How to Build an Upholstered Storage Bench

[Music] hey guys it's shara from wichita diaries and today i'm going to show you how to build an upholstered storage bench so if you're ready to get building let's go [Music] i think i mentioned in almost every video that we're currently living in a pretty small space it's the reason i build the projects that i keep for myself with the most efficient storage possible and this bench is no exception we needed more storage for pillows blankets and clothes and the end of the bed happened to be empty so i added this bench it's a really simple build and you'll be surprised what i used to upholster it so stay tuned for that but in the meantime let's make some sawdust this project was sponsored by my friends at craigtool as with many of my projects i use my handy craig pocket hole jig to create this piece and i'm sharing some details about a sale that they're currently running on their jigs if you're interested in picking one up in the description below speaking of craig tools i brought out my craig ripcut and circular saw to begin this project by cutting down my plywood sheet i've got the full plans with details dimensions and cut lists for this bench linked in the description below and i'll also link a guide for how i cut down my plywood sheets as well in case you want to know more i built this entire project from plywood except for the legs and you could cut those from plywood as well but i just used poplar to match the wood on my bed and my nightstands since this was going at the end of the bed once i had my strips cut down from my plywood sheet i took them to the miter saw to trim to length i cut four sides to make a box in two panels to make the top and the bottom of the bench with all the pieces cut down i begin assembling using pocket holes and screws i drilled three quarter inch pocket holes into the ends of the front and back box panels and along the bottom edge of all four box pieces using my craig k5 pocket hole jig now because i'm covering this bench with fabric i attached this so that the pocket holes were on the outside of the box if you wanted to paint or stain this instead i would recommend facing these pocket holes towards the inside of the box leaving the outside smooth for a finish when assembling make sure to keep the pocket holes that go along the bottom edge facing the bottom i accidentally installed one of the sides upside down and had to take it apart and redo it [Music] of course i did that luckily the glue wasn't completely dry and it was a pretty quick fix so i moved on with the rest of the project the sides were assembled i screwed the bottom panel in place [Music] then it was time to start upholstering if you've never upholstered before it's actually really fun and i'm far from an expert but i actually started upholstering before i ever started building things so i'm taking it back to my roots here on this project so i started with the top and i used some two inch foam place the top on it and then use the utility knife to cut it down to size by the way if you wanted a less fluffy top you could use one inch foam here instead then i used some spray adhesive and stuck the foam to the plywood each top of spray adhesive is different so be sure to follow the instructions on the can that you are using [Music] once that was dry i wrapped the top in batting you can find this at like hobby lobby walmart amazon and most craft stores i used my staple gun to attach the batting around the top stapling it onto the bottom edge like seen here at the corners i just kind of pulled it tight and tried to fold it in you don't have to get super technical about how you fold the corners in just make it look nice and neat after i had two edges attached i could cut the batting to fit and set the rest aside for the bottom of the box later i continued stapling the batting around the top until it was covered then i wrapped the box with the leftover batting i stapled the edge of the batting along the top edge of the box and then worked my way around [Music] once i got to the end of the batting strip i cut it so that there was just enough to wrap around the bottom corner and stapled it in place then i repeated for the other sides where the batting came together i just overlapped the edges but you could cut them to length if you wanted [Music] now i basically repeated this whole process with the fabric i had a really hard time finding fabric that i wanted to use for this project and i actually ended up finding a sherpa blanket to use for the top and a shower curtain to use for the bottom as you'll see i ended up ditching the sherpa and keeping things monotone for this project but if you're into faux fur using a sherpa as fabric is a pretty good idea that will save you a few bucks anyway i measured the height of my box and cut my fabric a couple inches more than the height to give me enough to wrap around the edges as a helpful tip using fabric with lines or patterns helps you keep a straight line when cutting and stapling this fabric in place this shower curtain had a waffle pattern which made it really nice to use for this project just like with the batting i began at the top of the box and stapled in place this time i wrapped it all the way around and stapled it to the inside of the box to make sure that all of the batting was completely covered i used the waffle lines as a guide to keep my fabric straight along the top then i did the same along the bottom keeping a close eye on my waffle pattern to make sure that things stayed straight when i got to the end of the fabric i cut another strip and continued it's not perfect but to help keep the seams from being super noticeable i just tucked the second strip of fabric under the existing strip at the joints and stapled in place once the box was covered i started working on the top i did this exactly like the batting except that i folded over the edges to prevent any rough edges from unraveling and to keep it a little cleaner again i use the waffle pattern lines to keep things straight also just another tip for the top you'll want to pull the fabric tight for a nicer shape but not so tight that it makes bulges on the sides trust me if you give it a try you'll get the hang of it pretty quick and again on the corners fold and staple however you think looks best this is not a science now that that was finished i built the bench base [Music] i used some scrap pieces of plywood for this but you could also use 1x3's or 1x4s as well i cut pieces to length to assemble a frame the same size as the bottom of the box [Music] then i attached the frame together using pocket holes and screws last year about this same time i built a dog bed with modern legs on it i used that exact same template to draw legs that matched and cut four of them from some leftover poplar that i had in the shop my bedroom set is made from poplar and i wanted this to match but if you didn't care you could cut these from plywood or any leftover one by scraps that you wanted to [Music] and for your reference i'll add this leg template in the link in the description below i cut these out using a jigsaw and then i edge banded the plywood frame and sanded everything smooth then i clamped the legs to the frame on each corner and attached so that they were at a 45 degree angle and inset equally from each corner i used two 2-inch wood screws per leg to attach [Music] and once the base was together i could attach it to the bench c i screwed the frame onto the bottom of the storage box along all the sides and the last thing to do was attach the top i used two small hinges to attach the top you could also use a piano hinge here if you prefer i screwed these into the top first and then i screwed them into the box just like shown here and for some extra support i added these chest lid supports as well i will link the hardware that i used here below if you want to check them out and at this point it was finished but i decided to add one more detail i had some decorative nail heads in my craft supply drawer and i decided to use them here to create a tufted top i simply used a hammer and nailed these where i wanted them to go and again the waffle lines are super helpful here to keep things lined up and spaced out evenly and that was it i brought it inside and filled it with all the things in our tiny home that i need to find a place for there's room underneath to hide a few pair of shoes and plenty of room inside for blankets pillows backpacks and clothes and by the way if you aren't as excited about upholstery as i am this would be really nice simply stained or painted as well i just prefer a nice cushioned seat so if you're looking to add some storage to your home be sure to grab the printable plans and all the details on this project below and be sure to subscribe to my channel because there will be plenty more storage projects to come soon thanks so much for watching and until next time happy building

Channel: Shara Woodshop Diaries

Views: 66,198

Keywords: buildsomething kreg, #buildsomethingwithkreg, how to build storage bench, how to build storage bench seat, how to build upholstered furniture, diy upholstered storage bench, diy tufted bench with storage, diy modern storage bench, diy storage bench for bedroom, diy storage bench with hinged lid, diy tufted storage bench, diy end of bed bench, diy end of bed bench with storage

Id: 7AoUin3PMpU

Length: 13min 20sec (800 seconds)

Published: Fri Nov 13 2020