how to build a mudroom bench
Start by cutting a 2 by 12 inch lumber board down to your desired bench width. This piece will be the bench seat's top. Give the seat top a "dog eared" look by cutting an inch or so off the four sharp corners of the board.
Now cut two 2 by 12 inch boards so they are both 18 inches in length. These two boards will be the mudroom bench's legs.
Two vertical lines should now be drawn on the wide face of the bench legs you just cut. Each line should be located exactly three inches from their side of the bench leg i.e. the left hand line should be three inches from the left hand side of the bench leg and the right hand lone should be three inches from the right hand side.
Between the two lines you've just drawn, measure six inches from the bottom edge of the leg in the middle of the board and place a dot at this spot.
From the left hand 3-inch mark at the bottom of the leg draw a diagonal line up to the center dot. Do the same for the right-hand 3-inch mark. If you've done this correctly you should now have an upside V drawn on the leg board. Using a saber saw or circular saw cut out this V shape.
Trace the same shape on the second leg board and cut another V in the same way.
Now that the legs are done it is time for the center board. Start by measuring a 2-inch by 8-inch dimensional board the same length as your bench top minus eight inches.
Now we mount one end of the center board inside one of the leg boards. This mounting of the center board should take place two inches above the V cut into the leg. Position it so the widest part faces front. Now hammer two inch long wood screws through the leg and into the center board. Repeat this process with the second leg, ensuring that the center board is in the same position for this leg as it was for the first. If you have done everything correctly, the center board should be mounted rigidly between both legs. Congratulations, you've just finished your mudroom bench base.
You now need to figure out the cupped side of the bench top. This can be done by looking at the sawn end of the bench top board and observing which way the wood grain runs. You should notice a gentle semi circle pattern on the wood grain. Turn the board so the half circle pattern is arcing down, like a dome - the bottom side is the cupped side. Mark the cupped side; you'll need it for the next step.
Turn the bench top seat so the cupped side faces upwards. Now turn the entire bench base upside down and carefully place it on top of the bench seat board - the open V feet of the legs should be facing you at this point. Now align the bench base so it is equidistant from both ends of the top seat board.
Cut four blocks of wood, two inches tall and two inches thick ensuring that width is the same as the bench legs. These blocks should be placed on both sides of the bench legs where the tops of the leg meet the bottom of the bench top seat board.
Using two inch wood screws attach the blocks to the bench base legs. Make sure you drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the wooden blocks. Now Attach the blocks to the bench top sea with two-inch wooden screws hammered down through the blocks into the seat top.
Finish off by sanding, staining or painting your mudroom bench to your personal preference.