Old Made New: How to Upcycle an Old Vintage Bench into a New Primitive Treasure
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BringingInnovation #CollectiveBias
Ever since I was a child, I have always had a knack for turning trash into treasure. My mom would get so annoyed by me because I would often pull things out of the trash and bring them up to my room to upcycle. Old shirts became clothing for my dolls, soup cans became painted holders, and old decorations were remade. As an adult, my passion for making old things new has only grown, and I find myself both upcycling and recycling on a regular basis.
Old deacon’s bench before the makeover
Over the years, I have become the first person most people ask before getting rid of something. Often I take on items that are so hideous, or seemingly beyond repair. My husband gets mad a me, but I can always envision the new. My most recent project was turning a vintage deacons bench from my husband’s grandmother (who has since passed) and turning it into a primitive decor bench.
Supplies used
My project was super easy for me because I actually went to school for painting and decorating when I was younger. The bench was completely done is less then 2 hours, and is a focal piece of my main living area. My supplies cost was so low that I can confidently say this project cost me $10! That is why you should never decline a free piece of old furniture because upcycling it takes very little effort, and produces something new, and one of a kind.
Speaking of turning something old into something new, the folks at Energizer have me really excited as of lately. They have created the first battery on the market to use recycled batteries and materials. For years, I have consciously saved all my old batteries to bring them to local battery recycling centers. It is so awesome that Energizer’s new EcoAdvanced Batteries are their longest lasting alkaline batteries ever!
What’s even more cool is that Energizer’s new EcoAdvanced Batteries can be stored for up to 12 years! They are priced very reasonably too and can be found in the Battery Center at your local Walmart store. Currently, they can be found in both AAA and AA. We use quite a few AA’s in this house so I love to always have some in stock. Plus, in honor of spring, I knew I wanted to display my lighted bunny on my new primitive bench so it worked out well.
I have to say, I really, really love the outcome of this vintage bench turned primitive treasure. It was so easy to do, and I hope I inspire you all to remake something old into something new!
Here is the materials I needed for this upcycle:
- 1 can of American Decor White Chalk Paint
- 2 pieces of 120 grit sandpaper
- 1 paint brush
- 2 rags
- screwdriver to remove hardware
- drop cloth
The first thing I did to this piece was wash it down with a damp cloth. I used plain water because I did not want to add any additional oils to this piece. After the damp rag wipedown, I gently sanded any areas that has residue on them. I think someone may have stuck some gum on this years old so I removed that, and a few tiny bumps.
Next after lightly sanding the piece, I wiped it down with a rag before painting it. I used two coats of the chalk paint because this piece has a lot of knots and tannins. I was not too particular though because I wanted the rustic or primitive look so a little sneakiness is fine.
After painting, I allowed it to dry which took about 3o minutes. After that, I gently sanded the edges, corners, and a few spots on the surface of the bench. I wanted the faux weathered look so this worked out perfectly, and was very easy to achieve.
Once the sanding was done, I lightly dusted the piece, and it was ready for the star. 
It is funny because the star I used was also upcycled from a door hanger I had. I took out the rivet, and hanger and tapped it flat. To adhere the star to the front of my bench, we used finishing nails.
After the painting was done, I added some small accent pillows, a runner, and my lighted bunny for that spring and Easter feel. 
The Energizer EcoAdvanced Batteries worked perfectly, and I anticipate them to last through Easter since it only goes on at night.
Overall, I had a blast upcycling this vintage bench into a primitive treasure.
Totally worth the $10 invested and less than 2 hours of my time!
I hope you enjoyed it, and found inspiration to make something old new in your home! If you are like me and love companies who care for our environment, consider purchasing Energizer EcoAdvanced Batteries from your local Walmart Store.
That bench is GORGEOUS!!! I love taking old items and making them new again. I wish we had more space in our house for all the projects I’d like to do!! #client
That is so beautiful! You do such great work. Have you ever thought about selling your creations?
What a great bench! I love that bunny too!
That turned out so cute! It’s a great way to show that something old really can be remade into sometime amazing!
You did an amazing job with this piece. I love everything about it and the lighted bunny and pillows are such a nice touch!
The bunny is super cute and you could totally decorate the bench for any upcoming holiday!
Love this bench! You did a great job on it!
That came out awesome. I have an old bench like that in my basement -maybe you can do mine next?
That came out awesome. I have an old bench like that in my basement -maybe you can do mine next?
That’s such a great transformation. It’s really beautiful. Nice work!
That is so beautiful. You really made a lovely piece here.
I love this bench! My sister in law loves upcycling items in her house…they always look so amazing!
oh wow, that transformation is amazing! I love the final look, so nice!
This is AWESOME! I have always loved seeing old furniture turned into new treasures. Great job!
I love the after look of the bench. That lighted bunny is the perfect finishing touch for spring.
That is quite the transformation! That bench looks gorgeous! Plus, the giveaway is nice as well :D
That is beautiful! I love when people repurpose furniture and make it something lovely. Great job!
I love what you did with this bench. These colonial maple looks were so popular in the late 60s. Your re-do sure improved things.
The bench came out amazing! I love the pillows as accents too.
The finished bench looks awesome! I really love the distressed look and recently re-did my grandparents’ old dresser for my daughter’s room. It’s a great way to re-purpose!
That bench is beautiful! I love repurposing furniture I don’t do it enough! So fun!
Your up cycle turned out amazing!!! I love the color choices. Love the idea of a light up bunny to for Easter
Wow that’s such an awesome upcycle of that bench. It looks amazing and you did a great job. I love the star detail.
What a beautiful job turning the old bench into something so artistically clever! Thanks for the information on the recycled energizer batteries, too. The less we toss into landfills, the better our environment will like us.
The bench turned out amazing! My mom loves taking on projects like this and has an almost identical bench in her basement, I’m going to tell her to check out this post!
I love the chalky and worn down look of the after product! I love using sand paper for that purpose.
I like that even batteries are becoming more environmentally aware. I love your upcycle, you did a great job and the bunny is cute!
That is so creative and cute! You did a great job!
I love the movement to upcycle & recyle rather than buy new. I am pretty sure we have Pinterest to thank for that!
This is spectacular. Love it. Great job.
What a Great transformation you had done and looks so like a Texas product.
You done an Awesome job.
Oh, and as for that lighted grapevine bunny….Absolutely adorable. Looks so cute sitting there on your bench.
Have a wonderful and enjoyable weekend.
Hi Colleen, thanks again! I love making crafts like this! Springtime is one of my favorite seasons ever so the bunny was a must! It was so cheap too! I found it at LTD Commodities for a cheap price! -Amy :) Have a great week too!
OMG, I love this! So pretty, I wonder if I can do this!
Wow! You did such a beautiful job. Thank you for sharing! I feel so inspired now.
The bench turned out amazing! I really need to do this to a couple pieces of furniture but you make it sound so easy that I will have to give it a try.
Wow, that bench is amazing! What a display piece now!
I love how the bench turned out and I love love love the pillows. I entered but I was more interested in your beach ;)
wow! I have a vintage dresser that I want to do the exact same thing: paint it a chalk white and then distress it. Thank you!
I so want a bench. I love how your bench turned out. It looks great.
Hey great DIY! Always fun to bring something old back to life.
You seriously did an amazing job. That looks beautiful!
Great job on the bench, it looks amazing. That Easter bunny is so cute. I need one of those. :)