Built-in green bookcase with integrated crib nook and overhead storage in a cozy neutral nursery.

DIY Headboard with Storage (That Looks Built-In!)

Bedroom, DIY

Looking to maximize storage in a small bedroom? A headboard with storage is one of my favorite ways to add function without sacrificing style. Since moving into this fixer-upper, we’ve renovated just about every space in the house… except my son’s room. And with a baby on the way, it was time.

I wanted something practical—shelving that could double as a nightstand, built-in lighting, and room to grow with him. But of course, it also needed to look custom and high-end. This DIY headboard with storage checked all the boxes.

Keep scrolling for the full tutorial, my materials list, and tips for getting a smooth finish—plus, how I made a weird room bump-out completely disappear.

Nursery with crib built into a custom headboard with storage and dresser under a large window.

Table of Contents

What I Used

Tools I Used to Build a Headboard with Shelving

Here’s a list of the tools I used to build this DIY headboard with storage:

Tip: If you’re new to woodworking, don’t be intimidated! You don’t need a fancy workshop to do this—just some basic tools, a little planning, and a lot of caffeine.

Materials for a DIY Headboard with Built-In Storage

The Before: A Plain Room and a Duct Bump-Out

Here’s what the room looked like on move-in day—basic, beige, and a little tricky thanks to that bump-out in the corner. My goal? Create a functional DIY headboard with shelving that works around the duct, adds storage, and totally transforms the space.

An empty bedroom with freshly cleaned beige walls and light-colored carpet, showing faint impressions from previously placed furniture. The room has a simple layout with a white air vent near the floor and electrical outlets on the wall. The space is now cleared out, ready for a transformation.

This is the last major project we’re tackling before the big move, so I designed the dimensions to fit a queen bed so that future owners could use it as a guest room or office. For now, it’s the perfect spot for Malcolm’s crib.

Step 1: Cutting the Wood

For this project, I used 3/4-inch maple plywood—it’s durable and paints up beautifully. Large sheets of plywood are tough to maneuver through a table saw when working solo, so I opted for my circular saw with a guide for long cuts and my miter saw for shorter ones.

A DIYer in a green puffer jacket and fuzzy slippers using a red and black circular saw to cut a large sheet of plywood. A metal guide rail and clamps help ensure a straight cut. Sawdust is visible spraying from the cut as the person carefully follows the line.
A woman wearing safety glasses and earmuffs operating a RIDGID miter saw to cut a piece of plywood. The saw blade is spinning, kicking up fine sawdust. The background shows a garage workshop with various tools and stacks of lumber.

Step 2: Assembling and Installing the Headboard with Storage

Once my pieces were cut, it was time for assembly! A few of my must-do methods for building furniture:

  • Always apply wood glue where pieces meet.
  • Use a brad nailer for quick, one-handed attachment (so much easier than a drill!).
  • Double-check that all corners are perfectly square—otherwise, you’ll run into major issues later.
A DIYer in a green puffer jacket applying wood glue to the edge of a plywood board before assembling bedroom built ins. The project pieces are laid out on a foam surface for easy measuring and alignment, with a tape measure, drill, and square nearby.
A woman wearing protective glasses using a red cordless nail gun to secure pieces of plywood together. She is building a box-like structure for bedroom built ins, with additional cut boards placed nearby, ready for assembly.

After checking the angles with my speed square, I used my drill to reinforce the structure, adding screws where I had originally placed brad nails. I also installed a back bracing piece for extra support and as an anchor for mount it to the wall.

A DIYer measuring and checking the right angles of bedroom built ins using a metal square. She is wearing a puffer jacket and safety glasses, carefully ensuring the project is properly aligned before moving to the next step.
A woman using a power drill to add screws to a nearly completed wooden storage unit. A bottle of wood glue and a jar of screws are nearby, reinforcing the stability of the structure.

Using that same method, I built four sections for this headboard with storage:

  • Two shorter pieces with open fronts
  • Two taller pieces that open toward the bed

After attaching the sections securely to the wall (making sure to anchor them into studs!), I moved on to the next step: the cross shelf.

