One of the most important elements in bedrooms is the bed. The most common are beds made of wood or chipboard panels. Metal beds are not so popular, since the choice of models is not very wide and many of them require a soft metal mesh instead of a mattress (sleeping on such a bed is very harmful and even dangerous for the spine). But you can still make a good metal bed with your own hands. It will be much cheaper than a custom product. But making a metal bed takes a lot of time, especially if there is no experience in carrying out such work. By preparing for work and purchasing the necessary tools, you can master the production much faster.
Types of structures
There are two types of structures:
- Forged structures. The base of such structures is made of solid metal pipes. The average weight of the finished pipe frame without decorative elements is 50 kg.
- Welded structures. The main difference from forged frames is that the individual elements are connected in different places using a welding machine.
If desired, you can make a children's bunk bed from metal with 2 sleeping places.
There are two types of forging - hot and cold. If you master at least one of these techniques, you can independently make decorative elements for beds from fittings and metal rods.
Bunk bed (Photo: Instagram / pan_matras_romny)
Kinds
The types of products presented below will allow each contractor to choose the most optimal solution:
- single and double;
Forged single bed. Photo Azhur
- with a soft and forged headboard;
Bed with combined headboard: forged elements and eco-leather. Photo YRT
- two-tier;
Forged bunk bed. Siberia Photos
- with canopy;
Wrought iron four-poster bed. Photos Kovka-Elite
- with a tree;
Bunk wrought iron bed with wood. Photo by PE Kolesnik
- with and without footboard;
- round and rectangular;
Round wrought iron bed. Vakula Photos
- different colors, styles, details for decoration.
Wrought iron bed in romanticism style. Photo SKIF
Preparing for work
If you want to create something unique, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can try to assemble the bed yourself. To do this, you need to prepare consumables, tools, calculate dimensions, and draw a drawing.
Frame of a two-tier hanging bed (Photo: Instagram / loft_proloft)
Materials and tools
List of required tools:
- welding machine with electrodes;
- grinder with metal discs;
- measuring instruments, building level;
- drill with a set of drills;
- file, hammer, pliers;
- different types of sandpaper;
- varnish, paint for metal;
- brushes of different sizes.
Required materials:
- metal corners;
- channels, reinforcement of different sections;
- square profile pipes;
- steel tubes.
Before assembling the shaped structure, the pipes must be bent. To do this, the material is preheated to high temperatures, then bent on special hand-held machines that you can make yourself.
Sizing
The dimensions of a homemade bed should be chosen depending on the dimensions of the mattress. Typical sizes of mattresses that can be found in the store are 190, 195, 200, 205 cm in length. Width: 80, 90, 120, 140, 180, 200 cm.
Double bed (Photo: Instagram / dm_bedroom)
Drawings and diagrams
To accurately calculate the amount of consumables for assembling a homemade metal bed, you need to prepare a drawing. It must indicate:
- length, width, height of the frame;
- main parts;
- connection points.
The drawing helps to more accurately visualize the future structure and present it in conjunction with other interior elements.
Final processing
The fully finished prefabricated iron bed, welded and sanded, is treated with a rust-resistant primer. You cannot paint the metal immediately after welding, since rust may appear in the joints, especially thin ones after grinding. After the primer has dried, which it is advisable to apply in 2 layers, you can begin painting the bed.
The most beautiful way to paint metal is to spray it with gold varnish using a spray bottle. However, this is long and expensive. If it is not possible to do this, you can paint the bed with metal paint using ordinary brushes. It turns out beautiful in beds decorated with metal roses, paintings or engravings. Homemade decorations are usually more beautiful and creative than store-bought ones. Decorating metal products with your own hands is painstaking and hard work, but it allows you to approach the design of the bed with a creative approach and originality.
As can be seen from the information described in this article, making a metal bed yourself is a completely doable job if you prepare for it and have the necessary materials and tools.
