Kallax Storage Bed and Malma Headboard

IKEA items used:

  • 16 1/2×57 7/8 ” Black brown Kallax x2
  • 10″x10″ black Malma mirrors x 18
  • 21 ¾ “x 4 3/4 ” Black Mosslanda picture Ledge x 3
  • Tjena boxes with lids

Non Ikea Items:

  • No More Nails Glue
  • 10 Tap-Con concrete screws
  • Hammer drill (because drilling in concrete walls in apartment buildings is almost impossible)
  • 2 French Cleats, plus screws
  • 1, 2x4x10 pine cut into 7, 16 1/4″ lengths
  • 2 pieces 4’x8’x1/2″ Plywood cut into 5’x2′, 5’x2′ and 5’x 2’8″ (the bed is 60″x80″)
  • 2 pieces 1/2″foam-core, each 30″x60″
  • 6 L brackets, plus screws
  • Flannel sheet, cut to fit plywood
  • Stapler and staples
  • Scissors
  • Spare screws and washers

Planning the storage bed

I wanted to upgrade from a double to a queen bed, unfortunately the master bedroom just isn’t large enough for 2 dressers, 2 night tables and a queen bed, so I got creative. Eliminating 2 night tables and adding under bed storage worked out perfect!

Kallax storage bed frame

The bed was built on two IKEA Kallax shelves, on their sides, reinforced with 2×4 legs (seven legs) using the hardware that came with the shelves (in the pre-drilled holes) and extra L brackets. Then three 5 foot sections of 1/2-inch plywood, wrapped in a flannel sheet (stapled on the back) are laid across to make a platform for the bed to rest. The plywood had to be in sections to make it easier to transport home from the lumber store (or to move later). Each section is screwed to the legs for extra support.

The Headboard made from 18 Malma mirrors (on sale for $1.59 each!), glued together on foamcore Using No More Nails. A French Cleat is used to hang the headboard directly on the wall with tap-con concrete screws. Above the headboard is the picture ledges we use for phones, water, candles, glasses, tissues.

MALMA headboard

The foot of the bed was intentionally left open for storage and for cleaning, plus the cat likes hanging out under there.

Kallax bed legs for underbed storage

Kallax bed platform

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~ Shannon Stainton