Cube Drawer Bench

Difficulty
Intermediate
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A drawer bench to tidy up entryways and children's room. Think outside the entryway - bathrooms, reading nooks or even nightstands!

Thank you Jules for requesting this plan on our Community.  With the addition of these plans, I believe our Cube Collection is complete!

 

I love this!  So simple, yet functional.  I love the nice big roomy drawer too!

Like all of the plans that I design, this collection is based off standard with boards.  The base is built by what we will call a 1x18 (actually a project board 18" wide, 3/4" thick) but you can with no other modification substitute in a wider or narrower width board.  For example, let's say you want to make three of these and want to use plywood.  What you could do is cut your plywood into 1x16s (15 1/2" wide strips 8' long) to get three strips out of one sheet of plywood.  Then simply use 1x16s instead of 1x18s.  How cool is that?

Even the drawer bottom works with this idea - it's a 1x18.  And because the drawer is deeper, you will need to use side mount drawer slides.

Preparation

Shopping List

1 set of 18″ drawer slides
10′ of 1×18 Boards
2 – 1×2 Boards, 8′ Long
1 - 1×10, 6′ Long
25 1/4″ of 1×12 Board
1/4″ Plywood
2 Drawer Pulls
2″ Screws or Nails
1 1/4″ Screws or Nails
Wood Glue and Finishing Supplies

Cut List

2 – 1×18 @ 27″ (Bench Box Top and Bottom)
2 – 1×18 14 3/4″ (Bench Box Sides)
2 – 1×2 @ 18″ (Drawer Slide Supports)
4 – 1×2 @ 18 1/4″ (Legs)
4 – 1×2 @ 25 1/2″ (Trim)
1 – 1/4″ Plywood @ 14 3/4″ x 28 1/2″ (Back)
2 – 1×10 @ 18″ (Drawer Sides)
1 – 1×18 @ 23″ (Drawer Bottom)
1 – 1×10 @ 24 1/2″ (Drawer Back)
1 – 1×12 @ 25 1/4″ (Drawer Face)

Cutting Instructions

Please be aware that this drawer bench uses a standard 1x12 as a drawer face. The width we use for 1x12s is 11 1/2" wide (saves waste when ripping your own from plywood) and you should always measure your 1x12s and adjust accordingly to ensure an even 1/8" gap around door fronts.

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Hammer
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Kreg Jig
Circular Saw
Power Sander
Drill Bit Set

Instructions

Step 1

Bench Box

Build the bench box as shown above. Prefered method is pocket hole screws and glue. But if you don’t have pocket hole screws, this bench is fully framed, so finish nails or countersunk screws will do just fine. Use 2″ fasteners and glue. Check for square. With any drawer, you need to be very very square or your drawer will stick.

Step 2

Drawer Slide Supports

Consult your drawer slides to about placement. These 1x2s are simply spacers to put your drawer slide inside the face frame.

Step 3

Legs

Attach the legs to the front and back of the bench, tops flush. Make sure you also fasten to the drawer slide supports. Use 2″ finish nails or screws and glue. If you have a Kreg Jig™, build your frame first, then attach the entire frame with finish nails.

Step 4

Trim

Trim out the tops and bottoms of the bench as shown above. TIP: Cut your trim to the actual measurement for an exact fit.

Step 5

Step 6

Drawer

Begin to build the drawer by attaching the sides to the bottom as shown above.

Step 7

Drawer Back

Attach the drawer back to the drawer. Make sure you screw into the bottom and sides. Use 2″ screws and glue, or 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws.

Step 8

Drawer Slides

Attach the drawer to the bench with drawer slides. Notice how the drawer is fully inserted into the box.

Step 9

Drawer Face

With the drawer fully pushed into the box, lay the face on the drawer. Center the face on the opening and use 2″ finish nails to secure in place. Add hardware.

Comments

Heather C (not verified)

Tue, 09/28/2010 - 03:31

Hi! I love this plan, but am a little confused. Is the plan for the hutch part of it on the site somewhere? I really would love to build this, but couldn't find the hutch plans. Thanks!

Dec (not verified)

Wed, 09/29/2010 - 02:59

I am having a very hard time finding 1" x 18" boards. Are these usually a special order? Or is there another way asking for them. The store closest says they don't carry them and want close to $30 for 6' b/c they have to order it. Am I missing something? Anyone else having a hard time?

markw

Thu, 03/15/2012 - 13:20

If I were to make this a trundle instead of a drawer (like the 20 second cleanup table) would it still support the bookcase? If I made the back a solid piece would it provide the support it neeeds? My kids like to bring toys from one bedroom to the other. If I could make the lower unit a trundle, it would give them just the tool to do that!

Latasha (not verified)

Sat, 07/21/2012 - 20:28

I am going to use this in my master closet, right in the center with clothing rods off either side for a 'his & hers' side of the closets. This will be nice having a drawer for some misc. things that wind up in there and the bench part is perfect for putting on shoes in the morning.
Thanks for your amazing plans!