Look! DIY Platform Bed With Storage

David tells us his DIY platform bed project isn't yet complete, but we think he's done such a spectacular job with his bed/storage to this point, we wanted to go ahead and share what's he's completed thus far...

The bed frame is a platform filled in with sheet-rock compound.

"...there's a few things left to do to the bed before it's complete. I plan to build a shoji-like (probably more industrial than traditional) screen/room divider in front of the bed. I'm also planning to add a few coats of polyurethane to the chipboard top. And then there's the 3 foot deep drawers that slide into the side."

Comments (26)

That's great! Something like this would be especially useful in a studio, to hep delineate the space.

help not "hep"...

I wonder how I could build this in small pieces to easily move when my lease is up.

-Eleazar
http://www.blogazar.com

really beautiful job!

Cool deal!

I thought you needed slats under a mattress for air flow (to prevent mold). No?

Great!

And happily, my husband agrees so I might get one like it :D

I was wondering about airflow, too. It may only be an issue with latex mattresses, though.

Hrrmmm... I'm not usually an hysterical Chicken Little when it comes to my daily absorption of cancer causing fumes..but - plywood and chipboard is notoriously bad, offgassing formaldahyde. Not the best place to rest your head. I'd seal it sooner than later!

And Lesley - it is good to have air flow to prevent mildew and too keep the sleeper cool!

This looks great. Nice work!

build one for me?

I love that so much! Except for the unfinished particle board, but that may be part of the "not done."

Wonderful

Amazing! Even better if it was modular-and-clip-together so it could move with you.

blogazar--
in a previous home i bought made a twin bed storage platform from two thin bookcases, this style:
http://www.target.com/Towel-Tower-White/dp/B000TCWV6A/sr=1-5/qid=1210291780/ref=sr_1_5/602-2489112-2793409?ie=UTF8&index=target&field-browse=1038614&rh=k%3Ashelves%20tower&page=1
but in solid wood from an unfinished furniture store. one 2 feet tall, one 6 feet. i set it up in a corner, the long bookcase on its side under one side, the short under the foot, wood strips screwed to the walls for the supports on the other two sides, plywood set on top, camping gear stored underneath, books in the sideways bookshelves. it worked great.

the shelves are still with me, a different color and standing up, but still holding books.

This is a really great concept. It can be dressed up or down depending on the materials used.

If you want it modular, build the storage boxes/drawers and put those under the mattress. Of course you need something in between the mattress and the boxes. A slatted base comes to mind. The ends of the slats might be an interesting view and the space in between may be just enough ventilation.

Sounds like something for IKEA: different storage units could be combined to cater for different room layouts or bed sizes and standard slatting would go on top, needing just a frame to hide it.

Not saying I don't like it but how is this any different than sleeping with a mattress on the floor? Seems like an uncomfortable way to start every day.

It look nice but I cannot stop to think all the dust the books would accumulate :-((

I don't want to climb in and out of bed everyday. A little too physical whimsical for me.

Thanks so much for everyone's interest in the bed. The bed is for my girlfriends studio: http://www.amyvandonsel.com/
In order to tidy up for an impending open studio/house warming party we were sort of rushed to get it into a presentable state, which is why it's currently a mattress hanging out on the "floor". Plans for a slat system and a framed in mattress surround are in fact to come.
Please check the above website for more updates.

I've always wanted a platform bed, but since I have seizures and always end up falling out of bed and on to the floor, they've been off limits (since they tend to be a bit high). This one might actually work for me since the platform goes on for a bit beyond the bed. It's wonderful!

Slats for mildew and airflow...what am I missing in where that is different for mattress with a box spring?

How about using IKEA lack shelves as a base? http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00045560
One at the head, one at the foot and one on each side (and one down the midle perhaps) with a slatted base, or using box mattresses?
http://www.notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/

This is a great bed if you have a big room. I made one that is similar using existing bookshelves and it has a similar look with a less intense build. You can read about it at:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5455318_build-fulldouble-platform-bed-storage.html

If you're concerned that it needs air, you could drill holes in the platform under the bed.