DIY Hall Tree Plans: Build an Entryway Bench with Shoe Storage

You come home with your hands full, kick off your shoes, and look for somewhere to put your jacket. By the next morning, the entrance has become a pile of coats, bags, and shoes again. A little organization would make leaving the house easier—and coming home feel a lot calmer.

These DIY hall tree plans bring three everyday needs together: a place to sit, a shelf for shoes, and hooks for coats and bags. An upper shelf adds another spot for the smaller things you want to keep near the door. Instead of collecting several separate pieces, you can build one coordinated wooden entryway organizer.

The WoodPlanShop design uses standard 1×3, 1×8, and 2×3 lumber, with illustrated assembly steps. The PDF rates the project beginner level and estimates 4–6 hours of building time. Allow additional time for finishing and drying, depending on the products you choose.

Below, you’ll find the shopping list, tools, and main build phases to help you decide whether this project is right for you. Exact part measurements, cutting layouts, and assembly diagrams are included in the downloadable plan.

Materials for the DIY Hall Tree

The plan’s shopping list calls for 15 boards in total, all 6 feet long.

You will also need wood screws selected for the joints, hanging hooks, medium- and fine-grit sandpaper, and your chosen paint or stain. The shopping list includes optional wood glue for added joint strength.

Choose straight boards and inspect them before cutting. Long rear legs are especially noticeable in the finished piece, so taking time over lumber selection is worthwhile.

Before buying materials, check the plan’s finished dimensions against your entrance. Leave room for the door to open, shoes to be removed, and someone to sit without blocking the passage. Hanging coats also occupy space beyond the wooden frame.

Tools You’ll Need

• Circular saw or miter saw
• Drill, drill bits, and screwdriver bits
• Measuring tape and pencil
• Speed square
• Clamps
• Sander or sanding block
• Suitable hand tools for the small slat notches shown in the plan

The tools handle familiar jobs: cutting boards to length, drilling, fastening, and sanding. The slats beside the legs also need small corner notches, so review that detail before you begin.

Read the whole PDF once before cutting. Label the parts as you go, and use a stop block where appropriate to help make repeated cuts consistent.

How to Build the Hall Tree: Main Assembly Phases

1. Build the Side Frames

Begin with the side assemblies, joining the tall rear legs, shorter front legs, and side braces as shown in the plan.

This establishes the relationship between the seat and the upright coat section. Check for square before fastening, and compare the two sides before moving on. A mismatch here will make the connecting stages harder.

2. Join the Frames into One Structure

Connect the side frames with the long braces. The structure now starts to look like a bench with a tall back section.

Keep it supported while fastening, and recheck alignment as the braces go in. It is easier to correct a frame at this stage than after the seat and shelves have been attached.

3. Install the Lower Shoe-Shelf Slats

Add the bottom slats across the lower frame. The PDF calls for approximately 1 inch of space between slats, creating an open shelf rather than a solid panel.

Lay out the slats before fixing them so the spacing is consistent. A temporary spacer can help you repeat the gap without measuring each one separately.

The open layout also keeps the shelf visually light. Think about the shoes you will store: small heels and very small items may need a suitable tray rather than resting directly across the gaps.

4. Install the Bench Seat Slats

Fit the seat slats across the upper part of the bench frame. Where a slat meets a leg, the plan shows a small corner notch that allows it to fit around the leg’s thickness.

Mark these notches from the actual assembly, check the fit, and smooth the cut edges before final fastening. Follow the illustrated slat arrangement and spacing in the PDF.

Pay particular attention to the front edges and corners, where hands and legs will touch the bench. Careful sanding makes this stage feel finished rather than merely assembled.

5. Fit the Upper Hook Brace

Install the upper brace that will carry the hooks. The plan allows you to position this brace at a height that suits your household—lower for children or higher for adult coats.

Before fixing it, hold a jacket or bag at the proposed height. Check that it will hang where you expect and that you can still use the seat comfortably.

This is a practical adjustment within the design. Changes to the overall height, width, or frame need a separate review of the affected parts.

6. Add the Upper Shelf Supports

Fit the supports for the top shelf and check that they line up. These small pieces help the shelf sit correctly, so avoid rushing their positioning.

Use the measured placement in the plan and check the joints before adding the shelf board.

7. Install the Top Shelf

Position and secure the 1×8 upper shelf. It completes the outline of the hall tree and gives you a place for lightweight baskets or everyday accessories.

Check that the shelf is level before final fastening. The plan does not specify a tested load capacity, so do not assume a weight rating from the appearance of the finished piece.

8. Add Hooks, Sand, and Finish

Arrange the hooks along the upper brace, checking their fixing instructions and the clearance between hanging items. Space them for the things your household actually uses rather than adding as many as possible.

Finish sanding, remove the dust, and apply your chosen interior finish according to its instructions. A washable seat cushion is an optional way to add comfort and colour.

Because this is a tall piece of furniture, include an appropriate anti-tip attachment to the wall in your installation planning. Match the fixings to the wall construction and obtain advice if you are unsure how to secure it.

Estimated Cost: DIY Hall Tree vs. Store-Bought

For a basic softwood build, use approximately $90–$170 USD as a preliminary materials budget. The table below shows the assumptions behind that range; these are planning allowances, not a verified retailer shopping cart.

Your actual total will depend on local stock lengths, wood grade, hooks, finish, and supplies you already own. The estimate excludes the PDF, tools, cushion, anti-tip hardware, tax, and delivery. Buying longer boards or full packages of supplies can change the checkout total, so price the list locally before starting.

When comparing DIY with a ready-made hall tree, compare the same features:

A sale-priced ready-made unit may cost less than a DIY build. The value here is making a coordinated wooden organizer in a finish you enjoy, with a clear plan guiding the process. There is no verified like-for-like retail quote for this exact design, so a fixed savings claim would not be useful.

Ready to Give Your Entryway a Fresh Start?

Imagine having a seat ready when you put on your shoes, hooks waiting for the coats, and a lower shelf that keeps the floor clearer. This is the kind of practical project you get to enjoy every day—not just when the last screw goes in.

The DIY Hall Tree with Bench and Shoe Storage PDF plan includes the measured cut list, lumber shopping list, cutting diagrams, and illustrated assembly sequence for this design.

🪚 Get the DIY Hall Tree PDF Plan

Use BUILDIT20 at checkout for 20% off your order.

This is a digital woodworking plan. No finished hall tree, lumber, or hardware is shipped.

Also Check These Home Organization Plans

• Small Entryway Bench with Storage and Seat — explore an alternative bench project for your entrance.
• Entryway Bench with Storage — compare another storage-bench design.
• Modern 2×8 Stacked Bookcase Plan — explore an open-shelf furniture project.
• Folding Bed Tray Table Plan — choose a smaller practical home project.