Let’s tell the painful truth. One of the most expensive and energy-consuming things to think about regarding the bed design is the bed frame. This element is a decorative part and a practical piece of furniture you cannot miss from the sleeping arrangements.
Once you have an excellent bed, you can say you just established the room’s focal point. As such, you want to make sure that the bed’s frame looks stylish, up to date, and spectacular.
However, some of these bed elements can be costly. Luckily, there is still a great, cheaper alternative if you are on a budget: DIY bed frames.
Great news, right? So rather than visiting high-end stores, you can save a lot of money and practice your skills.
Get ready for the awesome bedroom makeover because once you have these awesome bed frames, the sleeping area will be wonderfully decorated. If you have reached this part of the article, keep scrolling down until the end of the post and follow these excellent recommendations.
Are The DIY Frame Ideas Only For The Skilled Ones?
While there are many pro models and more complicated details, which require lots of time and money, you can also choose to do a super easy bed frame. My list contains simple DIY projects that won’t cost you a fortune either many weeks to complete.
Thankfully, the internet is full of unique DIY bed frame projects that include essential information and pictures to help you.
For you, dear readers, I have brought together some of the bed frame projects you simply don’t want to miss. These details will help you be even more creative or find a new outline for your bed frame.
Keep on reading and tell me which is your favorite design.
Top DIY Bed Frames Designs
Here are some of the most popular models available on the market you should take a look at.
Bed Frames With Wood Headboards
One of the most common DIY bed frames is the ones with wood headboards. These simple yet versatile designs can take you less than $100.
Furthermore, it will take you a few days and some basic tools to finish this project. There are multiple charts to help you build smaller or larger bed frames.
Personal opinion: This is one of the best DIY projects for beginners.
Reclaimed Wood Platform Bed Frame
If you are looking for that rustic finish for your bed, then you should consider using some reclaimed wood platform for your project.
Personal opinion: You can build a beautiful queen platform bed that can easily have that rustic look and complement the rest of your space.
Walnut Plywood Bed Frame
Walnut Plywood bed frames are some of the highlights of these DIY projects. Welding might be required, as well as more performant tools for the headboard finish.
Personal opinion: This type of outline is suited to more advanced builders rather than beginners in this domain.
Custom-Made King Bed Frames
If you are looking to build a larger bed frame and are not afraid of going big with your projects, consider a king-sized structure. Customize it as you wish, and find some inspiration from the links above.
Personal opinion: You can make it of wood, metal, even a mix of textile and the previous materials.
Clean and Straightforward Modern Bed Frame
You don’t have to add lots of details to make a bed frame enjoyable.
The simple bed frames use different elements, such as hairpin legs, maybe some beautiful words applied on the headboard, and so on.
Personal opinion: Maybe you know that saying “Less is more,” and I couldn’t agree more that simplicity is always an inspiration.
Leather DIY Bed Frame
Leather bed frames are simply unique. They are different from the standard wood or metal ones and much more elegant. Enjoy the comfort and softness of leather every night.
Personal opinion: An excellent idea for a DIY project is kneading some leather strips for the headboard part.
Modern Platform Bed Frames
Modern stunning bed frames are the ideal choice for someone who has not been professionally skilled as a builder.
Personal opinion: Whether it is a king-sized bed frame or a “floating design,” there are multiple options to choose from.
Also Read: The 5 Best Floating Beds for 2022 (Ultimate Buying Guide And Reviews)
Upholstery DIY Bed Frame
Instead of building the classic metal bed frame, choose to make your sleeping area even more comfortable.
Personal opinion: The upholsters project is slightly different from the usual ones but offers much comfort and a softer sleeping surface. The final look will be fresh and clean.
Bed Frame For Box Spring
This type of DIY bed frame project will cost you less than $200, making it a great choice if you want to save some money and still have your very own sleeping area plan.
Personal opinion: Just make sure you will let enough space for the mattress, the box spring, and even some drawers on the bed’s sides.
Cover Up Bed Frame
Let’s say you have an old-fashioned mattress that you are not so proud of. However, it is still very comfortable, so don’t think about throwing it away. Luckily, this type of cover-up bed frame is so built that it can cover up a mattress and even a box spring.
Personal opinion: Consider this solution for keeping some things all protected.
Raised Wood Platform bed Frame
If you are addicted to decoration but still want to keep things fresh and straightforward, you can make a simple twist to the bare bed frame: add some unique legs. Furthermore, you can then apply some coats of stain, and the final look will be fantastic.
The result would be not only a successful DIY project but also a bed frame that looks better than one you would typically buy at the store.
Personal opinion: Here is a very nice product you can take into consideration.
Pallet-Made Bed Frame
Not only is this one of the most fantastic bed frame ideas, but a pallet-made sleeping setting is also elementary to make and can be fixed up and painted however you want. Furthermore, you need just a few tools to assemble the whole project.
Four pallets should be enough to give you room for almost a king-sized bed. You can use the extra ledge as nightstands or for storing some items.
Personal opinion: Always on-trend, comfortable, and straightforward, the pallet-made bed frame will come together in no time.
DIY Bed Frame With Headboard and Footboar
Building a bed frame with a headboard and footboard is simple once you have all the components.
Personal opinion: A bed frame with both headboard and footboard would look elegant, timeless, and won’t cost you a fortune at all.
Basic King-Sized Bed
If you don’t need too much from your bed’s design, then go for this basic look of your bed frame.
Personal opinion: Without headboards and footboards, these frames are simple to make and don’t need too much energy or money to spend.
