DIY floating bed
Do you want to make changes to your bedroom interior? How do you like the idea of making a floating bed with your own hands ? It's not too difficult, even if it's a big project. A floating bed can be a fresh addition to your bedroom design as it presents a minimalist modern aesthetic while adding a feeling of spaciousness to the room. Our article presents several wonderful examples of how to make a bed with a floating effect , which will allow you to acquire original furniture even on a limited budget. Here there are projects of a floating bed with lighting , on wheels, with a beautiful solid wood headboard, and even an example of a floating bedside table. You can use links to primary sources, read instructions on how to make a floating bed with your own hands with drawings and detailed master classes with step-by-step photos.
Where to begin
The beginning of all work on creating a flying bed is careful preparation. It includes:
- Choosing a certain type, design solution, option for the appearance of the bed.
- Creating a project, working drawing or product plan.
- Purchase of all necessary materials.
- Purchasing the necessary tools.
At each stage of preparatory work, the final development of the project is carried out, various minor issues arise and are promptly resolved.
Note! The first point that you must begin the preparation process with is the purchase of a mattress. Its dimensions are very important; all working drawings, dimensions of support platforms, and the amount of materials are tied to the parameters of the mattress. Not everyone can make it themselves; most often a finished product is used, and it must be at the user’s disposal by the time work begins.
How to make a working drawing
If all the work is planned to be carried out independently, then it is not decisive in what form the drawing will be drawn up. The main goal that is pursued when creating it is to carefully think through all stages of the work, clarify the dimensions, methods of connecting elements and parts, clarify some points and detect possible errors and miscalculations. It is imperative to draw up the most complete list of necessary materials (indicating their quantities) and tools that will be needed when performing the work. It is necessary to draw the design to scale in order to be able to evaluate your plan from an aesthetic point of view and, before it is too late, make some changes if they are needed.
Attention! Drawing up drawings of parts, the production of which will have to be ordered from specialized organizations, must be carried out in accordance with current technical standards and rules. Otherwise, discrepancies will arise that can lead to the production of inappropriate components and parts.
Choosing a bed design
This moment is one of the most difficult. There are many options, photographs of which can be found on the Internet.
Determining the most suitable one for yourself means not just choosing the most attractive one, but also finding a bed that making your own will not be an impossible task. At the same time, the choice of color, decorative finish, outline of the headboard and other elements of the product that are not related to the design can be almost unlimited and determined only by the personal preferences of the craftsman or the people for whom the bed is intended.
It is not customary to give any advice in this regard, but you can pay attention to some additional elements that decorate the bed and create a special, specific look for it. We are talking about installing lighting under the support frame. A floating bed with lighting significantly changes the interior of the bedroom, placing emphasis on that part of the furniture that traditionally remains in the background. The light spot enhances the effect of floating in the air, creating a somewhat futuristic, fantastic environment.
Important! Installing lighting may require a radical change in the entire bedroom furniture, so the best option for creating a harmonious interior would be to make a bed in an empty room and then decorate it in the desired style.
Materials for creation
The quality of the bed is determined by the wood that is used in its manufacture:
- pine – good at work, easy to process. It is used for arranging elements such as frames, legs, and flooring for a mattress;
- spruce is the least durable and sometimes cracks. Used for elements that do not require heavy loads;
- oak is a durable material, suitable for creating decorative elements;
- beech – after processing it is the most flexible in work. Used in decorative elements;
- Larch is a strong and durable material, almost not susceptible to rotting. Supports and frames of bedroom furniture are made from it;
- mahogany is the most expensive and is used for decorative purposes.
Interior styling
You should not place such a bed in a simple interior. To enhance the effect, think through the design of the room to the smallest detail. It’s good to use the ideas of experienced designers who can come up with something new.
In a classic interior, this furniture will enliven the interior and make it modern. Install bedside tables on the sides of the bed; low lamps will look good on them or hang them symmetrically on the wall.
To successfully fit a floating bed into a room, you need to maintain symmetry in the bedroom
Place the floating bed near a wall at 90 degrees to the window. The color is selected taking into account the color scheme of the bedroom; a beige or white design with rounded corners looks good. Install a headboard or at least create a copy of it on the wall surface! It is permissible to make the bed very simple, and it is advisable to upholster the headboard with good fabric, decorate it with floral patterns, gilding or stucco.
