Straightforward IKEA Platform Mattress DIY Tutorial utilizing Kallax Cabinets

Do that easy IKEA platform mattress DIY hack for a full sized mattress, or modify to suit any dimension mattress. The Kallax cabinets are low cost and nice for added cupboard space and a contemporary aesthetic for youths’ rooms, dorms, or wherever you want a space-saver mattress.

You may additionally like this entryway built-in IKEA storage hack, this IKEA Kallax flat drawer construct or our IKEA Pax closet for our daughters.

In the case of beds, I’ll admit I typically lean towards making my very own DIY platform mattress, reasonably than shopping for one.  Beds are such a simple factor to make. I really feel like they’re typically an amazing first time undertaking for getting your DIY arms soiled.

However this explicit undertaking – an IKEA hack mattress, is the proper resolution if you wish to do a simple DIY mattress with out constructing all the things from scratch (which additionally means you want fewer instruments!).  

This platform mattress has further storage on steroids!  So when you’ve got a small bed room, regardless that this can be a full dimension mattress, you may get a ton of storage with simply the mattress alone, saving house in all places else- even when there’s restricted closet house or restricted wall house.

Full-Dimension IKEA Platform Mattress DIY Tutorial

This sensible IKEA hack tutorial exhibits precisely how I made my full dimension IKEA platform mattress from 3 Kallax items and a bit of additional lumber. (Kallax is the brand new model of what was previously the IKEA Expedit shelf.)

Want a special dimension? Scroll all the way down to see our steered Kallax layouts for an IKEA hack platform mattress in twin, queen, and king sizes.

This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. Study extra and browse our full disclosure coverage right here.

Supplies and Instruments:

Lumber

• 3 – 2″x4″x8″ boards
• 1 sheet 1/2″ plywood (or 3 1×4 mattress slats)
• 1 – 4×8 sheet 1/8″ white tile board (optionally available, shelf backer)
• 12′ x 1/2″ quarter spherical or 1×2 (optionally available, mattress rail)

Different Supplies

Instruments I used

• Drill
• Miter noticed
• Desk noticed or round noticed or jigsaw (optionally available, for chopping sheet lumber)
• Tape measure
• Router

Let’s get began!

Lower Checklist for Full Dimension IKEA Platform DIY Mattress Body

These dimensions are what I used for a full-sized IKEA platform mattress DIY constructed from 3 Kallax 4-shelf items. Measure your actual undertaking earlier than chopping, and browse the detailed directions under for measuring for a special dimension mattress.

• 2″x4″x8″ (precise 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″)
  • reduce 2 @ 54 3/4″
  • reduce 2 @ 26 1/4″ 
  • reduce 2 @  23 5/8″
• 1/2″ plywood
  • reduce 1 @ 54 3/4″x 26 1/4″
  • *if utilizing mattress slats as a substitute, reduce 9 mattress slats @ 26 14/”
• 1/8″ white tile board
  • reduce lengthwise into 3 items @ 16″ huge by 8 ft
  • then reduce 2 @ 57 1/2″ lengthy
  • and reduce 1 @ 26 1/2“
• 12′ x 1/2″ quarter spherical or 1×2

When attaching issues to an IKEA shelf like this (and attaching cabinets collectively), it’s vital to keep in mind that many of the heart of the piece is hole or very frivolously bolstered — the energy is on the edges. So that you’ll want to connect any further items inside about an inch of the perimeters for it to “seize” and keep hooked up.

1: Assemble With Further Glue

To begin your DIY IKEA platform mattress, first you will spend about an hour with this man assembling your Kallax shelf items. Observe the directions with one optionally available addition: glue.  

With a view to make the cabinets extra secure I ran a bead of wooden glue alongside every joint, and within the holes for the picket dowels.

These cabinets are fairly easy to assemble so that you shouldn’t be too indignant as soon as you’re completed! You will want to let the glue dry earlier than transferring on, so go learn an excellent e-book. If you wish to be economical together with your time I suppose you possibly can reduce a few of the different items you will have.

As soon as the glue is dry you’ll organize the cabinets right into a U form like this.

2: Lower the Backerboards

Relying on in case you are utilizing an IKEA unit or a knock off model will rely in the event you want the backerboard- some manufacturers have a again.

With a view to hold stuff from falling again behind the Kallax items, I made a decision so as to add a again board to the interior part of the cabinets.  I obtained some cheap white tile board at Residence Depot — it makes for an amazing shelf backing.

