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    Home » DIY » outdoor living » Upcycled Shutters and Desk into Potting Bench

    Upcycled Shutters and Desk into Potting Bench

    Published by Gail | Published June 5, 2015 | Updated May 16, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Repurposed Shutters and desk into potting bench. This potting bench could easily be used indoors for kitchen organization. #MyLove2Create #MyRepurposedLife #repurposed #shutters #desk #pottingbench via @repurposedlife
    Hi, I am so excited to share my latest project with you, my upcycled shutters and desk into potting bench!
    Repurposed Shutters and desk into potting bench
    Would you believe this project happened by accident? It totally did...and I couldn't be happier about it!
    shudders before
    I went out to my hoard back porch to see if these old shutters my friend had given me would work to make some benches. For the longest time  I have been wanting some for my back yard. So, I thought these would be perfect. I pulled them out and was ready to get to work when I spotted this...

    desk before
    An old beat up desk. I had gotten this for free off of Craig's list a few years ago. I never had a place for it in my home to redo it...so it was exiled to the back porch. As I was holding my shutters and looking at this desk inspiration struck...I guess I wasn't going to make benches after all, but a potting bench.
    remove hardware from shudders
    First,  I needed to cut the upcycled shutters in half so I got to work removing all the hardware.

    Cut Upcycled Shutters in half

    Cutting shudders in half with Kreg rip cut
    I measured the halfway point on the shutters and used my new toy, my Kreg Rip-Cut, to cut the upcycled shutters in half. It was awesome!!
    cut shudders, from two shudders to four,
    With my shutters cut in half I now had four smaller shutters.

    Test the fit of the shutters

    dry fitting shudders on desk top to make a potting bench
    I did a test to see if the shutters would work on top of the desk. They fit just right, so I marked with a pencil where I needed to drill pocket holes. Then I got to work.

    How to attach shutters to desk?

    drilling pocket holes into shudders
    I drilled pocket holes into the ends of the shutters so I could attach all four of them together.
    using smaller micro pocket holes into shudders
    In order to attach the upcycled shutters to the desk, I needed to use my Kreg Micro Drill Guide System  because the bottoms were only ½ inch thick. I drilled three smaller pocket holes on the bottom of all four shutters.
    Need more details on using a Kreg Jig? See my article How to use a Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System
    attaching shudders together with pocket hole screws
    Then, I started by attaching my back two shutters together. I used my Gorilla Glue and 1 ¼ inch pocket hole screws. I always clamp when I am drilling pocket hole screws to ensure my pieces go together perfectly. If you notice I drilled a pocket holes on both shutters to attach them on the top and bottom.
    using pocket hole screws to connect shudders together
    Then I added my side shutters to the back shutters. I used my right angle clamp to hold them together for adding my first screws, then removed it to add my last ones.

    Add a shelf to the upcycled shutters

    cut pieces of 1x2 to build shelf
    Thinking it would be good idea to add a shelf to go in the middle of the shutters but I realized that I could use the 1x2's that I had removed from the shutters, sa-weet! So, I cut two long pieces to fit the length of the back shutters and then I cut four smaller pieces to make my shelf support. I used wood glue and nails to attach them together, with two small pieces on the very ends and two in the middle.
    attaching shelf to shudders with nails and screws
    In order to secure the shelf support on the shutters I nailed them in first, then pre-drilled holes at an angle and added screws to secure the shelf support in the middle and on the ends.

    Making a lower shelf

    fitting deck wood on bottom of desk to create a shelf
    Now that I had my shutter shelf support secured I went to get some old deck wood to make the shelves. I used this same free deck wood for my Entry Table made from Reclaimed Lumber. I started by seeing if it would fit on the bottom of my desk for a lower shelf. Only two boards fit, so I decided to cut a third one.
    ripping deck board with keg rip cut and circular saw
    Of course, as it goes, the boards were too wide. So I had to rip them.
    bottom shelf of potting bench
    Much better.
    gluing drawer back together
    Oh, and I also had some gluing and clamping to do on the desk drawer to get it back in working order.

    Framing out the top of the shutters

    dry fitting old deck wood shelves
    Here is a dry fit with the deck boards on the shutters to see how they look. I was happy with how it looked at this point.
    adding poly to stained deck boards
    After doing a serious sanding job on the very weathered deck boards I stained them with Rustoelum's Kona. Then I sealed them with three coats of poly.

    Kreg Pocket Holes attach upcycled shutters to desk

    attaching shudders to table with pocket hole screws
    I used my smaller pocket hole screws to attach my upcycled shutters to the desk top. Then it was ready for paint. Before I painted I gave it a good cleaning, especially the shutters, they were dirty!

    Using a Finish Max Prop Paint Sprayer

    using Home Right Sprayer to prime potting bench
    I was soooo excited to use my new HomeRight Finish Max Pro  on this project! I used Gail's chalk paint recipe with some oops paint as a primer. It just happened to be almost the exact color as the shutters paint, crazy!
    Anyway, I was super impressed with how well the sprayer worked and may or may not have done a happy dance. 🙂 I had this baby primed in less than ten minutes, I can't wait to used this sprayer again! I started painting with the bench laying down, then finished with it upright.
    straining paint to spray final coat on potting bench
    To finish off my potting bench I used another oops paint I had laying around. I got so excited that I forgot to strain the paint before I put it in the sprayer. When I tried to spray the paint wasn't coming out very well that is when I realized my mistake.
    I grabbed a bowl and a piece of screen from the screen door that my dog ripped up, and used it to strain my paint. Look at all the chunks of dried paint! No wonder it wasn't working. I poured the strained paint back in my sprayer and it worked perfectly. I was super happy with the results, just remember to strain your paint. 🙂 The clean up was super easy too, so nice!

