Notch- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 3–6 hours
- Cost
- $$$
About this build
An outdoor mahogany storage box that is naturally weather-resistant and will keep your outdoor cushions protected from water and other damage when not in use. The flat top is also perfect for extra seating or as a serving surface. Great as a functional accent piece on patios and decks.
Tools
Essential
- Drill / Driver
- Miter Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
Optional / nice to have
- Tape Measure
Materials
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Mahogany or cedar board, 1x4 96" | 16 board |
| Mahogany or cedar baluster, 2x2 36" | 4 board |
| 1" pocket hole screws | 300 each |
| 1 1/2" x 30" continuous hinge | 1 each |
| Left-side folding lid support | 1 each |
| Right-side folding lid support | 1 each |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
Cut list
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Lid Boards | 2 | 1" × 4" × 55" |
| Lid Slats | 13 | 1" × 4" × 18" |
| Front and Back Boards | 4 | 1" × 4" × 51" |
| Side Boards | 4 | 1" × 4" × 22" |
| Front, Back, and Sides Slats | 34 | 1" × 4" × 15" |
| Bottom Supports | 2 | 1" × 4" × 52" |
| Legs | 4 | 2" × 2" × 24" |
What to buy
Buy 16 boards at 8 ft.
2" × 2"
2 boards
1" × 4"
14 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Instructions
1Cut Boards to Size
Use a miter saw to cut all of the mahogany 1x4 boards and 2x2 balusters to size according the cut list.
2Drill Pocket Holes
Use a Kreg Jig to drill two 3/4" pocket holes on each end of all 1x4 boards EXCEPT for the two 55" boards.
3Assemble Front and Back
- Use 1" pocket hole screws and a drill with screwdriver head to assemble the four sides and the lid of the storage box. The front side is assembled by attaching twelve 15" slats to one of the 51 3/4" boards. Use a piece of scrap 1x4 to space the slats 3/4" apart, beginning at one end of a 51 3/4" board with a space, then a slat.
- Repeat until all twelve slats are attached, then attach the other ends of the attached slats to a second 51 3/4" board to finish the front side.
- Repeat to assemble the back side.
4Assemble Sides and Top
Follow the same process for the sides of the box, attaching five 15" slats to the 22" boards. For the top of the box, use the same technique with the thirteen 18" slats and the 55" boards, but instead of beginning with a space, begin with the slat lined up flush with the edge of the 55" board and follow a slat, space, slat, space pattern.
5Attach Sides to Legs
Use 1" pocket hole screws to attach the four sides of the box to the 2x2 balusters (legs). Line up one end of the sides to be flush with the edge of the balusters.
6Attach Bottom Supports
Use 1" pocket hole screws to attach the two 52 1/2" boards to the bottom of the assembled box.
7Attach Hinges to Box
Decide on placement of the hinges on the box and mark the holes with a pencil. Use a small drill bit to drill pilot holes over the marks, then attach the hinges to the top edge of the back side of the box using a screwdriver bit and the screws included with the hinges. While 3" hinges are shown in the image, a 30" continuous hinge is recommended for this project.
8Attach Hinges to Lid
Have someone hold the lid in place while you mark the hole locations for the hinges on the lid with a pencil. Use a small drill bit to drill pilot holes over the marks, then attach the hinges to the lid using a screwdriver bit and the screws included with the hinges. While 3" hinges are shown in the image, a 30" continuous hinge is recommended for this project.
9Add Folding Lid Supports
Add folding lid supports to each side of the box by attaching one end of the support to the underside of the lid and one end to the inside of the sides of the box.
Tags
- Outdoor Living
- Beginner
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