This project was built and designed by Jon Peters from Longview Woodworking. Inspired by early 19th-century Shaker furniture, this bench blends tradition, utility, and beauty into a timeless piece for any home.
Jon revisits a classic design and adapts it for modern spaces, slightly modifying dimensions while staying true to Shaker principles. Built from solid cherry, the final bench is both durable and elegant, ideal for an entryway, hallway, or mudroom.
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Why Choose a Shaker Bench?
The Shaker style is rooted in simplicity, function, and craftsmanship. Originally built between 1825 and 1850, these benches were designed for daily use in community spaces, balancing clean lines with lasting strength.
Jon’s modern version honors the original with subtle updates in proportions. The bench is made slightly shorter and wider to suit today’s living spaces while keeping the understated style and joinery techniques intact.
Materials That Age Gracefully
Cherry is the wood of choice for this project, valued for its strength, ease of work, and natural darkening over time. It starts with a warm, reddish tone and deepens to a rich, amber hue as it ages, giving the piece more character with every year of use.
Using quality hardwood like cherry ensures the bench won’t just hold up over time—it’ll look better with age. Paired with a durable finish like Waterlox, it also resists daily wear in high-traffic areas like hallways and mudrooms.
Preparing and Rough Cutting the Boards
The project starts with preparing the lumber by rough cutting the boards to length and width. This stage helps avoid waste and allows for more flexibility when dialing in final dimensions.
Instead of using a jointer at every stage, Jon rough cuts parts first, flattens selectively, and avoids unnecessary steps. Care is taken to match the grain across pieces, especially on the seat and legs, where continuity enhances the final look.
Building the Legs and Assembling the Seat
The bench legs are constructed using biscuit joinery, which helps align parts while adding strength. Once glued and clamped, the joints create a sturdy structure capable of withstanding everyday use.
The seat is assembled by edge-gluing several boards together. Great care is taken to align the grain, minimizing visual seams and creating a unified surface. Once dried, the seat is shaped to fit the bench design and balanced with the overall proportions of the legs.
Braces and Joinery Techniques
After forming the seat and legs, attention turns to the braces, which strengthen the structure and prevent racking. Templates are used to trace and cut each brace consistently, ensuring a precise fit where the parts intersect.
Lap joints are incorporated throughout the build to increase durability without overcomplicating the process. These joints offer a strong mechanical connection while staying true to traditional Shaker methods.
Backrest Design and Shaping
The backrest adds comfort and completes the form of the bench. It’s cut with a subtle taper and shaped using a jig for accuracy, keeping the proportions light and balanced.
This component also reinforces the structure while offering a visual counterpoint to the straight seat and legs. It’s detailed without being ornate—a hallmark of Shaker design.
Sanding and Edge Treatments
Before final assembly, all parts are sanded thoroughly. Jon takes time to round over the edges using a router with a round-over bit. This softens the feel of the bench and removes sharp corners, making the bench more inviting to use.
Each piece is dry-fitted, sanded, and then disassembled for finish application. This approach ensures every surface is smooth and protected, even those that are hard to reach once glued together.
Applying the Finish
To protect the cherry and highlight the grain, Jon applies a finish of Waterlox. This oil-based formula enhances the color and provides long-lasting protection without hiding the wood’s natural character.
Over time, the finish will help the cherry deepen in tone and resist wear, especially in a high-use location. It’s a practical and beautiful choice for heirloom-quality furniture.
Why This Project Stands Out
This Shaker bench is more than a seating solution—it’s a connection to woodworking history. By following traditional forms and combining them with efficient modern techniques, Jon creates a piece that feels authentic but suits a contemporary home.
The design also leaves room for personalization. Builders can tweak the dimensions, wood choice, or finish to suit their own space or style. It’s a flexible yet structured project that builds real skill.
A Timeless Project for Any Woodworker
Jon’s thoughtful approach and clear process make this project approachable for intermediate woodworkers while still offering enough complexity to keep it interesting. From layout to final assembly, every step is purposeful and rooted in traditional craftsmanship.
Whether you’re furnishing a hallway, adding to an entry bench setup, or simply looking to build a piece that will be used every day, this Shaker bench is a rewarding build.
You can get Jon’s plans for this project here: https://jonpeters.com/products/shaker-bench-with-backrest.