t have any back legs! It really was the silliest thing. I literally laughed out loud!

     

    100_9514Do you remember the headboard I showed you above that I turned into the sign? These are the legs I cut off of that headboard. They are a perfect match!

    100_9517I used my compound miter saw to cut the back legs to the proper height. Now all  I need is a seat!

     

    100_9518I used the Kreg Jig to make some pocket holes in each end of my board. See more Kreg Jig Projects.

     

    100_9524That allowed me to screw the seat right into the sides of the bench. (the pocket holes are on the bottom of the seat)  I filled the holes with wood filler and sanded them smooth.

     

    100_9527

    100_9528You can see that I sanded off most of the original paint.

     

    100_9529If you look closely you will see pocket holes on the back and the side right above the seat. Those pocket holes hold the screws that I used to attach the back legs.

     

    100_9568I had some extra spray paint, so I took the easy way out. This bench took almost 2 cans of paint.

     

    100_9596I think this bench would be perfect for a toddler, and as she grows she could use it for her dolls.

     

    100_9600I, of course don’t have any dolls to stage it, so I used this rabbit my sister made for my daughter Jamie 25 years ago!

     

    100_9609The back of this bench sits a little high. Were I to do it all over again, I believe I would only use the top section of the headboard, then I could use the bottom piece to make another sign from a headboard, like I did with the bottom of the other headboard.

    I updated the bench, see the details in my post Take 2 Tuesday Pink Toddler Bench

    gail
    See other fun benches below [categorythumbnaillist 64]
    Pin It
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • Child Bench made from Reclaimed Bed
      Child Bench made from Reclaimed Bed
    • 50 headboard bench ideas
      50 headboard bench ideas
    • DIY Doll Dog Bed
      DIY Doll Dog Bed
    • tufted upholstered headboard bench
      tufted upholstered headboard bench
    • Jenny Lind Bed Bench
      Jenny Lind Bed Bench
    • Mission Style Headboard Bench with Storage
      Mission Style Headboard Bench with Storage

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

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

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Helen

      June 26, 2014 at 4:28 am

      Really special.

      Reply
    2. Melanie

      October 30, 2011 at 2:53 am

      Wow, how creative! I remember my dad making little kid-sized furniture for me when I was little. This bench is so pretty! Some little girl is so lucky!

      Reply
    3. Full Circle Creations

      October 26, 2011 at 8:08 pm

      Such a cute little bench! Love it!

      Holly

      Reply
    4. Granny

      October 25, 2011 at 11:42 am

      I think the height is perfect. I'd display a little child's quilt hanging over the back of it. Love the rabbit sitting on it. 🙂

      Reply
    5. meijo's JOY

      October 20, 2011 at 11:48 pm

      Aww...never seen anything cuter in pink than this!

      Reply
    6. Stephanie

      October 20, 2011 at 5:27 am

      That is one cute bench. I laughed out loud when you showed how you didn't have back legs...so funny!

      Reply
    7. Kirsten- The Foreign Domestic

      October 20, 2011 at 4:22 am

      Those transformations are awesome! I'd love to learn to recreate the way you do.

      Reply
    8. Love Of Quilts

      October 20, 2011 at 3:28 am

      How sweet! My hubby needs one of those jigs. Trish

      Reply
    9. Proper Prim

      October 19, 2011 at 6:48 pm

      I can't believe that bench didn't sell. I would have scooped that up in a minute. That was a great tut also Gail... I love when you give us visuals.

      Now I want the bigger Kreg Jig... maybe on my Santa list this year. Do you like it better?

      I really like that Home sign... love the shape of that one. Great job on everything.

      Hugs, Deb

      Reply
    10. Toqua's Crafts

      October 19, 2011 at 5:57 pm

      I *LOVE* this bench! It is SO CUTE!

      I can so totally see a doll collector buying it to display their dolls on. I, like you, do not have dolls around my house, but I do have a rabbit very similar to the one you showed above! LOL

      Reply
    11. kelly@refresheddesigns.

      October 19, 2011 at 3:23 pm

      Great ideas. It totally makes sense to use a headboard for signs instead of using up a new board. Great job!

      Reply
    12. Pam

      October 19, 2011 at 2:07 pm

      Adorable

      Reply
    13. Judy

      October 19, 2011 at 12:36 pm

      That is super cute. I would have never thought to do this. Awesome.

      Reply
    14. Lesley

      October 19, 2011 at 12:06 pm

      Didn't I see this little dolly baby of a bench in that packed out car going to Glendale last week?? lol

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    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!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure