DIY for Garden Furniture

Making a Garden Bench

• 1

  Shop around office supply surplus stores or thrift shops for simple, metal-frame office chairs -- the style with s-shaped metal frames work well -- with removable seat and back pads.

• 2

  Remove the seat and back pads on the chairs. Unscrew the bolts underneath and in the back metal frame. Save or recycle the pads for another project.

• 3

  Spray paint the chair frame your desired color. Metallic silver works well, if you plan to pair your bench with a natural finish wood seat and back support.

• 4

  Let the paint dry. Cut four wooden slats to your desired bench length; 5 or 6 feet long work well, but measure the space you're placing it in for a custom size.

• 5

  Use a drill to screw two of the slats across the chair frames to create a bench seat. Repeat with the chair backs for a back support.

• 6

  Paint or refinish the wood with outdoor sealant. Let dry.

Make a Garden Table

• 7

  Shop around used hardware or thrift shops for a window pane. Choose a pane the same size you'd like your tabletop to be. Study the frame to make sure it's still intact. You can use metal or wood, as long as you have a drill that can be used safely with your desired medium.

• 8

  Cut four table legs from a 2-foot-by-2-foot piece of wood. You need eight pieces of the same height desired for your table, about 30 inches long works well. Butt the edge of one cut piece against the front of a second piece, which is sitting on its edge, to create an L-shaped leg. Secure with wood glue and nails or screws. Repeat with the other three legs and allow to dry.

• 9

  Place the window pane (upside down) on the floor. Attach each leg to a corner by using a c-clamp to hold it in place so the leg sits snugly inside the frame (standing up). Screw the door hinge on tightly per the manufacturer's instructions, making sure screws go through the window frame and leg. Repeat with the other three corners.

• 10

  Turn your table over and enjoy. For a colorful table, paint the underside with a solid hue, pattern or image before turning the table upright.