Refinishing an old Storage Bench – How to make a No-sew Tufted Cushion

Sep 14 2018
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My grandparents’ built this bench YEARS ago along with two others that I have. (Check out the cedar-lined beauty I keep at the end of my bed.) This one has taken the biggest beating over the years and has needed to be fixed and refinished for awhile now. Every month the group I’m a part of (the Farmhouse Hens Decorate) has a theme. This month’s theme turned out to be for benches so I knew exactly the piece I would be using!

Those bite marks are actually from my dog Diesel lol

Funny, he was a 120 pound mastiff and could have easily opened the lid with his nose anytime he wanted. (I kept his food and treats in there.) If he had just helped himself to a treat I never would have known but no he just chewed on it lol

Proper introduction to my gray mastiff mix my big wonderful dog named Diesel

Pure innocence…

So I started by cleaning it really well with vinegar and water before assessing the damage.

I knew I needed to at least get the top coat of poly off so I first hit every surface with fine grit sandpaper using my orbital palm sander. I planned on staining it the same color it already was so I didn’t take it all the way back to naked wood.

How I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttons

With stain-able wood filler I carefully filled in the holes and any other imperfections I could find. (Yes, filling those chew marks in made me kind of sad. Diesel’s been gone for over two years now and I still miss him.)

A little more sanding to smooth out the wood filler and than I stained the bench in Dark Walnut (by Minwax) by generously brushing the stain on, waiting twenty minutes, and then wiping it off with a towel.

I put a coat of satin poly acrylic over my stain and my bench looked almost like new!

I’ve had it in my head for awhile now that I wanted a cushion here because I sit on it almost every day to put my shoes on! The thing is though – I don’t have a sewing machine and I am incredibly not a seamstress SO I decided to figure out how to make a cushion lacking all sewing ability whatsoever.

First, I cut a piece of plywood three inches smaller than the lid of the bench.

(Years ago I had a sleep number bed that died and left me with mounds of batting, foam and lots and lots of cushiony stuff. This is AT LEAST the third time I’m glad I kept it all! Batting is expensive!)

How I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttons

I drilled six holes in the top of the plywood (evenly spaced) for the buttons.

(My Grandma left behind a lifetime’s worth of buttons so I went through them and pulled out the six biggest ones that would work best here – I made no effort to make sure that they matched lol I liked it random.)

I cut the batting to the size of the seat so its wider than the plywood by about an inch and a half all the way around. I then poked up through each of the holes and cut the batting out around them so my buttons would really SINK.

I secured my buttons with cotton kitchen twine by pulling them tight to really create my tufts and then stapling the twine to the back. With the buttons complete I secured the fabric with staples along the underside edge of the plywood all the way around.

Tah-dah! I love my new cushion and it was SO easy to make!

Next month I’m going to be tackling this bench again by adding paint and a stencil to the front of it, can’t wait to show you guys how the second stage of its makeover turns out!

How I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttonsHow I refinished an old Storage Bench and made a No-sew Cushion using plywood, drop cloth and staples and even added tufts to make it tufted with buttons

Make sure and check out the rest of the planter projects from the Farmhouse Hens this week, be prepared for some really creative ideas!

Farmhouse friends DIY christmas ornament using mod podge to transfer image to wood, easy do it yourself keep sake gift holiday, wood working, diy


Announcing a fun collaboration of several bloggers called Farmhouse Hens Decorate! Fall Vignette, Kitchen Project, Homemade Christmas Ornament, Wall Art

Easy Farmhouse Entryway Bench

Stephanie at Abbotts At Home! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter


Announcing a fun collaboration of several bloggers called Farmhouse Hens Decorate! Fall Vignette, Kitchen Project, Homemade Christmas Ornament, Wall Art

How to Make a Chair Bench with Dining Room Chairs

Denise at My Thrifty House! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter


Announcing a fun collaboration of several bloggers called Farmhouse Hens Decorate! Fall Vignette, Kitchen Project, Homemade Christmas Ornament, Wall Art

