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How to: Make a Captain's Bed on the Cheap

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Welcome to Killorn, who wrote in with a triple whammy: a small space DIY that's clever, easy, and cheap. She turned an Ikea LACK shelf into under-bed storage. Says Killorn:

I could not find a suitable storage bed in my budget that fit in the 64" x 88" alcove in my tiny apartment (450 sq ft), so I decided to build a plywood stage around a rolling LACK shelf to give the bed the appearance of a built-in. [more detailed photos and frame drawings after the jump]


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Before
Captains_after1.jpg
After

GREAT for additional storage, I just pull the LACK shelf out to access seasonal clothes, larger office supplies, resource books even my vacuum!

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2007_04_19_sideview.jpg
Total cost including LACK shelf: $130

Next up: Tufted headboard!

We're looking forward to it!

Comments (16)

Um, that's awesome. I really love the little front and side view graphics!

posted by Shannon in SF on 2007-04-19 16:38:37
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I agree with Shannon -- this is super cool. And I didn't initially realize that the shelving unit is on castors. Even better!

Makes me wonder what other brilliant things Killorn has come up with for the rest of the apartment ...

posted by anh-minh on 2007-04-19 16:56:16
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Love this but the mirror over the bed made me cringe. I hope at the very least you're using earthquake safe picture hangers.

posted by Li on 2007-04-19 17:16:10
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Another vote for totally cool.

posted by arin on 2007-04-19 19:19:10
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I agree that it looks a little dangerous in there. But very very nice solution with the lack shelving, and a great job with the visual descriptions!

posted by Sea on 2007-04-19 19:28:17
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The mirror is wonderful.

posted by erinorea on 2007-04-19 22:43:40
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I absolutely love that ruffled bedspread! Where did you find it?

posted by pignolia on 2007-04-23 22:43:39
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The comforter cover is DKNY "Pure Snow" - Picked it up on eBay for $25!

posted by killorn on 2007-04-24 02:05:24
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Very smart use of the lack. I was planning on doing a simular thing myself! I think it looks great- and I like the mirror!

posted by robj98168 on 2007-08-31 22:10:19
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Killorn - I love this design. What size bed is that?

posted by cancan on 2007-09-06 14:43:27
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I love this! You really just used plywood?! I want to make something similar. How high off the ground is your bed and what did you use to hold it together?

posted by jmedavis on 2007-09-18 05:38:29
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i'm in love with this 'cos it solves so many problems in one. it meets and surpasses the marks on storage, efficiency, attractiveness, and luxury. it's a sumptuous bed and a super use of the bookshelf and i can't get over how great it looks framed by the curtains! is that bedspread from UO?

posted by SD913 on 2007-09-18 23:38:49
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nevermind i see it's a dkny bedspread, but recently i saw a very similar spread and i think it was from UO. i'd like to know the size of the mattress too. looks like a full to me, which is what i plan on using in my b/r.

posted by SD913 on 2007-09-18 23:41:46
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I love the look of this, and it makes excellent use of an alcove! My only concern would be warping. Plywood tends to warp with time (sometimes only a few months) and it could become bad for your back. I'd love to try this with my antique mahogany headboard, which came with my grandmother's wedding set, sans bed frame. Right now it's just propped behind the bed, against the wall, and I think this would be a great solution for me! If I did it, I would add an addition support beam at the midpoint, under the mattress board. Thanks for the great idea!

posted by ami_l on 2008-05-10 15:15:21
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clever

posted by cityofparis on 2008-05-10 21:13:26
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That mirror may make other people cringe, but I am in love with it!! Where did you get it??

posted by azaleasmoke on 2008-05-11 13:39:19
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