This storage bench is perfect for an entryway or even at the foot of your bed. It's inspired by a metal and wood storage bench from Crate and Barrel, but can be built for under $100. The shelf underneath is a great place to store your shoes and the lid opens up to provide plenty of storage for blankets, books, board games, etc. Download the printable plans that go along with this project for the detailed materials and cut list.
Build the legs for each end of the bench. Drill 3/4” pocket holes into the 1x2 boards and 1 1/2” pocket holes into the 14 1/4” 2x2 boards. Apply wood glue to the ends of the 1x2 and 2x2 boards. Attach the 1x2 boards with 1 1/4” pocket screws and the 2x2 boards with 2 1/2” pocket screws.
Drill 1 1/2” pocket holes into the ends of the 14 1/4” 2x2 boards. Apply wood glue to the ends and clamp in place. Attach with 2 1/2" pocket screws. *Sand all of the assembled leg pieces and paint.
Build the side and end panels. Drill 3/4” pocket holes into one edge of each of the 1x3 boards, both edges of the 1x4 boards, and each end of all of the boards. Attach the boards with wood glue and 1 1/4” pocket screws.
Drill 3/4” pocket holes into each end and edge of all of the boards that make up the bottom panel. Glue up and clamp the edges of the boards and attach with 3/4” pocket screws.
Glue up the edges of the boards that make up the lid and clamp together. Apply glue to 1x2 boards and evenly space on the lid, leaving 1 3/8” spacing on each end of the 1x2s and spacing them 13” apart. Attach to the lid with 1 1/4” wood screws. *Stain and finish all of the panels, lid, and 1x2 boards that make up the bottom shelf of the bench.
Attach the ends of the panels to the legs using the predrilled pocket holes and 1 1/4” pocket screws.
Clamp the front and back panels, then attach with 1 1/4” pocket screws.
Flip the bench over onto it’s top. Set the bottom panel in place so that it is inset and flush with the bottom edge of the side panels. Clamp in place and attach on all four sides with 1 1/4” pocket screws.
Mark the location of the center legs, based on the diagram above. Glue and clamp the legs in place, then flip the bench over. Mark the center location of the legs from the inside of the bench (20”). Drill 2” screws through the bottom panel into the legs to secure them to the bench.
To attach the 1x2 boards on the bottom, begin by attaching the boards flush against the front and back legs of the bench. Apply a dot of glue at each of the contact points for the boards and nail into place on each end with 1 1/4” brad nails.
Once the front and back boards are in place, evenly space the remaining boards between them (approximately 5/8” spacing). Glue and nail in place on each end. Once the boards are in place, flip the bench over and drill 2” screws into the underside of the middle leg support to secure them in place in the middle.
Attach the lid with 2 1/2” hinges. The hinges can be attached directly to the top edge of the rear panel, or a chisel can be used to carve a mortise into the edge to allow the lid to sit more flush against the rear edge of the bench. Measure and mark 6” in from each end of the bench for hinge placement.
This storage bench is perfect for an entryway or even at the foot of your bed. It's inspired by a metal and wood storage bench from Crate and Barrel, but can be built for under $100. The shelf underneath is a great place to store your shoes and the lid opens up to provide plenty of storage for blankets, books, board games, etc. Download the printable plans that go along with this project for the detailed materials and cut list.
Build the legs for each end of the bench. Drill 3/4” pocket holes into the 1x2 boards and 1 1/2” pocket holes into the 14 1/4” 2x2 boards. Apply wood glue to the ends of the 1x2 and 2x2 boards. Attach the 1x2 boards with 1 1/4” pocket screws and the 2x2 boards with 2 1/2” pocket screws.
Drill 1 1/2” pocket holes into the ends of the 14 1/4” 2x2 boards. Apply wood glue to the ends and clamp in place. Attach with 2 1/2" pocket screws. *Sand all of the assembled leg pieces and paint.
Build the side and end panels. Drill 3/4” pocket holes into one edge of each of the 1x3 boards, both edges of the 1x4 boards, and each end of all of the boards. Attach the boards with wood glue and 1 1/4” pocket screws.
Drill 3/4” pocket holes into each end and edge of all of the boards that make up the bottom panel. Glue up and clamp the edges of the boards and attach with 3/4” pocket screws.
Glue up the edges of the boards that make up the lid and clamp together. Apply glue to 1x2 boards and evenly space on the lid, leaving 1 3/8” spacing on each end of the 1x2s and spacing them 13” apart. Attach to the lid with 1 1/4” wood screws. *Stain and finish all of the panels, lid, and 1x2 boards that make up the bottom shelf of the bench.
Attach the ends of the panels to the legs using the predrilled pocket holes and 1 1/4” pocket screws.
Clamp the front and back panels, then attach with 1 1/4” pocket screws.
Flip the bench over onto it’s top. Set the bottom panel in place so that it is inset and flush with the bottom edge of the side panels. Clamp in place and attach on all four sides with 1 1/4” pocket screws.
Mark the location of the center legs, based on the diagram above. Glue and clamp the legs in place, then flip the bench over. Mark the center location of the legs from the inside of the bench (20”). Drill 2” screws through the bottom panel into the legs to secure them to the bench.
To attach the 1x2 boards on the bottom, begin by attaching the boards flush against the front and back legs of the bench. Apply a dot of glue at each of the contact points for the boards and nail into place on each end with 1 1/4” brad nails.
Once the front and back boards are in place, evenly space the remaining boards between them (approximately 5/8” spacing). Glue and nail in place on each end. Once the boards are in place, flip the bench over and drill 2” screws into the underside of the middle leg support to secure them in place in the middle.
Attach the lid with 2 1/2” hinges. The hinges can be attached directly to the top edge of the rear panel, or a chisel can be used to carve a mortise into the edge to allow the lid to sit more flush against the rear edge of the bench. Measure and mark 6” in from each end of the bench for hinge placement.
