DIY Furniture Plans to Build an Easy Storage Bench

A Super-Easy Bench with Storage

This is the easiest of all benches to build… The DIY furniture plans to build an easy storage bench feature a drawer under the seat with a shelf below. The bench is also easy to customize if you’d prefer a longer bench. The drawer front features an oval-shaped cut out to act as a handle, and the drawer box will be visible behind it.

The DIY furniture plans to build an easy storage bench are a great weekend project suitable for all skill levels!

Materials:

• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws (<– affiliate link!)
• 1-1/4″ screws
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• 1-3/4″ brad nails
• 1 set of 16″ drawer slides
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper (100, 150, 220 grits)
• Finishing supplies (primer & paint, or stain, sealer)

Tools Needed:

• Table saw
• Miter saw
• Drill
• Pocket hole jig
• Pneumatic brad nailer with compressor
• 1″ Paddle bit or hole saw
• Jigsaw
• Sander
• Drawer slide jig (optional)

Lumber:

• 3 – 1×2 at 8′
• 2 – 1×4 at 4′
• 1 – 1×8 at 4′
• 4 – 1×10 at 6′
• 1 – 2′ x 4′ sheet of 1/4″ plywood

Cut List:

• 4 – 1×10 at 17-1/4″ – Sides
• 2 – 1×2 at 15-1/2″ – Lower Shelf Supports
• 2 – 1×2 at 33-1/2″ – Lower Stretchers
• 2 – 1×10 at 33-1/2″ – Lower Shelf
• 2 – 1×10 at 33-1/2″ – Drawer Shelf
• 2 – 1×2 at 15-1/2″ – Upper Shelf Supports
• 2 – 1×2 at 33-1/2″ – Upper Stretchers
• 2 – 1×10 at 36″ – Top
• 1 – 1/4″ plywood at 6-3/4″ x 34-1/4″ – Back
• 2 – 1×4 at 16″ – Drawer Box Sides
• 2 – 1×4 at 31″ – Drawer Box Front & Back
• 1 – 1/4″ plywood at 15″ x 31-1/2″ – Drawer Box Bottom
• 1 – 1×8 (ripped to 5-3/4″ wide) at 33-1/4″ – Drawer Front

Click on the drawings for a larger view.

Step One

Cut the pieces for the sides. With the pocket hole jig set for 3/4″ material, drill pocket holes along on long edge of two of the pieces. Secure the pieces with pocket holes to the pieces without pocket holes using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the lower shelf supports. Secure the supports to the lower end of the sides using glue and 1-1/4″ screws.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the lower stretchers. Secure the lower stretchers to the lower shelf supports using glue and 1-1/4″ screws.

Step Four

Cut the pieces for the lower shelf. Drill pocket holes along one long edge of one piece. Secure the pieces together using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Secure the shelf to the shelf supports and the lower stretchers using glue and 1-3/4″ brad nails.

Step Five

Cut the pieces for the shelf and drill pocket holes along one long edge of one piece. Secure the pieces together using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Drill pocket holes in the side edges and secure the shelf to the sides using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Six

Cut the pieces for the upper shelf supports. Secure the supports to the upper end of the sides using glue and 1-1/4″ screws.

Secure the upper stretchers to the ends of the upper shelf supports using glue and 1-1/4″ screws.

Step Seven

Cut the pieces for the top and drill pocket holes along one long edge of one piece. Secure the pieces together using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Secure the top to the sides, supports and stretchers using glue and 1-3/4″ brad nails. The top will overhang by 1/2″ at the sides.

Step Eight

Cut the piece for the back of the drawer section. Secure the back in place using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Step Nine

Cut the pieces for the drawer box sides, front and back. Cut the groove in the bottom edge of each piece at 1/4″ wide by 1/4″ deep using a table saw or a router and a straight bit. Set the pocket hole jig for 3/4″ material and drill pocket holes in each end of the drawer box front and back pieces on the opposite side as the groove. Make sure that the pocket holes will not interfere with the groove. Secure the sides to the back using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step Ten

Cut the piece for the drawer bottom. Slide the bottom into the grooves in the sides and back. The piece should fit snugly but not too tight.

Step Eleven

Insert the front edge of the drawer box bottom into the groove on the drawer box front. Secure the drawer box front to the drawer box sides using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. Install the drawer slides according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions locating them ¾” back from the front edge of the sides.

Step Twelve

Cut the piece for the drawer front. Mark the position of the handle and drill the 1″ holes using a hole saw or paddle bit. Shim the drawer front in the opening and secure in place using glue and 1-1/4″ brad nails. Open the drawer and secure the drawer front from the inside using 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Finish as desired.

Before adding the drawer front, the center front of the drawer box can be painted a different color so that it shows where the handle on the drawer front is located! Have any questions about the DIY furniture plans to build an easy storage bench? Leave a comment below!

Originally posted 2016-01-22 08:34:29.