Window Alcove to Daybed Makeover

March 4, 2020

Since we moved into our new house I've been promising the girls that I would add daybeds to their matching alcove windows. It's a perfect space for beds. It's only 22 shorter than a twin bed and only 2 inches wider. But others projects came up and it just never happened. Everytime I'd look at the space I'd lament the possibilities. Every so often one of them would say "Weren't you going to make beds here? What ever happened to that?" I'd sigh and say "Yeah. I know. I WANT to." Then this summer we weren't sure if relatives were going to spend the night and I decided once and for all that I was going to make those beds. (The room has matching alcoves so the "before" photo is the right version. The "after" is the left but they're basically the same space.)

I wanted to utilize the space underneath as well. So I bought 22" drawer casters from The Home Depot and made this cute deep drawer. I made the drawer from scratch using various widths of wood. I used this easy tutorial to get started and I used my trusty Kreg Jig to make the pocket holes.
The entire platform is held up with 2x4s that are screwed into the wall studs. Then I topped it with 3/4" plywood. If you remove the mattress there a hinged door at the back of the platform near the window that you can put things you don't use often like linens.
For the mattress I used two 4" memory foam mattress toppers and cut them down to size.I had an old 4" mattress topper lying around but if you have to buy one I recommend getting a king sized one and then cutting it into two pieces and stacking them on top of each other like I did. Here's one for only $100. I then sewed the cover with Quilter's Showcase Coral Aspirin dot fabric from JoAnns. The two long bolster pillows I also sewed myself using Amy Butler Bliss Bouquet fabric.
Obviously I did more with the space including painting the walls with Behr paint in Mirador, ripping out the old carpet and installing TrafficMASTER Lakeshore Pecan wood laminate from the Home Depot for only $.89 cents a square foot. The blinds are just $8 vinyl roller shades that I added dark aqua Duck Tape to. So cheap and yet so cute! But most importantly it's easy for my kids to roll up. I hate when shades don't get rolled up in the morning.

Overall, I love it. I can't wait to finish the other side so that both sides finally match. For now I'm loving how the space turned out.

2 {comments}:

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

I this an error? only 22 shorter than a twin bed - seems like that is 1/3 of the length of a twin bed shorter...

Grosgrain said... Best Blogger Tips

@UnknownI think it's a trick of the photo. It's wider than a twin sized bed by 5" so that might make the length look somewhat shorter.

If you look at the "before" photo there's more "frame of reference" items like the laundry basket.

But it is indeed just 22" shorter than a twin.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...