How to Make a Cornered Storage Bench

Standard pine boards work well for benches.

A cornered storage bench is a unit that turns awkward corner space into a functional storage and sitting area. This project requires a little more concentration than other storage bench projects, because the bench needs to be able to fit in a corner while having an angled front. The angled front is at a 45-degree angle to the wall. Other than that, this project can be done in an afternoon with basic construction lumber and plywood, and it will not be very expensive.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• 2 Pine boards, 2-inch-by-4-inch-by-24-inch
• 2 Pine boards, 2-inch-by-4-inch-by-22 1/2-inch
• 2 Plywood sheets, 1/2-inch, 20-inch-by-24-inch
• Plywood, 1/2-inch, 20-inch-by-33 7/8-inch
• Plywood, 1/2-inch, 24-inch-by-24-inch
• Circular saw
• Screw gun
• 2 Hinges, with screws, 2-inch
• 22 Wood screws, 2 1/2-inch

Instructions

1. Lay a 24-inch board on edge and vertical. Lay a 22 1/2-inch board on edge perpendicularly to the end of the 24-inch board. Screw through the 24-inch board and into the 22 1/2-inch board so you have a right angle corner, with the ends of the boards to the corner measuring 24 inches. Repeat this process with the last 24-inch and 22 1/2-inch boards. Cut the ends of each of these boards at a 45-degree angle with your circular saw, without affecting the 24-inch length from the corner. If the boards were to stand on the ends with the corners off the ground, the angled cut should be able to lay flat.

2. Stand both pairs of boards on the ends that were cut. The boards should be parallel, and spaced so the outside edges are 20 inches apart. Screw the 20-inch-by-24-inch sheets of plywood to the boards that make the corner. The 24-inch edges of the plywood should be flush with the edges of the 24-inch, and 22 1/2-inch boards. These two pieces of plywood will fit against the corner of the wall. This is the frame to your cornered storage bench.

3. Lift the frame upright so the 2-by-4 boards are horizontal. Screw the 33 7/8 sheet of plywood to the angled ends of the 2-by-4 boards. The 20-inch side of this piece of plywood should be flush with the other sheets that were screwed in the last step. This is the front of your storage bench.

4. Cut the 24-by-24-inch sheet of plywood in half, from corner to corner. You should end up with two right triangles of equal sizes. These boards are the top and bottom to your bench. Match up one of these triangular pieces of plywood to the bench frame. Both 24-inch sides should be flush with the other plywood sheets. Screw this piece of plywood to the 2-by-4-inch boards. This will be the bottom of your storage bench.

5. Measure six inches from the 90-degree corner of the last triangular piece of plywood along both edges. Mark a line at this measurement. It should be parallel with the hypotenuse of the plywood. Cut along the line with your circular saw. You should have one triangular piece of plywood, and another piece that is a trapezoid shape. Position the triangular piece on the frame so the 90-degree corners of the plywood and frame are flush. Screw the piece of plywood at this location.

6. Screw two half hinges to the hypotenuse of the six-inch triangular piece of plywood. There should be one half hinge two inches from each end, and should be able to fold a full 270 degrees. Screw the other half hinges to the trapezoid shape plywood. This is the lid, and bench to you storage bench. When it is closed, all the edges should be flush.

References

• Luxuryhousingtrends: Corner Storage bench
• diynetwork: How to make a corner storage bench