In any furniture store you can choose a bed of different shapes, sizes, designs and materials. But, if you have carpentry skills, you can make its frame yourself.
Advantages
The main advantages of making a bed on your own include:
saving money;- the opportunity to make a product to your taste, according to your own sketches and from any materials;
- confidence in the environmental friendliness, safety and reliability of the product;
- the opportunity to express your imagination and realize it.
Having made the bed frame yourself, you can be sure that such a product will be in a single copy. Consequently, you will become the happy owner of an exclusive piece of furniture, with which you can not only sleep comfortably, but also read a book or watch TV.
Required Tools
To make a frame with your own hands, you need a certain set of tools. The list is impressive, but the purchases will serve you for many years and will help you create other works besides the bed:
- plane;
- power saw;
- hacksaw;
- jigsaw;
- drill;
- screwdriver
- cutter, sandpaper;
- pencil for notes, metal ruler, laser level.
Leave enough space for built-in cabinets under the bed if you plan to store things there.
Material
Any manufacture of wooden furniture requires careful selection of building materials. But all of it will be:
- environmentally friendly;
- durable;
- aesthetic.
Information : the tree smells good, is breathable and hypoallergenic.
When creating a wooden bed frame, you can use different materials:
- timber _ Such a product will be distinguished by its luxurious appearance, practicality and ease of manufacture. This furniture can be carved or upholstered;
- boards _ They must be of high quality and free from knots or any other defects. Since the presence of knots will take a lot of your free time to polish them;
- logs _ This building material is used quite rarely, but the products are exclusive and unique;
- array . Such furniture will tell a lot about the impeccable taste of its owners and their position in society. To ensure that the product will serve you for decades, give preference to the following types of wood: alder, oak, beech, ash, pine.
Planning
You need to take the choice of mattress seriously
Making a bed begins with choosing a mattress; the dimensions of the base and the entire bed depend on its size. Then materials are selected, drawings and cost estimates are drawn up.
The most durable and durable base will be made of beech, ash or oak. The wood of these trees is the hardest, but expensive. Spruce, larch, and pine are cheaper.
Wooden double bed with beech slats
You should be careful when purchasing a mattress. It is better to give preference to orthopedic. A bad mattress causes poor circulation and spinal diseases. The length of the mattress should be at least 15 cm greater than the height of the person sleeping on it.
The dimensions of the base depend on the parameters of the mattress. If the length of the mattress is 2 m, width 1.6 m, height 0.2 m, then add 1.5 cm for the base on each side.
The base of the bed is made of chipboard, wood or MDF. Wood is the most preferred.
Design and individual components of a homemade bed
Wood species
You can make a wooden bed from different types of wood:
pine trees
This material is in demand due to its presentable appearance and high technical characteristics. This product will delight you not only with its beautiful texture, but also with its pleasant pine aroma. Products that have been well sanded and varnished are highly resistant to the formation of fungi and do not rot;- oak _ This wood is considered elite. It is distinguished by its luxurious appearance, environmental friendliness, and the ability to create patterns and ornaments on the product;
- beech _ Such beds are distinguished by their original cut patterns, durability and strength. Beech models look noble and fit classic motifs;
- birch trees This type of wood is easy to process, has a high level of strength and elasticity, and is attractive.
Attention : when choosing wood, you should base it on what kind of bed model you need.
To make a wooden product look aesthetically pleasing, but not cost too much, you should know some secrets :
- for decoration and frame it is worth taking expensive material (oak);
- for making legs, cheaper wood (pine) is suitable;
- and for the slats that will be located inside the product, you can choose the simplest option (birch).
Features of manufacturing different models
Many types of beds can be made independently: diagrams are freely available. But each model is individual in execution. The single-bed option is the simplest, but antique or built-in furniture requires skills in working with wood and tools.
King size bed
The double bed has different dimensions. The materials used are the same as for a single bed, but their quantity increases by 1.5 times. In addition, a double bed requires more supports: 6-10.
Antique model
Antique models are made of oak. These are durable massive beds that will fit perfectly into a rustic interior or into a bedroom decorated in the “Country” or “Provence” style. Ash is often used. This material allows you to create intricate shapes and is easy to work with.
Built-in bed
The built-in or folding option saves space in the apartment. Basically, the bed is placed in a large closet. The production algorithm is complex:
- At the initial stage, materials are selected, as in the case of the single-bed option.
- In addition to the frame, a “wall” is made where the product will be placed.
- The built-in mechanism requires special fasteners, which are purchased at a hardware store.
- Door fronts and handles are also needed.
The final touch to the built-in bed is the application of decor. Photo printing can be installed on the doors. The mechanism is installed only after preliminary marking.
Drawing 160 by 200
Before you start making a bed, you should decide on its size. The ideal option for two adults would be a double model with dimensions of 160x200 cm.
This drawing should indicate all the main points for the manufacture of furniture:
- exact dimensions;
- assembly materials;
- fasteners.
