When children grow up, the space needed by them also grows up... Specifically more storage space...

My daughter completed her Engineering Degree last year and shifted all her belongings from the hostel to home. Her room was filled with books, cloths, suit cases and all other stuff, mostly spread on the floor. Existing steel almirah and a built-in cupboard could not hold all her things. The steel cot in the room was also taking up more space. Dumping things below the cot gave a very shabby look.

While searching for a suitable solution for this problem, I came across an idea to make a wooden platform to store all those things in an organized manner, which can also be used as a bed.

The end result is what you see here in these pictures...

Step 1: How the Room Looked Earlier

These are the pictures of how the room looked earlier...

The steel cot has taken most of the space in the room... the books and stuff were lying on the floor for want of storage space.

Please read through to see how we turned this mess into a nice looking room with lots of storage

Step 2: Make a Plan

Considering the existing room size, and most importantly shifting the finished wood work into the room through the existing door, we planned to have a 6 feet by 6 feet platform with a total height of 15 inches. This will give us about 20 cubic feet of inner storage space, even after giving due credit to the partitions, side boards and unusable nooks & corners.

The plan is to have four large storage bins adjacent to the walls with top-opening swing doors (like the car bonnet), and three cupboard like storage in front with outward opening doors. Items which are not in frequent use can go in that large storage bins. Other frequently used items can be stored in front for easy access.

I have also made a small paper-board model before proceeding with the actual work and also to assess the material requirement.

Step 3: Materials Required

Materials Required

Eight numbers of 8 feet by 4 feet wide water-proof press boards
about one kilogram of Nails and screws of various sizes (varying from 3/4" to 1-1/2")
One kilogram of Fevicol, a synthetic resin used in wood works
two pieces of 6 feet long hinges (they can be cut and used as required)
8 numbers of Magnetic locks (actually we used three only for the front opening doors)
7 numbers of flush-mountable handles
3 liters of Wood primer
One liter of Premium gloss emulsion for finishing
One liter of Paint thinner
3 numbers of paint brushes

Step 4: Tools

Measuring tape
Hand saw
Hammers
Chisels
Carpenter Plane
mason square
Cutting pliers
Screw driver set
Hacksaw
Marking pen /pencil
Steel ruler
Electrical saw
Electrical Router
A small carpenter's vice

Step 5: Measure and Cut Boards to Size

Based on the small paper model I have made, measurements were marked on the press boards and cut to size using an electrical hand saw

Step 6: Inner Frame Work

All outer perimeter other than the front cupboard portion are double boards. So initially we planned the inner frame work before adding the outer boards.

All the boards cut to size were assembled using Fevicol over the joints and nailed together. A plus joint is used to join the partition between the large storage spaces. Double boards were used for the partition between the large storage and the front cupboard portion.

The height of this frame work is kept as 13-1/2", considering the thickness of bottom boards and the outer boards which will protrude about 3/4" above the inner frame work. This will enable the top boards flush with the frame work.

Step 7: Outer Frame Work and Front Door Frame

As we have completed the inner frame work, we can add the outer boards over all three sides other than the front cupboard portion.

For the front cupboard, the position of swing doors were marked on the board and necessary openings were cut out.

Step 8: Fix the Bottom Boards

Now the entire frame work has been completed, we need to fix the bottom boards in place. So we have turned over the entire framework for covering the bottom area.

The bottom area to be covered is exactly 6 feet by 6 feet (36 square feet). We do not have a single board of that size, so we used a piece of 6 feet by 4 feet, which covers the large storage bins, and another piece of size 6 feet by 2 feet, which will cover the front cupboards.

Step 9: Fix Top Boards

After completing the bottom portion, we can now turn over the complete framework in upright position.

Fix the top board over the area covering the cupboard portion
Install the fixed board over the swing door area at the middle

Step 10: Install All Doors and Fittings

All the swing doors will be fitted to the framework using long hinges.

Place the swing doors one by one on the vice and fix the long hinges
Now the doors with the long hinges can be fixed to the frame work
Magnetic locks are provided for the front doors
For fixing the flush-mounted handles, mark the area on the doors
Using a Router cut the portion required for flush-mounting the handles
Check to make sure you can easily lift the handles before fixing
Fix the handles using Fevicol and screws.

Since our storage platform is completed in all respects other than painting, we can shift it in to the room.

Step 11: Painting

The entire assembly needs to be cleaned before painting. We used a vacuum cleaner to remove all wood particles from the finished platform. Initially apply one coat of wood primer and allow it dry for a day. Then apply a second coat of primer over the initial coat. After the second coat completely dries, you can apply a finishing coat using Premium gloss enamel paint.

The room was kept ventilated for three days till all smell of paint vanished from the room

Step 12: Organize

As the Bed cum storage platform is completed in all respects, we can move it to the desired location in the room. Items which are not in regular use, like bedding for the guests, winter clothing, blankets and other such things are kept in the large storage area. Frequently used items such as books, cloths etc. are stored in the front cupboards.

Now we have a fully organised room with lots of storage space.