By special request, here are DIY plans for an extra tall storage bench. Sitting at 28″ tall this “bench” is a good 10″ taller than a standard storage bench (look for those plans in the near future), and slightly shorter than a console or sofa table. It is specifically designed to sit under a window and provides a good deal of storage with the drop-down front door.
If you have any questions or feedback about these plans, please send us a note using the comments section down below.
Materials Needed
- 1 sheet – 3/4″ plywood, 4′ x 4′
- 1 sheet – 1/2″ plywood, 4′ x 4′
- 1 sheet – 1/4″ plywood, 4′ x 4′
- 1 sheet – 1/4″ beadboard, 4′ x 4′
- 3 – 1 1/2″ x 1/2″ @ 8′
- 2 – 1×2 @ 8′
- 1 – 2″ base trim @ 8′
- 2 – cup drawer pulls
- 2 – pivot hinges
- 2 – soft-down drop front supports
- 2 – magnetic door catches
Tools Needed
- Table saw or circular saw and guide
- Miter saw or miter sled for your table saw
- Nail gun
- Drill / Driver combo
- Kreg jig (optional)
- Quick clamps
- Square
- Tape measure
- Wood glue
Step 1: Build the base
We’re going to start building this tall storage bench by cutting a piece of 3/4″ plywood down to 46 1/2″ x 16 3/4″. From the same 3/4″ plywood, we’re also going to cut two 1 1/4″ wide pieces at each of the following lengths: 45″, 17 1/4″, and 15 1/4″.
The two 17 1/4″ pieces should be attached on the edges of the plywood, flush with the front edge and extending past the back edge by 1/2″. The two 45″ pieces will run along the front and back edges, while the two 15 1/4″ pieces will be attached about 16″ in from each side. For attaching the pieces, use wood glue and either pocket hole screws from underneath or 1 1/2″ wood screws from the top down. If screwing from the top down, you should pre-drill the holes with a countersink bit. You’ll need to fill these holes later during finishing.
Step 2: Build the side panels
The next pieces we need to build are the two side panels. Both of these panels are constructed in the same manner, so cut twice as many pieces as you see in the diagrams below.
We’ll start by cutting the 16 1/2″ x 24 1/2″ backers from 1/4″ plywood. Then cut the 1 1/2″ x 1/2″ stock down to 14 1/4″ for the top and bottom pieces, and 24 1/2″ for the back side trim. For the front side trim you’ll need to cut the piece down to 24 1/2″ in length, and then rip it down to 3/4″ wide. Once your trim pieces are cut, glue and pin nail them to the plywood backer.
Next, cut your beadboard to 14 1/4″ x 21 1/2″ in size. Pay attention to the direction of the beadboard! The piece of beadboard you just cut should fit perfectly inside the frame you just built. Use glue and pin nails to attach it to the backer.
OPTIONAL: At this point, you can also add 1/4″ trim to the inside edges of the frame to hide any gaps between the beadboard and the frame. The trim can add a decorative touch as well.
Step 3: Add the sides and front stiles
Now that you’ve built the sides, let’s add the front stiles and attach these to the base. The stiles are each simple 24 1/2″ pieces of 1×2. Use wood glue and finish nails to attach to the stiles to the sides.
For attaching to the base, you have a few options. The first is to use pocket hole screws from the inside of each side piece, down into the base. The second option is to pre-drill holes through the base supports and base up into the side and use 3 1/2″ wood screws. This option requires you to ensure you are drilling at 90° or you will poke through the plywood. The last option is to use biscuits or a doweling jig to hide the fasteners. In all three options, you definitely want to use a sufficient amount of wood glue to form the lasting bond between the pieces.
Step 4: Add the divider
The divider is a 24 1/2″ by 16″ piece of 1/2″ plywood. You’ll need to recess the front edge of the divider in from the front edge by 3/4″ – which means it will be flush with the back edge of the base. Fasten it from underneath , ensuring to use wood glue as well. Note, it is easiest to do this by laying the unit on it’s face and using a piece of 1×2 as a 3/4″ spacer between the table top and the divider.
Step 5: Top and back of your tall storage bench
To make this entire unit stable, attach the top which is made from 3/4″ plywood. Use wood glue and finish nails to avoid large holes to fill later. Alternatively, you could use a pocket hole screws from underneath.
The backer is made from 1/2″ plywood and needs to be glued and nailed all along the edges, as well as down the middle into the back of the divider. This means the bottom row of nails will be driven in from the back, into the base support. The ones down the middle are also driven in from the back. The sides and top are driven in from the outside into the edge of the backer.
Step 6: Trim and top rails
Now that the frame of this tall storage bench is complete, it’s time to dress it up a bit. Start by using 1×2 stock for the frame around the top, miter cutting the corners at 45°. Then rip some 1×2 stock down to about 3/4″ x 1″ to make the railings around the top. A nice extra detail is to round over the front corners. Then miter cut your base trim and attach that as well. All of these trim pieces should be attached using wood glue and finish nails.
Step 7: Build and attach the door
The last piece you need to build for this tall storage bench is the door. This is almost an exact repeat of the sides, just at a larger scale. Use 1/4″ plywood for the backer, and 3/4″ x 1 1/2″ stock for the frame. Then glue and pin nail in the beadboard.
Once your door is assembled, add handles where you find them visually appealing. This is usually about 1/3 of the way down the door (about 8″ from the top), and each about 1/3 of the way in from the sides (about 13″). Attach the door using the pivot hinges and the soft drop-down supports. Notice, you’ll most likely need to add a piece of 3/4″ blocking to attach the drop-down supports to the cabinet frame. A scrap piece of plywood should be fine for this, or you can use some of the scrap 1×2.
Now that your tall storage bench construction is complete you just need to give it a good coat of paint and it is ready to use! If you do build one of these tall storage benches from our plans, we’d love to see the finished product and hear how the build went. Share some pics with us through our Submit Your Build page.
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