34 responses

  1. Lauren Gonzales
    August 14, 2024

    Do you happen to have the plans on how you did the top and back of the mudroom? I’d like to use your exact design for a build in mudroom, but am new to this and would like to see how you did it if you have that!

    Reply

  2. Michael Lee Larssen
    March 20, 2022

    Approximately how much did all the materials for this project cost not including tools of course

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      March 22, 2022

      We already had some of the materials leftover from other projects, so I never calculated the cost. But it was also four years ago, and with the way the cost of lumber has skyrocketed with covid, the price would be totally different now. It also depends on where you live.

      Reply

  3. Jason
    June 30, 2021

    Great tutorial. I had one question though, Is the dead space in the corner the same dimensions as one of the cubbies? Thanks for posting this.

    Reply

  4. Karl-Heinz
    November 9, 2020

    Very well done! I am impressed with your DIY skills.
    I wish all the best.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 12, 2020

      Thanks so much Karl! We are really loving the space and all the storage! 🙂

      Reply

  5. Debra Ellis
    August 28, 2020

    Awesome planning! Kudos! This will be excellent for the space I have. One question I think the bases are 17” plus the 3/4” for the trim? 2 2x 10’s should be 18 1/2”? Did you rip them to be flush as the seat or did I miss 3/4” somewhere. Again…AMAZING and so efficient!

    Reply

  6. MJ
    August 13, 2020

    Thank you for this! What beautiful cubbies!
    Could you please share where you found those baskets? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      I bought the baskets online from Walmart. They are often out of stock, so sometimes it takes awhile to find them. I love them so much that when I happened to find them, I bought a dozen of them to use everywhere in my house. 🙂

      Reply

  7. Jennifer
    August 10, 2020

    We just followed your tutorial and made this bench, your instructions were great and having the links to everything made a big difference. Can you share where you purchased the baskets and pillows from?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      The baskets are from Walmart. They are almost always out of stock in the store, but you can sometimes find them online. I made the pillows myself. 🙂

      Reply

  8. Fran Reed
    July 4, 2020

    Love your bench and tutorial! Thank you for sharing. Just curious, why did you put two layers of MDF on the bottom of the bench?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      We did the two layers both for durability, and so that the bottom would be about the same thickness as the 1″ trim at the top of the bench.

      Reply

  9. Jeff U
    May 15, 2020

    Hi Kara – my wife and I loved your tutorial and are following your steps to start our version soon! One question I had was whether or not you secured the bench to the wall? If so, what did you find was the best way to do that? We are just trying to add ways to make it sturdy! Thank you again!

    -Jeff

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      Ours was wedged in place and so heavy that we didn’t need to attach it. You can certainly do that if you feel like yours will move. I would place the screws at the top (just under the bench) so that they are less visible. Just find the studs and use long screws to attach it to the wall, making sure you go through the MDF piece.

      Reply

  10. Alex
    May 12, 2020

    Hey I was wondering what all the total dimensions were for the product you used

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      August 13, 2020

      We didn’t actually keep a record of the exact dimensions, because we knew that everyone has different sized spaces and would need to built it to fit in the area they are working with. Sorry.

      Reply

  11. Joe Moore
    May 2, 2020

    Hi Kara, just wanted to thank you for your excellent tutorial and to let you know that I spent the past few weeks working through it as I built our own brand-new mudroom corner bench! I documented the journey with many pictures here.

    There’s so much I could say about the project. I actually gutted the entire mud room in the process, so this was a bear. This was my first time using my Kreg pocket hole kit (that I actually had sitting in my workshop for a year), working with MDF, using oil-based primer, installing corbels and installing crown moulding, so I learned a TON.

    I gotta say it came out so well that we now call it the (No) Mud (Allowed) Room, but it was all made possible through the guidance of your step-by-step instructions. Thanks again! I’m thinking of applying my newly-acquired skills and building a wraparound dining room bench, but I should probably take a little more time to recover from the great mud room makeover first 🙂

    Reply

  12. Jason
    April 30, 2020

    Used your plans and put my own twist on it. Used barn roofing on the wall and made ours a little bigger but turned out amazing.

    IMG_6481.jpeg

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      May 1, 2020

      I can’t see your photo, but it sounds awesome! I love barn wood!

      Reply

  13. Ben
    March 30, 2020

    Thank you for posting your tutorial. I have been thinking about building a corner mudroom bench, but was struggling with how to handle the corner. Either you just accept that you are going to lose a 18″x18″ section of floor space (I’m putting shoes/boots under it, not baskets) or you have to get messing around with a 45 degree end. I guess you just accepted the loss of the space since you couldn’t really use it with baskets anyway.

    Also, did you just but the stained board together in the corner because it was easier than the doing a 45 degree cut to the top? Or you just liked the look?

    Any problems with mdf and water? I think it’ll be fine as long as I prime and paint all the edges. Just seems easier than using plywood that I’d somehow have to seal before painting. Plus mdf is way cheaper.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      April 15, 2020

      Yes, it was kind of a tough decision, but since we had the baskets, we went for looks over more storage. I think it ended up being good though, because the extra walls added more support for the bench.
      As for the boards, it was easier not to mess with a 45 degree cut, but I also liked the way it looked, so that was an easy decision.
      We haven’t had any problems with water and our MDF. The paint does add a moisture barrier. If you’re worried about your laundry room getting wet, I’d just take extra care painting all the surfaces, even if they don’t show. It won’t hold up if you have a full out flood, but it should hold up to normal water leakage and small puddles that kids seem to leave. 🙂

      Reply

  14. David Thompson
    January 18, 2020

    First time seeing this wonderful DIY. Is there any way to get them emailed to me? Any way to print them?

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      April 15, 2020

      To print them, I’d just copy and paste the text into a word or google document, then print it out on your printer. 🙂

      Reply

  15. Sam Maxi
    November 2, 2019

    I’m a huge fan of DIY working. I read your post and got some DIY ideas about the making of mudroom corner bench. Hope Now I can make my mudroom bench by yourself following your tutorial.

    Thank you. Please keep sharing.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      November 6, 2019

      So glad you found the post helpful Sam! Good luck with your mudroom bench. I’d love to see it when you’re finished!

      Reply

  16. Jeff
    October 24, 2018

    Very valuable tutorial! Are you still planning to add a tutorial for the top cubbies? Thanks!

    Reply

  17. Stacey
    July 16, 2018

    Looks amazing and thanks for the detailed tutorial. Enjoy your new space!

    Reply

  18. novel updates
    July 16, 2018

    Your example is very specific, I will proceed as bench for my yard!

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 16, 2018

      Thanks, we tried to make the tutorial very thorough so that anyone could make it. I love that you are adapting it to make a bench for your yard! I’d love to see a photo of it when you finish!

      Reply

  19. Virginia
    July 11, 2018

    Great tutorial! Love the bench.

    Reply

    • Kara Cook
      July 16, 2018

      Thanks so much Virginia!

      Reply

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