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A simple, useful piece: a shallow bench-height box divided into three cubbies, wearing a 1x2 trim face and riding on casters. It works as a seat with baskets below, a rolling toy store, or a window bench you can move to sweep behind. The whole thing is 1x12 lumber and finish nails — a genuine one-evening build.
The trim does more than dress the front. When you fasten the top trim into the dividers, sides, and top all at once, you're reinforcing those butt joints, which is what lets a 1x12 box take someone sitting on it. Keep the outside edges flush and center the vertical trim pieces on the dividers so the face reads as intentional cubbies, not random slats.
The wheel supports get 'measured to fit' — cut them to bridge under the box where the casters mount so the wheels have solid backing instead of pulling out of a single thickness of 1x12. Fill the nail holes, sand, and finish; a mudroom bench earns its scuffs, so a durable topcoat pays off.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12 board, 8 ftTop, sides, dividers. | 1 each |
| 1x12 board, 6 ftBottom. | 1 each |
| 1x2 board, 8 ftTrim and wheel supports. | 4 each |
| Finish nails, 2" | 60 each |
| Caster wheels | 4 each |
| Wood filler | 4 oz |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
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.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Top1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 48" |
| Bottom1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 46 1/2" |
| Sides1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 15 1/2" |
| Dividers1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 14" |
| Horizontal trim1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 48" |
| Vertical trim1x2Measure to fit perfectly between the horizontal trim. | 8 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 13 1/4" |
| Wheel supports1x2Measure to fit; back the casters. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 11 1/2" |
Buy 6 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
4 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 →
Assemble the top, bottom, sides, and two dividers into a three-cubby box with 2" nails and glue. Keep it square so the trim lands evenly.
Fasten the horizontal trim pieces with top and outside edges flush, using glue and 2" nails. Nail the top trim into the dividers, sides, and top together — this ties the joints and lets the bench carry weight.
Fasten the vertical trim with outside edges flush, centering the middle pieces on the dividers, and also nail through the ends into the horizontal trim above and below. This is what makes the three cubbies read cleanly.
Fasten the wheel supports under the box where the casters mount so the wheels have solid backing, then screw on the four casters. Fill nail holes, sand, and finish with a durable topcoat — this bench gets used hard.
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