Here’s How to Build a Mudroom Bench

A mudroom helps keep your home clean by minimizing indoor tracking of outdoor messes. It also helps keep coats, boots and other items neat and organized. A bench is an essential component of any mudroom. In addition to storage, it provides a place to sit while putting on and taking off your outdoor gear. Follow DIY expert Cloe Thomson’s easy steps as she builds a mudroom bench that matches her décor and fits her unique space.

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Here’s How to Make It

My space isn’t a traditional mudroom with a long entryway and tall ceiling. My ceiling here is slanted and only seven feet tall. This played into the decision of whether or not to have drawers or an open cubby design. I’ve seen what can happen with open cubbies and I didn’t want the eyesore of overflowing kid’s runners, sandals, and backpacks. I also wanted a solid, durable bench seat vs. fabric that could get ripped. So given the confined space and heavy usage I decided on a clean look with closed storage and a heavy butcher block top. Our local Home Hardware was our go-to source for tools, tips, and building materials.

Step 1: Measuring & Cutting

First I sketched out my measurements on some graph paper. My butcher block top was 72” long so I wanted my bench to be 71” long to create a slight overhang. I also had to decide on the width of each cubby. I cut all my pieces to size then labelled them and did a dry assembly in the room to make sure everything fit.

Step 5: Making the Cabinet Fronts

Instead of plywood or stock cabinet fronts, I decided to save money and use leftover material from my kitchen cabinetry and cut each piece to size on my jig saw. I used 1/8” MDF scraps to act as spacers between each drawer and taped them in place with painter’s tape. Then I took a hardware jig and marked the center of each drawer and drilled pilot holes from the outside. I secured these with rounded end screws to hold the drawers in place. Next, I opened the drawer box and attached the cabinet fronts with screws from the inside. For a more finished look I added 4½” baseboard around the front and the side of the bench, and iron-on edge banding to the exposed parts of plywood. I gave all of the wood a nice sand with 220 grit sandpaper, then wiped, primed, and painted everything.

Step 6: Adding the Butcher Block Top

This part was daunting because I only had one shot to cut the notch in the butcher block. It had to be a perfect match with the structural outcrop on the wall. I used three different tools to get it right: a fine finish cut pull saw, a multi-tool to knock out the notch, and a mouse sander to make it smooth. It was an absolutely perfect fit!

I love the mix of modern and traditional this mudroom bench brought to the space. Everyone in the house is loving the bench! The kids are thrilled to have their own dedicated drawers, and I’m happy it keeps all their stuff out of sight. Life with four kids isn’t tidy but having the illusion of a clutter-free home makes me feel happy and calm. Our local Home Hardware was indispensable.