DIY Outdoor Bench Seat for Storage

Form four planks of 48- and 20-inch 1-by-3 lumber into two rectangular frames. Center a third piece of 20-inch lumber across the middle of the longer planks. Screw together with two 1 5/8-inch wood screws countersunk into each end of the 20-inch planks.

Abut two pieces of 20-by-22 inch 3/4-inch-thick plywood on either end of the frames to form a box with the plywood and frames. These plywood pieces will fill in the 3/4-inch gap between the long sides of the plywood and the frame. Secure in place as you did the larger sheets of plywood.

Abut two pieces of 20-by-22 inch 3/4-inch-thick plywood on either end of the frames to form a box with the plywood and frames. These plywood pieces will fill in the three quarter inch gap between the long sides of the plywood and the frame. Secure in place as you did the larger sheets of plywood.

Place a sheet of 22-by-49.5-inch plywood over the top of the box -- which will become the bottom -- and secure it to the frame and plywood box with 1 5/8-inch screws driven every 5 to 6 inches around the perimeter. Invert the box so the base is now on the bottom.

Position two hinges around 5 inches in from each end of a second sheet of 22-by-49.5 inch plywood, which is the bench lid. Secure one half of the hinges with 5/8-inch screws, then center the lid over top of the box and secure the second half of the hinges to the back of the box. Paint the storage bench as desired and let it dry before positioning on the porch, deck or in the garden.