How to Make Your Own Bed Frame

Bed frames can be expensive. If you are on a tight budget try one of these ideas to learn how to make your own bed frame.

You’ve got that spark of inspiration for a DIY project. You’re ready to push your skills and work up a sweat. What about making an awesome bed frame and headboard, all on your own? It’s often cheaper than buying one, you can create your own design, and it can give you experience with using the right tools and materials for future projects as well.

But where you do you start? How do you do it? There are numerous DIY and Make-Your-Own sites on the web and we’ve tapped their collective knowledge for this informative look to help you make your own bed frame.

Low budget bed

When the economy’s tough, as it has been in the past few years, people tend to skimp on various items that are deemed non-crucial. In our review of beds, we’ve found that some people just throw mattresses down on the floor, and skip out on using platforms, bed frames and more. Saving several hundred dollars and foregoing a bed frame makes sense to some people.

But the floor is not really the best place for that mattress. Mattresses need to be able to let out air and moisture. When humans sleep or engage in playtime in their beds, their bodies give off sweat and moisture. If the mattress is on the floor, it retains that moisture. Eventually, that moisture is pulled to the bottom of the mattress. Moisture can build up over time and create an ideal breeding ground for mold. In a very humid environment, the risk is exponentially greater. Moldy bed bottoms can attract insects, which can turn the bed into a different kind of breeding ground.

So let’s look at a few examples:

Bookshelf Bed on the Cheap

The “Bookshelf Bed” may be the perfect solution. By checking Craigslist for a free or low-cost bookshelf, you may be able to put one together for as little as $40, as Instructables.com was able to do. If you can’t find one online in your area, check moving sales. Just make sure the edges of the bookshelf are thick enough to hold your bodyweight.

In addition to the bookshelf, you just might have many of the required items in your garage or toolbox:

• Piece of ¼” thick plywood that is the same width and length of the bookshelf – any piece of flat board that doesn’t bend easily will work
• 8 screws, screwdriver, and drill
• Contact paper to cover the plywood

All you need to do is attach the plywood to the bookshelf and cover it with the contact paper. Of course, you could also sand the wood and paint it too. This is one of the easiest and cheapest do-it-yourself projects out there.

Custom Bed Frame for Under $300

If you have a little money to spend and are intermediately skilled, all you’ll need is some decent wood and a little creativity to put together a pretty nice custom bed frame.

RemoveandReplace.com will help you put together the frame using just wood, stain, polyurethane, foam brushes, pockets screws and pocket hole plugs. If you don’t already have one, you will need a pocket screw jig, as well.

In the example, the frame was made using Red Grandis wood purchased for about $5 per board feet. Recommended as a sustainable hardwood, it is an excellent alternative to tropical hardwoods. The bed was stained using Black Cherry wood stain with a semi-gloss spray added for protection. Bare poplar wood is used for the supports and left unfinished. The finished project has the appearance of an expensive frame that might be purchased in a showroom for much more.

Simple DIY Network Design

The DIY Network also offers a simple headboard and bed frame design using a few more materials including Douglas fir wood, corner brackets, galvanized deck screws, standard screws and lag bolts, wood stain, water-based polyurethane sealer, Hex nuts, hex bolts and lock washers. A table saw and sandpaper are required to cut and finish the wood. This project requires measuring and cutting the bed frame and headboard, sanding and staining, distressing the wood (if desired), applying polyurethane, assembling the headboard, attaching brackets to the bed frame, attaching the headboard and assembling the frame.

This design can be adjusted to make any size frame. A video with step-by-step instructions can be found on the site, although the project is so simple that anyone who knows how to use a measuring tape and table saw can surely handle it!

Basic Wooden Bed Frame

You can also learn how to build a basic wooden bed frame. A frame that will fit a 60” wide X 80” long queen-size mattress require the following materials: bed rail hanger sets (or long lag bolts); wood pieces in various sizes (the type of wood is up to you); plywood, wood screws, saw, drill, sandpaper and optional wood stain

For this bed, you will mount the bed rail hangers, or use long lag bolts, which are much easier to find at your local hardware store. You’ll secure them all into place and then screw support rails to each side rail, spacing them 12” apart to provide maximum weight support. Grooves are then cut into the support blocks and beams, then the support blocks are attached to the center of the head rail and foot rail with screws. The rails are connected to the posts and support beams inserted to hold the mattress.

With so many low-cost easy options, it might make you wonder why everyone doesn’t just make their own bed instead of dealing with a furniture salesman. Save the stress and the costs, and take control of your bedroom experience. You’ll be proud of your accomplishment. And that’s what DIY projects are about.

14 DIY Beds and Bed Frames

 Tina Salazar lives in Phoenix with her husband and 2 sons. When she isn’t working on projects around the house, she loves to go running with her two golden retrievers.