Large parts, simple hardware, and straight cuts make this bench a lot simpler to build than it looks.

Amy Paladino is a pro at juggling the demands of her job and family. But as with many of us, when it came to organizing tools for DIY projects, she needed a little assistance.


Enter This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, with a plan for a size-it-to-your-space tool-storage bench that doubles as a work surface. Though it may look complicated, the construction couldn’t be simpler: Tom used plywood to build one large box and two smaller ones, fitted them with shelves, then placed them back-to-back and topped the assembly with doubled-up plywood. See how he and Amy built it using just a few basic tools and materials.

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