Simple Potting Bench You Can Build In An Afternoon

While enjoying coffee on the deck one morning I mentioned to Mr. Frugalista that I would love to have a potting table in the yard. Deciding it was the perfect day for an outdoor project, we came up with a plan for a simple potting bench that can be built in an afternoon.



It's a gardener's potting bench during the day and an outdoor bar at night, complete with solar lights. Perfect for a patio or deck or to use during family Weiner and marshmallow roasts around the backyard firepit.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

Easy To Build Gardener's Potting Bench

It has a top shelf made simply with dollar store brackets and a pine fence board. A perfect spot for a container herb garden and pretty potted plants. The back of the potting bench is framed with lattice that is also handy for hanging accessories with S-hooks.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

It also has a large lower shelf for storing things like plant pots, potting soil, gardening tools, and watering cans.



But the best part about this wood garden bench is its simple 2 x 4 and fence board construction that is easy to assemble. The frame is painted an Antique Red color and the rest of the potting bench is stained in a Natural Cedar color.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

We also added inexpensive metal garden hooks from the dollar store for hanging garden tools. I embellished the bench with handmade medallions and I'll be sharing how I made them further down in the post.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

It has a simple plank top made with pine fence boards.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

As mentioned earlier, the potter's bench is also lit up at night with solar lights, metal candle sconces that we adapted. I'll be sharing how easy it was to modify them further down in the post.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

I made this fun sign for the potting bench with a piece of scrap wood and an old floral brooch.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

Before we get into the details of how the potting bench is made I should mention that we are self-taught DIYers and not trained professionals. This step-by-step tutorial is based on our building knowledge only. However, if you are a do-it-yourselfer like us, you'll find these steps helpful if you plan on making a version of our outdoor potting bench.



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What You'll Need To Make It

I've included a supply list below, including the stain and paint that we used. But of course, the colors we chose are completely optional. In hindsight, I wish we had left the lattice natural or stained because the paint hasn't held up well.



Supply List

  • (10) 2 x 4s
  • (3) 1 x 1s
  • (4) 6-foot Pine Fence Boards
  • (4) 7-foot Pine Fence Boards
  • (1 Sheet) 4 x 8 Cedar Lattice
  • 2-inch Galvanized Wood Screws
  • 1 1/4-inch Galvanized Wood Screws
  • 1 1/4-inch Brad Nails
  • Natural Cedar Behr Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain
  • Antique Red Behr Premium Plus Ultra Paint
  • Fossil (sage green) Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Spray Paint (optional for lattice)
  • Minwax Exterior Satin Polycrylic Clear Coat


How To Build The Gardener's Potting Bench

Unfortunately, we were so engrossed in our project that I forgot to take progress photos but you get a good idea of how it was built in the photo below. I've included the step-by-step building instructions further down in the post.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

You may be thinking, wait a minute there are a few things different between the photo above and the photo of the finished bench below. And you'd be right about that.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

Initially, we decided to cut an opening in the top for a handy removable tray.



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

And when used as an outdoor bar, the tray would be removed and replaced with a cooler for keeping drinks cold. It sounded great in theory!



This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

But after living with it for a bit we preferred a larger work area on the top instead and modified the top with large planks. We also lowered the bottom shelf to accommodate large flower pots and such.



DIY Potting Bench Instructions

At long last, here are the step-by-step instructions for building the wood potting bench.



How To Build The Back Frame

  1. Cut two 2 x 4's 5-feet long for the uprights.
  2. Cut one 2 x 4's 6-feet long for the cross member.
  3. Attach one 6-foot 2 x 4 at the top of each upright with galvanized wood screws.


How To Build The Top And Bottom Shelf

  1. Cut four 2 x 4's 6-feet long for the cross members.
  2. Cut six 2 x 4's 2-feet long for the side supports.
  3. Cut four 1 x 6 pine fence boards 6-feet long for the bottom shelf.
  4. Build two rectangles with butt joints assembled with 2-inch galvanized wood screws.
  5. Add center supports with 2-foot long 2 x 4's. in the center of each rectangle.
  6. Before attaching the bottom shelf, now is a good time to stain the 6-foot pine fence boards. While you're at it, stain the four 7-foot pine fence boards for the top as well.
  7. Attach the stained fence boards to the bottom shelf from the top with 11/4-inch galvanized wood screws.


