![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/4e2c9ea3747f4d54a93b88b2f5d70a7f.jpg)
If you want to spruce up your backyard or patio space, this rustic bench is the perfect spot for your outdoor living area — and luckily you don't need major carpentry skills to build it yourself. With hairpin legs available for as little as $20, this DIY is a great beginners project. Here's how ...
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/dfadb4066a044ea1909fc778f0150989.jpg)
Video of the Day
Things You'll Need
Power drill
Hand sander
Outdoor wood varnish
Step 1
Choose your piece of wood. We've used a piece of live edge hardwood that measured 1 foot by 3 feet. (If you find a larger piece, you can always have your local hardware store cut it to size for you.) Be sure to choose hardwood rather than softwood. Oak, cedar, redwood, acacia, or walnut are popular choices.
Video of the Day
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/2/3e66e499136b48549f11fca3bc9e5e78.jpg)
Step 2
Flip the wood over so the bottom side is facing upwards. Place the hairpin legs into position. You don't need to measure here; just eyeball where you want them to sit.
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/2/f8e6a83d92b5473ca4e4e544c16b86f9.jpg)
Mark all the drill holes with a pencil and put the legs to one side.
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/2d4ddf84c1254b78928ff44c7d3597a1.jpg)
Step 3
Drill pilot holes for the legs — make sure you don't drill all the way through the wood.
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/178be5aaf9c84fe39cce085840cd0e84.jpg)
TIP: Our hardwood is 1 inch thick, so we've wrapped a small piece of tape around the drill bit a 1/2 inch from the tip to indicate how deep we've drilled.
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/96dbf1d25e6d41a49540f6a052b1c38b.jpg)
Step 4
Drill the hairpin legs into place.
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/5f15d69a5ce14173a1108a57ad027ad0.jpg)
Step 5
Take a hand sander and the sand the sides of the hardwood.
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/644dba863b3a4f9c94ee540187fe907a.jpg)
Smooth any rough edges, and run the sander over the bench top to prepare it for the varnish.
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/7ba4216aa8dc4409b93069d36bae950e.jpg)
Step 6
To finish the bench, seal the wood with two or three coats of outdoor varnish to protect it. Let dry completely.
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/36b6ec09119b45ebbda41756665da6dd.jpg)
Your bench is now ready for outdoor lounging and entertaining!
![DIY Modern Garden Bench](https://img.hunkercdn.com/375/clsd/7/3/c9214789076c48c7bb2db6c204a7e796.jpg)