How to repurpose Chest Drawers to Underbed Storage Drawers

Recycle your old LEKSVIK dresser for some new underbed storage drawers.

I decided to tackle my enormous pile of mess under the bed and repurposed two sizable drawers from an old IKEA dresser into underbed storage drawers. The transformation has left my bedroom looking remarkably tidy.

Now, visitors won’t immediately notice that I harbor an inner “busy mama bird,” always seeking new homes for old possessions or treasures that no longer hold my interest. Instead, they perceive a neat and organized living space – little do they know about the eclectic assortment inside my newly crafted underbed storage drawers!

If you’re curious about the process of creating these underbed storage drawers, continue reading, as always.

Before the Transformation:

3 Steps to Repurposing Dresser Drawers to Underbed Storage

Step 1: Adjusting Drawer Heights

I began by pulling the two larger drawers from my dresser and measuring their fit under the bed. Unfortunately, the largest one was too tall, prompting me to whip out my trusty circular saw. I sliced off approximately 2.4 inches from the top of the drawer.

Step 2: Fine-Tuning Heights and Painting

Then, I reattached the trimmed wooden strip to the upper edge of the second drawer. This adjustment ensured a more uniform height for both drawers. After this, I removed the handles, and a white paint coat brought a cohesive look to both drawers.

Step 3: Adding Final Touches

The finishing touches involved painting the handles in a light gray hue and reattaching them. Finally, I fixed felt pads to the bottom of the drawers, allowing for smooth, scratch-free pulling. With this completed, I happily filled my new underbed drawers – mission accomplished!

If you have more clearance under the bed, you can use caster wheels under the drawers to make them easier to slide in and out.

So far, it has worked great, and I love the extra storage I gained. I decompress puffy items like bedding and linen in vacuum-storage bags to maximize storage before placing them in the drawers.

~ by Ronja Lotte (Nur-Noch)

Other underbed storage hacks you may like

KURA bed storage drawers

Discover the ingenious way to maximize storage in your bedroom by creating additional space under the KURA bed structure and seamlessly incorporating two MALM underbed drawers with wheels. This clever hack adds functionality to your kids’ sleeping space and gives you two bunk beds instead of one. The only requirement? You’ll need to get two KURA beds for this hack.

Platform bed hacks

Even predating its TikTok fame, we’ve consistently showcased innovative IKEA platform storage bed hacks crafted from the versatile IKEA EXPEDIT shelving units and, subsequently, the KALLAX units. The enduring popularity of this IKEA hack isn’t surprising, considering its broad appeal. The KALLAX is relatively affordable, and you can add as much (or as little) storage as you need. And it’s one of the easier DIYs. If you can assemble a KALLAX, you can make one of these.

A loft bed for grown-ups

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