How To Attach The Shelves

  1. Cut two 2 x 4's 3-feet long for the front uprights.
  2. Lay the back frame flat on the ground.
  3. Attach the bottom shelf 6-inches from the bottom of the back supports.
  4. Attach the two 3-foot long 2 x 4 uprights to the front of the bottom shelf. It should also be 6-inches from the bottom.


How To Attach The Top

  1. Attach the frame for the top, 22-inches down from the top of the back supports.
  2. On the front, attach the frame to the front uprights with 2-inch galvanized wood screws.
  3. Cut the four pre-stained 7-foot pine fence boards to 75-inches long.
  4. Set the fence boards down on the top frame, leaving a 1 1/2-inch overhang on each side.
  5. Space the boards evenly using something as a gauge for the gap. We used a paint stir stick between each board to measure a narrow gap.
  6. Attach the boards from the top with 1 1/4-inch galvanized wood screws.


How To Install The Lattice

  1. Cut four 1 x 1's 6-feet long.
  2. Cut six 1 x 1's 21-inches long.
  3. Attach two 6-foot long and two 21-inch long 1 x 1's to the backside of the 2 x 4 frame with 1 1/4-inch brad nails.
  4. Cut a sheet of cedar lattice 72 x 22-inches.
  5. This step is optional. We doubled up the lattice for both strength (in case we plan on hanging things with S-hooks) and to hide the unsightly woodpile behind the bench. Otherwise, a single sheet of the lattice is fine.
  6. Before moving onto the next step, this is a good time to paint or stain the lattice. If you plan on keeping the cedar natural, move onto the next step.
  7. Place the lattice against the 1 x 1 frame.
  8. Repeat step 3 to secure the lattice in place.
  9. If you plan on adding a top-shelf like we did, you will need a middle 1 x 1 support to attach a center shelf bracket. Again, attached with the brad nailer.
  10. This frames the lattice for a nice clean finished look.
  11. Now you can attach the top shelf and brackets


Potting Bench Solar Light Sconces

In this step, I'll show you how easy it is to turn metal candle sconces into solar lights for either side of the potting bench. All you'll need is inexpensive pathway-style solar lights from the dollar store.

  1. Detach the top light kit from the plastic stem and shorten it with a miter saw.
  2. Attach the stem to the base of the metal candle sconce with E6000 glue.
  3. Once the glue has cured reattach the light kit.
  4. Attach the metal candle sconces on each end of your potting bench.
  5. Slip the glass cover back in place on the now solar sconces.


This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

Easy peasy, right? Now thanks to the sun, your potting bench/outdoor bar will have set it and forget it evening lighting. We love how it also illuminates our DIY Backyard Fire Pit zone that we built with paving stones. 



Remember the sun and moon medallions I mentioned earlier, I've included instructions for how to make them below.



DIY Decorative Medallion Potting Bench Embellishments

  1. Press Sculpey Baking Clay into silicone molds.
  2. Bake at 275°F in the oven for 15 minutes.
  3. After they've cooled paint them either to match your potting bench like I did or whatever color(s) of your choosing.
  4. Attach them to the potting bench with E6000 glue.


This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night.

So there you have it, a simple rustic DIY Potting Bench that you can make in an afternoon. If you want an eco-friendly way to water and fertilize those flowers you just planted, check out our backyard DIY Rain Barrel And Composting system.



If you plan on building this handy potting bench means you must be an avid gardener. That said, you may like this idea for vintage-style DIY Garden Markers made with dollar store wooden stakes.



Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by our DIY Rustic Potting Table. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!



If you enjoyed the gardener's potting bench idea, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your Backyard Ideas or Outdoor Potting Bench Ideas board on Pinterest.




This simple DIY Gardener's Potting Bench can be built in an afternoon with 2x4s. A potting table by day and outdoor bar with solar lights at night. #pottingbench #pottingtable #gardenersbench #diyoutdoorprojects #diyoutdoorfurniture

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