How to make a banquette for the hallway with your own hands?

Bench made from old furniture

An excellent option for a spacious entrance area: a comfortable bench is made from scrap materials and requires almost no expenses.

You can leave your bags on it after coming home, and also change your shoes. Even a beginner can handle making it.

Tools and materials

To create a bench you will need:

• An old coffee table, cabinet or sideboard on legs, the upper part of which has become unusable or is simply not needed.
• Foam rubber.
• Scissors.
• Spray adhesive.
• Tape measure and ruler.
• Lining fabric.
• Durable upholstery fabric.
• Thin material to protect the bottom, for example, calico.
• Furniture stapler.
• Hammer.

Step-by-step instructions

The main value of the original furniture is the unscrewing legs. The base for the bench should support the weight of a person. If it is not strong, you can buy a furniture board and work with it. Let’s start assembling:

1. Unscrew the legs and measure the base. Cut the foam rubber to these dimensions with a 2.5 cm allowance around the perimeter.

2. For softness, you can lay two layers of foam rubber and glue them together. Apply glue to the tabletop and lay it on the foam rubber pieces. Press.

3. Cut the lining fabric to the dimensions of the tabletop, leaving allowances. We glue it to the base, placing it on top.

4. We cut the upholstery fabric so that the allowances cover both the foam rubber and the lining. We smooth it from the center to the edges. Gradually stretch the material, securing it with a furniture stapler using 3-4 staples. When the upholstery becomes perfectly smooth, we go over the perimeter with a stapler again.

5. We process the corners as carefully as possible, tucking them in so that there are no wrinkles. This requires patience and professionalism.

6. We cut off the dust-proof fabric, tuck the corners and fasten it with staples so that the edges are not visible from the outside. We screw on the legs.

7. The legs can be decorated at your discretion. The elegant bench is ready:

Bench with a folding lid

A useful and beautiful bench-bench in a classic style with an internal place for storing small items. Made of plywood, boards, baluster legs, polyurethane foam and fabric.

Be sure to look at examples of homemade storage systems.

Tools and materials

To make the structure from scratch you will need:

• Plywood 2 pcs.
• Wooden balusters or ready-made furniture legs 4 pcs.
• Narrow boards to fit the desired bench and legs.
• Jigsaw.
• Fasteners, wood glue.
• Nails and hammer.
• Screwdriver and screws.
• Sandpaper or sander.
• Varnish, paint or furniture wax.
• Polyurethane foam or foam rubber.
• Lining (batting).
• Upholstery fabric.
• Thin material.
• Furniture stapler.
• Furniture hinges.

Step-by-step instructions

Let’s get to work:

1. Take the necessary measurements for your hallway. We prepare wooden elements: two sheets of plywood for the bottom and the lid, two short and two long pieces of board.

2. We fix the balusters to the future box using glue, screws and fasteners.

3. As a result, we get the following frame:

4. We take measurements and cut holes in the plywood for the legs. We fix the bottom of the box with nails.

5. We cover the bench with paint. If you want to leave the wood grain, you can use stain, varnish, wax or wood oil.

6. Let’s start making the lid. Glue the polyurethane foam to the plywood.

7. We wrap the structure with batting, attach it with a stapler and cut off the excess.

8. We stretch and fix the upholstery. We protect the bottom with a thin material.

9. We connect the base and the lid with furniture hinges.

10. An aesthetic and neat bench will decorate any interior.

Bench with carriage coupler

This luxurious option is suitable for modern small hallways. The design is a roomy chest with a folding seat, inside which you can store shoes or clothes.

Beautiful ideas for inspiration

A bench in the house is a useful and roomy thing. They are made not only of wood, but also of metal.

If you need an open shoe storage system, choose a design with shelves and a soft seat, and if comfort is a priority, give preference to a bench with a backrest that looks like a mini-sofa.

Don’t deny yourself beauty and comfort when decorating your hallway. If desired, you can make the bench yourself.