Building a platform made easy: sturdy extra storage space for the laundry room
- Difficultyeasy
- Cost20-30 €
- Duration1-2 h
Introduction
Is your washing machine taking up valuable storage space? It doesn’t have to! Our sturdy wooden platform with drawer offers plenty of storage space for washing detergent and cleaning equipment. And the best thing about it is that you can build the platform yourself. Our step-by-step guide will show you how to do it. Take a look at the ‘Planning and background knowledge’ section, where we’ve also compiled a number of handy tips on ‘building a platform’, so that your project is guaranteed to be a success.
Have you heard about our 18-volt system yet? It offers a huge variety of devices for many different applications. The thing that makes the project below so special is that you can use the same rechargeable battery for every part of this project. Simply swap out the battery pack, insert it into a different device that’s part of the 18-volt system and move on to the next step.
Pay attention to occupational health and safety every step of the way to protect yourself and your health. You’ll find all the important information you need to know in our overview of Safety precautions for DIY projects.
- Square
- pencil
- g-clamps
- folding rule
- masking tape
- Discarded beech kitchen worktop, 40 mm
- The actual worktop from the beech kitchen worktop, 620 x 600 x 40 mm
- Side pieces from the beech kitchen worktop, 600 x 290 x 40 mm
- Back wall from the beech kitchen worktop, 540 x 290 x 40 mm
- Wood screws, 5 x 80 mm
- M10 screw-in nuts
- M10 screw-in feet
- Furniture castors
Let's go - step by step
Sawing the panels to length and sand them
You need: Hand-held circular saws, Random orbit sander, Sanding and Polishing with Random Orbit Sanders, The Bosch Vacuum cleaners, folding rule, g-clamps, pencil, Discarded kitchen worktop
We’re upcycling an old kitchen worktop, the width of which also perfectly fits your washing machine, to ensure that the platform can also withstand the force generated by the spin cycle of a washing machine. Of course, it’s important that the wood itself is structurally sound and free from damage. You can find the dimensions for the individual components in the list of materials.
Transfer the measurements to your workpiece and saw it to length using a hand-held circular saw. Alternatively, you can also use a jigsaw. If you’re not that familiar with the tool, then check out our tips on how to make straight cuts with a jigsaw. Sand all of the edges after you’ve sawn them, no matter which tool you choose to use. Connect a wet-dry vacuum to the saw and random orbit sander if you want to work in a dust-free environment.
Assembling the platform
You need: Cordless combi drill, 5 piece-wooddrill-bit-set, Standard Screwdriver Bit Mixed Sets, The Bosch Routers, masking tape, g-clamps, Sawn and sanded panels from step 1, Wood screws, 5 x 80 mm
Put the four panels together so that they form a structure. Temporarily connect the individual panels with masking tape before securing the whole structure with G-clamps. You should use three screws on each side to make sure the platform is extra sturdy. Now it’s time to pre-drill the holes for the screws so that the wood doesn’t split.
You can then finish the edges of the panels with a router and give your platform nice bevelled edges to enhance its appearance.
Mounting the feet
You need: Cordless combi drill, 5 piece-wooddrill-bit-set, g-clamps, Allen key, 4 M10 screw-in nuts, 4 M10 adjustable feet
It’s now time to turn your attention to the platform’s adjustable feet. The screw-in nuts have a large diameter and need very wide holes. It’s best to drill them in two steps: first with the 5-mm Brad point drill bit and then again with the 10-mm Brad point drill bit.
Now, countersink the screw-in nuts with an Allen key and screw the feet tight. The structure is now ready to be oiled.
Assembling the drawer
You need: Hand-held circular saws, Random orbit sander, Sanding and Polishing with Random Orbit Sanders, The Bosch Vacuum cleaners, The Bosch Routers, Cordless combi drill, 5 piece-wooddrill-bit-set, Standard Screwdriver Bit Mixed Sets, g-clamps, Wood screws, 5 x 50 mm, Base panel, 530 x 530 mm, 2 side walls, 500 x 200 mm, Front and rear panels, 530 x 200 mm, Beech cover panel, 530 x 240 mm, Furniture castors
We’ll now build a matching drawer to transform your platform into your new favourite place to store things. The actual construction of the drawer is identical to that of the platform, except that the drawer is closed on all sides. Saw five panels to size, screw them together and sand them down again. We’ve decorated the front of the drawer with a cover panel that is screwed on from the inside to make it look nicer. A word of caution: make sure to include the height of the small furniture castors in the overall height when planning the drawer.
Your platform for the washing machine is ready, and you’ve also gained extra storage space! Now comes the hardest part of the ‘building a platform’: putting the washing machine on the platform. And that’s it, you’re done.
Adding something that you’ve lovingly built yourself makes any room feel extra special. We’ll show you how to turn an upcycled washbasin made from an old chest into a real eye-catcher. You can even build a stylish DIY storage cabinet with mirror for the bathroom.
We hope you have lots of fun working on this project.
Planning and background knowledge: building a platform
Have you decided to build a DIY platform yourself? Then here are answers to some frequently asked questions, from platform ideas for various outdoor and indoor applications to information on materials and stability, right through to storage space tips.
Great upcycling projects
How and where can I use a DIY platform?
You can give a DIY platform different designs depending on where you’re planning to use it. We’ll introduce you to various outdoor and indoor options and give you tips on how difficult they are and any special features.
