Transform your bedroom into an organized oasis with this comprehensive guide to building your very own Cal King platform storage bed. Designed for the enthusiastic DIYer, these free plans offer a practical and stylish solution to maximize space and minimize clutter. Many have asked how to adapt Kristy’s original platform storage bed design to exclude the daybed/bench feature, leading us to create these detailed instructions for a standalone storage bed. While these plans are specifically for a Cal King, we also have Queen Storage Bed plans available, and both can be easily modified to suit a standard King size mattress. Get ready to embark on a rewarding woodworking project that will not only enhance your bedroom’s aesthetics but also provide invaluable hidden storage.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Your DIY Platform Storage Bed
In today’s homes, maximizing space is more crucial than ever. A platform storage bed offers an ingenious solution, combining comfortable sleeping quarters with discreet, built-in storage. This design eliminates the need for a box spring, allowing your mattress to rest directly on a sturdy platform, while the integrated drawers provide a perfect home for linens, off-season clothing, or anything else you want to keep neatly tucked away. This project is ideal for those seeking to declutter their bedroom, add a touch of custom craftsmanship, and enjoy the satisfaction of a self-built furniture piece. Whether you’re an experienced woodworker or just starting, these plans are broken down into manageable steps to guide you through the construction of a beautiful and functional Cal King platform storage bed. Let’s gather our tools and materials and get started on creating a piece that will transform your bedroom.
Essential Materials and Tools Needed
Before you begin, ensure you have all the necessary materials and tools on hand. Careful preparation will make the building process smoother and more efficient. For this robust platform storage bed, we recommend the following:
- Primary Material: Approximately 4-5 sheets of 3/4″ plywood or MDF. Plywood offers excellent strength and a natural wood grain if you plan to stain, while MDF provides a smooth, consistent surface ideal for painting.
- Adhesive: High-quality wood glue for strong, lasting joints.
- Fasteners:
- 1 1/4″ wood screws (for attaching storage compartments, faceframes, and some smaller trim pieces)
- 1 3/4″ wood screws (primarily for assembling storage boxes)
- 2″ or 2 1/4″ wood screws (for attaching cleats to compartments)
- 3″ wood screws (for assembling the sturdy 2×4 base)
- Optional: 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws (if using a Kreg Jig for cleaner joinery on faceframes or box tops)
- Dimensional Lumber: Several 2×4 boards for the bed’s structural base and cleats.
- Trim Material: 1×2 and 1×3 poplar or a similar hardwood for the faceframes and trim, offering a clean, finished look.
- Drawer Hardware: Drawer glides (side-mount or under-mount, depending on your preference and budget) and corresponding screws.
- Sandpaper: Various grits (from 80 to 220) for smooth surfaces and edges.
- Wood Filler/Putty: To fill screw holes and imperfections before finishing.
- Primer and Paint/Stain: Your chosen finish to protect and beautify the bed.
Recommended Tools:
- Saw: A circular saw with a straight edge guide or a table saw for accurate cuts. A miter saw for crosscuts on trim and 2x4s.
- Drill/Driver: Cordless drill for pre-drilling holes and driving screws.
- Kreg Jig (Optional but Recommended): For creating strong, concealed pocket hole joints.
- Measuring Tape and Square: Essential for precise measurements and ensuring square cuts and assemblies.
- Clamps: Various sizes to hold pieces securely during gluing and screwing.
- Orbital Sander: For efficient and smooth sanding.
- Safety Gear: Eye protection, hearing protection, and a dust mask are crucial for any woodworking project.
- Level: To ensure your base and overall bed structure are perfectly level.
Having everything ready before you start will minimize interruptions and help you maintain focus on the build. Double-check your measurements against your specific mattress size to ensure a perfect fit!
Step 1: Building the Six Storage Boxes
The foundation of your platform storage bed lies in its robust storage compartments. You will construct six identical boxes that will form the main structure, providing ample space for drawers. Precision is key in this step to ensure everything aligns perfectly later on. When assembling, always apply a bead of wood glue to all mating surfaces before driving screws. This significantly increases the strength and durability of your joints. Use 1 3/4″ wood screws for these boxes, placing the first and last screws approximately 1″ from each edge, then spacing additional screws about 6″ apart for consistent strength. Remember to pre-drill pilot holes to prevent wood splitting, especially near edges.
Attaching the Bottom to the Sides
Begin by attaching the bottom panel of each box to its side panels. It’s crucial that the bottom sits 3/4″ up from the very bottom edge of the side pieces. This intentional gap is vital for integrating the platform base and ensuring proper clearance later. A simple trick is to use a scrap piece of 3/4″ material as a spacer or guide to ensure accurate and consistent placement across all six boxes. This ensures your drawer openings will be correctly positioned. Once the bottom is correctly positioned, apply glue along the edges and secure it firmly with 1 3/4″ wood screws, ensuring the screws penetrate both pieces securely.
