Storage Bench

Difficulty Rating: ** (one asterisk is least difficult, four asterisks is most difficult)

The seat opens up to reveal ample storage space for in-line skates, bats, balls, and helmets. It may be the best seat in the house for parents weary of picking up (or driving over) expensive toys and equipment.

If you lack a garage or have one that's sited away from your house, this weather-resistant bench pinch-hits beautifully as a holding bin for sports equipment, gardening tools, or other items that your family uses frequently.

Our bench is 5 feet long and 40 inches tall. A more compact 4-foot-long version is also shown on the plans.

Built with pressure-treated pine and painted with exterior house paint, this bench will stand up to weather extremes if you keep it in a protected location, such as under an eave or on a porch. Place plastic storage tubs with lids inside the storage space to give extra protection from dampness.

For the antique finish shown here, slightly dilute exterior latex paint with water. Rub a thin coat of mixture onto the wood with a cloth or sponge, and then gently rub the surface with a clean cloth, allowing the natural wood grain to show through.

This plan is available via e-mail as a printable PDF. To order send a $4 check made payable to Southern Living Projects and your e-mail address to: Storage Bench Project, Southern Living Projects, P.O. Box 11407, Lockbox 1014, Birmingham, AL 35246-1014. If you prefer to receive a copy by regular mail, include a self-addressed, stamped (with two first-class, letter-rate stamps), business-size envelope with your check. Allow four to six weeks for delivery.

If you have any questions concerning project plans, please send us an e-mail.