The classic design eliminates the need for lighting under the bed. They can be successfully replaced with candles or sconces.
Designers create interesting rooms in country style. It does not allow minimalism, but having thought through all the details, designers create an attractive interior. It is desirable that in such a bedroom the wood texture on the bed is noticeable - it is not advisable to trim it, do not paint it or cover it with panels.
A floating bed in a country style bedroom should look like a large wooden bed. You can leave the corners - the design looks like a rectangle. The room will look good with a simple wooden headboard, it is permissible to use a simple, smoothly finished board or fill it with thin slats.
The bed should be as simple as possible
Most often, 2-3 colors are used for decoration. Make the walls light and install contrasting furniture. For example, in a white bedroom there is a black or red floor and bed. Only one piece of furniture is installed in the room. A laconic picture hung above the bed looks good, and 1-2 simple lighting fixtures are installed.
Sometimes, in order not to divide the area of a small bedroom into several zones, designers make all surfaces a light color and paint the bed in the same way; it will visually merge with the walls.
The color of the bed can blend in with the walls
This furniture goes well with minimalist interiors - loft, modern or hi-tech styles. Well suited for a classic bedroom, it will bring a unique atmosphere, lightness and grace to it. It doesn’t matter whether you make the product yourself or whether it was brought from a furniture factory
It is important that this design will surprise guests and emphasize the individuality of the owner of the house
Advantages and disadvantages
A bed floating in the air is unusual in its design; it has its own design features, pros and cons. It is better to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of the design in advance, before making the final decision to organize such a sleeping place at home.
Advantages:
- Unusual, impressive appearance.
- Reliability and stability.
- You can make it yourself - according to your size.
- Convenient cleaning under furniture.
The design of the headboard in the niche is complemented by wall lighting
Flaws:
- Lack of storage space under the bed.
- In most models, it is necessary to provide a mandatory connection to the wall.
- Do-it-yourself manufacturing requires studying technology, the availability of tools and materials.
- The choice of ready-made “floating” structures is smaller than that of conventional beds.
- The price of the purchased model is on average higher than average.
- Installation and dismantling require time, effort and tools, as a fastening system is used.
- It is recommended to immediately decide on the installation location of the structure, because careful dismantling is problematic and not always possible.
Tip from the designer : How to compensate for the lack of storage space under the bed - organizing storage space at the head of the bed.
DIY floating bed: tips and master classes
Making a bed that floats in the air begins with drawing up a project. It is necessary to decide on the size, appearance, materials and production technology.
The size of the future model is selected taking into account comfort, mattress parameters and room size. The height of the floating bed should not be too high, as this will open up the view of the supports under the berth.
Advice! It is important to ensure that the support is not visible.
The bed base is made according to drawings
Materials and tools
The production of individual elements of the future bed can be entrusted to specialists. This applies primarily to those parts that cannot be made independently, for example, working with a metal profile.
The amount of materials is selected based on the model and size of the future bed - bars, boards, a board for the headboard. Additionally, corners and screws will be used.
To work you will need a drill, a hacksaw, wood varnish, brushes, a ruler, a pencil (marker), screwdrivers, sandpaper, a screwdriver, a mallet, and a tape measure. It is advisable to have a grinding machine. Having a wood processing machine will help speed up the work.
If metal is chosen as the main material for the frame, then it is better to use square pipes. The steel must be thick in order to withstand the load.
The fastening of the base elements must be very reliable
Headboard design: hard or soft
The design of the headboard should take into account the style of the room. You can make it wooden or organize upholstery.
The headboard can be made to fit the width of the bed or extended. In the latter case, it is often supplemented with shelves or bedside tables.
You can emphasize the texture of wood with additional processing - stain and varnish.
If the headboard is supposed to be made soft, then the budget needs to include upholstery material and filling. Additionally, you may need decorative fittings and a furniture stapler for fastening fabric or leather.
Designer's advice . To decorate a teenager's room with a floating bed, you can use graffiti on the wall.
LED lights
LED lighting is not mandatory, but a very effective element. It is fixed to the base from the inside. The power supply is installed under the bed.
Procedure:
- Remove the protective film from the adhesive part of the LED strip in a small area.
- Glue the area freed from the film to the frame.
