Pallet timber bed with storage

[DiamondDave]

This richly coloured, rustic-style bed makes use of pallet timber and provides plenty of extra storage with spacious drawers. 

• The project
• More project inspiration for your bedroom

The project

I ordered a new mattress and was tossing up whether to buy a bed base or build one. I saw some nice units in the shops but – Wow! – they were a bit pricey. 

So it was off to Bunnings' Marsden Park and Rouse Hill stores to recycle their pallets again. They must almost know me as as Pallet Man by now. 

I bought Pine for the structural timber because it's strong and light.

 

 

 

The thicker pallet timber came in handy and worked in well around the top and bottom rails.  I used standard-depth pallets for drawer fronts and handles. The internal drawer timber is slotted pine panels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used Cabot’s walnut and coco black stain.

 

 

 

 

 

When designing your own bed base the first step is to measure your mattress. I gave the top a 15mm gap all around to allow the tucking of the sheets without scraping fingers.

The height is totally up to you. Mine is 450mm from floor to top edge. The mattress is 380mm thick, so it’s a tall climb in – I didn’t check the height of the mattress in the shop.

The drawers are all customised to suit the upright supports. The fronts were cut to allow the overhang to fit to the edge. The side drawers are 900mm wide and 600mm deep – great for extra linen storage or for hiding chocolates from kids.

With the right tools, and with some changes to the design throughout, this took about three weeks from start to finish. I was doing it at night after work and didn’t want to annoy neighbours with power-tool noise, so cuts and sanding were done on weekends or early evenings. Assembly was all done in the room.

It was just trial and error on some things. "Measure twice, cut once" is the most useful tip ever.  

Just remember one other thing: whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right. I always think I can until proven wrong. And it’s never been proven yet. 

More project inspiration for your bedroom 

Bunnings Workshop member annatr made their bedroom pop with this hanging upholstered bedhead. 

Workshop member EleventhCoastal shared this impressive nib wall bedhead with VJ panelling and floating shelves.

There are also plenty of other great ideas in our collection of Workshop members' Bedheads and nib walls.

Let us know if you need a hand with your project – we're here to help.