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Outdoor Storage Bench - Vertical Slat Design

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Submitted by Ana White on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 12:50
Difficulty
Beginner
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DIY Outdoor storage bench - free plans by ANA-WHITE.com

Collections
Simple Modern Outdoor Collection
outdoor storage bench plans

What a great place to store pillows on a windy day! And I have a feeling this bench at my house would be full of sandbox toys, painted some bold color. I’m really loving this soothing blue.

Dimensions
storage bench plans dimensions
Overall Dimensions are shown above.

Preparation

Shopping List

15 – 1×4 Boards, 8′ Long

6 – 1×3 Boards, 8′ Long

2 – 1×2 Board, 8′ Long

2 Door Hinges for exterior use

Common Materials
1 1/4 inch screws
2 inch screws
1-1/4" Pocket Hole Screws
Elmer's Wood Glue
Elmer's Wood Filler
120 grit sandpaper
primer
paint
paint brush
Cut List

CUT LIST FOR SIDE PANELS

4 – 1×4 @ 20″ (Legs)

22 – 1×4 @ 17″ (Side Slats)

4 – 1×3 @ 45 1/2″ (Frame Boards, Top and Bottom)

4 – 1×2 @ 11 1/4″ (Frame Boards, Ends)

CUT LIST FOR END PANELS

12 – 1×4 @ 17″ (End Panel Slats)

4 – 1×3 @ 16 1/4″ (Frame for the ends)

4 – 1×3 @ 17 1/4″ (Frame for the tops and bottoms)

CUT LIST FOR THE BOTTOM

6 – 1×4 @ 47″ (Bottom)

CUT LIST FOR THE TOP

13 – 1×4 @ 23 3/4″ (Top Slats)

3 – 1×2 @ 45 1/2″ (Top Frame Supports)

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Hammer
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Kreg Jig
Drill
Circular Saw
Power Sander
General Instructions

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS I decided to break this plan down into sections because I know that you are probably a busy mom just like me and only have one naptime a day. I’m certain that you could build a panel a day, and have a bench by the weekend! Same rules apply when you build this bench, make sure you are using straight boards, working on a level surface that is clean (even a tiny bit of sawdust can throw you off). Make sure you check every panel for square as you are building it. To save you some time, round up a piece of 1/4″ plywood and use it as a spacer when screwing your slats down. Be safe and have fun!

Instructions

Step 1

1: SIDE PANELS
Build two side panels as shown above. The easiest way to do this would be to start with one of the legs. Mark the leg 1 1/2″ in (you could just use a 1×2 since it’s 1 1/2″ wide) from the outside. Then attach the pink board to the top corner, as shown above. The space a green board 1/4″ from the leg and attach to the pink board. For now, I would just use 1 screw. Attach all of the green boards and the remaining leg to the top pink board. Then carefully adjust all of the boards unitl the outside corners of the legs are square with each other. Then add the blue boards to the legs, and then the remaining pink boards. Go back and add more screws to the top frame board. Use 1 1/4″ screws and glue. Build two side panels.

Step 2

END PANELS
The end panels are going to be super simple. Start by screwing a blue board to a green board to create your ends. Then lay your all of the green boards down, including the two with the blue boards screwed to the tops, and lay the pink boards on top. Screw the pink boards to the green boards using 1 1/4″ screws and glue. Make sure you are checking for square and there is a 3/4″ gap under the bottom pink boards. All other outside edges are flush. You will need to construct two end panels.

Step 3

ASSEMBLY
When your panels are complete, attach the panels as shown above. Use 2″ screws and you can skip the glue if you plan to disassemble at some point.

Step 4

BOTTOM
Attach the bottom boards as shown above using 2″ screws. Use glue if you want a stronger more permanent joint, no glue if you wish to disassemble at some point.

Step 5

Step 6

FINISHING
You probably already finished the pieces (or at least each panel) so just add paintable silicone to any exposed screws or imperfections, lightly sand, and apply a touch up coat. You may also wish to spray on a clear coat for added protection from the elements.

Project Type
Bench
Room
Outdoor
Style
Modern Style Furniture Plans

Comments

Bethany (not verified)

Thu, 05/27/2010 - 16:43

Midwest cedar lumber prices(cedar, for outdoor usage):
1x4 $6
1x3 $5
1x2 $4
Everyone always asks about the price so I thought this would help to give an idea. The wood is about $130. Not bad compred to the W.E. price of $330!

Janae (not verified)

Sat, 05/29/2010 - 22:12

I just made the storage bench. I'll post picture on facebook after I finish painting it and add the hinges.

I just want to say that a few of the measurements on the cut list were wrong. Luckily, I like to go by the pictures (which were right) and measure as I go.

Also, it only cost me about $30-$40. I found a local recycling store. It's basically a cross between goodwill and lowes. It was an amazing discovery. They didn't have all the sizes, but what I got was cheap.

Ana White (not verified)

Mon, 05/31/2010 - 13:12

Janae, thanks for stopping back by to comment on the cut list errors. All fixed! And super smart to cut as you go, following the diagrams, I am definitely human! Ana

Mr. B (not verified)

Wed, 06/09/2010 - 08:01

Any thoughts on how to make this bench water tight?

GREAT site (in my best Tony the Tiger voice...).

Mary (not verified)

Sun, 06/20/2010 - 11:52

I agree with Mr. B. Any ways to make this water tight? We get A LOT of rain and it is always a downer to have to sit on a wet cushion.

JJennings (not verified)

Sat, 09/04/2010 - 14:42

When I was pregnant with our first son, I got my husband to build something very similar to this for babyproofing the cat's litterbox. He built it with a solid plywood bottom, and he made a opening for a door in the back panel. We positioned it about 5-6 inches away from the wall and put the litterbox, extra litter, scooper, etc inside. The cat walks around to the back and enters to take care of business. Our oldest is now 7, and we are still using the box because it hides everything so well.

jphiggins2

Mon, 05/02/2011 - 21:40

what a great idea to use this for the litter boxes! I have been trying to come up with something to keep my dogs out of the 'all you can eat buffet' as my husband calls it.