Platforms for outdoor use:
Pool platform
On a summer’s day there’s nothing better than splashing around in a pool. Models that are above ground in particular are prime candidates for a great wooden platform to be built around them. However, this requires some skill, as you also have to include access points for the water connections and so on.
Platform on a slope
For a platform on a slope, you need to build the substructure so that it’s adapted to the angle of inclination of the slope. This will ensure that the support surface is straight. Make sure you have a sturdy foundation made of concrete, for instance.
Platform for the front door
A DIY platform transforms your front door into a real eye-catcher and is functional at the same time. It looks like a large step. You can choose between wood and other materials such as stone or concrete, while continuous stone slabs without unsightly joints are also popular. However, you will have to dig deeper into your wallet for this one.
Platform for a rain barrel
You can also build a platform for a rain barrel. The material you choose is essential, as the platform must be able to withstand the wind and the weather, and especially moisture. We recommend using treated wood or other weatherproof building materials such as stone or concrete.
Platform for a balcony
A simple wooden platform can be easily integrated on to most balconies. You can place plants, build a cat house or place a water bowl for birds on the support surface. You should also use weatherproof materials, just like in other outdoor platforms.
Platforms for indoor use:
Platform as a seating area
You can also build a platform to act as a seating area. Simply put seat cushions on top of the surface. It’s best to use weatherproof cushions if your seating area is going to be on your balcony or patio. Or perhaps you would prefer to build a corner bench yourself?
Platform for a bed
A DIY platform is a classic when making a bed in flats in older buildings or houses with high ceilings. You should also add some steps, depending on the height. You can add an extra touch of class if you lower the slatted frame and mattress so that the mattress is flush with the surface of the platform.
More ideas for DIY beds
-
Platform-couch combination
You can build a flat platform for the living room that you store under your sofa when you’re not using – for instance, as a stage for up-and-coming flutists or magicians. Another idea is to integrate the platform into the sofa in the same way as a pull-out sofa bed. The latter version tends to be more expensive and take more effort to build. Then you can also build a matching coffee table, preferably from the same material.
Platform for the bathroom
Building a narrow platform in the bathroom can be very useful as access to the bathtub, for example. It doesn’t require a lot of effort. Make sure you pick a water-resistant material for this one as well. In smaller rooms such as bathrooms, it’s sometimes better to make sure the platform doesn’t slip using high-quality rubber nubs rather than anchoring it firmly to the floor.
Platform for the washing machine/dryer
A platform for your washing machine or dryer – like the one in our step-by-step guide – helps you not only spare your back when loading and unloading the appliance, but also to create storage space. Square designs work best here, and you can use wood as a material – for instance, a discarded worktop, as we did.
Which materials are suitable for a DIY platform?Which materials are suitable for a DIY platform?
The material you choose for your platform depends on where and for what purpose you want to build it. We have compiled an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of various materials:
| Material type | Pros | Cons |
| Wood | Flexible Can be used in a variety of designs | Not weatherproof if untreated May warp |
| Concrete | Durable Very sturdy | Inflexible Expensive |
| Metal | Durable Sturdy | More expensive Cold |
| OSB | Cheap | Treated More suitable for outdoor use |
| Pallets | Cheap Readily available | Often treated Rough look |
| YTONG | High load-bearing capacity Easy to handle | Can become lopsided Should be plastered |
| Beverage crates | Cheap Creative | Visually not very appealing |
| Ready-made shelving | Compatible with each other | More expensive than unprocessed wood |
How much weight can my platform hold?
The load-bearing capacity of a platform depends not only on the substructure but also on the choice of material. Platforms made of metal or concrete are very sturdy, and EUR pallets can hold up to 1,000 kg of weight in one place, or up to 2,000 kg if it’s evenly distributed. You should take a closer look at the exact load-bearing capacity or ask for advice at the DIY store if you are using a substructure made of solid structural timber and, for example, OSB boards.
How do I create extra storage space in the DIY platform?
A little bit of skill is all you need to create a lot of extra storage space when building a DIY platform. To do this, either install drawers under the platform or install horizontal shelves on the accessible sides, for example. This will let you make good use of the space that is created under the platform.
You can find out how to create even more storage space at home in a separate article. Also check out our countless DIY shelf ideas, which include building a DIY corner shelf or a minimalist wall shelf.
Is it better to use glue or screws to give my DIY platform stability?
You have several options when it comes to making the substructure and the platform as a whole as stable as possible. It is worth working with metal brackets for a wooden platform that has to bear a lot of weight. Heavy-duty brackets are a good choice even. Wood glue is also sufficient for smaller platforms that don’t have to withstand much.
Protect your floor from scratches by either anchoring the platform firmly to the wall and floor or covering the underside of the edges with suitable felt. Secure anchoring is, of course, always more advisable for safety reasons. Castors are only a good idea if you really need to be able to move the platform and it’s intended for plants rather than people or heavy machinery.
Costs: building a platform
The cost of your DIY platform can vary greatly depending on the material and size. The platform in our step-by-step guide only costs €20–30 because we used a discarded worktop.
If you want to build a wooden platform that measures 170 x 200 cm, for example, for a double bed, you will be looking at €180–200, depending on the current price of timber.
Having a carpenter build the platform will quickly see your costs shoot up to prices starting from €1,000. A custom-made, multi-functional wooden platform can even be in the range of around €3,000.