- If the adhesive part holds the tape weakly, use glue.
- Repeat the steps, gluing the tape around the perimeter.
- Connect the power supply to the outlet.
- Adjust the desired brightness.
Advice! Before installing the LED strip, it is advisable to check its functionality by connecting it to the network.
LED lighting emphasizes the levitation effect
Mattress
The type and size of the mattress is a determining factor in calculating the parameters of the bed. It is important to take into account not only its length and width, but also its height.
Advice! It is recommended to purchase a mattress before starting to draw and build a floating bed.
Types of models
A floating bed is one that visually “hangs” freely above the floor. There are several types of models that can be divided by type of design, materials used, size and shape. These can be single beds, double beds or furniture for a teenager's room.
Unusual design shape with visible support only at the headboard
The impression of “flight” can be created due to the design features of the models. The basis of the structure is most often natural wood. Bedside tables will help complement the bed and make the design more complete.
May be useful : Recommendations for choosing bedside tables.
The legs are not visible, but they are there
Most often, a floating sleeper has no visible support on the floor. There are no bed legs, in the usual sense.
Stability is created by attaching to the wall and resting on one (or more) legs in the middle. Metal, transparent plastic or other material can be used for this purpose. You can only see the entire structure of the fastenings by bending down.
The shape of beds with wall mounting and legs should be rectangular. This will ensure that the headboard is securely fixed.
A support made of transparent plastic can stand on the carpet and be completely invisible from the outside.
Frame: how to make it invisible
A bed that stands on a frame can be solid and very reliable. To ensure that the base remains invisible, it is made of a much smaller area than the bed itself. From the outside, such a design will also “float”.
When organizing a frame under the entire bed, there may be no attachment of the headboard to the wall. This allows you to make a sleeping place of any shape - oval, rectangular, round, etc.
The round bed can be mounted anywhere in the room
Why are ropes needed?
Another option for organizing levitation is to attach the bed to the ceiling using ropes. This method is difficult to implement and requires serious calculations taking into account the load. As a result, the bed will literally float above the floor surface.
The shape of a bed on ropes is often chosen to be rectangular. This allows you to organize fasteners in the corners.
Model on ropes mounted to the ceiling
Magnets: not an option for everyone
The most unusual version of a fluttering bed is a bed that has no legs, no ropes, or other fastenings to the surfaces of the floor, ceiling and walls. This effect is achieved using powerful magnets.
This design has a couple of very big disadvantages - a strong magnetic field and a very high cost. It is not advisable to use such a bed all the time. But for people with a pacemaker, this version of the model is generally not acceptable.
Fastenings are necessary to hold the berth
Manufacturing materials
The production of this design is carried out from various materials. There are different types of models in stores, each of which has its own types and design features.
When choosing, you should pay great attention to the material; this should be done so that the bed has high wear and tear. Several types of manufacturing are used for the bases: for the most part, all beds are made from high-strength wood
Cherry, walnut, oak and pine are the main woods used in manufacturing. This wood is considered the most durable and can withstand up to one hundred kilograms; Floating furniture is also made of metal. This type of design is characterized by durable fastening. Combined models, such designs combine wooden and metal bases.
What to look for when purchasing
When purchasing a floating bed, it is better to trust well-known manufacturers. If furniture is made to order according to individual sizes, then it is important to pay attention to the reliability of the design and the materials used.
Base material
You can buy a floating bed made of metal, wood or a composition of materials. To make the base, cherry, pine or oak are most often chosen. Durable wood must be able to withstand the load.
An alternative option is a metal structure. Such models are firmly fixed to the wall and have a reliable leg. Additionally, MDF or wood can be used for cladding. In addition, there are combined models that combine wooden elements, plastic and metal.
The metal base makes the structure very reliable
The wooden base can even be made independently
Finishing
The head of the bed can be soft or hard. Depending on the style of the room, wood with emphasized grain texture looks beautiful in itself. The soft headboard is made of fabric, natural or artificial leather.
Additionally, it is not necessary to organize the finishing of the base. It is quite possible to get by with a beautiful bedspread and pillows.
The unusual design of the headboard in combination with lighting gives a touch of futurism
Without a decorated headboard, the sleeping area looks very airy
With a soft headboard, the sleeping area is as comfortable as possible
