Storage Headboard for a Kid's Room

Tidy up a kid's bedroom with extra storage in the headboard. Follow these step-by-step instructions to create your own.

Related To:

Headboard Storage

Put space at the head of the bed to work by creating a "headboard" out of bookcases. From cubbies to cabinets, this is a great spot to pack in a lot of storage while keeping favorite books and stuffed friends within arm's reach at bedtime. Design by Dan Vickery

Materials:

4x8 sheets of light-density fiberboard (LDF)
1x2x10 pine boards
acrylic doors (cut to size at your local hardware store)
wood glue
primer
2 colors of paint (one for the body of the piece, one inside the shelves)
table saw
nail gun
clamps
paint brushes and other paint supplies
paraffin wax
wood screws

Steps:

First measure and determine the dimensions for your custom storage headboard. It might be handy to sketch out your design, using the measurements of your space as a guideline. Based upon measurements for the cubby openings, have acrylic doors cut at a local hardware store.
Based on your sketch, cut pieces of wood for shelves, back of storage unit and horizontal and vertical supports.
To create the track for the acrylic doors, use a table saw to cut a pair of grooves on the bottom and top of each shelf. The groove should be 3/8-inch wide by 1/4-inch deep.
Assemble cubbies with wood glue and nail gun. Attach back with nail gun. To create a finished front, trim out the front of each cubby with 1x2s. Fill nail holes and cracks with wood filler. Once wood filler has dried, sand smooth.
Prime entire project and allow to dry thoroughly. Paint back of shelves in a vibrant color and surrounds and front in high-gloss white.
Hang on the wall with 4-inch wood screws into studs.
Run paraffin wax along edges of doors to make them glide easier. Fit sliding acrylic doors into top groove and drop down into bottom groove.

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