Vintage Bench Update

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This vintage bench update is a beautiful makeover, with new fabric and a whole new look in vibrant blue paint!

Hello, sweet friends!

I’m sharing the most, cutie patootie little vintage bench today. It was so sad, but gosh, this one turned out good. I just adore the vibrant color I chose…I was thinking white at first. So, I’m thrilled I didn’t go that route this time.

Today is Trashy Treasure Tuesday, and my friends and I get together on the second Tuesday of every month to share our latest finds. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see what they did this month!

A banner with a pink checkered background reads Trashy Treasures Tuesday. The word Trashy is in pink script above TREASURES TUESDAY in black, with a black silhouette of a lamp—perfect inspiration if you’re learning how to paint laminate furniture.

Vintage Bench Update

I found it at the ReStore, where else?! That’s where I find almost everything these days. Thrift stores are a big “no” for furniture, it seems. Definitely not like the old days. BUT the ReStore (we have 3 nearby-ish) seems to have very good turnover of furniture.

A charming vintage bench with turned legs and a red upholstered seat sits on a wood floor. Behind it, a door with glass panes and a teal nautical-themed dresser set the scene for this inviting Bench Update. "BEFORE" appears in the lower left corner.

Very beat up and in need of some loving, as you can see.

Let’s take this top off…

A person uses a red electric drill to remove a screw from the wooden frame of a vintage bench, partially exposing the seat webbing and padding during this bench update.

One piece of fabric off, revealing fabric #2…

A close-up of a vintage bench's wooden surface, partially wrapped with floral-patterned fabric. A piece of red fabric lies on top, and text along the fabric edge reads, SCENIC PRINT VAT DYES - STITCH.

Fabric number 3.

A close-up of a textured, vintage fabric with a brown background and repeating floral pattern in pink, cream, and green—perfect for a Vintage Bench or Bench Update. The fabric rests on a light surface, ready for restoration or upholstery work.

Whew!

I forgot to get a photo of the top with the old (very old and yellowed) padding under the fabric. It had to GO.

A vintage bench shows its age—a piece of worn wood with faded writing and numbers sits on old, patterned fabric, surrounded by tools and workshop materials, awaiting a thoughtful bench update.

All of the old rusty nails and staples were removed.

A rectangular wooden board with a smooth, light brown surface and a few visible scratches, ideal for a bench makeover, is placed on a workbench with scattered tools in the background.

Let’s begin again.

I found this piece of foam in my stash. It was just about the perfect size.

A rectangular piece of green foam with two holes is placed on a wooden surface, part of a vintage bench visible in the background along with tools and a workbench.

But it had two holes in it. No worries, I filled those.

This is the fabric I chose.

A piece of off-white fabric with a blue floral pattern is laid out on a work surface, ready for a Vintage Bench update. Red scissors and part of a stapler are visible in the background. The fabric label reads STAPLE.

I also used it on this footstool here: Footstool Update and these barstools: Bar Stool Makeover

Since I’m stuffing a lot on this one, I had to really wrangle to get it good and tight.

Close-up of a blue staple gun securing floral fabric onto a wooden surface during a vintage bench makeover; pink scissors and other tools are visible in the background, highlighting a furniture refinishing project in progress.

A hand holds white polyester stuffing over blue and white patterned fabric, preparing for a vintage bench makeover. Nearby on the work surface are red scissors, a hammer, a screwdriver, and some screws.

See where I’ve stuffed and where I haven’t?

A close-up of blue and white patterned fabric draped over a vintage bench, with a sunlit room featuring large windows and green trees in the background. The fabric has an ornate, floral design—perfect for a stylish bench update.

I pulled tight and stapled these four sides and then tucked the stuffing in, up, and around until full.

A piece of wood partially wrapped with patterned fabric, corners pulled back to reveal writing on the wood that reads 20/10, hints at a vintage bench update with tools and scissors visible in the background.

A rectangular pillow with blue floral patterns on white fabric rests on a cluttered work surface, surrounded by tools and craft supplies—perfect inspiration for your next vintage bench update.

Then I made the back look as pretty as I could, having to do it this way.

I could’ve covered the back with another piece of fabric to make it look pretty. (like I did with this footstool) But I didn’t this time.

A rectangular piece of wood with rough edges, partially wrapped in blue and white patterned fabric, lies on a workbench surrounded by tools—a true Vintage Bench update. The numbers “2004 / 1040” are written in black marker on the wood.

Now the base:

First things first. TSP cleaner to wash up all the old.

A gloved hand holds a spray bottle labeled FUSION with TSP ALT. handwritten on it—perfect for prepping vintage furniture. A white paper towel and part of a dark surface are visible in the background.

These are actually kind of cool, but they have to go!! haha!

A close-up of a worn, dusty vintage bench leg with a scuffed finish, seen above a messy workspace with a purple glove, scattered tools, and wood shavings on a workbench—capturing the start of a bench update project.

