Nordli 10-drawer platform bed

IKEA nordli hack. DIY platform bed

I have a 9 year old daughter and a 7 year old son… Surprise! I now have a baby girl too. So unfortunately my son lost his room and had to move in with my daughter. To maximize space, I got rid of one 3 drawer dresser and created two 10 drawer platform beds. Each bed cost around $550. It is much better than a lot of prefab captain beds. Same room, two unique colors separated by a neutral grey wall. Kids love it as it feels like they have their own space.

You will need:

  • NORDLI four-drawer dresser
  • NORDLI six-drawer dresser
  • 3 – 2” x 4” x 8′
  • 1 – 4’ x 8’ x ¾” plywood (top grade ~$40) – have HD or Lowes cut down to 30” x 63” (slightly smaller is preferable); and rip the 33” scrap to 1 piece of 6” x 33”
  • Wood screws
  • 6 – ¾” washers that will fit the screws
  • Chop saw

Preparation:

Frame (2×4):
2 – 63”
2 – 27”
4 – 19.75”

1) Frame up the four pieces with the 27” pieces on the inside so the overall dimensions will be 30” x 63”
2) Screw the legs to the inside of the frame, two screws from the outside of the frame and one diagonally (you’ll understand once you construct it)

Construct the bed frame Construct the bed frame

Cut the 6” x 33” strip in half and screw it to the smaller portion of the framing (center it and line up the bottom edge with the 2 x 4)

Screw the other strip in the center of the 2 x 4 that is to the LEFT of the one your previously mounted – these will serve as mattress stops.

Construct the bed frame

After you build the drawers (in the room where you want it – it’s a pain to move otherwise) set them up around the frame (in an “L” fashion)

Remove the top drawers from all the dressers and you will see holes. Conveniently, you can use the washers and screws to attach the dresser to the frame.

Screw drawer to bed frame

Drop the plywood onto the frame – Voilà!

Plywood on bed frame

Plywood on bed frame

FYI, I drilled two 1 inch holes in my plywood so that I could put my fingers in to lift it up.

IKEA nordli hack. DIY platform bed

IKEA nordli platform bed hack - other side of the room

~ by Craig