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Sarah Hearts

Sarah Hearts

diy, home
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April 20, 2016

DIY Paint Dipped IKEA NORNÄS Outdoor Bench

Transform a plain IKEA bench into a stylish multi-purpose outdoor piece with DecoArt Americana Outdoor paint. Click through to see the how-to for this Ikea hack!

After living in Los Angeles for a little more than six months, I’m absolutely loving the California indoor outdoor living. The breezes we’ve been getting lately have been heavenly and though the days are getting warmer, the evenings spent on the patio almost make up for it. Our backyard (which I still call it a yard) is definitely more of a patio than a yard. It’s mostly concrete but we made it more welcoming with some patio furniture and a faux grass rug (check out the before and after here). Since we use the space so often, we were in need of some additional seating. We opted to add a long bench, which can be a multipurpose piece.

Since I love a good Ikea hack, I picked up the NORNÄS bench. It’s a long unfinished solid wood bench that can be used both indoors and outdoors that I made suit our style better with a few coats of Americana Decor Outdoor Living paint. This new paint from DecoArt is specifically made for outdoor use but doesn’t require a sealer. Just paint and go—which is definitely my kind of project! The paint also works on concrete, metal, terra cotta, plastics and more. So you can pretty much use it for everything you’re going to DIY for your backyard.

Transform a plain IKEA bench into a stylish multi-purpose outdoor piece with DecoArt Americana Outdoor paint. Click through to see the how-to for this Ikea hack!

I’m a big fan of the paint dipped trend, but for the this piece I decided to reverse the look and paint everything except the bottom of the legs. And I’m happy I did! The pop of yellow looks great on our patio and the reverse paint dipped look adds subtle interest to the piece.

Transform a plain IKEA bench into a stylish multi-purpose outdoor piece with DecoArt Americana Outdoor paint. Click through to see the how-to for this Ikea hack!

DIY Painted Ikea Outdoor Bench

Supplies

Ikea NORNÄS bench
DecoArt Americana Decor Outdoor Living paint in Harvest
Angled paint brush
Painter’s tape
Ruler

Optional
Outdoor polyurethane in satin finish
Disposable foam brushes

Transform a plain IKEA bench into a stylish multi-purpose outdoor piece with DecoArt Americana Outdoor paint. Click through to see the how-to for this Ikea hack!

Directions

  1. Assemble the Ikea bench (I found this one to be one of the easiest Ikea items I’ve ever assembled). Use a dry rag to remove any dust or wood chips. Place the bench on top of cardboard or another surface to protect your floors from getting any paint splatters on them.
  2. Apply the painters tape to each leg so the top edge of the tape is 6″ from the bottom. Use your fingers to firmly press down the top edge of the tape.
  3. Paint away! I recommend painting the top of the bench in the direction of the wood grain, using long brush strokes. Allow the paint to dry (about 1 hour) and then apply a second coat.
  4. Since the wood on the bench is unfinished, it soaked up the paint a little more than usual, so I applied a total of 3 coats. If you prefer the paint to have a stained look, only apply one coat. Carefully remove the tape and allow the bench to dry overnight before using.
  5. Optional: I plan on using my bench outdoors, so I brushed on 2 coats of a basic satin finish polyurethane to the unpainted bottom part of each leg. This will help protect the unfinished wood from water and dust.

Transform a plain IKEA bench into a stylish multi-purpose outdoor piece with DecoArt Americana Outdoor paint. Click through to see the how-to for this Ikea hack!

Since our backyard is pretty small, we’re always moving things around depending on what we’re doing. I plan on using this bench for entertaining (hello summer bbqs!), relaxing and reading a book, or even as a potting bench when I’m adding more succulents to my little patio garden.

Transform a plain IKEA bench into a stylish multi-purpose outdoor piece with DecoArt Americana Outdoor paint. Click through to see the how-to for this Ikea hack!

Transform a plain IKEA bench into a stylish multi-purpose outdoor piece with DecoArt Americana Outdoor paint. Click through to see the how-to for this Ikea hack!

turf rug / white planters / Marimekko garden tools / pitcher / glassware

Love the stem pattern on the cinderblock? It’s as easy as tracing a template and coloring it in. Check out the full tutorial for my patterned chalk wall.

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16 Comments
  • Linda
    April 20, 2016

    Very nice colour, looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Sarah
      Linda
      April 20, 2016

      Thank you!

      Reply
  • Carrie
    April 20, 2016

    How CUTE!!! I love how this turned out! I’m gonna invite myself over for that BBQ, k?! :) :)

    Reply
    • Sarah
      Carrie
      April 20, 2016

      Anytime! :)

      Reply
  • Amy | Delineate Your Dwelling
    April 21, 2016

    I love that bright pop of yellow in your backyard! What a great and easy DIY.

    Reply
  • Laurel (@abubblylife)
    April 21, 2016

    sooo cute, love the pop of color

    Reply
  • Links to Love - Sarah Hearts
    April 22, 2016

    […] My newest Ikea hack. […]

    Reply
  • Haeley @ Design Improvised
    April 22, 2016

    Your backyard is so cheerful with that bench and the chalk design. I love it!!

    Reply
  • Marlene @ Idle Hands Awake
    April 22, 2016

    Ho. Ly. Cow. The bench is so stunning, and that WALL!!!

    Reply
  • Ikea Hackers Banco NORNÄS – berbiquí
    April 26, 2016

    […] Habría que protegerlo bien si lo queremos usar en exterior, éste es de Sara Hearts. […]

    Reply
  • 41 Backyard DIYs That Will Make Yours The Coolest House On The Block - Stuff Viral | trending latest breaking news Stuff Viral | trending latest breaking news
    November 23, 2017

    […] Full instructions on Sarah Hearts. […]

    Reply
  • Helena Orstem
    June 21, 2019

    Very nice color, looks amazing!

    Reply
  • Michelle
    May 23, 2020

    Did you use a stencil for the chalk mural? Is it chalk or painted on? Love the simplicity!

    Reply
    • Sarah Khandjian
      Michelle
      May 24, 2020

      I made a stencil which you can download here. I originally filled it in with regular chalk but later updated it with artist spray chalk to make it more permanent.

      Reply
  • Kay
    June 12, 2021

    So fun! How has the bench held up to the elements?

    Reply
    • Sarah Khandjian
      Kay
      June 14, 2021

      Incredibly well! Only slight fading of the yellow paint from the sun but I was very impressed!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Sarah

Hi, I’m Sarah

And I'm so glad you're here! I'm a graphic designer turned maker who finds joy in creating things and helping others do the same. Here you can find my shop, over a decade of blog posts, beautiful wallpaper downloads, video tutorials, and more.

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