5 Quick and Easy DIY Bench Makeovers

Michelle at Our Crafty Mom! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter


Announcing a fun collaboration of several bloggers called Farmhouse Hens Decorate! Fall Vignette, Kitchen Project, Homemade Christmas Ornament, Wall Art

A Farmhouse Bench

Sam at Raggedy Bits! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter


Announcing a fun collaboration of several bloggers called Farmhouse Hens Decorate! Fall Vignette, Kitchen Project, Homemade Christmas Ornament, Wall Art

Farmhouse Bench update with Paint and Drop Cloth

Leanna at FaeriesandFauna! Blog / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter


I am absolutely stoked to be a part of a group that contains SO many spectacular DIY bloggers! Can’t wait to see what we all come up with next month and share it here on the blog with all of you!

Comments

  1. September 14, 2018 at 10:52 am

    It is very obvious that DIY talent runs heavy in your families DNA. The homemade bench is gorgeous, so timeless and stunning.

    The way you’ve updated it is beautiful. I was planning on diamond tucking a bench using pegboard but chickened out. This tutorial will help. Pinning Tarah and thanks.

    • September 14, 2018 at 12:08 pm

      Thanks Leanna! Yes, my grandma and grandpa were incredible wood workers, way beyond me in talent. They made hutches and dressers and countless other beautiful pieces. Every time I open a can of Minwax wood stain I’m taken right back to helping my Grandma stain a piece. Pretty darned cool!
      I made a diamond tufted headboard years ago (kicking myself now of course cause I totally could have used the tutorial here on the blog but didn’t take any pictures) I used peg board which made it so easy. I also purchased a little button making kit with big buttons so I could cover them in the same fabric. It wasn’t difficult but it sure turned out pretty!

  2. September 14, 2018 at 3:25 pm

    Looks great! I’m sure your grandparents would approve of your resourcefulness. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. September 16, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    Such a gorgeous bench Tarah! I love how you tufted it! Iโ€™ve always wanted to try it! You make it seem so easy! Great job!

    • September 17, 2018 at 9:07 am

      Thanks Michelle! Have a great week!

  4. September 17, 2018 at 6:05 pm

    What a lovely bench that your grandparents made and that you have been able to restore it!

  5. JoAnn
    September 18, 2018 at 8:24 am

    The bench turned out great. Love the cushion you made. Nice Job
    Can see that bench being used for your new wood pellet stove.

    • September 18, 2018 at 8:31 am

      Thank you JoAnn, what a lovely idea!

  6. September 19, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    You did a beautiful job on repairing the wooden bench! It is better than new.

  7. September 21, 2018 at 4:29 am

    I love how you used all different buttons from your Grandma’s stash. This looks amazing.

  8. September 26, 2018 at 6:08 am

    Another great updo! Love it… Thanks for sharing at Reader Tip Tuesday last week…can’t wait to see what you have this week!

    • September 26, 2018 at 9:47 am

      Thanks so much Jodie, have a great week!

  9. Cerie Martens
    October 5, 2018 at 11:59 am

    Wonderful post…. thank you so much. What type of material did you use for you cushion cover? My son has a cedar chest that his “baby” pit bull used as a chew toy also and this will be a wonderful fix for a fine piece of furniture.

    • October 8, 2018 at 8:41 am

      Hi Cerie, the material I used was just painter’s drop cloth ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for coming by!

  10. October 22, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    This wonderful post is a HOME feature on the October You’re the STAR blog hop: https://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2018/10/youre-star-week4-home-october-2018.html
    Thanks
    Angie

  11. Sharon
    November 23, 2018 at 5:37 am

    You definitely inherited the DYI gene from your grandpa! Love your dog too…so handsome.

  12. Vanessa
    March 8, 2021 at 8:30 am

    Stoked I came across your page. Very talented. I feel I am the same way, currently in the midst of a new project that I havent even decided how I will finish yet! I love hearing about your life!! Keep the stories and pics coming.

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