11 DIY Projects That Add Much-Needed Storage Space To Your Bed

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Looking for small bedroom ideas to maximize space? If your bedroom is on the compact side, cramming in another dresser or shelf unit might give you extra storage, but it will eat up more precious floor area. These DIY ideas allow you to turn your bed into a storage solution, whether via easy-to-access spots to stash a few books or more involved solutions for storing seasonal clothes, spare bedding, or even valuables you want to keep hidden. 

Creating under-the-bed storage is one of the surest ways to make your bedroom more organized than ever – and a lot of the following DIYs focus on maximizing this underutilized space. We've included a couple of IKEA hacks, in case you don't feel like building everything from scratch. But if you are keen to practice your woodworking, there are also a couple of inspo ideas for fully DIYed storage beds. And for those who just want a small amount of space for housing books and smaller items, this roundup also includes ideas for adding storage into headboards. 

Not only is this DIY practical, but it's also resourceful. If you have unused dressers or sideboards that are taking up too much floor space, this hack can give them a creative new purpose. It's also an ideal option if you're working with a tight budget, but want a storage bed with drawers. You will need to cut the dressers down to your desired bed height, push the halves together, and use plywood or sturdy slats across the top to create the platform. You can even add a sliding barn door at the foot of the bed to hide the gap between the dressers and create additional storage.

This DIY from @happilybeforeandafter utilizes an IKEA dresser as a loft bed base, with a secret play space for the kiddos. Create the base with the IKEA Nordli Dresser and a custom bookshelf crafted from plywood. Make sure to add support beams along the sides of the wall and across the middle to give the bed a proper foundation. Add a door that separates the dresser from the bookshelf in order to create an entry to the hidden hangout area underneath the bed. This is a genius clothing storage solution for a bedroom without closets. It's also a top hack to consider if your child's room has an unused nook.

A pop-up bed is handy for creating space to store winter blankets, pillows, and other linens you can't squeeze into your closet. You can either build this bed frame from scratch or use a pre-constructed platform as your base. The most important element is the gas lift mechanism, which will allow the surface of your bed frame to pop up and reveal storage within the platform. You can even buy a bed-specific spring set such as the Beamnova 4.6-foot Bed Lift Mechanism. Keep in mind that different lifts will have different weight compatibilities, and your bed has to be both light enough and heavy enough for the mechanism to function properly.

For a camouflaged storage idea, you can create hidden compartments behind staggered planks of wood on a headboard. This headboard features a brick-like arrangement with varying grain patterns for a busy-looking surface. This randomness makes it ideal for hiding small doors or compartments since there are no consistent seams or symmetrical lines to give away the openings. The natural joints between the boards act as perfect disguise lines so that the compartments can blend seamlessly into the headboard. You can store items that you need to access regularly but don't want easily found.

Drawers are a tried-and-true way to add storage to a simple platform bed. To build a platform bed from the ground up, start by cutting your headboard, footboard, and the side panel without the drawers. Don't forget about the side rails for supporting the bed slats. Attach all of the panels with interlocking brackets, like these Zbro 4 Set Bed Rail Brackets, before installing support posts for the slats. If you want to end your woodworking project there, you can slide baskets or rolling drawers underneath the open side. For a custom fit, the DIY options are endless when it comes to constructing your storage drawers.

If you are lacking storage for books, you can create a headboard with integrated shelving on the side. The shelves can also eliminate the need for a large, bulky nightstand. Adjust the width of the space between the headboard and the wall depending on the items you want to store. You can either build onto the back of an existing headboard or create the headboard from scratch for a more streamlined look. The inspiration project pictured above from @3x3CustomTamar is a headboard and bed frame all in one, but if you already have a bed base, you could opt to attach it to the headboard, secure the headboard to the wall, and slide the bed up against it. 

For those who love high-tech innovation, consider a bed that incorporates both storage and built-in charging stations. Once you construct the hollow frame from sheets of plywood, you'll want to build drawers or cubbies into each side. Cubbies with a sliding door can be a great option for spaces that don't have room to pull out drawers completely. To add charging stations, mount two small wooden cable guides on top of the headboard, each with a cutout that lets a charging cable pass through. You can fix them in place with embedded magnets.

This stylish DIY build from @WoodshopDiaries on YouTube looks like a credenza but folds out into a bed. It also features lower drawers to store pillows, and there should be enough room to stash spare sheets, or other items. Once you've built the exterior frame of your "credenza" according to the measurements of your desired bed, the key is to integrate a fold-down front panel that acts as the first part of the bed platform. A second platform panel is attached with hinges, so when the front drops down you can unfold the next section outward, creating the base that supports the mattress. Overall, this is an expert interior design hack to make a small bedroom feel more spacious. 

If you don't want to build or alter the bed itself, this is a super creative bedroom design idea to liven up the space and add sneaky storage. A chest at the foot of the bed can easily store additional blankets, pillows, and more. When designing your own bed bench with a lift-up lid for storage, size it based on bed width, walking clearance, and lid opening space. You can build a simple structure with plywood panels, and the lid can either be supported by a gas spring or hinges. Upholster the lid with a playful fabric to add style to your sleeping space.

For this affordable and practical project, start building your platform bed with the IKEA Sektion cabinet frames. These modular IKEA cabinet combinations come in a wide range of sizes and dimensions, allowing you to customize the storage for your desired bed height and width. You can secure the cabinets to a simple foundation built with lumber. In order to add ventilation, don't bring the cabinets all the way to the wall. Leave a small gap that can be covered with decorative slats. This will allow air to pass underneath your bed instead of completely closing it off.

You can DIY this entire headboard using wooden planks (like the inspiration project by @SpecificLove7 on YouTube) or by cutting a hole in an existing headboard to save time. However, make sure the headboard is thick enough to support a built-in shelf in the upper center. A flat headboard may become weak once modified, so you can also mount the shelf to the wall for extra support. This is an expert way to organize your small bedroom, as it keeps books neatly stored inside an easy-to-reach shelf.