A partially completed DIY built-in shelving unit in a bedroom. Two tall wooden storage units made of plywood are installed on either side of a beige wall, with green painter’s tape marking future design elements. The left unit is an open vertical panel, while the right unit has multiple shelves and a lower open compartment. A crib is partially visible in the foreground, and a ceiling fan with a light fixture hangs above. Tools and materials are scattered nearby, showing an active construction project in progress.

Step 3: Adding the Cross Shelf + Lighting

This cross shelf makes the whole piece feel like a custom built-in headboard with storage. Before mounting it, I flipped it upside down to cut out holes for the built-in lights. To do this, I:

  1. Measured and marked where each light should go.
  2. Drilled a hole big enough for my jigsaw blade.
  3. Used my jigsaw to cut circular openings.

(You can catch more of this step in my upcoming YouTube video.)

A DIYer using a power drill to create holes in the top panel of a custom-built wooden storage unit. The structure has open compartments and is placed on a foam work surface. Sawdust is scattered around the drilled hole, and various tools are nearby in a garage workspace.
A woman sanding the top surface of a DIY wooden storage bench using a power sander. The structure is fully assembled with open storage compartments, and a circular hole has been cut into the top. She is wearing a green puffer jacket and fuzzy slippers, focusing on smoothing out the wood for a polished finish.

To attach the center section to the side shelves, I added boards at the top and bottom using wood glue and pocket holes (so the screws are inset and won’t get in the way). Then, I secured the cross section to the back wall studs and the sides using screws. This headboard with storage isn’t going anywhere—it’s rock solid!

A woman drilling a wooden support beam into the side panel of a DIY built-in shelving unit. She is securing the upper structure, ensuring stability before adding additional shelves. Green painter’s tape marks the wall, indicating future design elements. The plywood panels are unfinished, showing the raw wood grain.
A DIYer securing a wooden support beam inside a built-in shelving unit using a power drill. She is standing on the floor, reaching up to attach the support piece, wearing a green sweater and light gray leggings. The shelving unit is partially constructed, with open compartments and a plywood frame.

Before installing the center section, I ran the electrical for the recessed lights. (If you’re curious about that process, I’ll have a YouTube video up soon.)

A partially completed DIY built in bedroom unit with recessed lighting installed. The unit consists of two tall plywood storage towers on either side, with open shelving and a central overhead cabinet. Two circular recessed lights are mounted under the top shelf, casting a warm glow on the wall below. Construction tools and materials, including wood glue and screws, are visible on the side shelves, indicating ongoing assembly.

Step 4: Building the Face Frame

Now that the lights were installed, it was time to close everything up. First, I built a face frame for the front of the center section. Using a pocket hole jig, I drilled two pocket holes at both ends of my three vertical pieces. Then, I attached those pieces between the top and bottom with wood glue and screws.

Pro Tip: Clamps are a must to keep everything flush while screwing it together!

A DIYer kneeling on a carpeted floor using a pocket hole jig and a power drill to create angled holes in wooden boards for joinery. She is wearing a blue sweatshirt and gray leggings, working on a nursery project with various tools scattered around.
A woman assembling a wooden frame for a headboard with storage, using pocket hole screws. She is securing two long boards together with clamps and a drill while kneeling on a carpeted floor. A bottle of wood glue and other construction materials are nearby.

Once the face frame was constructed, I attached it to the front of my headboard with storage. Then, I closed up the side openings with more 3/4-inch plywood.

A DIYer attaching a face frame to a built-in headboard with storage, using a power drill. The structure is starting to take on a finished look, with recessed lighting installed in the lower section.
A woman in a blue sweatshirt using a red Milwaukee cordless nail gun to attach a side panel to a built-in shelving unit. She is kneeling on a step stool, ensuring the panel is flush against the structure for a secure fit.

Step 5: Adding Trim for a Built-In Look

Here’s where the magic happens. Crown molding across the top, baseboard along the bottom, and custom curved trim for the center shelf made this feel like it had always been there. These little touches tie it into the rest of our home’s style and make the piece feel high-end.

A DIYer attaching white crown molding to the top of a built-in bedroom unit using a brad nailer. She is reaching up to secure the trim along the ceiling, adding a polished detail to the project.
A woman in a blue sweatshirt securing white base trim to the bottom of a built-in shelving unit with a red cordless nail gun. She is aligning the trim against the carpeted floor to give the structure a finished, built-in look.

