Platform storage bed plans

This step by step diy article is about platform storage bed plans. Although there are many designs you could choose from, in this article we will show you all you have to know about making a classic storage platform bed out of common materials. If you have worked with lumber before, the carpentry techniques should be familiar to you. Make sure you adjust the size of the bed to suit your needs.

Buy quality lumber, made for building lumber, if you want to get a durable bed. Nevertheless, you could save some money if you purchase lumber with knots, which could even enhance the look of project, giving it a rustic appearance. Select the slats with great attention, checking if they are in a good condition (the lumber has to be straight and without chips, dents or cracks).

Always aligned the components before locking them together with screws. In addition, we recommend you to pre-drill the lumber, otherwise the wood might easily split. Add glue to the joints, if you want to enhance their bond. Smooth the cut edges with fine grit sandpaper and remove the residues using a vacuum cleaner. Make sure you take a look over the related plans to get an idea about what you can build for your home. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building a platform storage bed

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 6” long, 9 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 9 1/2″ long LEGS
B – 2 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 79 1/2″ long FRAME
C – 5 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 80 1/2” long FRAME
D – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 39 3/4”x83 1/2″ long SHEETS
E – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 16’x20″ long, 2 pieces – 16″x82″ long STORAGE UNIT
F – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 16″x82″ long, 3 pieces – 16″x18 1/2″ long PARTITIONS
G – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 20’x83 1/2″ long BACK

1 piece of 4×4 lumber – 2 ft
1 piece of 2×4 lumber – 8 ft
7 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 8 ft
4 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler
mattress

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Pre-drill holes in the wooden components, before driving in the screws
Smooth the exposed edges, by using a router with a 1/4” bit

Time

One day

Building the leg

The first step of the project is to build the legs for the bed frame. Mark the cut lines on the 4×4 pieces of lumber and get the job done with a circular saw. Smooth the cut edges with sandpaper and remove the residues with a cleaner.

Building the corner legs

In order to enhance the look of the legs, we recommend you to make cuts as described in the image. Smooth the cut edges with sandpaper and repeat the process for the rest of the legs.

Building the bed frame

Building the frame for the bed frame is a straight-forward process, as you just need to make sure the components are cut at the right size and to lock them tightly by using galvanized screws. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the long components and secure them to the end components with 2 1/2″ screws. Make sure the corners are square and leave no gaps between the components. Add glue to the joints and remove the excess by using a damp cloth.

Fitting the legs

Continue the project by attaching the legs to the bed frame. Drill pilot holes through the legs before securing them to the structure. Insert 2 1/2″ screws though the 2×4 legs into the bed frame and 4 1/2″ screws through the corner legs. Make sure they components are properly aligned before inserting the screws, to prevent the wood from splitting.

Fitting the plywood base

The next step of the woodworking project is to attach the 3/4″ plywood sheets to the bed frame structure, as described in the diagram. Leave no gaps between the plywood sheets and align the with great care, otherwise the end result might not suit your needs. Secure the sheets to the bed frame with 1 1/4″ screws. Add glue to the joints in order to create a rigid structure.

Building the frame of the storage unit

Build the storage unit out of 3/4″ plywood and make sure you adjust its size to suit your needs. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the horizontal components and secure them to the side components by inserting 1 1/4″ galvanized screws. Make sure the corners are square and add glue to enhance the rigidity of the joints.

Building the partitions

Build the partitions out of 3/4″ plywood, making sure you create the notches, as described in the diagram. Mark the cut lines on the pieces of plywood and get the job done by using a circular saw and a chisel. Smooth the recess with sandpaper. Make sure you drill pocket holes at both ends of the components.

Fitting the partitions

Lock the components together and fit them inside the storage unit. Align the components with great care and lock them to the frame by using 1 1/4″ screws. Make sure the corner are square before inserting the galvanized screws into place.

Attaching the back of the storage unit

Attach the 3/4″ plywood to the back of the storage unit, as described in the image. Work with attention and secure the plywood component to the frame by using 1 1/4″ screws. Add glue to the joints and remove the excess. Check if the corners are right-angled before inserting the screws.

Attaching the storage unit

Attach the storage unit the bed frame and align the components with great care. Leave no gaps between the components and drill pilot holes through the bottom components before inserting the 1 1/4″ screws into the bed frame sheets.

Platform storage bed frame plans

Last but not least, you need to take care of the final touches. Therefore, you need fill all the holes with a good filler and let the compound to dry out properly, before sanding the wooden surface with 120-grit sandpaper.

Smart tip: Clean the residues with a dry cloth, before staining the platform storage bed with the appropriate products for your tastes and needs. Afterwards, install the mattress and take a nap.

Thank you for reading our article about platform storage bed plans and we recommend you to check out the rest of our home improvement projects. Don’t forget to share this projects to your friends, using the social media widgets, if you’ve found it useful. LIKE us on Facebook to be the first that gets our latest updates and to help us create more free plans for you.

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