A modern wooden bench with sleek hairpin legs sits against a beige wall. It features a black and white geometric pillow, a textured gray throw blanket, and a tall plant in a black woven pot. Mirrors hang above the bench, adding to the chic DIY aesthetic.
| | |

DIY Hairpin Leg Bench

ByLisa
6 Comments

If you have shopped for dining furniture recently you know the expense lies in the chairs. Assuming you are not buying a pre-packaged set, the chairs can really add up. They can easily run anywhere from $250-$500 per chair at designer retailers! Did you just fall over in disbelief? Yep, me too! So when I decided I wanted to spruce up our dining room, I knew there had to a better way that didn’t require me to sell my organs on the black market, haha! So I bring you my DIY Hairpin Leg bench.

A DIY tutorial poster showcases sleek hairpin legs and a wooden plank with text reading "DIY Hairpin Leg Bench Full Tutorial." Below, an image of the completed bench features a geometric pillow and plant, epitomizing stylish simplicity.This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my policies.

So let’s rewind a bit. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I have been heavily debating our dining room situation recently. The truth is, it was just time for a change. I have had our dining set for 13 years now! And while it’s nice, I was craving a more casual feel. Because our table is basically the perfect size for our dining room at 5 feet long converting to a 5 foot square with the leaf, I decided to keep the table. It technically accommodates eight when expanded making the chair price tag a bit steep. Being the thrifty gal that I am, I decided to DIY a bench which I will teach you how to make in 5 EASY steps!

DIY Hairpin Leg Bench Tutorial

Step 1:

Buy hairpin legs. I bought these 16 inch legs on Amazon and they are fantastic! They came with screws and floor protectors for the bottom of each leg and are pretty heavy duty.Four black metal hairpin table legs arranged in a row against a white background, perfect for your next DIY bench project.

Step 2:

Buy wood and cut to size. For our bench we used a 2x12x8. Because I intended to make two benches, we simply cut the eight foot piece in half, resulting in two four foot pieces.A close-up of a flat, light-colored wooden plank with visible grain patterns and a few knots, ideal for DIY projects. The smooth edges hint at its potential as a bench top with hairpin legs. Angled diagonally across a white background, it invites creativity and craftsmanship.

Step 3:

Sand wood smooth. I used our orbital sander. You could use sand paper, but that would take some time. For now, I have decided to keep the benches natural because I like the mix of materials, but if you wish to stain or paint it, I would do that after you sand it. An orange and black Black+Decker electric sander with a dust collection bag attached, perfect for DIY projects. This tool is expertly designed for sanding and smoothing surfaces, making it an essential addition to your workbench.

Step 4:

Attach legs to the bottom of wood. I measured and marked the placement of the legs and then pre-drilled the holes to make attaching them easier. I will note the two screw holes closest to the leg are a bit tricky to screw in because of the angle. Luckily this isn’t our first rodeo and we already had this pivot holder which we used on our impact driver. A DIY wooden bench sits on a patterned rug, featuring two sleek black metal hairpin legs. A yellow measuring tape and pencil rest on the plank, ready for precision and creativity. A person wearing yellow gloves is using a yellow cordless drill for a DIY project, screwing into a light wooden plank on a carpeted surface. A black hairpin chair leg is visible to the left.A wooden plank with four black hairpin legs lies upside down on a hardwood floor, partially resting on a gray and white striped rug. This DIY project seems destined to become a stylish bench or table as it's being assembled.

Step 5:

Flip your DIY Hairpin Leg Bench over and enjoy!A handmade wooden bench with a light natural finish and sleek black hairpin legs sits elegantly on a hardwood floor against a plain beige wall.

For some behind the scenes video of this project and others, follow me on Instagram and check out my archived Dining Room Makeover stories.A wooden bench with sleek hairpin legs features a geometric-patterned cushion and a gray blanket. A woven planter holds green grass-like plants. Two decorative mirrors with black frames are mounted on the wall above the bench, complementing the dark wood flooring.

I absolutely love how these turned out! They provide a much more casual vibe and they align with my goal to add more natural elements to our decor. The extra “visual space” the benches provide make our small dining room feel so much bigger too! I plan to find some more modern chairs for the ends of the table, but for now our patio chairs are subbing in since it’s still winter here. I mean, we had a blizzard yesterday so……A dining room features a rectangular black table with hairpin legs, flanked by a DIY bench and two black chairs. A fruit bowl sits on the table, while gray curtains hang by the window. A chandelier glimmers above, and wall decorations paired with a striped rug complete the space.

A cozy entryway features a DIY wooden bench with hairpin legs adorned by a geometric-print pillow and a textured blanket. A potted plant sits beside them, while two quatrefoil-shaped mirrors with dark frames grace the beige wall above, reflecting a chandelier.For less than $80 I created two dining benches and escaped spending way too much on four chairs! A modern dining room with a black table featuring a striped runner and a bowl of apples. Overhead, a chandelier hangs. A stylish bench with hairpin legs complements the seating in the background living area, which includes framed pictures and large windows. The space boasts wooden flooring and neutral walls.

As you can see, this bench could also be used as an accent piece in an entry way, or even just extra seating for your family room. It truly is versatile! A modern hallway features a wooden bench with sleek hairpin legs. On the bench sits a geometric-patterned pillow, a folded blue blanket, and a potted green plant. Two decorative mirrors hang above on the light-colored wall. Wooden floorboards run below. A modern dining area features a black table with sleek hairpin legs, complemented by a light wooden bench and metal chairs. A striped runner and bowl of apples adorn the table. A stylish chandelier hangs above, while a gray sofa, framed photos, and a decorative mirror enhance the neutral walls. A stylish room showcases a DIY bench with hairpin legs, adorned with a geometric-patterned pillow and a blue throw blanket. A potted plant adds life beside them. Two ornate, quatrefoil mirrors hang on the cream wall above, enhancing the warm wooden floor's appeal. A minimalist dining room features a black table with sleek hairpin legs, complemented by black metal chairs and DIY wooden benches on a striped rug. Two decorative mirrors grace the beige wall alongside a window. A modern chandelier hangs above the table, where a fruit bowl sits gracefully centered.If you enjoyed my DIY Hairpin Leg Bench, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, I would love for us to be friends!

Love new ideas and projects? Subscribe to receive DIY and design inspiration delivered straight to your inbox! Plus you will receive access to all my free printables, which are exclusively available to my AWESOME subscribers as my way of thanking you for your continued support!

A modern DIY hairpin leg bench with a geometric cushion and blue throw, placed below two decorative mirrors on a beige wall, captures the essence of Garrison Street Design Studio. A potted plant adorns the bench, adding a touch of nature to the contemporary scene.

This post, DIY Hairpin Leg Bench, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

6 Comments

  1. how tall are the legs you chose for this bench? i have the same chairs likely a different brand, they are about 17″ high from floor to seat, the legs you posted come in 6″ and 20″, just curious if you off set the height of your benches from your chairs?

    Reply

    1. Hi Jacalyn! The legs I used are 16 inches tall. It appears the legs I purchased no longer come in a 16 inch option, but I have updated the link with a similar set. The finished height of our benches is 17.5, 16 for the legs and 1.5 for the wood. I hope that helps!

      Reply

    1. Hi Cara! No, we have not had any issues with the wood bowing, but I don’t think I would use anything smaller in width or thinner than a 2×12 or it may not be strong enough. Also, ours are only 4 feet long. The longer you make it the weaker the middle will be. Hope that helps 😉

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *