We decided to make our bench 5.5 feet long, without a supporting middle piece. Inside the top storage there is a middle piece of wood supporting the top. So far this is holding up really well and seems very sturdy so I am not worried about the length. The plans were relatively easy to follow, and having the wood cut at the store helped although it was not 100% accurate. For us, the wood alone cost around $100. I also chose to paint the top rather than staying the entire thing, which ended up adding to the cost. I would guess that this entire bench cost around $150 to make, including supplies and paint, and multiple weekends work since I was working only during our twins nap time. But totally worth it! We are getting so much use out of this, and it gets complimented every time people see it.
