Bedroom builds are mostly storage and the kind of built-in furniture that makes a room feel finished and permanently considered.
01Built-in closet system
A basic built-in closet system is a plywood carcass mounted to the wall. Build a top shelf that spans the full closet width, supported by side panels or a center divider. Add a hanging rod below at appropriate height for the intended use — 40 inches for folded clothes, 66 inches for dresses and long items, double-hung at 42 and 82 inches for shirts and jackets. Add drawers or a second shelf section below short hanging sections.
02Window seat with storage
A window seat is a plywood box the depth of the window sill to the floor, spanning the window width or the full wall width. Build the box from 3/4-inch plywood, face with trim to match the room, and top with a plywood lid hinged for access to the storage inside. Pad the top with foam upholstered in fabric and secured with a staple gun.
03Platform bed frame
A platform bed is a simple box frame from 2x6 or 2x8 lumber around the perimeter, with 2x4 cross supports at 16-inch intervals. The perimeter frame height sets the bed height — typically 7–9 inches of frame, which combined with the mattress gives a final height of 24–27 inches from the floor. Top with a 3/4-inch plywood deck. No box spring required.
04Floating nightstand
A floating nightstand is a small shelf with a drawer or open shelf box cantilevered from the wall at mattress height. Build the box from 3/4-inch plywood or solid wood, finish before mounting, and hang on a French cleat mounted into studs. Frees the floor, holds the lamp and phone, and looks more intentional than a freestanding nightstand.
Marcus Webb is a general contractor and home maintenance writer based in Columbus, Ohio. He writes about the repairs and installs that come up every year in every house — the practical, repeating work that keeps a home livable.