    Battery operated nail gun makes diy fast and easy

    nailing on stained shelf boards, repurposed from old deck wood
    All I had to do was attach my finished deck boards to my potting bench and I was done, I used my nail gun to do the job.
    potting bench made from old deck wood, shudders, and old desk
    Here is my new upcycled shutters potting bench! It was so fun to make this on the spur of the moment, and I know it will be put to good use. I think the shutters give it a certain charm.
    shudder potting bench from back
    Here is a shot from the back. I decided not to fill in the pocket holes with spackle like I did on the side shutters.

    Potting bench can be a hutch!

    Repurposed shudders and desk into potting bench
    I grabbed some supplies to give you an idea of how useful it can be. Wouldn't this upcycled shutter potting bench make a great hutch?
    dollar bucket to hold supplies on potting bench shudders
    A dollar store bucket hanging from a pegboard shelf pin that fits nicely between shutters, can hold all sorts of supplies. When I am planting I find scissors very useful to cut open seed packets and the plastic containers that annuals come packaged in.
    growing plant
    Here are some seeds my daughter planted, she loves watching them grow!
    using pegboard hooks to hang tools
    Using the shutters and pegboard hooks can also be a great way to hang tools.
    shudder potting bench storage options, MyLove2Create
    Of course the desk drawer can hold all sorts of things, and the bottom shelf is great for bags of soil.
    succulents displayed on potting bench shelf
    I love that the shelves can be filled with plants to keep the potting bench pretty.
    front cropped shot of potting bench, MyLove2Create
    My dollar store pots dressed up with contact paper add their own cute statement and some pops of color.
    side shot of potting bench repurposed from shudders and desk
    Even if I didn't get my benches made, I am super thrilled with my new shutter potting bench, it makes me want to start planting. I love surprise projects!
    top view of shudder potting bench
    The wood is so pretty and turquoise is my favorite color, so that might have some thing to do with why I love it so much...
    shudders and desk repurposed into potting bench
    Or, maybe the fact that it was FREE! That is a bonus too. 🙂
    So do you have a potting bench? Or, maybe some shutters and an old desk or dresser laying around that you could build one?
    Hugs,
    Mindi
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    see more of Mindi's posts on MRL Here
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    About Mindi

    Mindi is a wife, mother, runner, dancer, and a lover of all things fun and DIY.

    A few years ago she discovered blogs and fell in love with the idea that she could do things she had always dreamed of doing. Like build furniture from pallets, and make cool projects for her home.... Mindi was inspired by other bloggers that empowered her to create.

    Mindi decided to give back and possibly reach someone out there that has a desire to create like herself. She believes we all have that desire in some form or another, and we all DO create in our own way, every day. Whether it be crafty or not, even creating happiness in others is a gift that many share.

    Mindi loves to learn and use that knowledge to make beautiful and useful things for her home.

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    1. Randolph Conrad

      October 21, 2017 at 11:56 am

      Looks great. It would be a nice addition to a kitchen laptop or tablet, basket for catching keys, cells, hang basket from shutters for all incoming mail. Anyway just a thought, I seem I always have to make it different but I don't love what you did with it.

      Reply
    2. KATHY

      November 08, 2016 at 9:57 pm

      THIS IS TRULY AWESOME - I CAN SEE USING IT FOR A BEVERAGE STATION IN A KITCHEN, OR AS A LITTLE VANITY IN A BEDROOM - COULD HAVE MANY USES. YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME. I HAVE AN OLD VANITY TABLE, AND SOME SHUTTERS TOO - GUESS I KNOW WHAT MY NEXT PROJECT WILL BE. THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD TUTORIAL AND CREATIVE SPIRIT.

      Reply
    3. girlfromwva

      March 07, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      LOVE this!!! (love the color, too!)

      Reply
    4. Toni Vitrano

      March 07, 2016 at 9:14 am

      Awesome!

      Reply
    5. Mary

      June 08, 2015 at 11:34 pm

      This is a combo that is truly worthy! I have been holding out using my shutters, now I know why-thanks you so much!!!

      Reply
    6. Bobbie at Hue New Painted Furniture

      June 08, 2015 at 8:51 pm

      A.W.E.S.O.M.E!!!! You are so creative and talented! I love your following along with you. You inspire me to try to use power tools.

      Reply
    7. Debbie

      June 08, 2015 at 8:47 pm

      Love it!! I need one 😛

      Reply
    8. Pam

      June 05, 2015 at 3:35 pm

      LOVE it....I love the color, love it as a potting station. Great job.

      Reply
    9. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

      June 05, 2015 at 1:28 pm

      HOLY COW Mindi, that is amazing! I have lots of shutters just waiting for me.

      Reply
    10. Cassie

      June 05, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Seriously awesome. 🙂

      Reply
    11. Catherine

      June 05, 2015 at 11:20 am

      Great job Mindi--looks really cool--and handy!
      Catherine

      Reply
    12. gail@myrepurposedlife.com

      June 05, 2015 at 9:46 am

      Mindi,

      I love your new potting bench. Potting benches are so versatile these days. They are great for outdoor entertaining as well as potting flowers.

      My favorite part is the two toned look with the stained wood. Loving the shelves, and the top frame of the shutters. It really pulls it all together. A perfect marriage of shutters and a desk!

      gail

      Reply
    13. Anne@DesignDreams

      June 05, 2015 at 8:59 am

      Super cute Gail! and you couldn't have picked a better paint colour 😉

      xo

      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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