At the stage of drawing up the drawing, it is important to determine not only the size of the bed, but also the height of the legs of the product. To do this, just imagine from what height it will be most convenient for you to get up.
Attention : too low products, although they are original, are impractical and completely inconvenient to use.
At the stage of creating the diagram, decide on the headboard and footboard . Consider whether you might want to make the product functional and equip it with drawers for linen or a lifting mechanism.
Selection of lamellas
The first thing to start choosing is lamellas. They play an important role in the efficiency of the sleeping place itself. Assembly is carried out using elements based on various materials. But it’s optimal to use several.
At the same time, the lamellas themselves are made on the basis of:
- beech;
- nut;
- birch trees
My advice to you. Take birch. This is the optimal material in terms of its characteristics, which at the same time costs significantly less than its competitors. It makes no sense to overpay for lamellas. Inexpensive, but high quality and reliable.
As for the dimensions, the standard dimensions for lamellas have the following values:
- thickness varies from 6 to 8 millimeters;
- the optimal width is considered to be 63 mm;
- the length is chosen based on the size of the base;
- the distance between the lamellas themselves is from 70 to 80 mm;
- The optimal quantity is considered to be 11-13 pieces.
By adjusting the distance, the orthopedic effect changes.
Those who weigh a lot should be careful. The orthobase is less resistant to loads than a solid flat one. But the problem can be solved by using more durable and densely installed lamellas. Ask the seller or directly from the manufacturer what loads a particular bed model is designed for. To do this, you can visit stores in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, or simply contact them by phone.
The presented parameters are considered optimal. The bed turns out to be light, the base is elastic. They will perfectly complement the orthopedic properties of the mattress and together create maximum comfort.
Don't forget to look at what kind of lat holders are used on the bed. Also relevant for those who are thinking about how to assemble the structure themselves. Assembly always involves the use of fasteners for lamellas, which are called lath holders. They are made from plastic and rubber. The second option is more flexible, reliable and more expensive.
How to make slats and base
With the choice of materials, selection of design and determination of dimensions, you can proceed directly to the manufacture of individual elements of the product. To do this, you should pick up a drawing to check all sizes. The production of parts will proceed as follows :
- We take lumber.
- Mark the cut lines on it with a pencil.
- Using a ruler and a cutter, we detail individual elements.
After manufacturing all the necessary parts, you can begin processing them:
- remove all knots and defects with sandpaper . To do this, we prepared in advance several different types of sandpaper: coarse, medium, fine;
- the headboard and end boards with an electric planer .
Now you need to make the slatted base of the product. Slats are slats that are attached to the base of the bed at a certain distance. This distance should not exceed the width of the lamella itself. The slats are necessary to give the bed an orthopedic effect and to ensure ventilation of the mattress.
It is better to use birch to make them . Since this material is flexible, elastic, and easy to process.
Important : for a double model, it will be enough to make 30 slats.
When making lamellas, you should adhere to the following rules :
- the thickness of each part should be 0.8 cm;
- it is better to give the product a curved shape;
- the width of the lamella can vary between 5.3 – 6.8 cm;
- they are installed on the base of the frame with a distance from each other from 2 to 6 cm.
You can attach the slats to the frame in different ways:
- self-tapping screws;
- using thick edge tape;
- onto the prepared bars.
Preparatory work
First of all, you need to decide on the size of the mattress, because the dimensions of the bed will depend on it. You also need to think about the design of the future structure, its shape, height, and size of the backs. Then you should calculate the amount of materials required. It is imperative to prepare drawings and indicate the dimensions of all elements of the future bed. If desired, you can use ready-made drawings, adapting them to your own needs.
To work you will need the following tools:
- electric drill, drills;
- jigsaw;
- construction knife;
- hammer;
- scissors;
- Screwdriver Set;
- furniture stapler, staples for covering the frame or paint brushes (depending on the preferred method of decorative processing of the product).
The mother also needs to purchase materials. If the base of the bed is made of wood, then for a standard mattress measuring 2000 by 1800 mm you will need:
- 2 boards 2070 by 300 mm for the sides;
- 2 boards 1810 by 300 mm for the front and rear walls;
- slats 20 by 80 mm for making lamellas;
- a sheet of plywood (it will help strengthen the bottom of the product);
- self-tapping screws, confirmations, metal corners for connecting structural elements;
- stain, varnish, wood glue, putty, upholstery materials for processing and decorating the finished product.
It should be remembered that when determining the size of the frame, it is necessary to add 10-15 mm to each side of the mattress. The best material for making the base is a well-dried calibrated board with a thickness of at least 30 mm. Its strength is sufficient to withstand heavy loads.
Assembling a double bed
The assembly of a double bed is as follows:
We set the footboard and headboard vertically and support them with some objects.- We apply the drawers and check the evenness of the corners.
- We mark the points for the dowels and connect the drawers to the backs.