Next, I created a pair of curved corner trim pieces for the center shelf. These subtle curves remind me of the corbels I used on the girls’ bunk beds, which helps tie this project into the rest of our home’s style.

I used scrap 3/4-inch plywood and a saw blade to trace an arch. I cut the first curve with my jigsaw and used it as a template to make a second identical piece. After cutting and sanding both, I used my Kreg pocket hole jig to add pocket holes on the back. A little wood glue, a few screws, and they were in!

DIYer tracing a woodcut template for a nursery bookshelf using a blade and pencil on a table saw.
Sanding a curved wood bracket for a built-in headboard with storage using a red orbital sander.
Drilling pocket holes into a support piece using a Kreg jig and cordless drill for a built-in bookcase.
Securing a support bracket into the side of a built-in headboard with storage using a drill and clamp.

Step 6: Filling Seams with Bondo

One of my goals for this DIY headboard with storage was not just to build something beautiful, but to make that awkward bump-out disappear. After the trim was installed, I used Bondo to fill in seams and screw holes, and smooth everything out, including the unfinished plywood edges.

Yes—it smells and it’s messy, but it gives you that perfectly seamless, furniture-quality finish that sets a DIY headboard apart from store-bought ones.

Applying Bondo to seams on a custom built-in wall unit to create a smooth, seamless surface before painting.
Sanding down Bondo filler on a plywood built-in to prep the surface for a flawless painted finish.

Step 7: Final Trim Details

With the Bondo dry, I added one last detail to this headboard with storage: a tiny trim piece just under the crown molding. It gives the crown more dimension and interest. I used my level as a spacer and my brad nailer to secure it evenly across the top.

DIYer checking crown molding installation for a built-in bookcase with crib nook using a level.
Close-up of crown molding and trim detail on a custom-built headboard with storage for a nursery.

Step 8: Painting the Headboard with Storage

With all the trim in place, the last step before paint was caulking. I ran a bead of caulk along every seam, corner, and edge—anywhere trim met the wall or another surface. This is a must for getting that clean, professional finish.

After testing a few colors, I landed on Sherwin Williams Mountain Pass. It’s not quite blue, not quite green—just that perfect in-between. I have a whole method and a full tutorial for getting a smooth, professional-looking finish on painted built-ins, but here are a few quick tips:

If you’re not using a paint sprayer:

Applying primer over wood filler and Bondo to prep a custom-built nursery wall unit for paint.
Rolling on moody green paint over crown molding and built-in bookshelf during DIY headboard with storage project.

The Finished Headboard with Storage

Once the headboard with storage was painted, I gave the rest of the room a little love too with this gorgeous plaid wallpaper, and fresh paint on the trim and door using my my go-to neutral: Accessible Beige.

Nursery with crib built into a custom headboard with storage and dresser under a large window.

I am so happy with how this DIY headboard with built-in storage turned out. It’s a cozy, functional spot for Malcolm’s crib for now, but it’s versatile enough to serve future owners however they need—whether that’s a kid’s room, guest room, or even an office. This custom headboard with storage adds charm, function, and flexibility to the space!

Changing table with storage drawers beneath a sunlit window in a plaid wallpaper nursery.
What is the best way to build a headboard with storage?

The best way to build a headboard with storage is to use durable plywood, anchor it securely to the wall studs, and incorporate both open shelving and hidden compartments. Adding built-in lighting and a face frame helps create a custom, high-end look.

How much does it cost to build a headboard with built-in storage?

The cost will vary depending on materials and whether you already own tools, but most DIYers can build a headboard with built-in storage for under $300—much less than buying a custom piece.

How do I add lighting to a DIY headboard with shelving?

To add recessed or puck lighting to a DIY headboard with shelving, use a jigsaw to cut holes in the top panel, then wire the lights before installing the shelf. Always follow electrical safety guidelines—or consult a licensed electrician if needed.

What type of wood should I use for a headboard with storage?

For a painted finish, ¾” maple plywood is ideal. It’s smooth, strong, and easy to work with. If you want a stained wood look, consider oak or birch plywood instead.

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