How to Build a DIY Storage Bed Frame in 7 Easy Steps

The best storage for a small bedroom

It can be frustrating living in a small bedroom and feeling like you have to choose between storage space and an aesthetic room. I found myself in this exact situation and thought, why not both?

This is a must-have solution for all small bedrooms: a storage bed. And for those who don’t want to pay top dollar for one, here are steps to build a DIY bedframe. This super easy IKEA furniture hack makes a storage DIY storage bed that is useful and aesthetically pleasing.

The Problem:

When I moved into my current apartment I found myself with a tiny room and not nearly enough space for even my minimalist wardrobe.

[This is for a twin-size bed. A larger size would require more support.]

The Solution:

The only way I found to incorporate sufficient drawers was to have a bed with storage built into it. 

Now IKEA does sell a twin bed “SLAKT” which has shelves and drawers.

However, it was $290, not including shipping, and due to shortages, it would take 2 months to come to me. So I opted to build my own

The Design:

I made multiple 3D models in order to calculate which IKEA cabinets would fit while giving me the storage I need. I compared the sizes and cost of the MALM drawers to the BESTA shelves.

[DISCLAIMER: I am not a carpenter, and although I have a design background and have constructed this bed, I am sure there are many ways to improve on this design and better woodworking techniques I could have used.]

Here are my findings:

What you’ll need:

• 2 IKEA EKET cabinets with drawers ($90 each)

• 3 IKEA EKET cabinet shelves ($15 each)

• 1 x 3 Wood Planks

(I recommend a long piece and then cut them to size, but as long as each plank is over 64.25″ it should be fine. I got several 72″ planks. You can refer to the dimensions below to calculate what you might need)

[Note: Although they are referred to as 1″x3″ wood, that is only their nominal width – what they were once cut to and is used for identification. The actual dimension is closer to .75″ x 2.5″ after the wood shrinks as it is processed]

You can get wood from Home Depot, Lowe’s, or almost any hardware store.

(In my experience I found that they actually sell bed slats that are 36″ long – made exactly for a twin bed! You can use these but you would have to modify the design of the frame so that the slats sit on top of the Ikea furniture instead of behind it as a separate structure as shown below)

• Tape measure

• 1 box of long screws (at least 2 inches)

• Handsaw ( if you have access to a woodshop or a chop saw that is much preferable and will make this whole process 1000 times easier)

• Drill

• 6 Corner Brace Brackets

Steps:

Step 1: Build the IKEA furniture

This is fairly straightforward as IKEA furniture is generally easy to build.

Step 2: Cut the wood

(A) Start with cutting 12 1x3s at 12.25″

Then screw 2 of them together to get 6 legs for the frame

(B) Cut 2 pieces at 64.25″

(C) Cut 11 pieces at 27.25″

Step 3: With the wood cut to size, build the frame.

– Begin by screwing 1 of the long pieces (B) onto 2 legs (A) – one at each end. Then screw one leg (A) roughly at the halfway point of (B).

– Repeat this step for the other long piece (B)

– By each leg screw in a corner bracket to reinforce the joint

– Screw in the first bed slat (C) to connect the two sides of the frame (B) together right behind the screws for the legs on top

– Screw in the rest of the slats connecting the two sides of the bed with roughly 3″ in between each (you can do this by marking the long side (B) with a dot at roughly 5.5″, then place each bed slat (C) on its center, on the mark)

[EXTRA: there is a small gap right under the left corner of the bed due to how everything lines up. To solve this I just cut an extra 2 pieces at 12.25″ for an extra leg and an 11″ piece to connect it to the bedframe, thereby creating an extension of the wooden frame.

I’m not sure if this is necessary, but why not?

Refer to the image to the right for more information]

Step 4: Place the wooden frame

Now that you have completed the DIY part of your DIY storage bed frame, put the wood frame in the corner of where you want your storage bed to be.

You can now put suitcases, or anything you don’t need to access regularly, underneath the wooden bed frame.

Step 5: Surround with the IKEA furniture

Arrange the IKEA furniture around the wooden frame as shown in the picture below. This creates the storage part of your storage bed frame,

You can try to screw them into place by attaching them to each other on the back but ultimately I find this unnecessary. In my experience, they won’t shift anyways, and this way you can easily move them around later on to clean or to access the stuff you put underneath. Additionally, the IKEA furniture can now remain intact for future alternative uses.

[Note: Because of the size of the cabinets there is a space of about 11″ between the wall and the cabinet that can be used to fit a bedside table

I scoured the internet for a side table that fit these dimensions so a bedside table could fit exactly underneath (and possibly while supporting the corner of the bed)

In my research, I realized I could use the extra storage space for my small room, so I opted for a tall bookcase to act as both my bedside table and storage.

Here are some other options for bedside tables that might work with this bedframe:

Step 6: Place your mattress on top

Now place your mattress on top and your belongings in the drawers and storage shelves.

Step 7: Enjoy 🙂

Feel free to adapt this DIY storage bed frame as necessary and contact me with any questions or comments on how to improve this.