I know there are some supe talented carpenters, both professional and amateur on here. Could I possibly pick your brains please.
There’s an alcove in our small bedroom into which a single size mattress will fit. Just. There used to be a built in wardrobe there, but we ripped that all out when we had the he extended etc.
The bed frame will attach to three walls, two are brick and one is stud framed. The bed frame will be approx 50cm off the floor to allow for the sloped area that is actually the top of the stairs.
I’d like to fit drawers under the bed frame, but I’ve never DIYed drawers before, and certainly none that should work and look quite presentable.
The slats for the mattress will have to sit on top of the 4x2 framework, otherwise the mattress won’t fit. I’ve used 4x2 as it’ll be super sturdy, but I’m not sure that this is overkill. And I have some in the shed, though I suspect it’s not that straight.
I’ll be filling in the area to the LHS with plasterboard to cover up the sloped bit.
My bare bones design (no WCA inspired 3d cad design here I’m afraid) should be below, please critique it and let me know if I’ve over engineered it, or if there is an obvious flaw and it’ll all fall apart. There’s an image below of roughly how it’ll look, though using the ikea boxes, not drawers.
One thing I do need some help with is the framing for the drawer runner bits, I’ve googled this and I feel it should be straight forward but I can’t quite see how to. I also don’t want to see the gaps etc, so the drawers surrounds should be enclosed somehow.
All advice and p*ss taking welcome.
We've exactly this, but 85cm up in air due to stairs.
I found that an IKEA cupboard and next to it a half drawer filled the space near perfectly. I used MDF to fill any gaps, all painted white to match the cupboard. There is a gap at back, below bed, as the cupboard and drawers aren't full depth.
I've got 18mm ply top that I use as mattress base. I should have used some slats or drilled lots of holes for airflow under the mattress.
Whatever you "box" the angled bit with make it square in front of the angled wall. That way you avoid any unsightly angled shadows (unless you are a pro plasterer). It'll make the bed look squared off in the space too.
@matt_outandabout thanks, I hadn’t thought of using a big single sheet of ply instead of slats, that could be much easier to do. And quicker.
@MarkyG82 lol, good point & I’m no pro plasterer, but I’ll give this a go as it’s only a small area and I still have some plaster board left (it’ll probably take a few goes)
Have a look at Borbon moth woodworking YouTube channel for his instruction on using drawer runners… he’s a series of 3 videos on making a drawer set that’ll really help you….
He uses UNDER drawer runners, which are available in the UK…
WIth that in mind… I’d be inclined to make a false front instead of plastering over the triangle bit?
DrP
@DrP thanks, I have to admit I wasn’t even going to use runners, maybe I should give them a go.
Intrigued by the false front idea, like a hidden cupboard type thing ? I’ve no idea how to do that effectively, google here I come
For the framing. Make the front face from a single ply piece with 2 'windows' in it. Make 2 open ended boxes that fit in the windows. Make the backs and sides of the boxes drop to the floor to support them.
Call your local timber merchants and get them to do all the sheet material cuts for you. It will probably be better quality timber, not be expensive, be more accurate than you can do, and will save loads of time.
Maybe put a strut across the centre half way down just in case.
I'd not bother with plastering the bottom left, just have your front face go all the way along.
For the framing. Make the front face from a single ply piece with 2 ‘windows’ in it. Make 2 open ended boxes that fit in the windows. Make the backs and sides of the boxes drop to the floor to support them.
This
I’d not bother with plastering the bottom left, just have your front face go all the way along.
And this.
Although, instead of two 'windows', I'd perhaps consider doing 3, with the left one being false, . Just for a bit of symmetry, and also to annoy people when they try to open the third drawer.
This... ^^
This is what I meant by a false front... 2 drawers on the right are real...
The left one looks like a drawer, but is just the face/front. It'll cover the angled bit nicely...
Could even get fancy and make it a door that hinges UP, so you can stuff bedding etc into the void...
DrP
Don't bother drawer runners, make the drawers and put them on casters. Much easier in every respect
Don’t bother drawer runners, make the drawers and put them on casters. Much easier in every respect
I'd disagree with this to be honest. Double-extension slide drawer runners are a piece of cake to fit and available in loads of suitable lengths.
If the drawer is on the floor then hmmmm, maybe castors, but if it's in an opening or a box, runners are great and are consistent.
Castors will sink into the carpet the more load they get and you'll get a massive gap at the top and tramlines in your shagpile, and nobody wants tramlines in their shagpile.
I suppose the gap gives you somewhere to park your bike at least.. 😉
Make the drawer box usually 25mm narrower than the opening, use the quick release to remove and screw the inner part to the drawer and a spacer for the outer into the box and screw them in.
Very straightforward and they can go back on a soft close too if that turns you on.
