DIY A Bed For Your Toddler With So Much Built-In Storage

Picture a quaint bed that's not just a snug spot for your kid to catch some ZZZs but also a sneaky place to stash their treasures. Talk about maximizing limited space. Now, instead of clicking through endless online catalogs for that toddler bed with built-in storage, how about making a custom one? And the how-to? Imagine crafting a bed frame that gives off high-armrest couch vibes (minus the fabric), and tucked beneath the mattress box is this cuboidal wooden frame, its face opening up to reveal compartments for toys, books, and cherished childhood mementos. Topping off this bed your children will want to have in their own bedrooms is a comfy mattress and plush bedding.

The cool part? You get to tailor this project to fit your fancy and kid's needs, from the precise dimensions, storage capacity, and even down to the look. For the frame, snag 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber — hit up Lowe's and you'll find a 10-footer whitewood kiln-dried option for about $5. Plywood panels should do the trick for the cladding. A ¾-inch 2-foot-by-2-foot Columbia Forest Products PureBond Red Oak Plywood Panel, for example, goes for roughly $16 at The Home Depot. And for the mattress slats, 1-inch-by-4-inch pieces of wood should hold up (think $40 for a pack of 3 ¼ feet pine twine bed slat boards at The Home Depot). Add a tape measure, circular saw, wood screws, drawer knobs, wood glue, cordless driver or drill, and nails, and you're all set.

Begin this kid-approved bed idea by slicing the 2-by-4s (or 2-by-2s) and 1-by-4s to size. You're aiming for longer pieces for the mattress box and shorter ones for the headboard and footboard, plus a few slats. Now, fasten the 2-by-4s into a headboard and footboard using wood screws, making sure there's enough room between the uprights for the mattress frame. Then, whip up the mattress box by arranging four 2-by-4s into a longer rectangle. For the 1-by-4 slats, go vertical from the outside in or lay them horizontally across support rails screwed inside along the length of the box, using a spacer for even distribution.

Inside your kid's bedroom, prop up the headboard and footboard, and secure the bed box in between. For that finished look, slap plywood on the inside and outside of both the headboard and footboard, not forgetting the back. Moving on to the built-in storage, measure the space under the bed box and create a fitting cuboidal frame — plywood comes in handy again here to separate the compartments. Next, craft drawers from plywood, making sure they're a tad smaller than their housing for smooth sliding, then hook up drawer slides to those boxes and the frame. No drawer pulls? Simply carve out little notches at the top edges of the drawers for easy opening. Once the drawers glide in, all that is left is to crown your DIY toddler bed with a mattress and bedding.

For a toddler bed with built-in storage, you don't have to stick with the basic look. Painting is a good starting point for dialing up the charm. And not just any color but something that harmonizes with the entire room's theme. However, give all the pieces a solid sanding and hit them with primer. Also, stick to paint that's as gentle on the lungs as it is on the planet — low in odor and those nasty VOCs. If aiming for a more earthy tone, staining the wood does the trick. Ideally, let either transformation happen outdoors or in the garage, pre-assembly. Also, go the extra mile by carving or installing decorative elements that fit your kid's interests (think rocket ships and fairy castles). And don't forget a bit of atmospheric lighting to kick the bedtime ambiance up a notch.

Kids can surely turn into acrobats in bed. Padding out those sharp edges and pointy corners with some cushy rubber or foam can help dodge those "oops" moments. Or take the crafty path and round those corners out with a flush trim bit attached to a wood router. Anticipating those middle-of-the-night tumbles? A barrier rail at the front can be handy. And considering the bed's elevated design to accommodate the storage compartments underneath, think about adding a small stool or even a slide for easy and safe access. As for filling those drawers, keep them free of any hazards like medicines, cleaning products, and sharp objects.