Deck Box

Anyone have a backyard littered with kids toys? We do. Then I got a big ugly tub to put them in, but that filled up and also looked terrible. So we built this deck box – looks great, holds (and hides) all the toys! It would also work great to store cushions or garden supplies. 

Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials

• Sheet of high quality plywood
• 1x4 dimensional wood
• ¼ round for trim (optional)
• Wood screws or nails for gun
• Wood glue
• Wood filler
• Hinges
• Handle
• Paint or stain

 
Tools

• Electric drill or nail gun
• Electric saw
• Electric sander
• Rubber gloves
• Paint brush
• Cloth

 
How to Guide
 
Measure and cut it out

• Starting with the base, measure and cut the bottom of your box.
• Measure and cut the sides based on the base.
• Measure and cut the front and back based on the base with the sides attached.

Put it together

• Nail the sides to the base.
• Nail the front and back to the base and sides.

Side panels

• Start with the sides of the box, measure and cut the top and bottom panels.
• Nail to the box.
• Measure and cut between the top and bottom panels and add side panel.
• Nail to the box.
• Repeat for other side.

Front and back panels

• Measure the full length of the box and cut the top and bottom panels.
• Nail to the box
• Repeat for back.

Front panels

• Measure and cut the additional center panels.
• Nail to the box

Hinge pocket

• Place your hinges on the back of the box and measure the length and width.
• cut a pocket on the top of the box so your lid lays flat.

The lid lip

• Place your plywood on top of the box with the back lined up.
• Measure how far (or not) you want the lip to hang over.
• Cut the lid to size.

Lid trim (optional)

• Measure and cut the ¼ round trim.
• Glue or nail in place.

Fix flaws

• Using wood filler, fill in any flaws.

Sands of time

• Sand the box and lid smooth.

 
Paint or stain

• Paint or stain the top and bottom of lid, attach handle.
• Paint or stain box.

Unhinged

• Attach your hinges starting with the box.
• Place lid on top, line up the back and center the sides.
• Gently lift the lid from the front and hold while attaching the hinges to it.
• Additionally, you can add a soft close hinge for safety.

Close the lid, fill it up and put it on the deck!