Securing the Back Panel
Next, attach the back panel to the assembled sides and bottom. The back panel plays a critical role in squaring up the box and preventing items from being pushed out the back of your future drawers. Apply wood glue to the edges of the side and bottom panels where the back will attach. Position the back panel flush with the top and outer edges of the box, then secure it with 1 3/4″ wood screws, following the same spacing guidelines. Ensure the box remains square during this step, using a carpenter’s square to check all corners.
Fitting the Top Panel
Finally, secure the top panel to complete each storage box. The top panel will provide a solid surface for the mattress support and enhance the structural integrity of each compartment. You have two primary methods for attachment: using 1 3/4″ wood screws driven through the top into the sides, or utilizing pocket hole screws from the underside of the top panel into the sides for a completely concealed fastening method. Pocket holes offer a cleaner, more professional finish, which can be advantageous if the top edges will be visible. Whichever method you choose, apply wood glue generously before fastening. Once all six compartments are built, arrange them as they will be in the final bed structure to ensure all measurements are consistent. If your individual boxes have slight variations, make note of them so you can adjust subsequent steps to fit YOUR specific compartments.
Once all six compartments are together, you’ll see the complete internal structure taking shape. Take a moment to dry-fit them in the configuration shown, ensuring they sit flush and are square. This is a critical checkpoint before moving on, allowing you to make any minor adjustments to ensure a seamless build.
Step 2: Constructing the Platform Base
The platform base provides the essential support and stability for your entire bed structure. It acts as a sturdy frame into which your storage compartments will nest, elevating the bed to a comfortable height and ensuring long-term durability. This section involves working with 2×4 lumber to create a robust foundation.
Assembling the 2×4 Base Frame
Utilize 2x4s and 3″ wood screws to assemble the base frame as illustrated in the provided diagrams. Begin by cutting your 2x4s to the appropriate lengths to form a rectangular frame that will enclose your storage compartments. This frame should be slightly larger than the combined footprint of your storage boxes, allowing for the cleats to fit inside. Use a strong wood glue on all joints before driving the 3″ screws, ensuring a rock-solid connection. Create overlapping joints (butt joints with screws and glue) at the corners for maximum strength. Additionally, consider adding internal cross supports within the 2×4 frame to prevent sagging and further distribute weight evenly across the entire base. Ensure the frame is perfectly square before the glue sets, as this will impact the alignment of your storage boxes.
Adding the 2×4 Cleats to Compartments
Next, you’ll attach 2×4 cleats to the bottom of each storage compartment. These cleats are vital for securing the compartments within the base frame. Measure your assembled 2×4 base frame carefully to determine the precise placement of these cleats. Each cleat should be positioned so that it fits snugly INSIDE the perimeter of the 2×4 base frame. This creates an interlocking system that prevents the storage boxes from shifting. Attach each cleat to the bottom of its respective storage compartment using 2″-2 1/4″ screws. Pre-drilling is essential here to prevent splitting the 2x4s and ensuring a secure attachment. Ensure the cleats are flush with the bottom edge of the storage box’s 3/4″ offset you created earlier.
Securing Storage Compartments to the Base
With the base frame and cleats ready, it’s time to integrate the storage compartments. Carefully set each storage compartment into the 2×4 base frame, aligning the cleats so they fit perfectly inside the frame. Once all compartments are in place and aligned, secure them together by driving 1 1/4″ screws through the sides of adjacent compartments. This step effectively creates a single, unified structure. Additionally, drive screws through the base frame into the cleats to lock the compartments firmly into the base. Ensure everything is plumb, level, and square at this stage for a stable and aesthetically pleasing final product.
Step 3: The Faceframe and Surround
The faceframe and surround elements are crucial for giving your platform storage bed a finished, custom-built appearance. They also provide additional structural support and a solid mounting surface for your drawer fronts. This step involves adding decorative and functional trim to the bed’s exterior.
Installing the Headboard and Footboard
For the headboard and footboard, use 3/4″ MDF or plywood. These panels will define the ends of your bed and provide a robust boundary for the mattress. If you envision an upholstered headboard, you might also consider upholstering the footboard for a cohesive design. Attach these boards by driving 1 1/4″ screws from the inside of the cabinet compartments into the headboard and footboard panels. This conceals the fasteners for a clean exterior. You may need to climb inside the compartments to ensure you get enough screws in for a secure hold. Each board should extend approximately 1 3/4″ above the top surface of the platform, creating a subtle lip for the mattress.
Crafting and Attaching Faceframes
Faceframes are decorative and functional elements that cover the raw edges of your plywood/MDF compartments and create a seamless look. Use 1×2 and 1×3 poplar or a similar hardwood for these. Construct the faceframes for each set of drawers (typically three on each side) using pocket hole joinery and 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws. This method creates strong, invisible joints. If you’re new to this technique, resources like how to build and attach a cabinet faceframe can be incredibly helpful. The height of your faceframes should match the height of your headboard and footboard, creating a uniform perimeter around the bed. Once built, attach the faceframes to the front of your storage compartments, again using pocket hole screws from the back side of the faceframe into the compartment edges, or by carefully nailing and gluing them in place.
