DIY Upholstered Bench Tutorial

Materials Needed:

• Bench top to preferred dimensions. For this project, we use a 36” long by 12” deep bench top.
• 4 bench legs
• Wood screws
• Wood panel that will serve as your cushion base. Size should be slightly shorter than the bench length. For this project, we use 30” long by 10.5” deep.
• Foam block precut to same size as wood panel. (If not precut, directions for cutting foam to size in Step 3 below)
• Batting
• Fabric that matches your room color story
• Adhesive Velcro

Steps to Making a DIY Upholstered Bench

Comfortable seating is always needed in my home, so creating a project that allows me to make changes when I want to feature a new fabric color depending on the season (or my mood!) was just what I was looking for. Also, keep in mind that this project is totally customizable, so if mid-century modern isn't your style, choose a different pair of legs to attach to the bottom. If your room requires a darker stain, add it to the wooden base. Let your creativity run wild!

Step 1

Prepare the wood.

Prepare the precut wood panel by sanding it with a sanding block and applying wood stain, if using. Allow to dry fully before attaching the legs.

Step 2

Attach the legs.

Mark the position of the hairpin legs on the bottom of your wood panel and drill pilot holes with the Fiskars® Hand Drill.

Screw the legs in place on the underside of the wood panel with the Fiskars® screwdriver.

Step 3

Cut the foam to size.

Using the Fiskars® tape measure, measure and mark the foam at 30" x 10.5", which is the same size as the piece of plywood. Use the Fiskars® saw to quickly cut the foam to your measured size.

Step 4

Assemble the cushion.

Place the cut foam on top of the plywood. Cover the foam with batting and staple the batting to the underside of the plywood using the Fiskars® staple gun. Trim away any excess batting with the Fiskars® shears.

Next, cover the foam and batting with a piece of fabric cut to size. Again, staple the fabric to the underside of the plywood and trim away any excess fabric with the shears.

Step 5

Attach the cushion to the wood.

Cut lengths of self-adhesive heavy-duty Velcro and apply to the top of the wood panel and underside of the cushion. The heavy-duty Velcro is very effective at holding the seat cushion in place, but also allows you to remove the cushion and change the fabric, if desired.

You'll notice the bench cushion is cut smaller than the bench itself. This was done purposefully to create a flat space to rest your purse or set a pillow. That being said, if you want your entire bench covered, just cut you cushion elements to a larger size.

Where should I put my new bench?

I stationed my bench in my entry way, which was perfect for my family to use as a resting space once we entered the house. This would also look great in a bedroom against a wall, in front of a fireplace or even as alternative seating for a dining room table.

How do I clean my new bench?

Since I chose a faux suede fabric for my cushion cover, I simply use a cloth to wipe the fabric clean. If you use a cotton cover, feel free to dampen a cloth to help remove any set-in stains.

How much do the materials cost for this project?

While this project is a little on the expensive side coming in at $150, it is significantly less expensive than if you were to buy a bench like this in stores.