Banish the pile of shoes from the entryway with the help of a shoe bench.
A shoe bench is a handy piece of furniture for an entryway or mudroom to help keep order and organization. The bench provides a spot to sit and tie shoes, as well as a storage area for boots and extra pairs of sneakers. As anyone with kids can attest, the daily search for shoes can put you behind schedule right at the outset. So streamline your entryway and corral those shoes with a storage bench that keeps everything together and out of the way.
Instructions
1. Cut three sections from the 1-by-10 board to make the two sides and lower shelf. Measure and mark off two 16-inch lengths and one 24-inch length. Use a straight edge to make a line at each mark across the board as a guide for the circular saw.
2. Cut out a semi-circle from one end of both side pieces to form the curved legs. Lay the side pieces flat, and place them end to end; center the coffee can at the meeting point of the two ends -- one-half of the can on one side piece and one-half on the other. Measure in 1 1/2 inches from each side edge of the boards and mark with the pencil. Line up the can with the marks on each side and trace around the can. Cut out the semi-circles with a saber saw, and sand the cuts with 120-grit sandpaper.
3. Measure and mark off three 20 1/2-inch lengths on the 1-by-4 board. Use the straight edge to extend the mark across the board, and cut the pieces with the circular saw. These pieces are the apron, the cleat and the base of the bench
4. Affix the cleat and apron between the two side pieces. Place one side piece on its side edge and line up one end of the cleat so it is flush with the top of the piece. Join the cleat and side piece by screwing two 1 5/8-inch trim head screws through the side piece into the cleat. Attach the apron to the side piece in the same manner, making sure it is flush to the top of the piece. Attach the other side piece flush to the apron and cleat.
5. Cut the stair tread to 24 inches and lay it upside-down on your workspace. Apply wood glue to the top edge of the side pieces, the apron and the cleat. Place the bench on the upside-down stair tread, lining the cleat with the backside of the tread. Let the glue dry completely before righting the bench.
6. Attach the base to the bottom of the two sides, lining it up 1/2-inch in from the front edge of the sides. Use 1 5/8-inch trim head screws driven through the sides into the base.
7. Slide the shelf into the bench above the base so it is flush with the front edges of the side pieces. Attach the shelf to the base using 1 5/8-inch trim head screws driven through the shelf into the base. Level the shelf and use 2 trim head screws on each side piece to affix the shelf.
8. Fill all screw holes with wood putty and allow it to dry before sanding with 120-grit sandpaper.
9. Paint or stain as desired.
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