How to Make A Fabulous Mudroom Bench On A tight budget

 

I love clean pastel colors around the house, but I also like to mix in some intense colors like a super-strong red.

If you think about red, it can be combined with so many different home decor themes. It can be added to the garden and front porch, to a coastal beach themed house, to fall decoration, to Christmas or a 4th of July decoration.

I can go on, but today I want to show you how we gave a pop of color for an entryway by giving a full makeover for this old sad wood bench.

 

Accessories & supplies for this mudroom bench DIY

• Rags
• Brushes
• Sandpaper
• Electric sander
• Paper Towels
• Stir Sticks
• Drop Cloths or Newspapers

 

Preparation of wooden mudroom entry bench

If you really want to repair and cover all cracks of an old wooden bench you should take it apart. So you can sand it everywhere. This entryway bench was very easy to disassemble, so I went with it. If you are not up to it, I would say it’s okay don’t stress it, but you will have to get into the joints with the sandpaper.

 

Why is sanding the most important part of remodeling old wood furniture?

 

Most likely that wooden bench has seen better days and the elements damaged it throughout the years. If you would try to paint over the cracks or old paint, then the new paint job will start chipping off pretty soon, and your hard work is now ruined. Probably the bench has rough spots; then you want to smooth those stubborn spots before painting.

 

Sanding your wooden mudroom bench

We usually sand it twice. Here is the short version of how we did it with our entryway bench:

• Started with a medium grade of sandpaper (e.g., #120) using an electric sander. You can do it by hand, but if you have a sander, it makes your life so much easier.
• Cleaned it with a wet rug and let it dry.
• Painted it with sanding sealer to seal all imperfection of the wood.
• Sanded down with light sandpaper (E.G., #220). This step creates the perfect smooth surface for painting.
• Cleaned it again and waited to dry.

If you need a little more detail on this process, check out our wooden dining table makeover post. 

 

Choosing the right paint for your bench makeover

 

Before we get to your preferred home decor style, think for a second and choose the right paint for your bench DIY. Where you’re gonna use this bench? Will it be on your porch? Is your outdoor space covered? Or would you rather use the bench indoors and want to create a cozy mudroom entry? Either way, you want to make sure you chose the right paint to give the bench a long life with durable protection.

 

Rustic mudroom bench

For the rustic look, we like to show the wood and its color. When we work on a rustic DIY furniture project, we choose a wood stain.

Usually, we pick up 2 or 3 different color wood stain and try them out on the wood where you can’t see it later. Or better if you have a piece you won’t use in the project try them on it.

Here is another easy rustic bench DIY idea you can make from reclaimed wood.

 

Farmhouse style bench

Of course, farmhouse home decoration is still in. A lot of people like the look, and even though there are some rumors, it will be gone soon, DIYers out there keeps updating there home with farmhouse furniture. If you need inspiration for farmhouse bench look with pillows and shoe storage check out my fav. Most popular paint is chalk paint to create a beautiful farmhouse look.

 

Eclectic style entryway bench

Back to our current red entryway bench project. We wanted a real pop of color and went with the eclectic look.

Since we knew this bench would be used on the porch and probably later in the entryway we chose the Behr Hi-Gloss Enamel Interior/Exterior Paint. I love it the wooden bench got a new life, and it is amazing!

We painted the hard to get places first, then all flat surfaces. Waited to dry and painted an extra coat.

 

Decorating mudroom bench ideas

 

Aren’t we all love to add some texture and fun decoration to our furniture? 😉 When it comes to how to style an entryway bench, we have some easy budget-friendly options.

 

Entryway bench throw pillows

 

My favorite and easy decor is to add some throw pillows. This time I found these around the house to take some quick pictures, but later on, I would like to make some new macrame textured pillowcases. I will update you guys with that DIY project. 

Entryway bench mirror

 

If you decide to make this bench part of a cozy mudroom you can add a mirror and coat rack too. I would go with a simple light color on the wall and a light probably greyish driftwood framed mirror like this below. I don’t know; I have to see the whole picture…

Entryway bench fabric and mudroom bench cushion

 

I’m still debating on the cushion. I think it will be super comfy to have a cushion on this bench. The 5-inch cushion is relatively cheap, and to cover it with a beautiful fabric should be an easy DIY project.

Bench with shoe storage

 

Another idea I’m toying with. If we decide to have this bench indoors, it would make sense to have some cute baskets under it for our shoes. We live in the rainforest, walk a lot with the dogs and working a lot in our garden. Hoping to store our shoes under the entryway bench would save me from some floor cleaning.

 

Ooooh this Fabulous Mudroom Bench

 

Well, it can be done without breaking the bank. I love how this old, very sad wooden bench came to live again. Not only it looks new but has a very vibrant color too. Let’s see how much we spent on our DIY mudroom bench:

• The bench was FREE!
• Rugs for cleaning free. We used some old t-shirts.
• Electric sander… we had one, but you can totally do it by hand too.
• $7.97 for a pack of 3M Pro Grade Precision 9 in. x 11 in. 80, 150, 220 Assorted Grits Advanced Sanding Sheets (6-Pack)
• $18 for a QRT of Minwax® Water Based Sanding Sealer 1-Qt
• $32 for a Gal. of Behr Hi-Gloss Enamel Interior/Exterior Paint (but we have a lot of leftovers and thinking to use it to paint the door too.) 

So that’s it. Way under $100 we got a new beautiful entryway bench and leftover paint for another DIY project. I hope you got inspired and will get to remodel your mudroom or porch before the cold, muddy weather comes.  Do you like DIY home decor tutorials? Check out my other popular posts:

• DIY boho bean bag
• DIY boho mini painted terracotta pots
• Wooden dining table makeover
• Oversized convertible bean bag tutorial
• Fluffy cozy pom pom rug DIY

 

As always don’t forget to pin it and share with your fellow DIYers and if you want to show off your wood bench project, please leave a comment below.