Thanks so much for all of the wonderful comments! It's amazing how much mileage I got from a $3.00 quart of mismatched paint I picked up at Lowe's this spring! But, the potting bench finished it off. All of the gingerbread, etc. were pieces we've taken off of other things and the two round pieces on the top are actually the metal ends from a commercial gift paper roll...I'm looking forward to using it! I think I'll take the suggestion and start some seedlings! And, Kath...your potting bench is awesome too!

Several years ago I was lucky enough to get a shed-your basic barn-type, but I was so thrilled! One of the first things we did was brainstorm on a bench for the inside. I don't have a picture & it's too dark now, but here are a few features we used to make it SOOOOO useful. Height-if you've spent years planting & potting on the kitchen table, your back knows what I mean. The correct height for you makes all the difference! From the ground up: I got 3 plastic storage totes with lids that fit just right lined up side by side on the floor of the shed between the frame of the bench. These hold my potting mix, compost & such-I just slide them out to access them & slide them back. I think this would also work outside if you find them without a concave lid (don't want to breed those skeeters!) Above this is a shelf, not a terribly high space, but perfect for some pots, tools, row cover-you get the idea! On top is the top. It extends 3-4" in front of the frame so that after potting you can just pull your tote forward & sweep the fallen soil back in-easy & tidy! The front edge of the frame being in back of the surface gives you a conveinient place to drive a couple of nails to hold your brush to sweep the dirt with, a dustpan if you need to dispose of the debris, a flyswatter, or anything you'd like to have ready at hand. Since it's inside a shed with exposed studs, we notched out the rear side of the top to fit around the studs to prevent stuff from falling down behind the bench! Another cheap tip-2 screw eyes & a piece of dowel that slides into them makes a dandy paper towel holder! Mine was built of mostly used wood, topped with old rubber conveyor belting & while it is totally functional & not as pretty as some of those you've done, these are features that you could use even on the cuter ones!

You did a great job. I love the color!

I had a 'store bought' potting bench. Was given to me by my DH at the time as a gift for some occasion I no longer remember. It came from Costco, had both upper and lower shelves, hooks for hanging tools and a slidable plastic bucket that slotted underneath the table surface (with a grated insert) that excess potting soil could be collected in. Of course way too tall to be able to sit at and work :-) It was really nice looking but I found I seldom used it for the purpose intended. If I did a lot of seed starting or upsizing of starts and seedlings, perhaps. But the containers I use are too large and too heavy to be adaptable to lifting up and down off the bench. And no room to store even a reasonable amount of potting soil. I prefer to sit when potting up containers as well and just use a lawn chair to do so. I store my potting soils in large plastic storage tubs and just haul out the one I am using as needed. If I do need a table/bench, I just use my patio table - no potting bench required. If a bench really is required or desired - and I'd consider that very seriously - then I agree that one would not be hard to build from all the countless free online plans available with just basic carpentry skills (although you can get decent premade ones for far less than $500!!). But despite my buying him - at his request - every power tool known to mankind, my ex was particularly inept and there is no way he could have pulled that off successfully. btw, I sold my bench, quite weathered from maybe 10 years exposed to the elements, when I sold my house and downsized. So if you decide it is unnecessary and not as useful as imagined down the road, a well-made one is highly recyclable.