Behr sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine.

I had a clear vision of what I wanted to do with this chair bench…marry the formal lines of the chairs with a “welcome friends” feel.  I also knew I wanted this bench to live on my porch so I could stage it for the different holidays. With a plan in place, it was easy for me to select the color…red  with black glaze.     Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

There is honestly nothing more satisfying  than taking something that has been discarded as trash or is being sold at a garage sale for next to nothing and transforming it into something unexpected and amazing.  That is exactly what happened when I saw these chairs at a garage sale for $2.00 each.  I snagged them up and turned two of them into a Chair Bench.

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

 

Have you ever painted with red paint?  It can be extremely frustrating.  One of my  first  painting jobs, 15 years ago was a red dining room.  It took SIX COATS OF PAINT!  That was almost my last painting job. lol

Since then, I always gauge the paints I use by how well the deeper, darker colors cover.  You can buy a separate primer and have it tinted close to the color you are using but that is an extra product I have to buy plus another brush and roller I have to clean.  Seems like a lot of extra work and expense.

After researching the new paint options on the market, I opted to try BEHR MARQUEE® Exterior Paint & Primer.  It is a paint & primer in one.  What does that mean?  It means I can use the paint as my primer first.  For example, if I am painting over raw wood, I can apply 1-2 coats of the BEHR MARQUEE Exterior Paint & Primer as my primer and then apply the same BEHR MARQUEE Exterior Paint & Primer product as my paint.  Umm…hello?  Why not buy a paint & primer in one to save time and money?

Because this bench would ultimately be going on my porch, I selected an exterior semi-gloss enamel finish.  It is formulated to create a  hard, durable finish  to withstand wear, and resist moisture, fading and stains.

Okay…here we go…

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

 

Chair Bench Supplies:

  • BEHR MARQUEE Exterior Paint & Primer in color and sheen of choice  (I chose “Red My Mind” in semi-gloss exterior enamel)
  • Good quality paintbrush
  • TSP (tri-sodium phosphate)
  • Good quality mohair roller and roller cage
  • Paint tray
  • Drill or screwdriver
  • 3/4″ stain or paint-grade plywood
  • Jigsaw
  • 220-grit sandpaper

Chair Bench Instructions:

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

1)    Use a drill or screwdriver to remove the screws from underneath the chair.  This will release the chair cushions from the frame.  Save the screws.

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

2)    Sand the chair frames with 220-grit sandpaper to etch the surface.

3)    Clean dust and grime with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) and a damp rag.  

4)    Wipe once more with a clean damp rag and water. Let air dry.


Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

5)    Apply one coat of BEHR MARQUEE Exterior Paint & Primer as the tinted primer coat. (This step is typically necessary when painting with the deep-tone colors).  Let dry one hour.

6)  Apply 1-2 more coats of the same MARQUEE Paint & Primer depending on coverage desired.  (Let  dry one hour between coats)

7)  Put the 2 chairs together to get an accurate measure for the bench seat.  I took my measurements with me to the hardware store and had them cut the plywood while I was there. (They won’t round the corners for you but I took care of that when I got back to the shop.

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

8)  I took my jig saw and rounded off the corners for my bench seat.

 

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

9)  Apply one coat of paint to the bare wood to seal the wood.  Let dry one hour.

10)  Apply 1-2 more coats of the same paint depending on coverage desired.  (Let dry one hour between coats)

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

 

11)  Place bench seat on top of the 2 chair frames.  

12)  Grab the screws that were used to secure the cushions.  Screw them into the wood from the bottom using the same holes.

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

13) After 24 hours, I glazed it with a black wash to give it that aged, worn look.

 

Transform 2 garage sale chairs into a beautiful chair bench This is perfect for indoor or outdoor decor! Repurpose old chairs into a DIY outdoor bench seat!

This post is brought to you by BEHR. Color that’s True to Hue. If you feel it, you can find it. Visit True to Hue.