Step by step project about garden storage bench plans. Building a wooden storage bench for your garden is easy, but your need to plan everything from the beginning. You can adjust the size or the design of the storage bench, as to fit your needs, but you can always use the carpentry techniques described in this article. Don’t forget to apply a few coats of exterior paint to the bench, if you want to protect it from decay.

There are a few aspects you should take into account when building this bench, especially if you want to get a professional result. From our experience, you should use weather-resistant lumber, such as redwood, cedar or pine. In addition, always drill pilot holes before inserting the wood screws and add glue to the joints, if you want to reinforce the rigidity of the structure.

Building a garden storage bench

Building a storage bench

Materials

• 1 – 6 pieces of 1×6 – 15”, 2 pieces of 1×6 – 35″ LEGS
• 2 – 4 pieces of 1×6 – 46 1/2”, 4 pieces of 1×6 – 19 3/4″ FRAME
• 3 – 2 pieces of 2×2 – 45″, 9 pieces of 1×6 – 19 3/4″ BOTTOM
• 4 – 1 piece of 1×6 – 46 1/2″, 3 pieces of 1×6 – 48″, 2 pieces of 1×4 – 15″ LID
• 5 – 1 piece of 1×4 – 48″, 1 piece of 1×6 – 48″ BACK SUPPORT  

• 10 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 8 ft
• 1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
• 1 piece of 1×4 lumber – 8 ft
• wood glue, stain/paint

Tools

• Hammer, Tape measure, Carpentry square
• Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander, Router
• Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses, Respiratory Mask

Time

• One Hour

Garden Storage Bench Plans

Building the frame of the bench

The first step of the project is to assemble the frame of the garden storage bench. As you can easily notice in the plans, you should leave about 4″ from the bottom to the frame of the bench. Use 1×6 slats to build the frame, making sure they are perfectly straight and in a good condition.

PRO TIP: We strongly recommend you to check if the corners are right-angled, using a good carpentry square, before continuing the assembly.

Building the side legs

Continue the woodworking project by attaching the slats to the legs of the garden bench. In order to get a professional result, you should drill pilot holes trough the slats and insert 1 1/4″ galvanized screws int the legs. In addition, don’t forget to countersink the head of the screws.

Installing the bottom

Attaching the bottom of the garden storage bench is not difficult, if the right plans and tools are used. Therefore, attach 2×2 cleats at the bottom of the frame and lock them to the frame with 2″ wood screws, after drilling pilot holes.

PRO TIP: Attach the 1×6 slats to the cleats and secure them with 1 1/4″ wood screws. Make sure you don’t leave any gaps between the slats and you add glue to enhance the bond of the components.

Installing the lid

The next step is to build the lid of the storage bench. In order to get the job done accurately, you should attach a 1×6 slat at the back of the bench. Afterwards, build the lid using 1×6 slats and 1×4 supports. Fit the lid into place and secure it to the back component with several metal hinges, making sure it open easily.

Fitting the back supports

Building the back of the bench is not difficult, but it can be done in more ways. On one hand, you could use wooden slats and attach them to the back legs. Alternatively, you could round the slats or give them a more decorative look, using a jigsaw.

Garden storage bench plans

Last but not least, you should take care of the finishing touches. Therefore, we recommend you to check if the components are locked into place properly and if the frame is rigid. Make sure there are no protruding screws or sharp edges. Moreover, the components should be installed properly, making sure there are no gaps between the slats.

PRO TIP: Fill the holes with a good wood filler and smooth the surface with 120-grit sandpaper. Apply several coats of paint or stain over the components, in order to protect them from decay. See all furniture plans, as well.

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