I was originally thinking white, but then I decided to go blue.

Two jars of Fusion Mineral Paint, Liberty Blue and Chester, are held up—ideal for your next vintage bench or furniture update. Both jars are 500 ml (16.9 fl oz), with a wooden floor and part of a chair visible in the background.

Liberty was a little too blue on its own, but adding a small amount of Chestler was the perfect mix.

A close-up of a paintbrush applying dark paint to a vintage bench leg in a bright living room, with a white sofa and large windows in the background—perfect for your next bench update.

One coat covered it almost completely. But I decided to add another coat anyway.

A red cordless drill is being used to attach a blue painted furniture leg to a wooden surface, adding a fresh touch in this vintage bench update, with patterned fabric partially visible in the background.

Screw everything back in and…

A small vintage bench with navy blue legs and frame, featuring a cushioned seat upholstered in cream fabric with a blue floral and abstract pattern, brings a charming furniture update to the wooden floor.

…look at that little beauty. I just adore that blue!

A vintage bench with turned legs, topped with a white and blue patterned cushion, sits on a wood floor against a white paneled wall, with patterned curtains partly visible on the right.

Isn’t she so pretty?

A charming vintage bench with turned legs, a white cushioned seat featuring a blue floral pattern, and a navy blue finish—this piece brings timeless vintage furniture style to any space.

So regal looking.

A charming vintage bench with turned legs and a cushioned seat upholstered in white fabric with a blue floral pattern, this navy blue wooden bench offers a stylish bench update for any room, set on a wooden floor against a white wall.

Blue was the exact right choice.

Close-up of a vintage bench with turned legs and a cushioned seat covered in white fabric with a blue floral pattern, placed on a wooden floor—a charming bench update for any space.

Gorgeous.

A charming vintage bench with turned legs and a cushioned seat upholstered in white fabric with a blue floral pattern, this navy blue wooden bench offers a stylish bench update for any room, set on a wooden floor against a white wall.

A vintage bench with turned legs, featuring a navy blue finish and a cushioned seat upholstered in white fabric with a blue abstract pattern, sits on a wooden floor near a white paneled wall.

A close-up of a blue, turned wooden furniture leg resting on a wooden floor, with a white and transparent circular watermark in the lower right corner—perfect inspiration for your next bench makeover.

A vintage bench with a navy blue finish and a white and blue patterned cushion sits on a wood floor beneath a gold-framed mirror, against a white paneled wall.

She’s so comfy too, I know because I sat a spell! lol

PIN it to save it!

A small vintage bench with an ornate mirror behind it; before inset shows the bench with a brown frame and red cushion. The updated Bench Update features a dark blue finish and a white and blue patterned cushion. Text reads Antique Bench Update.

Don’t go just yet! Hop over and visit my friends’ makeovers here:

A graphic with a pink diamond pattern background reads: Trashy Treasures Tuesday with a black lamp silhouette. Below are the names: Salvaged Inspirations, Artsy Chicks Rule, Confessions of a Serial DIYer, Petticoat Junktion—plus diy holiday decor with thrifted frames.

Collage of DIY project items labeled before: a wooden anchor sign, two wood hooks, a Salvaged Inspirations logo, and a vintage bench ready for its vintage bench update with a red cushion.

  1. Confessions of a Serial DIYer
  2. Petticoat Junktion
  3. Salvaged Inspirations
  4. Me! You are here!

Have a wonderful week, friends!! I’ll be back next week with a few new things I’ve been working on!

xoxo

The word Nancy is written in elegant, flowing black script, reminiscent of Chalk Style Paint For Furniture, with a heart shape used to form the dot above the letter i. The background is plain white.

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22 Comments

  1. This turned out beautifully! It looks so much more comfortable now with the extra padding, too. (And I can’t believe all those old layers of fabric!)

    Reply

  4. This bench is beautiful, Nancy! I LOVE the fabric AND the color you chose. Absolutely perfect! I’m glad you didn’t choose white as well. This scores a 10.

    Reply

  5. It’s fabulous now, Nancy. That combination of colors makes a beautiful blue and the puffy cushion looks much more comfortable!

    Reply

  6. What a gorgeous makeover, you were sure right about the blue paint. I don’t understand adding the green but I like it?! I have never seen anyone stuff padding in like that but I understand why and I really like that also! Way to go!

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Mary!! So neither of the blues matched the fabric well. The Liberty blue was almost perfect but a touch too bright. The other blue toned it down perfectly and matches almost exact now. For the stuffing, I used what I had on hand and was just hoping it would work out! Haha!! And it did very well, so glad! :) xoxo

      Reply

  8. What an amazing transformation! I would never have imagined that it could look this good :)

    Reply

  9. Such cute details on this bench Love it !
    The fabric is vibrant but classic. Glad you picked this blue – it’s beautiful.

    Reply

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