Measure the lengthy fringe of the shelf and the peak of the shelf.  You’ll use the total measurement to chop the white tile board.  That may turn into the again wall of the Kallax unit. 

Now you’ll want to measure the quick inside fringe of the U. That footboard shelf requires a shorter backerboard as a result of the perimeters of the opposite cabinets function a backing. I subtracted 1/2″ to permit for the tile board backer on the opposite cabinets.

For the Kallax proven right here, the peak is 16″ and the total size of the shelf is 57 1/2″. The size of the footboard shelf solely requires 26 1/4″.

Lower the tileboard lengthwise into 16″ huge strips. Then reduce 2 down @ 57 1/2″, and one @ 26 1/4″.

3: Lower the two×4 Mattress Body

An important a part of this IKEA platform mattress DIY is the mattress body to assist the mattress in between the cabinets.

Measure the lengthy fringe of the shelf and subtract 3″ from the measurement to permit for the width of the 2x4s that shall be on the ends. Lower 2 lengths of two×4 at that size.

My measurement was 54 3/4″, however what they are saying, “Measure twice, reduce as soon as!” So remember to double test the measurement!

Measure the quick fringe of the U once more, and reduce 2 lengths of two×4 at that size. (Mine was 26 1/4″.)

4: Set up the Backer Board

Flip the cabinets onto their faces, and screw the tile board into place with the white aspect down, utilizing 1/2″ screws close to the perimeters of the shelf (bear in mind, that’s the place the fabric is!)

I did the 2 lengthy items first, after which slid them again collectively to kind a U, and marked the perimeters of the place the shorter piece would go.

5: Connect the two×4 Mattress Body

I wish to make jigs to assist hold the undertaking transferring shortly, and to avoid wasting me from measuring a lot.  So I used a small scrap of the plywood, and a chunk of two×4 (as you may see under). In case you are utilizing 1×4 mattress slats, use a scrap of that as a substitute of the plywood.

Nail or screw the 2 items collectively in order that the plywood (or slat) covers about half of the huge aspect of the two×4. Now, once you place the jig with the two×4 on the shelf, and butt your precut items of two×4 flush in opposition to the plywood it’s going to go away the correct amount of house to your plywood or mattress slat. That manner the plywood (or mattress slat) shall be flush with the cabinets when it’s completed.

Screw the 26 1/4″ 2×4 into place, centered on the footboard shelf, utilizing the jig to go away house for the plywood.  Solely put screws alongside the highest 1″ of your 2×4. That manner they are going to be inside the huge aspect items of the shelf for energy, they usually received’t be uncovered.

Then butt the 54 3/4″ 2x4s in opposition to the one you simply put in, and utilizing the jig for positioning, screw into place. It ought to appear to be this.

Subsequent, you’ll make a form of pocket gap to toenail the 2x4s collectively utilizing 2 1/2″ screws. “Toenailing” merely means attaching 2 items collectively at a 45-degree angle. Like this.

Toenail with 2 1/2″ screws to connect the opposite 2×4 @ 26 1/4″ to the ends of the 2x4s.

Subsequent, toenail (with 2 1/2″ screws) to connect the within backside fringe of the shelf on the finish of the mattress to the aspect items. Attempt to hold your holes inside 1″ from the sting of the shelf. Bear in mind, the center of the cabinets are hole, and you’ll have nothing for the screw to seize on to. I did 3 screws in every of the 2 finish cubbys.

Alternately, you possibly can use L brackets on the bottom (the within of the U) to connect the cabinets collectively on the bottoms to make this IKEA platform mattress DIY even simpler.

6: Set up Heart Helps or Mattress Slats

In case you’re utilizing a plywood mattress board, subsequent you’ll set up the middle helps.

Measure contained in the 2x4s and reduce 2 – 2×4 items at that size for heart helps (mine was 23 5/8″). Toenail with 2 1/2″ screws to connect the middle helps to the aspect 2x4s, and

In case you want to make use of 1×4 mattress slats, measure the total distance between the cabinets and reduce 9 mattress slats to that size (mine is 26 1/4″).

7: Set up Plywood Platform or Mattress Slats

Now you’re prepared to chop and set up the plywood or mattress slats in your IKEA platform mattress DIY undertaking — almost completed!

Lower your plywood to suit inside the heart house. Mine was 54 3/4″x 26 1/4″. Double test your measurements earlier than chopping so you could have an excellent match. You need the highest of the plywood to line up completely with the highest of the Kallax shelf items so the mattress will lie flat.