- We remove the drawers and drill holes in them .
- We assemble the structure by choosing holes on the backs.
- We proceed to the complete assembly of the base - we drive the dowels into the grooves and lubricate the parts with glue . For better fastening of parts, we wrap the product with rope.
- Leave the product for several days until the glue dries completely.
- Next, we make the flooring . For the slatted bottom, we distribute special holders along the frame.
- We select the spaces between the slats so that the mattress can easily be supported on them.
- We connect the slats with longitudinal bars.
- Now you can start installing the legs . To do this, we fix the beams on the inside of the corners of the frame.
That's the whole simple process of assembling a wooden bed frame.
Important : in order not to spoil the appearance of the bed, choose screws whose thickness will not exceed the thickness of the boards.
First stage
At the beginning, we prepare the materials and necessary tools. The most suitable material for our base is pine timber, which can be purchased at a hardware store or at a sawmill. Its dimensions are 50 mm by 50 mm. The base for the mattress will be furniture laminated chipboard, and we will make decorative elements of the bed from the slab material.
To calculate what length of timber to buy, you need to understand where it will be used. The timber will be used to strengthen the base, to support the base on which the mattress will rest. In our case, the most optimal size for the length of the beam is 4.5 meters. You need a couple of such bars. Since the elements made from beams will not be visible in our bed, you can purchase unplaned timber. It is better if it is cut to size on site. Such timber will be more convenient to transport.
Be sure to check how it was stored before purchasing the timber. It should be stored under cover. Pay attention to how it was laid, whether spacers were used between layers. Otherwise, you may end up with low-quality material, with mold, darkening or cyanosis. Such timber is often severely deformed due to drying.
If the timber was stored in unsuitable storage conditions, do not buy it, because you can choose a more suitable, high-quality material. For example, laminated veneer lumber. Such timber costs much more, but the quality of your product will increase significantly. Here you should not save money. After all, we do it for ourselves, our loved ones.
The next stage is preparing the base parts
The head of the bed needs to be made beautifully and neatly. The head back will be made of slab material and furniture chipboard. Make sure that the texture of the headboard material is directed from top to bottom or bottom to top, that is, it is transverse. It is good to process the bottom edge with a milling cutter according to the prepared sketch; this will give the finished product an aesthetic appearance. Take all this into account when cutting the material.
We make the holder from a block 20 cm long. It is fixed across the width and in the center, at a height of 15 cm from the bottom edge. We secure them with self-tapping screws and put them on glue.
The holder is fixed in the center of the beam. It is necessary to fix the racks on the sides of the head cloth. They are made from slab material.
The profile is connected to the headboard using prepared glue and dowels. It is necessary to apply glue not only to the dowels, but also along the entire length to the end of the head sheet.
At the top, on the headboard, we fix an additional decorative profile. Fix it in the same way as you strengthened the bed posts. Although this technology can be simplified a little. Only glue can be used. Do not use dowels. But double fasteners, reinforcing each other, will allow your product to be more reliable and durable.
If you have the capabilities and desire, and most importantly certain skills, then you can make racks in the form of columns using turned wooden elements. This will additionally give the product a more aesthetic appearance. The only point is that the turned part needs to be flattened with a plane for more convenient attachment to the side of the headboard.
The side opposite the headboard, called the footboard, is made according to a similar pattern as the headboard. The main difference in fastening the small backrest to the drawers is that it is done using eccentric ties. To ensure that the fastening elements are not visible from the outside, minifixes are used.
On the side of the large backrest, fastening is much easier, because most often this side of the bed is placed against the wall. Here, even if the confirmation hats are visible, it practically does not matter much.
The longitudinal parts of the bed base are the drawers. They are manufactured by first preparing the structural holes. A hole for a mini fix can also be used here. Then, at a height of eight centimeters, you need to glue the base block and secure it with self-tapping screws.
Finishing
To make a wooden product attractive, it must be covered with stain and varnished two to three times . This will not only give the bed a presentable appearance, but will also improve its performance characteristics.
When choosing a varnish, give preference to polyurethane-based material. It is harmless and does not release toxins. In addition, this material is wear-resistant and resistant to mechanical damage.
Attention : by giving preference to matte varnish, dust and scratches will be less noticeable on the product. And the glossy coating will immediately reveal all your mistakes in work (irregularities, cuts and other defects).
Some people prefer fabric and foam upholstery. But this is suitable for products made from cheap lumber. The beautiful texture of oak or beech should not be hidden under fabric . If desired, the product can be painted, choosing a color that matches the overall interior. Again, this option is not suitable for elite and noble wood. You can also emphasize the originality of the product and make decoupage on its headboard.
Advice : if you are serious about furniture for the bedroom, try making a dressing table, bedside table and changing table. You might also be interested in a loft-style wardrobe or table.
Photo
Despite its apparent simplicity, assembling the frame leaves ample opportunity for self-expression:
