How to Get a Farmhouse Painted Bench from Boring Oak

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I actually prefer to call this farmhouse bench ‘the boomerang bench’. It’s equally as suitable as a farmhouse painted bench. My husband hated it and couldn’t wait to get rid of it. To paint a clearer picture of its history, well, I purchased it over a year ago with intentions of painting it, but plans change. I ended up keeping it in our small entryway because it seemed perfect for the kids to keep their shoes under and their school bags on. Problem is, we don’t really have an entryway so this farmhouse entryway bench sat close to the front door but in our living room. A bit awkward for the room, but functional.  A painted furniture makeover, this farmhouse bench is transformed from orange to distressed white and is now picture perfect. #paintedbench #farmhousebench #farmhousepaintedbench #whitepaintedbench #farmhousefurniture #whitepaintedfurniture #storagebench #paintedstoragebench #paintedbenchideas #farmbench #farmhousebenchwithstorage

Disclosure: This wooden farmhouse bench painted furniture post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy

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Supplies & Tools Needed to Paint a Farmhouse Bench

Materials Needed / Source List:

Tools

Paint

Before we begin, this farmhouse storage bench makeover project is part of our monthly Furniture Fixer Uppers share. You know what that means! Make sure to stick around all the way to the end for more great painted furniture before and after projects.

Wooden Oak Bench History

One day a customer of mine came to pick up a different piece of furniture she mentioned that she had been looking for a bench. As it turns out she wants a farmhouse bench with back.  I then told her how much my husband hates this wooden farmhouse bench in my living room. She then called ‘dibs’ on it for whenever we decided to get rid of it. This clearly was meant to be hers all along. bench-with-seat-storage, storage bench, bench with storage, wood bench, farmhouse bench oak

Fast Forward

Fast forwarding a bit to our living room makeover in January. While clearing out our living room for its makeover, it was finally time to get rid of the storage bench. I didn’t have room in my storage unit for it so I reached out to that customer to see if she was ready to claim dibs on the wooden farmhouse bench. She was! BUT under one condition – that it be painted off-white and distressed. With so many painted bench ideas I do feel that a farmhouse painted bench makeover is a perfect choice. We made a unique arrangement and I brought the bench to her with the promise to paint it once the living room makeover was completed. The golden oak bench is out of the house! But like a boomerang, it has come back for its custom painted furniture makeover. unfinished-wood-storage-bench, painted bench, painted furniture, farmhouse, wooden storage bench

Painting a Farmhouse Style Storage Bench

This farm bench will be gorgeous once we get rid of that dated orange glow of the wood. The entire farmhouse storage bench is prepped for paint. This is my process for How to Prep Painted Furniture.

If you are new to furniture painting then you can always start at the beginning with How to Paint Furniture – a Beginners Guide.

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Next, grab your favorite brush. I like to swap back and forth between Cling Ons and Zibra brushes. They both have soft bristles, are easy to work with and clean up well. (I abuse my brushes) To be honest, I like them both. Zibra brushes are a bit more affordable and can be ordered online (HERE). Cling Ons can be ordered online (HERE).

Now lay your wooden bench down on your furniture dollies to paint the legs under the seat first. These dollies allow for easy maneuverability of furniture while we work. If you don’t already have furniture wheelies, you can get them online HERE or HERE. The bench is being painted in a creamy off-white. You can find great quality furniture paint online HERElay-down-to-paint-bottom, painted bench, storage bench, painted benches

Once the inner legs area is painted, distressed and sealed with a clear flat sealer I then stand the half painted bench back up on its legs to continue. paint-bottom-first, painted bench, farmhouse painted bench, distressed white, chalk paint, painted bench ideas

A little trick to painting furniture white or off-white is to do the first coat in a shade of gray. By painting gray first, it acts as a sort of primer. Often white paint needs more coats, due to less pigment and can be frustrating to get decent coverage. I always paint my first coat in a light gray then followed by the creamy off-white.  The sides of the farmhouse bench also have these holes that needed to be painted. side-holes, artist brush, chalk paint, distressed white, new york, painted bench

I simply use an artist brush to paint inside the holes to make sure that they match the rest of the painted benchartist-brush-in-holes, painted bench, farmhouse bench, distressed white

