Mudroom Update - The Bench

I always envisioned having a little bench where to sit to take my shoes off before getting inside the house. Ha, it took me a while to create that plan, but it's finally here! The building process for this bench is surprisingly easy and economical.

With all the cabinets already in place
.. shoe cabinet, cubbies and corner cabinet, it was about time to give this little build a go!

I used 3/4" plywood for the legs and top-base, 1 x 2 pine for the front of the legs and a 1x3 apron.
The bench top was made of poplar I bought a 1 x 10 x 10 board that was cut to size.

Here's the cutting list for this bench:
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1 - 3/4" plywood @ 14" x 42" (bench top base)
1 - 1 x 9 1/4" x 42" poplar (bench top)
1 - 1 x 5 1/2" x 42" mitered along side (bench top)
1 - 1 x 1 1/2" x 42" mitered along side (bench top - front)
3 - 3/4" plywood @ 14" x 16 1/2" height (legs)
3 - 1 x 2 pine @ 14" ( front of legs)
1 - 1 x 3 pine @ 42" (bench apron)

Tools & other materials you'll need:
Drill
 Brad Nailer with  1 1/2 brad nails
3 - 2 1/2" screws
3 - 1 1/4" wood screws
wood glue
wood stain of your choice / paint & primer


Directions

1. INSTALL THE LEGS

Given that I had an enclosed area for this bench, both exterior legs were secure first, to the studs on the wall using 2 1/2" screws and then to the cabinet using 1 1/4" wood screws.


Find the center of the bench top base plywood and attach the remaining leg there using 1 1/4" wood screws.

Bring that base/center leg and install it, driving 1 1/2" brad nails from the top to the to the bottom legs on both sides.

2. INSTALL THE FACE FRAME

Center the 1 x 2 on the front of the legs and set in place with brad nails. Install the apron above.

3. CUT AND INSTALL THE BENCH TOP

For the bench top I used a 1 x 10 x 10' poplar board. Both small front boards were mitered to give it the illusion of a single chunky board.

Before installing it I gave it a coat of Varathane white wash wood stain.

It was secured to the plywood base with 1 1/2" brad nails.
I then, went ahead and added a mini board and batten wall with 1 x 4 pine boards.

Oh, I used a sawdust and wood glue mix to cover the nail holes and gaps.

I was undecided about adding shiplap here. In the end I gave up and used it to get rid of left over 1/4" ply I've had for years!

The tedious part of this entire mudroom project has been the patching, sanding and painting.
Good thing Kilz primers are always a nice base for a well done paint job.

This is how it looked at the end of the day. 😍

 Here looking the other way.

The next part is building and installing the doors and making that empty wall on the right look like a cabinet.

Thanks for stopping by!

Check some previous projects in this little room:

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