How to Build a DIY Mudroom Bench with Boot Storage

Once the weather turns, an entryway without a place to sit and park wet boots becomes a pile of shoes within a week. A mudroom bench solves both problems: a seat for pulling boots on and off, and an open cubby underneath to keep them together. This build is a simple plywood box with a solid top, supported by cleats rather than fancy joinery, and it’s easy to size to your wall.

Quick answer: Build an open-front box from ¾-in plywood: two sides, a back, a bottom shelf and a seat, joined with glue, screws and 2x2 or 1x2 cleats. A comfortable bench is about 18 inches tall and 14–16 inches deep. Cover plywood edges with trim or edge banding, sand, finish with a durable paint or polyurethane, and anchor the back to a wall stud. Add a removable boot tray for wet, salty boots.

Project Overview

Detail	Estimate
Finished size (example)	36 in wide × 15 in deep × 18 in tall
Difficulty	Beginner
Build time	4–6 hours plus finish drying
Materials	One 4 × 8 sheet of ¾-in plywood, cleats, trim, screws, glue, finish
Main costs	Plywood and finish; hooks and cushion are optional extras

Plan the Size

Dimension	Guideline	Why
Seat height	About 17–19 in (including cushion)	Similar to a chair seat
Depth	14–16 in	Fits most boots without blocking a hallway
Width	24–48 in	24 in seats one person; 36–48 in seats two
Cubby height	10–12 in inside for shoes; taller for tall boots	Match your household’s footwear
Clearance	Keep door swings and walkways clear	Daily traffic

Measure the wall and the door swing before cutting. If you’ll add a cushion, subtract its thickness from the bench height.

What You’ll Need

Materials

• One 4 × 8 sheet of ¾-in plywood (birch or sanded pine plywood paints well)
• 1x2 or 2x2 lumber for cleats (about 12 linear feet)
• 1x3 or 1x2 boards for face trim, or iron-on edge banding
• Wood glue, 1¼-in and 2-in wood screws
• Wood filler, primer and durable paint, or stain and polyurethane
• L-brackets for wall anchoring
• Optional: boot tray, cushion, hooks and a rail for above the bench

Tools

• Circular saw with a straightedge guide (or have the store cut the plywood)
• Drill/driver with countersink bit
• Clamps, speed square, tape measure, level, stud finder
• Sander with 120 and 220 grit

Cut List (36 × 15 × 18 in bench)

Part	Qty	Size	Notes
Sides	2	17¼ × 14¼ in	Height minus seat thickness
Back	1	34½ × 17¼ in	Fits between the sides
Bottom shelf	1	34½ × 13½ in	Sits on cleats, a few inches off the floor
Seat	1	36 × 15 in	Overhangs the front slightly
Divider (optional)	1	Inside height × 13½ in	Splits the cubby
Cleats	As needed	Cut to fit	Under the shelf and seat

Plywood thickness varies slightly; measure yours and adjust. Label each piece as you cut.

Step 1: Attach the Shelf Cleats

On the inside face of each side panel, glue and screw a cleat where the bottom shelf will sit, usually 2–4 inches above the floor so the shelf stays out of puddles. Keep both cleats at exactly the same height; measure from the bottom edge.

Step 2: Assemble the Box

1. Stand the sides up and fit the back between them. Glue the joints and screw through the sides into the back edges, using pre-drilled, countersunk holes.
2. Check that the box is square by measuring the diagonals.
3. Drop the bottom shelf onto its cleats, glue it, and screw up through the cleats into the shelf.
4. Add a cleat along the inside top edge of each side and the back to support the seat.

Glue plus screws makes a noticeably stiffer box than screws alone.

Step 3: Add a Divider (Optional)

For wider benches, a vertical divider in the middle stiffens the seat and separates kids’ shoes from adults’ boots. Fix it with cleats to the shelf and back, and screw through the seat into its top edge later.

Step 4: Attach the Seat

Set the seat on the top cleats with a small, even overhang at the front and sides. Screw up through the cleats into the seat so no screw heads show on top. Someone sitting to pull on boots puts repeated weight on this joint, so don’t rely on screws driven into the thin plywood edges alone.

Step 5: Trim, Fill and Sand

Cover the raw front plywood edges with 1x2 or 1x3 trim glued and nailed on, or with iron-on edge banding. Fill nail holes and gaps with wood filler. Sand everything with 120 grit, then 220, and round over the front edge of the seat slightly so it’s comfortable to sit on.

Step 6: Finish for Heavy Use

Finish	Pros	Notes
Primer + enamel or cabinet paint	Hides plywood grain; wipes clean	Let it cure fully before heavy use
Stain + polyurethane	Shows wood grain	Use several coats on the seat and cubby floor
Clear water-based poly	Natural look, low odor	Light sanding between coats

The cubby floor will see water and road salt, so give it extra coats. See our room painting guide for brushing and rolling tips.

Step 7: Anchor It to the Wall

Find a stud behind the bench and attach the back to it with an L-bracket or screws through a cleat. Anchoring keeps the bench from tipping when someone sits on the front edge or kids climb on it.

Make It Work Harder

• Hooks above the bench for coats, bags and leashes. Screw the rail into studs.
• A removable boot tray on the cubby floor catches water, mud and salt and can be rinsed outside.
• Baskets on a shelf above or on the seat for hats, gloves and dog gear.
• A cushion with a washable cover makes it more comfortable.
• A shelf above the hooks for seasonal items. A floating shelf is a clean option.
• A mat in front protects the floor from drips.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Seat creaks or flexes	Too few cleats or wide span	Add a center divider or a cleat under the middle of the seat
Bench rocks	Uneven floor	Add furniture glides or shims; anchor to the wall
Paint peeling in the cubby	Water and salt	Add a boot tray; recoat with durable finish
Plywood edges splintering	Edges left bare	Add trim or edge banding
Box out of square	Not checked during assembly	Loosen screws, square it, re-fasten

FAQ

What’s a good height for a mudroom bench?

About 17–19 inches including any cushion, similar to a dining chair seat.

What plywood is best?

Sanded birch or pine plywood in ¾-inch thickness is strong and paints well. MDF is smooth but can swell with wet boots, so avoid it in the cubby area.

Do I need to attach the bench to the wall?

It’s strongly recommended, especially with kids. A simple bracket into a stud prevents tipping.

How do I protect it from wet boots?

Use a removable boot tray and a durable, well-cured finish, and wipe up puddles before they soak in.