Build your own platform bed frame DIY
I knew this one was going to be a big project for one main reason: A very narrow stairwell. Which meant I knew I would have to take every individual piece of the bed frame upstairs and put it together there. Not to mention I had to haul the old bed frame out of there all while trying real hard not to put holes in every wall on the way down.
A couple months ago when I finally had the plan settled in my head I ran out to the barn and grabbed all of the materials I needed.
I grabbed the last of the 12 foot decking boards I had leftover from my deck build and hauled everything down to my basement workshop. I barely had enough material so you can see, looking at the backside of all three sides of the bed, that I actually ran several of the decking boards short to save on wood.
Looking at the “right” side of the bed you can’t tell as everything is hidden behind the 2x6s I used as supports and for screwing it all together. The entire bed frame is 76×80 – the exact dimensions of my king size mattress.
With the foot of the bed and the two sides done I sanded them down first with medium and then fine grit sand paper with my electric palm sander. Then I stained them with Minwax Dark Walnut stain.
Are the deck boards green treated? Why yes, they are. But they have also been in the barn for a year and a half and the standard time for letting green treated anything sit before staining or finishing is a year – so I was good to go.
And, I figured, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the deck boards and the 2x6s once they were stained and I was right.
From there I did one heavy coat of satin poly acrylic on all three of them just to keep them protected. With the sides and the foot of the bed frame done I took them upstairs.
The rest of the frame that needed to be cut was four 2x6s and the plywood to go on top of them. I ran upstairs and first got my old bed out of the way and cut out the chunk of base board and trim that I knew needed to be out the way before I could install the bed frame.
The rest of the frame that needed to be cut was four 2x6s and the plywood to go on top of them.
I cut the 2x6s at the interior measurement which was 70 1/2 which gave me a full 76 width when the sides were attached to them. (Most homeowners use a Portable Band saw or Circular saw and other woodworking tools. Many of the Best Portable band saw will get the carpentry side done. However, if you have a portable band saw you can cut 2x6s measurement.) I screwed one to the wall across the floor and the other to the wall flush with the top of the sides making sure to hit every stud on the way using 3″ long screws.
(I wasn’t playing around here, I never wanted this bed to move.)
Remember when using any type of circular saw, you should always take measures to stay safe. Protecting your eyes from splinters and wood is essential. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes at all ties. Eyeglasses.com stock a range of prescription safety glasses. These will allow you to carry on with the jobs you need to do, while being able to see and keep yourself safe.
Then I screwed the sides to them and then attached the foot of the bed to the end of both the right and left sides which squared everything up. From there I ran the two supports from one side of the bed to the other and I cut a support to go under the center of each of them.
From there I moved on to getting the 5/8th plywood cut and in place. It took two pieces of plywood all together and getting that upstairs without destroying my walls took serious effort. I put lots and lots of 2 1/2″ screws in it along all of the edges and across the center supports.
I even stood on it afterward and did a bit of a tap to be sure that this frame would never move. I also put the plywood “shiny side” up, so the bed would have an easier time getting on it without snagging. I hand sanded all of the edges with fine grit sand paper and went around the entire thing with the same Dark walnut stain I used on the rest of the bed frame.
I simply brushed the stain on and then let it sit twenty minutes before wiping it off with an old t-shirt.
So how did I do on budget? Well, every single piece of wood I used was wood left over from other projects so my only cost was the screws lol.
So, there you have it guys! All in, if I had purchased all of the materials new this bed would have still only cost around $160 all together and, goodness knows, you could never buy something like this for so little! Besides a little calculation this was actually a very simple wood project.
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
Great job, I love the way it turned out!
Tania
Thank you Tania!
That looks great!
Thanks Christine!
Looks great and the instructions were really well done! Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party!
Thank you Helen!
So happy for you and your backs that you have such great support with your fabulous new frame–you rock!! Thanks for sharing your project with us at Vintage Charm 🙂
Thanks Diana, so excited for finally got it all done!!
Nice work! It looks beautiful!
Aloha,
Charlee
Thank you Charlee!
Great project! Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks Jann! Hope you have a great week!
Most of the beds in our home are long overdue to be replaced. My hubby has lots of back issues and maybe a handmade frame might help him. Thanks for the inspiration!
This was so long overdue for us and, yes, it was a pretty big project but the benefits far out weighed the few hours it took to build! I sure wish we had done this sooner for my back!
Oh yes please, that’s gorgeous Tarah, no wonder you’ve been so excited to share. I love everything about it, from the stain to the height and you could always build little stairs if your future fur babies struggle to get on
Michelle, I was considering that too! Maybe stairs or a little ramp, there is definitely enough room at the end of the bed, thanks so much for coming by!
What a fantastic approach, and in such a difficult space. It turned out fabulous, I commend you; I have joined your email list so I can follow you more closely, I actually came to visit from the Sweet Inspirations bloghop. I hope one day when you need a break from genius, that you will stop by the 4Shoes & let me know you’ve been. (Yes, I know how that sounded, & I’m alright with it.;-)
Thank you so much I’ll definitely be visiting!
Wow you did an awesome job building the platform bed. Very impressive. I will be featuring this on Tuesday evening at my Swing into Spring link party. Please stop by and pick up an I’ve Been Featured button. Thanks. http://diybydesign.blogspot.com
Thank you so much Judy!!
Great job love this bed! Pinned & Sharing on Fb. Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Have a great week!
Kim
Thank you so much Kim!
Love the dark stain color! and great step by step tutorial, too.
Thanks Audra!
I was following the progress of this new bed frame on your Instagram account. So happy to see the final project in its full glory! Definitely sounds like abbear of a project, though with having to assemble it in place but a beautiful end result! Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Thank you so much Leslie, we are very relieved to have it complete and we’re sleeping so much better now that we both still comment, “Why didn’t we do this sooner!?”
Wow, I am going to do this for my little twin bed in the extra room. I have a mattress ordered and will build a frame myself just like you did! (I bet it doesn’t come out as good as yours, but I am going to try it ANYWAY~~~ ). I am SO Excited! Thanks for all your great information and instructions and ideas… I can’t wait to get started.
Sue I’m sure it will turn out amazing! Send me pics when you get it done, I would love to see it!
This turned out so beautifully! Great set of instructions, too. I am more a crafter than a DIY-er, but this looks like something I could do! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Thank you so much!
Your bed turned out so well. I’m impressed that you used all leftover wood to make it as well!
Thanks Angela!
I’m going to try to make two twin beds using your bed as a model. I love the look. My only question, wouldn’t it be better and not slip if the mattress was sunk a couple of inches?
Hi Dotty – depends on the mattress. Our mattress feels like it weighs a thousands pounds lol we have a memory foam king mattress so it doesn’t move without a fight. But you’re right a lighter mattress may be an issue and you may want to consider adding a lip to help keep it (and your sheets) in place.