DIY Bed-headboard with MDF, by Roel

Description from Roel

A bed headboard with integrated compartments for alarm clocks, etc. All electricity is hidden away, so there's no large plug cluster in the corner of the room for all the devices. The built-in compartments on the sides mean no nightstands need to be on the floor; this makes cleaning much easier. Since the final result needs to be sturdy and solid, I chose 25 mm MDF. Quite heavy, but it definitely turned out solid!

How I made this project

I started with the bed width = 160 cm and 2 x 30 cm for the side shelves. With some extra space, the total width became 240 cm; 120 cm high is a nice proportion. The side walls and roof are 20 cm deep, while the rest is set back by 1 cm (so 19 cm deep). The MDF is 25 mm thick for sufficient sturdiness. First, check if everything is cut to size by OPMAATZAGEN.nl and if I made no design errors (photo 1, everything still loose); prime and paint everything in the desired color (for us: RAL9001 matte). Also, check the tips for preparing MDF edges! Screw everything together by laying the entire design on its back and assembling the boards one by one with pre-drilling + screws. The shelves have received a rounded edge using a router. Put everything in place and install all wiring/nightlights, etc. If you don't have a socket behind the cabinet, you can also run one power cable outside, but in any case, the annoying plug pile in the corner of the bedroom is now gone forever! Finally, place the large cover plate. To get it to fit, some screws had to be temporarily removed. It would have been better if I had had it cut 2 mm narrower. But I managed to get it nicely into place!

Dimensions of my DIY project

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