Shoe Bench with Hidden Storage at Back

Attach the two side panels to the top and bottom shelves with 3/4" pocket holes and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws — these are the bench's main structural joints, so place the pocket holes on the OUTSIDE faces of the sides, since walls will cover both ends and there's no reason to hide them.

Nail and glue the two dividers in place with 1-1/4" nails — they only carry their own shelf's load, not a sitting load, so a simpler joint is fine here.

Add the two 1x3 supports along the bottom with nails and glue — this stiffens the long unsupported span of the bench bottom against sagging.

Add the two internal shelves between the dividers, using pocket holes on the underside for extra strength.

Nail the plywood back panel on with glue and 3/4" nails — this closes the assembly and adds real resistance to racking for very little material.

Sand the whole bench and finish before it goes against the wall.