For the footboard area, if you opt *not* to upholster it, you can extend the faceframe over the entire footboard section. This creates a consistent look with the side faceframes and negates the need for a filler strip in that area, as detailed in the next step.
Incorporating the Filler Strip
To create a flush surface for your mattress to rest on and to finish the top edge of the storage compartments, add a 1×2 filler strip. Glue and nail this 1×2 strip to the inside perimeter of the two sides and the foot of the bed, ensuring it is flush with the TOP edge of the faceframe and footboard. This strip effectively doubles up the top edge, creating a robust and level surface. If you chose to add a faceframe directly over the footboard in the previous step, you can skip adding a filler strip to that specific area, as the faceframe itself will provide the necessary thickness and finish.
Finishing the Top Frame
To complete the mattress support structure and provide a polished look, add another 1×2 board to the very top edge of the “U” shaped bed platform. This piece sits directly on top of the filler strip and faceframe, creating the final perimeter that will hold your mattress securely in place. Glue and nail this piece down, ensuring all edges are flush and the surface is level. This completes the main structure and readies the bed for drawers and finishing.
Step 4: Drawers and Drawer Fronts
The drawers are the functional heart of your platform storage bed, providing invaluable hidden storage. Building and installing drawers requires precision, as their smooth operation directly impacts the usability of your bed. Drawer dimensions are highly dependent on the specific drawer glides you choose (side-mount, under-mount, etc.) and the exact dimensions of your cabinet openings. Therefore, detailed drawer plans are rarely included directly in bed frame instructions. It is always best practice to measure the openings you end up with after building your cabinet boxes and faceframes to ensure you build drawers that will fit YOUR specific bed perfectly.
For these storage boxes, assuming the use of standard 1/2″ side-mount glides, you would typically deduct 1 inch from the total width of the opening to account for the glides (1/2 inch on each side). The height of the drawer box will depend on the opening and how much clearance you want at the top and bottom. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for your chosen drawer glides for the most accurate sizing information.
Below are links to comprehensive tutorials that will guide you through the process of building and installing drawers and their fronts:
- How to build simple drawers
- How to install drawers using side mount glides
- How to build drawers using Blum Tandem Glides
- How to build drawer fronts
- How to install drawer fronts
Remember, accurate measurements and meticulous alignment are key for smoothly operating drawers. Take your time, and don’t hesitate to refer to these detailed tutorials for expert guidance.
Step 5: The Finishing Touches
The finish you apply to your platform storage bed will determine its final appearance and durability. This is where your personal style truly comes to life! The choice of finish largely depends on the material you used for construction, as well as the desired aesthetic for your bedroom.
If you built your bed using MDF, painting is generally your best option. MDF’s smooth surface takes paint beautifully, allowing for a crisp, modern look. For exposed edges of MDF or plywood, special attention is required to achieve a professional finish. We have helpful tutorials for painting MDF edges and Plywood edges if you have any showing. If you used plywood and prefer a natural wood look, staining is an excellent choice. Alternatively, there are impressive gel stains available that can simulate a rich wood grain even on less expensive materials.
Finishing Process Tips:
- Sanding: Start with a medium-grit sandpaper (e.g., 120-150 grit) to smooth out any imperfections, then progress to a finer grit (e.g., 180-220 grit) for a silky-smooth surface ready for primer or stain.
- Filling Holes: Use wood filler or spackle to conceal all screw holes and any minor gaps. Sand smooth once dry.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly wipe down all surfaces to remove dust and debris before applying any finish. A tack cloth works wonders for this.
- Primer: Always apply a good quality primer, especially on MDF or if you’re painting a light color over dark wood. Primer ensures better paint adhesion and a more uniform topcoat.
- Paint/Stain Application: Apply thin, even coats, allowing adequate drying time between each. Multiple thin coats yield a much more durable and professional finish than one thick coat.
- Topcoat/Sealer: For added durability and protection, especially on high-traffic areas like drawer fronts, consider applying a clear topcoat or sealer (e.g., polyurethane, lacquer).
Our extensive library of Cabinet Finishing tutorials can also provide a wealth of knowledge and specific techniques to help you achieve a flawless and long-lasting finish for your custom platform storage bed.
Conclusion: Enjoy Your Custom Storage Bed
Congratulations on building your custom Cal King platform storage bed! This substantial woodworking project not only provides a beautiful, sturdy foundation for your mattress but also introduces significant, discreet storage solutions right where you need them most. From the initial cuts of plywood to the final coat of paint, you’ve invested time and effort into creating a functional piece of furniture that perfectly suits your space and style. The satisfaction of a DIY project, especially one that so dramatically enhances your living space, is unparalleled.
We absolutely love seeing your completed projects! If you build this bed and share it on Facebook or Instagram, please remember to tag us @sawdustgirl. Your creations inspire others and help grow our vibrant DIY community. Enjoy the comfort, organization, and custom charm that your new platform storage bed brings to your home!
