12 Fabulous & Functional DIY Storage Benches

One of the biggest problems anyone with a small home (ok, just anyone!) has is having enough storage space. When the footprint of your home is already limited, the last thing you want to do is add more furniture! A great solution for us is to replace existing pieces with those that pull double duty. These DIY storage bench projects will give you more seating, (we ALL need that!) and more storage space at the same time. Don’t just think of these as a great piece for the entryway…  you can use them at your dining table, in a kid’s room, at the foot of the bed, on the covered porch… Yes, and the entry! Ok DIY’ers, go! Or, call the hubby, the wife, or the DIY’er in the fam… whatever gets the job done!

 

 

 

DIY Storage Bench Tutorials

 

DIY Storage Bench – Ikea Knock Offs

Our first project is an Ikea no-sew window bench with storage tutorial from Jill at ‘Mommy Vignettes‘. I love this project because it doesn’t take lots of construction, and you can customize it to your room, like she did! The bottom photo is from her girl’s room, and the top one from her living room. Great step by step instructions too!

 

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Another Ikea window bench knock off… This Ikea DIY window seat is from Ruth at ‘Windmill Words‘. This is an easy DIY storage bench as well, and the Ikea piece they used as a base already has drawers!

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DIY Storage Bench – Entry

We love Beckie at ‘Infarrantly Creative‘… she always has such great projects! This farmhouse storage bench with weathered finish has room for storage underneath, and is cool enough for a vintage style home, all the way through to the most contemporary space… Love!

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Beckie used a plan from Ana White for her farmhouse DIY bench, above, and here is another great project from Ana! Heather made this DIY spa bench from Ana’s plans. Get Ana’s book, “The Handbuilt Home“. (Nope, we get nothing for recommending that, before you ask… We just LOVE Ana!)

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This flip top storage bench from ‘Ana White‘ is a beginner building project. Her free plans estimate the finished cost at just $65… You couldn’t touch this bench for that in any store!

DIY Storage Benches

 

DIY Storage Bench- Bedroom

Vivian at ‘Ish and Chi‘ has a quick and easy tutorial for her Ikea window bench seat with storage. I love this project because they made the whole unit look like a built in by using the drawers on each side… Great design idea!

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From ‘Easy DIY‘ in NZ, make this DIY storage bench with drawers from scratch with their tutorial. For those of us in the US, “supawood” is the equivalent to our MDF board… Yes, I did have to look it up. 🙂

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DIY Storage Bench- Kitchen

Mimi at ‘Blue Roof Cabin‘ turned a salvaged door into a dining room banquette! With storage! Click through to see her detailed tutorial on how she did it… great project for a small kitchen breakfast area!

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DIY Storage Bench – Small Spaces Around the House

Make a mini office in a chest with these instructions from ‘Martha‘. This is a great way to multipurpose a DIY storage bench in a small space!

DIY Storage Benches

 

Need a little inspiration for a bench with storage? ‘Cozy Cottage Cute‘ used a store bought bench, and just added basket storage underneath! Makes it a lot simpler, don’t ya think?

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Ok, this last one is just because it’s pretty. No tutorial, but let it inspire you! Love the reclaimed wood top! From ‘Foto le Maire‘.

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So now that you have a DIY storage bench planed for every room, we think you will also want to check out our post on DIY Area Rugs and DIY Kitchen Islands!

Image Credits: Mommy Vignettes, Infarrantly Creative, Ana White, Ana White, Ish & Chi, Easy DIY, Blue Roof Cabin, Martha, Cozy Cottage Cute, Foto le Maire
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Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates & Steve Bates (co-owners) – Woodard Bates Media LLC consisting of three blogs: TheBudgetDecorator.com, OhMeOhMyBlog.com and TheGardenGlove.com.

Kathy Bates’ previous writing credits include:

Former home decorating expert for Lifetime TV, Galtime and Country Woman Magazine.

Her book spent time at #1 on Amazon’s Home & Garden Topseller List in 2002.

Published or featured in numerous national publications, including:

Country Sampler’s Decorating Ideas magazine, Woman’s Day magazine, HGTV, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Marketwatch, Decorating Solutions magazine, Decorating Ideas magazine, The Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Kansas City News, The Oklahoman, Akron Beacon Journal, Pensacola News Journal and The Telegraph.

2 Comments

  1. Kim Siegel
    June 30, 2016 / 7:48 am

    Any idea where I can find the teal/gray striped rug in the picture with teal bench at foot of the bed? My daughter loves for her room! Thx!!

    • Kathy Woodard
      Author
      September 8, 2016 / 1:05 pm

      I’m sorry, no idea! Anyone seen it anywhere?

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