I just finished up my coastal bench makeover with a hand stenciled cushion. It’s themed furniture day, one of my absolute favorite days of the month! Themed furniture day comes once a month for our group of super talented bloggers with an affinity for upcycling old discarded furniture into something beautiful and useful. I consider myself lucky to be included in this group, and I LOVE that I’m always learning new tips and tricks of the trade from these gals as well.
This months theme is chairs.
Benches, stools, anything you can sit yourself down onto qualifies as a chair. Which is good, because it gave me a reason to finish a coastal bench makeover that’s been on the “to do” list for several months! I love making over chairs. A few of my favorite oldie but goodie makeovers are how to Create an aged silver finish on chairs and my americana folding chair set. My personal favorit is this stenciled nautical chair.
My bench started out like this. It was one of two I bought last spring. It was sturdy and very well made … It’s just seen better days. 
This project was finished the same as my upholstered cane bench project I shared last May. I love the custom look of the stenciled dropcloth fabric. You’ll find the tutorial on stenciling fabric here. Because I’m thinking about adding this to my dining table I gave the fabric a good coating of Thompson’s fabric protector before I assembled the cushion.
I’m loving these colors! They look like a few that are in Pantone’s Spring Collection for 2015. The orangy-coral, green and especially the blue are fresh and slightly muted this year.
Such a coincidence that I used green for the armrest circles on the bench makeover I did last spring too. Or … maybe I’m just predictable.
Nope. Definitely not predictable!
I love benches for so many reasons in a small house. They are great for extra seating at the dining table or easy to pull up to a group of friends having a conversation. This one is a good size for a banquette at our table and also fits at the end of our bed. I’m not sure yet where it will end up. I’m leaning toward adding it to our small dining area. We only have seating for four at the table now. It’s a tricky space since it’s only 7 feet wide. I think this bench would work and not be bulky. I’ll be sure and share my solution when I have it figured out!
So, enough about my coastal bench makeover…
Are you ready to for some more Chair-speration? 🙂
Ok, maybe not so funny, but I do have some fantastic talent to share with you today as in all manners of chairs! Click any picture below to go to the original post. Enjoy!
Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge says
Ooh such a fun makeover. I love the shape of the bench and with these updated colors it’s perfect!
Wendi says
Thanks Angie! I’m enjoying the happy colors and the bench looks great by my table:)
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
Wendi I love the pops of green on your bench, and the stencils are perfect! It has such a relaxed coastal vibe. You did a great job!
Wendi says
Thanks so much Jen! Gotta love a few good stencils. These stand-bys have seen many a good project!
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
Great job! I could so see this in our beach cottage!
Wendi says
Thanks Christy! It’s says beach cottage all over it! I’m sure you’d do an amazing makeover on one of these yourself:)
Jeanette says
Stunning! I love it. I miss living at the beach. Jeanette
Wendi says
Thanks Jeanette. The beach influences everything in our home here. I won’t ever be able to leave it! LOL
Amanda says
I love this! So summer-y. Gives me inspiration for at our lake this summer!
Wendi says
Thanks so much Amanda:) This was one of those project that make me ready for spring and summer!
Therese says
I’m a bench lover too, Wendi! So many practical and fun ways to put them to good use. Your coastal bench is gorgeous! Love the stenciled fabric.
Wendi says
Thanks Therese! I’m very happy with how the fabric turned out too!
Kathy @petticoatjunktion says
Oh, it’s so fresh and pretty Wendi. I love it. Wish I could sit down there and visit with you!
Wendi says
LOL Kathy, you just come on down any time you want to, and I’ll be happy to brew up a good pot of fresh coffee:)
Debbie says
I think it would be great in your dining area! Love it! I wish I lived on the coast!
Debbie
Wendi says
Debbie, I love the idea of getting more seating space without adding bulk to our little dining area:)
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
So pretty Wendi! I love the green and orange! And you styled it so perfectly too! 🙂
Nancy
Wendi says
Nancy, Thank you 🙂 I can’t get enough of these colors this year…I’d paint everything if I could get away with it!
Breanna says
So awesome! I love that you hand stenciled your fabric, it’s so fun!
Wendi says
Breanna, It was a thrifty choice and I didn’t have to worry about the colors matching my other decor items!
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
I love the makeover you gave this bench Wendi. The pop of green on the circle detail makes that bench sing! Love the colors of the coastal stencils on the drop cloth cushion. I think this bench would be fabulous in your dining room!
Wendi says
Marie… I am very much a fan of using drop cloths for fabric, this one is much heavier than a lot of the home decor fabrics at the store and much less expensive as well!
Paula@SweetPea says
So pretty, Wendi and absolutely perfect for sunny Florida! I love the pop of color you gave the circles on the arms with the green paint. That’s the perfect touch for this fun bench.
Wendi says
Thanks Paula! I’m loving the green this year and adding it to the bench was a good choice to give the project a little color character:)
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
Absolutely gorgeous, Wendi!! I love the white with the pop of green! You are one talented gal! 🙂
Wendi says
Christy, You always make me feel so good! Thank you:)
Melody @ My Passion For Decor says
It’s currently minus a million degrees here in the Chicago area, but your bench makes me feel like I’m at the beach!! Beautiful and I really like the springy green you added!! Perfect!
Wendi says
Melody… That’s the idea behind the bench theme:) I think the green was a very good addition too & thanks so much!
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
I love it! So refreshing and perfectly coastal. You did a great job, Wendi!
Wendi says
Larissa… Thank you:) I love anything coastal that I can fit into our little home. This bench was an easy project and useful too. 🙂