How to Build a Rolling Storage Bench - DIY Storage Containers

How to Build a Rolling Storage Bench: Design*Sponge's Step-by-Step Guide

By Christa Martin
Oprah.com | From the October 2011 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

A style-savvy blogger demystifies DIY decor.
Design*Sponge, the charmingly quirky home decorating site launched in 2004 by Grace Bonney, attracts more than one million page views each month—and among its many step-by-step tutorials are projects simple enough for anyone to master. Now the blog's singular style inspiration can also be found in Design*Sponge at Home, a compendium of all-new homemaking hints—which Bonney has in droves ("To make a small space seem larger, getting things off the floor is key"; "Leftover fabric makes a great placemat!"). The book is also full of creative furnishing ideas—like this sweet, functional, and endlessly customizable storage bench (completed version pictured above).

Rolling Storage Bench
Cost: Around $40
Time: One hour plus

What you need:

Wooden box (similar styles can be found at flea markets and thrift stores)
Four rolling casters
Mounting screws
Measuring tape or ruler
Scissors
Fabric (three inches larger on all sides than plywood)
Sturdy midweight plywood (for the lid)
Upholstery foam (two inches thick)
Cotton batting (available at fabric stores)

Next: Step-by-step instructions to make this gorgeous, functional bench

1. Flip box upside down and screw one caster into each of its four corners.

2. Measure top of box, then cut plywood to make lid (or have a store like Lowe's cut it). Sand edges.

3. Place foam on floor. Place lid on top of foam and cut foam to fit lid.

4. Spread batting on floor, and place box lid and foam on top of batting. Cut batting three inches larger than lid and foam on all sides.

5. Lay out fabric facedown on floor. Center batting on fabric, then place foam and lid on batting.

6. Create cushion by pulling batting and fabric taut over one edge of lid, stapling to secure. Repeat on remaining sides.

7. When all edges are stapled, trim any excess fabric.

8. Fit lid to top of box.

Adapted from Design*Sponge at Home, by Grace Bonney (Artisan). Copyright (c) 2011.

Feeling Inspired?

Printed from Oprah.com on Friday, May 24, 2013