Wednesday, March 9, 2011

DIY Full Storage Bed

So, it's spring cleaning time in our household right now!  I have a love/hate relationship with spring cleaning.  I love getting organized and redecorating but I loathe that you have to create endless messes in the house before the final product!

One project I am starting this spring is my 7-year-olds room.  His room has always been pretty hodge-podge because he likes to express himself with crayons and stickers on his furniture.  I have been bribing him the last year that if he could start taking care of what he has then we would redecorate his room.  So, here we are!  We are starting with a big boy bed which is quite an exciting change from his twin/twin, hand-me-down bunk:)


I'm sure you all remember the Twin Storage Bed that Whit shared with you all!  I have always loved the storage beds that I see in certain "high-end" magazines so this was the bed that I went with.  I  
followed the plans for the Full Storage Bed that from Ana's site! 

No more quick trips to Home Depot;)  I love my little shopping buddy and she looks so excited to be shopping with me;)

After building the pieces to the bed I stained it with Minwax Dark Walnut.  It took two coats and it was super easy! 

I let it dry and followed up with a coat of Minwax Polycrylic Clear Gloss.  This was just the look I wanted with the clear gloss!




So far so good!  I absolutely love it now that it is put together.  Anyone can do this and I suggest it because it is so rewarding (and addicting)!  Not to mention that it only cost me $120 compared to $700!

Advice/Pointers:
~ If you mess up, nothing is unfixable!  Wood putty works wonders and I used a TON;)
~ Use Gorilla Glue Wood Glue!  This is what actually joins the pieces together.  The screws/nails are just to hold in place while the glue dries.  This bed is so sturdy that I can jump on it!
~ Make sure you wipe all the glue drips off, especially if you are going to stain the wood.  If you do not, the stain will not penetrate leaving lighter spots (yes, I learned the hard way but fortunately it is not obvious).
 ~ Check all of your boards to make sure they are straight!  If you get home with bowed boards it will make construction a nightmare!  This is very simple.  Just pick one end up to eye level and look all the way down the board to make sure it is pretty level.  Flip over to check all of the sides.
~ You can have Home Depot cut your boards for you.  I cut my own with my miter saw but I have had them cut boards for me before.  (Make sure you bring a tape measure with you so you do not leave with mistakes).

So that's it for now!  I am going to add the Farmhouse Headboard to his bed next.  I love the look of it and I think it will complement the storage bed nicely:)  I am also working on the storage crates for the cubbies.  I am constructing them without plans so I will share the tutorial on those as soon as they are done!

Don't forget to scroll down to our "I Made it Without My Hubby" party to check-out all of the great entries!  It's not too late to enter;)

~Ashley



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8 comments:

Kara @ Mine for the Making said...

Awesome!! (as always) How in the heck do you find the time!!!???

My husband and I built my daughter's toddler bed and it turned out great. I have been looking for ideas for her next bed (when shes grown out of her toddler bed) and this one is at the top of my list! I love the storage space!!

BeingBrook said...

That looks so great!! I am obsessed with Ana's site and have a big list of projects!

Serendipity Chic Design said...

Totally had to laugh at the cart with the baby seat and the board. I remember doing the same thing. It usually resulted in stress...LOL! I am thankful that mine are old enough now where they can push another cart and help out...

Great post...

Take care,
Lisa

the cape on the corner said...

i love the storage here, which is why i totally want it for our master bedroom. we have serious lack of closet space in our little cape, so i need all the found storage i can get!

Unknown said...

That picture of the baby at home depot is precious!! Excellent job!

The Autocrat: Haley said...

Super fabulous! Thanks for great inspiration on always making something fab!

Jody said...

Love that and the color too! I need to learn how to operate power tools!

Pam said...

Very nice, and always a great thing to have that extra storage. Nice job.

 
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