My growing family is quickly outgrowing our small home. Toys are overtaking the living room, and closets are more than full. My wife and I needed a new place to put stuff without adding any more space.
Our bed was the answer. It was already sitting there taking up space — why not take advantage of it for storage? So I built a few simple boxes and drawers and assembled them to make a cool platform bed frame. Here’s how I did it.
Tools Required
Basic hand tools
table saw
jigsaw
circular saw
drill
18-gauge brad nailer
Materials Required
3/4" x 4' x 8' MDO
1/2" x 4' x 8' MDO
1-1/2" x 4' x 8' rigid foam
1-1/16" x 72" piano hinge
3/4" wood screws
1" wood screws
1-1/4" wood screws
2" wood screws
18-ga Brad nails
Wood glue
Wood filler
It’s Like Adding More Closet Space!
Family Handyman
A typical linen closet offers about 50 cu. ft. of storage. By enlarging the footprint of this queen-size bed by six inches on each side and 16 inches at the foot, I added the equivalent of almost half a linen closet in previously wasted space.
Family Handyman
Family Handyman
Family Handyman
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Project step-by-step (17)
Step 1
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Slice Up the Plywood
Large sheets of plywood are difficult to cut on the table saw, and making crosscuts is unsafe.
Set the sheet of plywood on a piece of rigid foam and make the cuts on the floor.
The foam won’t dull the blade, your parts won’t crash to the floor, and you won’t need sawhorses.
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Step 2
Assemble the Bench and Boxes
Glue and nail the sides to the bottom.
Then fasten the back to the sides and bottom with glue and brad nails.
Attach the extra divider in the storage bench the same way to support the lid.
Pro tip: Keep the tops off until the insides are painted.
Family Handyman
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Step 3
Painted Project? Use MDO
Medium-density overlay (MDO) is just like regular plywood, but has a smooth layer of resin on the faces that’s perfect for painting. Also called “sign board,” it’s available at home centers for about $60 for a 3/4-in., 4 x 8-ft. sheet.
At each hole, bore a countersink so the screw heads won’t protrude.
Screw the angle to the inside of the toe-kick.
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Step 12
Attach the Toe-Kicks
Flip the drawer boxes upside down and center the toe-kicks, which should overhang the front by 17 inches.
Screw the toe-kicks to the bottoms of the boxes with 2-in. screws through the blocks.
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Step 13
Assemble the Bed
Flip the boxes upright and space them apart.
Place the storage bench on top of the overhanging toe-kicks, then line up the sides of the bench with the drawer boxes.
Screw them together from the inside with 1-in. screws and into the blocks in the toe-kicks with 2-in. screws.
Then connect the back of the toe-kicks with the stretcher (part M).
Family Handyman
Step 14
Fasten Slats
Position the cleats on the inside of the bed assembly 3/4-in. below the top of the boxes and use 1-1/4-in. screws to fasten them.
Cut slats from standard 1×4 boards to fit between the side boxes and fasten them to the cleats with two screws on each side.
Pro tip: Use one of the slats as a spacer to position them evenly.
You could use a sheet of plywood instead of slats, but I found the standard pine boards or furring strips to be much cheaper. Once the slats are on, the bed is ready for your mattress!
Family Handyman
You could end the project here with just the platform bed. If you would like to add a matching headboard and nightstands, continue to the following steps.
Step 15
Sleek & Simple Headboard
Family Handyman
I designed this headboard and nightstand combination to match my storage bed, but it would work well with other beds too. All you need is one sheet of plywood and a few hours to put it together.
Family Handyman
Family Handyman
Step 16
Screw Planks to the wall
Fill the edges and paint three 8-ft. lengths of plywood cut at 8-1/2-in. wide.
Center the first strip three inches above the bed and attach it to studs with trim screws.
Use a few one-inch spacer blocks to evenly space the next two strips above the bed.
Family Handyman
Step 17
Hang the Nightstands
Screw the nightstands to a plank. I positioned mine flush with the top of the lowest plank, but you could mount them at any height.
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