This week's bench makeover project for the $100 Room Challenge is all about making storage pretty and functional, one of my favorite DIY subjects. Last week's Farmhouse Table project was tough, so I was ready for an easier challenge this week.
We all need storage. And we all want a pretty house. So when the two come together, it's the perfect match! This week I gave my IKEA Kallax bookshelf benches a little makeover. (Did you know the Kallax, or Expedit, shelves can lie on their sides and turn into benches?) They are the perfect piece to add function, storage, and now color, to this eat-in breakfast area.
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Breakfast Nook Bench Makeover
The hardest thing about this bench makeover was picking the fabric! (If you weighed in on 
I'll be sharing an actual tutorial soon for the cushion covers, so for now I'll just give you a glimpse into the finished effect.
Foam
When I first stopped into the fabric store to pick out fabric and upholstery foam to make the bench cushions, I just about had a heart attack at the price of the foam. Let's just say that the foam would have cost more than the entire $100 budget for this challenge! But then my husband, ever the practical one, reminded me, "Don't you have some foam like that from the bed topper we used to have?" He was right. We had tried a memory foam cover for our bed a couple of years ago but didn't like it, so it's been taking up space in a corner of my closet until I could figure out what to do with it. (I've since found better resources for foam, which I'm sharing with you below.)
Fabric
With the foam problem solved, the next challenge was finding the right fabric. I looked all over the fabric stores, but couldn't find exactly what I wanted. Then I remembered this camper makeover I did a few years ago, and how I used shower curtains to cover the seat cushions. So I quit looking at fabric and started looking at curtains, and of course found exactly what I wanted at Tuesday Morning. They were even on clearance for $18! (If you have a Tuesday Morning near you, always look there first for curtains.)
Then I second-guessed myself for about a week and brought home 5 more sets of curtains and shower curtains.
Finally I went back to my first love, the teal ikat. Curtains are great for this project because you usually can't find fabric this cheap, and you can make good use of strategically placed hems. (More on that in the tutorial, coming soon.) Just make sure you get washable fabric, especially if yours are going in an eat-in breakfast area like mine, that gets a lot of wear and tear.
Storage
Once I finished covering the cushions for the benches, I just needed to corral all the stuff from the bench cubbies into decorative boxes and baskets. That took a little time to organize because I wanted to put some thought into what went where.
As nice as all this storage is, it's not easy to get to the cubbies nearest the corner, so those got the seasonal linens and items I don't need access to very often. The outside cubbies got my cookbooks and everyday table linens. (In my house, table linens is the fancy term for paper napkins.)
With a little storage and a lot of color, these benches mimic the look of built-in benches but for a tiny fraction of the cost.
IKEA Storage Bench Makeover Resources
- IKEA Kallax Bookshelf - Did you know you can get certain IKEA items on Amazon? You'll pay a little more, but if you don't have an IKEA near you, it's so worth it!
- Upholstery Foam
- Curtains - I found mine on clearance at Tuesday Morning, but this link is to a similar set.
- Wire Storage Baskets
- Fabric Storage Baskets
Next week I'll be adding a command center on the wall of the breakfast area, so be sure to check back for that if you need a little more organization in your life!
Gabby McGraw says
This looks so awesome! I love how you used the Ikea cubbies (which are my faves for organizing) as benches. Brilliant. I did not know that you could find Ikea stuff on Amazon. Thanks for the tip!! Can't wait to see the reveal next week.
Meredith says
Thanks Gabby! I love it when furniture doubles as storage!
designbyd9 says
Ditto to the IKEA on AMAZON tip!! IKEA is a ferry ride for me! The bench looks fabulous, and so does the table
Meredith says
Thank you! I wish I were that close to an IKEA, but it's probably good that I'm not!
Susan Cooper says
You always have some of the coolest ideas. I love that fabric! This is yet another one to put away for the future.
Meredith says
Thanks Susan! This fabric really was the inspiration!
charlestoncrafted says
It looks great and I know it will be comfier that way!
Meredith says
Thanks Morgan, it sure is!
Emy says
The cushion looks great! Your room is going to be so pretty!
Meredith says
Thank you Emy!
fourseasonliz says
It looks fabulous! Great pick. I love the teal wall!
Meredith says
Thanks Liz, it's quickly becoming my favorite color!
Natalie says
You've made it Meredith! And it look fabulous! Great choice.
Meredith says
Thank you Natalie!
Megan says
Love how you turned the shelves into a bench and that Ikat print is to die for!
Meredith says
Thank you Megan!
Lindsay says
That's so great that you were able to re-use something from your home - and the ikat fabric looks great!
Meredith says
Thanks Lindsay, I love using things I already own and refreshing them a bit!
Melissa says
I love the curtain you used for the benches! It looks perfect in your room. And your cubbies are so neat and organized now! Can't wait to see your final reveal!
Meredith says
Thank you Melissa! We like them so much better now!
Wendy says
I love teal! It's currently my favorite color. I love this bench and completely love your table! I can't wait to see the finished product.
Meredith says
Thanks Wendy, it's mine too!
Erin @ Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry says
I did a bench cover in our mudroom (the first $100 room makeover I ever did) and the cost of foam made my jaw drop to the floor. WHY is it so expensive?! Luckily I didn't need much, but it was almost 1/2 my budget. So glad you were able to come up with an alternative! All the storage looks great! Can't wait for the reveal and command center next week!
Meredith says
I know, what are they putting in this stuff, spun gold? It was a relief to find an alternative!
Jeri Walker (@JeriWB) says
Looks great as always! I wasn't aware certain IKEA items could be ordered on Amazon, so I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the heads up. The nearest IKEA to me is about six hours away in Salt Lake City.
Meredith says
My nearest one is 7 hours away, so I gotta be really motivated to make that trip! Amazon has made it a lot easier.
stephaniegriffithhome says
Organization is my favorite!
Meredith says
Me too Stephanie! 😉
Sarah says
I would love to know how this held up. I’m thinking about making a corner dining bench out of two kallax shelves that I have.
Meredith says
Hi Sarah, mine have held up amazingly well! We use them at least once a day, and they're still in great shape after several years. The one that my husband uses does tend to creak a bit when he sits on it, but other than that I have no complaints. (He weighs about 170 pounds.) They've been such a great piece of furniture, especially considering the price!