Relying on how a lot storage you want in your room, this house beneath the plywood is a superb alternative to retailer garments in a dimension up, or seasonal objects.   There’s numerous storage potential there.  So long as the two×4 body is safe, that may maintain the mattress collectively and plywood can simply sit within the recessed opening with no extra screws or nails.

Tip:  In case you take a 1″ drill bit and drill a pair holes into the plywood, that will provide you with a simple deal with to carry the sheet to retailer long run objects in that heart house.

Optionally, you should utilize 2″ screws to screw the plywood all the way down to the 2x4s across the outdoors.

For mattress slats, you may create your individual mattress slat roll by attaching the slats collectively utilizing 1″ webbing materials, or you may simply place the slats evenly alongside the size of the hole and screw them into the two×4 with 2″ screws. (Slats needs to be 2-4″ aside.)

In case you use the webbing to make mattress slats, you’ll nonetheless need to connect the primary and final mattress slat utilizing screws to make sure that the slats don’t shift and fall off the two×4 assist.

8: Trim the Edge

I needed to verify the mattress wouldn’t slide round on this IKEA platform mattress DIY, so I made a form of mattress rail to carry the mattress in place (because the mattress body is a number of inches wider than the mattress).

I reduce 2 items of quarter spherical, and routed out about 1/8″ the place it will go throughout the raised edges of the cabinets.

I feel a 1×2 would additionally look very nice as an choice.

To put in this mattress “rail” for the mattress:

1. Measure 27″ (half the width of the mattress) from the middle of the mattress body, put the quarter spherical into place, and measure from the surface edge to the quarter spherical.
2. Use that measurement to make a jig out of scrap wooden. This can hold the quarter spherical the identical distance from the sting as you screw it into place.
3. I predrilled a small gap each 6″ at @ a forty five diploma angle to assist information the screw, and sprayed the quarter spherical with white spray paint earlier than I put in it.
4. Then utilizing 1/2″ screws, and your jig, set up the quarter spherical on either side.

The top consequence on this IKEA hack platform mattress is the proper customized platform mattress for a mattress — no want for a field spring!

I discovered that the mattress was a little bit too excessive with the field springs, however the mattress proper on the mattress body is the proper peak for my youngsters and for adults.

Or, in the event you want much more cupboard space, you should utilize the two×4 Kallax cabinets to make a raised loft mattress!

IKEA Kallax Platform Mattress FAQs

Can I simply put a chunk of plywood or mattress slats on prime of the cabinets to make the platform mattress?

Sure! A bit of plywood reduce to dimension (or some mattress slats) could be hooked up proper to the highest of the Kallax cabinets. That’s makes it tremendous low cost, fast, and straightforward to make your individual IKEA platform mattress DIY in just some hours.

You’ll need to make certain that the Kallax cabinets are secured nicely to one another and/or the mattress platform/slats to make sure a secure and secure platform mattress base.

You could possibly see the plywood or slats beneath the mattress with this methodology.

You can even do this IKEA platform mattress DIY hack from Create by OBI — construct a easy field body to placed on prime of the cabinets. This manner, the cabinets act as legs for the mattress and permit for gaps between cabinets to suit the perimeters of the cabinets to aspect of the mattress. (Once more, make certain that the cabinets are secured to the field body / wall for stability.)

Or it can save you on cabinets and fix the field body to the wall, like proven by Pinterest consumer riese2509. This body sits on prime of the cabinets on 2 sides, with helps within the heart and the alternative sides(s) of the mattress body hooked up on to the wall studs.

Construct this IKEA Platform Mattress DIY for Any Dimension Mattress

Utilizing the tutorial above, you may make your individual platform mattress in any dimension! We did the fast math and drew up some concepts for various sizes of DIY IKEA platform beds.

These totally different Kallax configurations present how you can make your individual low cost platform storage mattress from dice cabinets.

*These diagrams are proven with customary mattress sizes — test your particular mattress dimensions since mattresses could range by a number of inches.

*Because the 1×3 Kallax shelf is simply accessible in Europe, we didn’t use it in our configurations for traditional American mattress sizes.

Observe the DIY directions above to connect the cabinets collectively (add scrap wooden for the gaps) and add the plywood mattress assist, or to create a field body / slat base to carry the dice cabinets safe.

