How to Build a Built-in Bench Seat for the Kitchen Table

Choose a wall on which to install your built-in bench seating, and measure its width using a measuring tape. Use one of your kitchen chairs as reference to determine the height and depth of your bench and record all three measurements on paper.

Cut four pieces of 2-by-4 lumber to the desired length of your built-in bench using a table saw or jigsaw. Cut eight pieces of 2-by-4 lumber using the depth measurement of your bench minus 4 inches, and cut eight more pieces using the height measurement minus 8 inches.

Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall, and mark their position in pencil below the height of the bench. The pencil marks will be concealed after the bench has been installed.

Lay one of the four longer pieces of 2-by-4 lumber on its narrow edge on the floor, flush with the wall. Position a second equal-length piece of lumber flat against the wall above it so the top edge sits at the desired height for your bench. Secure both pieces of wood to the wall by driving 3-inch wood screws through the lumber into the wall studs.

Place four of the pieces of 2-by-4 lumber cut to the depth of the bench minus 4 inches on the floor on their narrow ends with the edges flush with the pieces of wood you just installed. Position one piece of wood at each end of the longer piece of wood, and space the other two evenly between.

Secure the pieces of lumber in place by driving 3-inch wood screws into the wall studs for the outer two pieces and by toe-nailing screws into the longer pieces of lumber for the remaining two pieces. Position the remaining four equal-length pieces of lumber above the first four, butting the edge against the upper horizontal piece of lumber. Use the same procedure to secure these four pieces of wood in place.

Install the remaining two long pieces of 2-by-4 lumber parallel to the first two, pressing the back side flat against the short, perpendicular pieces you just installed. Secure the longer pieces of lumber in place by driving 3-inch wood screws through the front of the lumber into the shorter pieces behind.

Slip the remaining pieces of 2-by-4 lumber upright between cross braces in the upper and lower bench frames. Position one piece of lumber in each corner, flat against the walls on either side of the window. Place the remaining four pieces below the interior cross braces, aligning the edges with the long, horizontal pieces of lumber.

Secure the vertical supports in place by toe-nailing 3-inch wood screws through the vertical supports into the upper and lower bench frames.

Cut pieces of 1/2-inch plywood to size to cover the front and top of the built-in bench if your bench is built wall-to-wall. If one or both sides of your bench is not built against a side wall, cut plywood covers to size. Lay the pieces of plywood flat against the wooden frame in the correct positions, and secure them in place by driving nails from a nail gun through the plywood into the wooden frame.

Fill all screw and nail holes with wood filler, and allow the filler to dry completely according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sand the filler smooth with fine-grain sandpaper, and paint or stain the built-in bench according to your preference. Allow the paint or stain to dry completely before using the bench.

Arrange throw pillows or seat cushions on top of the bench to make it more comfortable seating. Place your kitchen table a comfortable distance from the bench, and arrange the rest of your chairs around the other three sides of the table.