Distressing Your DIY Wood Bench

Once the entire bench is painted, it is then distressed and sanded in its entirety with fine grit sandpaper for a super smooth finish. The edges are distressed creating a farmhouse style appearance to the painted bench. For a more detailed tutorial on distressing make sure to check out How to Distress Painted Wood. distressed-paint, farmhouse style, distressed chalk paint, painted bench, farmhouse painted bench, storage bench, white painted bench

Lastly, make sure to seal your DIY farmhouse bench makeover. If you ever have questions about sealing your painted furniture project you can find a full tutorial with video on how to apply clear sealer here: Sealing Painted Furniture sealing painted furniture, how to seal painted furniture, video tutorial

The Result – Painted Farmhouse Bench with Storage

This farm style bench aka boomerang bench is ready to bounce right back to its forever home. farmhouse-style-off-white-painted-bench, farm bench, storage bench, painted bench, just the woods, staten island

Need a bench but prefer not to DIY? Find fantastic benches for sale here: Benches for sale benches, benches for sale, church pew for sale, farmhouse bench, farm bench, benches

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[clickToTweet tweet=”Farmhouse Painted Storage Bench Makeover” quote=”Sharing is caring? Share the boomerang farmhouse love <3 ” theme=”style5″]

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For more painted furniture before and after projects, and makeovers, make sure to check out all of my chalk paint furniture tutorials with over 90 projects here: The Ultimate Guide for Stunning Painted Furniture Ideas

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For more DIY bench ideas and how to build a bench, farmhouse bench plans, and more make sure to check out DIY Benches.

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Ready to start your own farmhouse bench makeover? Make sure to use the best products! Grab paint, stain, sealer and more online HERE. dixie belle, dixie belle paint, chalk paint, chalk mineral paint, order paint, order dixie belle

Furniture Fixer-Uppers

WAIT it’s another month of Furniture Fixer Uppers and you don’t want to miss this! Make sure to click the corresponding link under the image of ugly ‘befores’ to see each amazing makeover. Enjoy!furniture-fixer-upper-collage

1. The Interior FrugalistaTurned Leg Nesting Tables
 2. Confessions of a Serial DIYerThrift Store Hutch Makeover
3. Petticoat JunktionCoral Color Bedroom Furniture
4. Girl in the GarageVintage Dresser Makeover
5. Prodigal PiecesMid Century Modern Dresser

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A painted furniture makeover, this farmhouse bench is transformed from orange to distressed white and is now picture perfect. #paintedbench #farmhousebench #farmhousepaintedbench #whitepaintedbench #farmhousefurniture #whitepaintedfurniture #storagebench #paintedstoragebench #paintedbenchideas #farmbench #farmhousebenchwithstorage

A painted furniture makeover, this farmhouse bench is transformed from orange to distressed white and is now picture perfect. #paintedbench  #farmhousebench #farmhousepaintedbench  #whitepaintedbench #farmhousefurniture #whitepaintedfurniture #storagebench #paintedstoragebench #paintedbenchideas #farmbench #farmhousebenchwithstorage

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39 Comments

  1. Kandice I love your bench. It’s identical to one I had and we painted them identical too. Your customer has good taste .There is nothing better than off white distressed paint. I didn’t want to leave a link here but you can check out my project when you have extra time, lol.

  2. Definitely feeling the painted after much better, you did such a great job on this bench! Stopping by from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia’s link-up!

  3. That looks gorgeous. 🙂 So chic and pretty. Good job 🙂 can’t wait to see more.

  4. This turned out beautiful and I love how you styled it! Thanks for linking it up at Talk of the Town. You’re my featured pick for next week’s party!

  5. I am loving this bench. My hubby & I are about to build a farmhouse and i’ve been wanting a bench like this for it. I’m definitely saving this idea! Thank you so much!

  6. Just wanted you to know that I added this project to a farmhouse idea roundup I did as part of the Create Link Inspire party. Thanks for linking up!

  7. Martha Harper says:

    I would love to see the back of this bench, because I have one like it but it looks like something is missing from the back. Could someone share a pic with me of the back of it.

    1. Im sorry, the bench has gone back to its forever home. But it was painted around back as well. Im sorry.

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