Twin IKEA Hack Platform Mattress Structure

Normal Twin Mattress Dimension: 38″ x 75″

TWIN BED

• 2 – 1×4 Kallax
• 1 – 1×2 Kallax

TWIN mattress with reversible nightstand

• 2 – 1×4 Kallax
• 1 – 1×2 Kallax
• 1 – 1×1 Kallax

Construct it from scratch! DIY Constructed-in Mattress Nook with Drawers or Twin DIY Daybed with Storage Cubbies

Twin XL IKEA Hack Platform Mattress Structure

Normal Twin XL Mattress Dimension: 38″ x 80″

TWIN XL BED

• 2 – 1×4 Kallax
• 1 – 1×2 Kallax

TWIN XL mattress with reversible nightstand

• 2 – 1×4 Kallax
• 1 – 1×2 Kallax
• 1 – 1×1 Kallax

Full IKEA Hack Platform Mattress Structure

Normal Full Mattress Dimension: 53″ x 75″

FULL BED

FULL mattress with nightstands

• 2 – 1×4 Kallax
• 2 – 1×2 Kallax
• 1 – 1×1 Kallax

Queen IKEA Hack Platform Mattress Structure

Normal Queen Mattress Dimension: 60″ x 80″

QUEEN BED

queen mattress with nightstands

• 2 – 1×4 Kallax
• 3 – 1×2 Kallax

King IKEA Hack Platform Mattress Structure

Normal Queen Mattress Dimension: 60″ x 80″

king BED

• 3 – 1×4 Kallax
• 1 – 1×1 Kallax

king mattress with nightstands

• 2 – 1×4 Kallax
• 3 – 1×2 Kallax

Methods to Make This IKEA Platform Mattress DIY Hack Even Higher

Add Drawers

If in case you have seen our Entryway storage hack of an Ikea Kallax you’ll have seen how good the IKEA merchandise for Kallax are (significantly the drawers).  If this room is a small house and also you want loads of storage, I’d recommend including 4 drawer items on the finish of the mattress. Including the drawers will provide you with loads of storage for many young children’s clothes objects or toys.

Now, the drawers are small, so they’d work greatest for small articles of clothes like underwear, socks, tank tops, shorts. However these Kallax drawers are also nice for storing small collections of toys too,  and preserving them organized and out of sight. Legos, figures, artwork provides, and all these different “treasures”.

Make it a Loft Mattress

Take this IKEA platform mattress DIY to better heights! Use 2x Kallax cabinets as a substitute of 1x cabinets to create a loft mattress like this one by redditor Gasher7.

Tremendous sensible tip: Use a 1×1 Kallax (with a wine grid insert for stability) as a step stool to get into the mattress!

Add a Constructed-In Headboard

Whilst you’re attaching cabinets collectively and including lumber helps, why not connect a headboard body proper to the Kallax platform mattress base? Pinterest consumer charlenebaines shared images of her double Kallax mattress and headboard right here.

You can even see how she used 1x2s as mattress rails to maintain the mattress in place, and the way her mattress slats are hooked up to the helps in another way for this model of an IKEA platform mattress DIY.

Add a Cover

Whether or not for your self or a youngsters’ room, a mattress cover makes any mattress a little bit extra glamorous and exquisite. Strive one among these 25 DIY mattress canopies.

Add Toy Storage Bins

Our pal Corey from Hey There Hand-crafted this sensible storage platform mattress from one other IKEA favourite — the Trofast toy bins! See how she constructed it — and simply have a look at all that organized toy storage beneath the mattress!

Make Room for Horses

In case your baby is a lover of horses, you possibly can simply convert this mattress right into a horse stall mattress like this one by R and B Door Firm (or attain out to them to make one!).

Add Underbed Lighting

Add LED mild strips to the sting of the Kallax cabinets (multicolor for a youngsters’ room!) like this IKEA platform mattress DIY by Pinterest consumer Nicola Brewster — and possibly that may assist hold the room clear!

You’ll additionally want so as to add extra vertical helps beneath the plywood or slats if there’s greater than a couple of 15″ hole between the cabinets. 2×4 legs or one other Kallax unit are an excellent choice for vertical assist.

So what do you consider all of the methods you may construct a simple IKEA platform mattress DIY? That is such a enjoyable solution to construct one thing we all know you’ll love for years to return in your house.

Storage Platform Beds to Purchase As a substitute of DIY

In case you’re seeking to get a platform mattress with storage that’s able to go proper out of the field, listed here are some nice choices that includes accessible storage baskets or built-in drawers.

Extra IKEA hacks and initiatives you’ll like

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