DIY Farmhouse Cottage Potting Bench

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A simple DIY potting bench made from inexpensive fence boards. Use it for potting plants or on your porch, patio or deck for entertaining. 

This has been one of our most used DIY garden projects. I use it to stage things for photos, as a drinks bar while entertaining and just a decoration on our back deck.

The potting bench below is one of the inspirations for our potting bench. I spotted this one at a garden show in Boise, Idaho in 2010. It was one of the best shows I had been to with innovative things for the garden. If you are ever in Boise when this show is on I would highly recommend it! It is usually held in March. 

pottingbenchidaho590

A link to the DIY instructions for our potting bench is at the end of this post.

Potting Bench Summer

This potting bench is one of my “Jack of all Trades” type piece of DIY furniture. I use it all the time. It is viewable from our dining/living room and I decorate it as if it were a mantel. I decorate it for each season.

DIY Potting Bench built from fence boards for $45, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

I have repainted it several times in different colors and types of paint but the very best paint to hold up has been the original chalk paint by Annie Sloan  It held up through several winters without chipping or peeling. The creamy color is chalk paint. 

Potting Bench Winter

The dark patches in the photo below are mildew from being out in the rain and snow.  The mildew was easy to sand off. 

 

DIY Potting Bench built from fence boards for $45, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

Potting Bench Spring

One season I decked it with my pink roses and soft pastels.  The small hypertufa planters were meant to be a blog post but I have never gotten that done.  I need to make more for you and share, they are great for succulents. 

DIY Potting Bench built from fence boards for $45, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

The yellow used in this photo below was milk paint.  It did not hold up at all and within months was peeling terribly but it was a fun color to try. 

DIY Potting Bench built from cedar fence boards for $45, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

Potting Bench Fall

I used a sign and hand-painted shovel to decorate it for Fall. And always plants of the season.  

DIY Potting Bench built with cedar fence boards for $45, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com

Would you like to see how we built it? It cost us around $45 but that was nearly 10 years ago, yes it has held up that long!

I have a long winded post showing how we built this here, Potting Bench Build.

quick and easy to build

DIY Potting Bench

Step by step instructions to build a fence board potting bench for your garden. Budget-friendly materials and standard tools.

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40 Comments

  1. LOL, I could visualize the entire scene. Love that you were innovative enough to dig out that tire iron to use. 🙂 I need to get busy and decorate my Potting Bench for this Fall.

  2. Myra Lovett says:

    Thank you for posting your potting bench. I have wanted one forever and have so many pics saved for ideas. My husband had told me I could have his wood work table he had thrown together and it resembles the base of your potting bench. I told him I wanted to attach a back with a shelf. He said he would build me one. Well, driving around a nearby town one day, I took a shortcut around the back of the back of some buildings. Set out for trash was a wood gate that looks like the back of yours. I had to break it apart with a tire iron to to get it in my car while working in sprinkling rain. It was perfect for my potting bench! I will use your post to inspire my husband how I want the finished product to look. I love the way you decorated for the seasons. Great idea!!

  3. Sounds like project heaven for you, congrats on the fabulous haul.

  4. Since I see it from my living room and we spend a lot of time out there when it is warm enough I wanted to make the most of it!

  5. These are wonderful. I never thought of changing out for the seasons. Love it.

  6. We are constantly enjoying it. Especially this time of year when we can be out on the back deck more.

  7. I love your potting bench….Very pretty in every season!

  8. It’s easy to see why your potting bench is so popular – it’s charming! Add me to those who have pinned it. 🙂

  9. Hi Susan,
    I recently joined an Artist’s Co-Op and have kicked around the idea of taking it down to it to set my garden signs on and around with some maybe some plants. I am afraid someone would want to buy it and I could not say no. 🙂 Yes, I could always build another but time is so scarce I am afraid it would take me a long time to get to it. I love looking out my sliding glass door at mine and it is the aged to perfection chippiness right now. I think I remember yours, probably what gave me the idea for mine, I may even have it Pinned.

  10. I love your bench Pamela! I have one that I also made and had it outside for years… I ended up putting in my booth to display my stuff and someone bought it last week… it wasn’t even for sale but someone loved the chippy weathered look… if they only knew! Thanks for linking it up to Junkers United!
    Susan @Homeroad.net

  11. It looks fantastic in every season! Happy Spring!

  12. Oh my pleasure!
    I have loved this simple little potting bench more than I ever thought.
    Even the back side has been turned into a back drop for photographing my signs. So it is very versatile indeed. 🙂
    I can’t wait to see yours and how you decorate it thru the seasons.
    I wish you as much enjoyment as mine has provided me.
    Pamela

  13. Love this so much! We are just working on a similar one for the back porch (that’s just a little bit longer)….and you just gave me the best idea to photograph it through the seasons!

    Thank you so much for inspiring me today!
    karianne

  14. Hello Pamela, this is fantastic – you did a wonderful job on this and I love the different looks. I will be featuring your post in this week’s Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

  15. Thank you Kathy, I do enjoy my potting bench, it has held up very well for being out in the elements all the time. I figured lots of folks would like it too and build one for themselves since it is so affordable and versatile. When I entertain on my back deck it is my sideboard or buffet.

  16. I see why you have so much interest it is wonderful. I have to admit the winter scene is great. You did a great job. Kathy

  17. Oh I love your potting bench and your pictures are fabulous. I love the one with the snow too. Great job and this is something I would love. Thanks tons for joining Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

  18. Yes, everyone needs a good potting bench, so many uses.

  19. It is a busy start to the week but the weather is sunny, mild and lovely so no complaints. Thanks for stopping in.

  20. I stopped on over to see yours, you did a major make over and it is lovely.

  21. Pamela, your potting bench is fabulous! I love it and I really need one, too! Thanks for sharing yours.
    Helen

  22. I love your potting bench and all of your decorative pieces. New G+ follower.
    Have a wonderful week,
    Bev
    @ Eclectic Red Barn

  23. I just gave my potting table a makeover and I love it! My table is one of my favorite spots in my yard! I love yours too, thanks for sharing!

  24. I do have fun mixing it up over the seasons.

  25. I know, doesn’t it. I can’t say enough how much I have enjoyed this one project.

  26. Barbaralilian-infrance says:

    I love your potting bench, especially how you change it with a different coat of paint & all the little Knick-knacks you arrange on it. Wish I had one, but my man is too busy painting what seems like the whole house. It seems to have snow balled from the halls/staircase into the lounge, so I daren’t show him what I would like him to make for me. I’ll have to save your pics. for a later project !!

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