Minimal Bed Frame
Ideal for beginner woodworkers, the minimal bed frames are simple and fun projects that should take you a day or a maximum couple of days to complete. The result will be worth every minute spent.
Personal opinion: The final bed frame will be a modern sleeping area you can leave as that or paint, even add elements.
“Floating” Bed Fram
One of the most fabulous bed frame ideas is the floating bed. The visual effect is spectacular, and anyone would think you are sleeping on clouds.
Personal opinion: Although it might take you more time to complete this DIY project, and you might need some high-quality materials, the result will pay off.
Salvaged Door Headboard or Footboard
What to do with an old, salvaged door? An excellent DIY bed frame project.
Personal opinion: This would only take you some salvaged doors so that you can transform them into headboards and footboards.
Bunk Bed Frames
Do your kids want to have their private space? Or maybe you wish to maximize the sleeping area as much as you can. The bunk bed frames do not take too much time for assembly, nor a fortune.
Personal opinion: You need just a bit of help to consolidate the whole structure, but the result will be great-looking and also very practical.
Twin-Size Platform Bed Frame
Who says you should only make king-sized bed frames? The twin-sized platform bed is a rapid project that you can finish even during the afternoon.
You can personalize this plan as you wish by adding different elements, such as the ones from canopy beds.
Personal opinion: If you are new to woodworking, don’t worry a second, as this DIY bed frame project is ideal for you.
Tips and Tricks: What Tools Do You Need For DIY A Bed Frame Project?
Although they might look a bit complicated for some, well, even the most novice DIY-er can build an enduring bed frame. The majority of these structures are simple and consist of only five essential components:
- A headboard
- A footboard
- Two horizontal rails
- Wooden slats
Plus, there is no standard bed frame for a DIY project. It is only up to you what design you want to follow, which wood species are your favorite ones, and the color you wish to obtain in the end.
So regardless of your plan, whether it is a twin-sized bed frame, or a king-sized structure, the process and construction steps are similar.
However, if this is your first DIY bed frame project and you need extra guidance, there are specific plans for bed frames to fit any mattress size.
Still, before planning your steps, you should follow these tools and materials required in any DIY bed frame project.
Trust me, you don’t want to start the assembly process without having all the tools right at your hand.
Who knows? Maybe you discover that you need a woodworking machine that you don’t own, or the wood you want to use is an exotic, hard-to-find one.
The Standard Bed Sized To Consider
When you start planning your project, here is the list of the most common dimensions and sizes of mattresses:
- Twin Bed Frame: 39 x 75 inches
- Twin XL: 39 x 80 inches
- Full Bed Frame: 54 x 75 inches
- Queen Sized Bed Frame: 60 x 80 inches
- California King: 76 x 80 inches
- King Sized Bed: 76 x 80 inches
However, it is essential to note that these are the dimensions for mattresses and not for the bed frame. As such, consider building the structure an inch or broader and more prolonged. The result will be much more comfortable.
If you build the frame too tiny, the friction process can make the wooden frame rub all through the mattress and box spring fabric. Plus, once you choose a tight fit, it will be so hard for you to change the sheets.
Material Options
You can build the bed frame out of almost any type of wood, including various spaces of hardwoods or softwoods.
If you choose the hardwoods, you can expect a more muscular body that is more rigid and will resist much more in time compared to softwoods.
If you still want to go for softer woods, such as cedar or pine, you should consider cutting these parts a bit thicker.
Also, the wood components should be more comprehensive so that the bed frame will gain rigidity and strength.
For instance, one of the most common softwoods for headboards and footboards is plywood. But I recommend you choose a more solid material, especially for structural components.
Determining The Bed Height
Choosing the bed height of a bed is a turning point for lots of people. When starting the DIY bed frame project, the size of the frame depends on every person, how tall or short they are.
So what is comfortable for some would-be inconvenient for others.
It is essential to measure the height of the mattress and the box spring and then adjust the frame of your future bed to the correct size.
Now, the average bed height is around 25 inches off the floor. However, most of the antique beds are 36 inches tall, while the modern platform beds would go down to only 18 inches high.
So, if you want to determine if the bed has the proper height, the steps are easy:
- Sit on the edge of the mattress by keeping your feet all flat on the floor
- If the knees stay at the same level as your hips, then the bed has the correct height
- If not, let’s say the knees are higher or lower than the hips, adjust the measurements, so the bed frame is not too low or too high
Now, in some cases, you can adjust the bed height by simply eliminating the box spring. Then you can start building a platform bed.
DIY Bed Frame Tools
Here are the essential tools you will need to assemble the bed frame. So here it goes:
- Allen Key Attachment
- Cordless Drill
- Screwdriver Attachment
- Tape Measure
- Circular Saw
- Level
- Glue
- Pencil
Construction Techniques
I just mentioned the fundamental tools you would typically use for your DIY bed frames. To add maximum strength to the assembly, it is mandatory to use glue and suitable screws to put together the bed frame parts.
However, don’t forget that you might also need to disassemble all this large frame, as well as the headboard, the footboard, and other components.
As long as you will not be building the bed frame indoors, you might have to make the bed frame fit the doorway into your bedroom.
The easiest way to make the bed frame easy to reassemble and also to break down is by installing some steel bed-rail brackets.
By following the instructions, you simply need to slide the parts together to create long-lasting joints that can come apart when you need them.
Final Touch
Last but not least, bed frames need an easy-to-clean, elegant finish. Thus, if you are looking for a very natural finish, you should apply some coats of water-based polyurethane varnish. This solution will protect the wood without changing its natural color and texture.
However, if you prefer a more tinted wood color, you should go for a pigmented wood stain and then apply the polyurethane topcoat.
