DIY Mudroom Storage Cubby Plans

Family HandymanFamily HandymanUpdated: Mar. 21, 2023



Cure back-door chaos!

FH16SEP_ENTORG_01-2Family Handyman
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Time

Multiple Days

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

$101–250

Introduction

If you would love to have a mudroom but just don't have the space, this compact bench and shoe shelf may be exactly what you need. Mount it near the garage service door and you'll have a convenient spot to remove and store your shoes or boots before going inside. There's even a hollow bench with a flip-up lid to store your hats and gloves.

Tools Required

  • Circular saw
  • Clamps
  • Drill bit set
  • Drill/driver - cordless
  • Hacksaw
  • Large Square
  • Level
  • Tape measure

The hinged lid on this storage cubby provides easy access to the compartment under the seat. It’s a perfect place to store hats, gloves and all kinds of other small stuff.

Project step-by-step (9)

Step 1

Cut the Parts

  • Cut the boards to length, following the Cutting List.
    • Pro tip: Running your circular saw along a large square ensures straight, square cuts. Parts F, G and N also have to be ripped to width. You can do this with your circular saw or on a table saw.
  • Sand the lumber with 100-grit sandpaper to remove any marks and smooth out any ripples left from the milling process.
    • Pro tip: A random orbital sander works great for this, but you could hand-sand if you don’t own a power sander.

Step 2

Mount the Seat Hinge

  • Clamp the lid and the back rail together as shown below.
  • Center the hinge on the two lid parts and attach it with four screws, two on each end.
  • Drill 5/64-in. pilot holes and drive in the remaining screws.

Step 3

Install the Shelf Standards

  • Cut each of the 72-in. shelf standards into two 34-3/4 in. pieces using a hacksaw.
  • Measure from the ends to the centers to retain factory ends on each piece.
    • Note: We spray-painted the standards to match the finish.

Step 4

Install Temporary Support

  • Locate the wall studs with a stud finder and mark them with strips of masking tape.
  • Install a 1×2 ledger with the top edge 7-1/2 in. above the floor to support the shelves and seat while you install them.

Step 5

Install the First Shelf Unit

  • Rest the shelf on the ledger.
  • Drive a screw through the top hanging strip into a stud.
  • Use a level to make sure the sides of the shelf unit are plumb.
    • Note: If necessary, push the bottom one way or the other to plumb the sides.
  • Drive a screw through the lower hanging strip into a stud to secure the shelf unit.

Step 6

Install the Coat-Hook Shelf

  • Screw the coat-hook shelf to the studs, making sure it’s level.
  • Level the shelf from front to back and attach it to the side of the tall shelf with 1-1/4-in. screws.
  • Attach the opposite side after you’ve installed the second shelf unit.

Step 7

Mount the Bench

  • Rest a scrap of 1×4 spacer on top of the temporary ledger to elevate the bench to the correct height.
  • Set the bench on the spacer.
  • Drive screws through the back of the bench into the studs.

Step 8

Connect the Bench and Shelf

  • Use two-part connector bolts to connect the front of the bench to the shelves on each side.
    • Pro tip: Connect the second side later, after the second shelf is mounted) These bolts provide more support than screws to ensure the bench will be safe to sit on. The bolts we used required two Allen wrenches to tighten.

Step 9

Finish Up with the Second Tall Shelf

  • Rest the second shelf unit on the ledger and tip it up into place.
  • Attach it to the wall by driving 3-in. screws through the top and bottom hanging strips and into the stud.
  • Connect the bench with the connector bolts and attach the other side of the upper shelf with 1-1/4-in. screws.

Additional Information

Figure A: Materials & Cutting List

Originally Published: June 20, 2017