DIY Bed Headboard with MDF, by Roel

Description of Roel

A bed headboard with integrated compartments for alarm clocks etc. All electricity is concealed, so that there is no longer a large plug clump in the corner of the room for all devices. The built-in compartments on the side mean that there is no need for bedside tables on the floor; this makes cleaning much easier. Because the end result has to be sturdy and solid, I opted for 25 mm MDF. It's all quite heavy, but it is certainly solid!

How I made this project

I assumed the bed width = 160 cm, and 2 x 30 cm for the shelves on the side. With some extra space the total became 240 cm wide; 120 cm high is then a nice ratio. The side walls and roof are 20 cm deep, I let the rest fall back 1 cm (so 19 cm deep). The MDF is 25 mm thick for sufficient strength. First check whether everything has been neatly sawn to size by TOSIZE.ie, and whether I have made any design errors myself (photo 1, everything still loose); Prime everything and paint it in the desired color (in our case: RAL9001 matt). Also see the tips for preparing MDF end edges! Screw everything together by placing the entire design on the back and attaching the shelves one by one with pre-drilling + screws. The shelves have been given a round edge using a milling cutter. Put everything in place, and mount all the wiring/night lights etc. If you don't have a power outlet behind the cabinet, you can also run one power cord outside, but either way, that annoying pile of plugs in the corner of the bedroom is gone for good! Finally, place the large cover plate. To get it to fit, I had to temporarily loosen some screws. It would have been better if I had had it cut 2 mm narrower. But I managed to get it in place nicely!

Dimensions of my DIY project

External dimensions: 240 cm wide, 120 cm high, 20 cm deep. This is done for a bed of 160 cm wide. For wider beds adjust the width measurements.