Prime the surface
Installing the bed on posts
It is best to use a spray can. Apply the first layer.
After it dries, apply a second layer
We coat the metal with varnish
Manufacturing process
Before you begin assembling the individual parts of a homemade metal bed, you need to prepare consumables for connecting them. To do this, you need to cut metal parts according to the dimensions indicated in the drawing. Sand the ends with sandpaper. After this, you can begin assembly.
Frame and base
When the details of the future structure are ready, you can begin assembling the base and frame. Assembly steps:
- Lay out the cut channels, angles, profiled pipes, and fasteners.
- Align the parts relative to each other so that the angles between them are 90°. In this case, you need to use a special corner. After alignment, the parts must be welded together.
- Drill holes in the frame for attaching the brackets.
- Weld the legs to the base. They can be made from large diameter fittings or sections of pipes. To prevent the metal from scratching the flooring, you need to attach rubber pads to the ends of the legs.
The assembly of the frame is completed, you can proceed to making the headboard.
Double bed frame (Photo: Instagram / industrialloftspb)
Headboard
Manufacturing process:
- To create a headboard you will need a solid pipe. Several separate cross members need to be welded to it at an angle of 90°.
- When the crossbars are ready, side posts are welded to the end of the upper pipe, which are attached to the bed frame from below.
Cross members must ensure the reliability of the structure. They can be patterned, giving them an unusual shape.
Assembly
When the headboard and frame are ready, you can begin the general assembly of the bed:
- Weld the bases with the headboard.
- Weld the legs to the bottom of the frame.
- Install the inner part of the frame. It will consist of metal jumpers on which the mattress will later rest. The more jumpers, the better.
After completing the assembly, you need to process the joints of the individual parts of the structure. To do this, you can use a file, sandpaper, or sanding machine. It is important to go through all joints to get rid of irregularities and metal burrs.
Bed with forging elements (Photo: Instagram / industrialloftspb)
DIY metal bed: step-by-step technology
Based on the selected drawing, prepare blanks made from profile pipes - they will become the basis of the future backrest. Lay them out on a level place, in accordance with the diagram, and then secure them with welding. Pay close attention to the degree of the corners if you want to get an even structure. Then the steps and plugs are installed on the ends of the pipes.
Next step. You will need a grinder and a channel. Brackets are created to attach the frame. Again, you should proceed from the drawing, but the following proportion is almost always observed: 2 in the center, 4 on the sides, the slope of the latter should be equal to 5 degrees. Attach the frame to the back with a continuous seam. The accepted distance to the floor is no more than 0.45 m.
IMPORTANT! Channels (preferably made of steel) must be cut into special blanks. The most optimal calculation is: frame length + 4–7 cm. The channels should be connected with corners.
Features of the material
The peculiarity of the metal is its:
durability;- resistance to mechanical damage;
- resistance to negative factors;
- aesthetic appearance;
- the ability to give metal any shape and design.
To make a metal bed with your own hands, you need to be able to work with the material , know the intricacies of making furniture items, have patience and have some free time.
Metal furniture pleases users with nobility, luxury and elegance. In addition, these products differ:
- environmental friendliness;
- hygiene;
- light weight;
- fire safety.
Help : metal beds will add special chic and luxury to the bedroom. They are suitable for both classic styles (Provence, country) and modern ones (minimalism, hi-tech).
Difficulties at work
Making welded or forged beds with your own hands is quite difficult. The process of metal processing is labor-intensive and scrupulous. Before you begin directly making such a piece of furniture, you need to soberly assess your abilities and skills.
Making forged beds requires at least basic knowledge of blacksmithing, so if you don’t have it, you need to take a few lessons from a master or arrange for his help. Otherwise, there is a high probability of wasting a lot of time and not getting what you want.
A homemade welded metal bed is a little easier to create with your own hands. But here you will need a welding machine and the ability to use it, as well as preliminary preparation of parts (cutting, bending, etc.). The necessary specific tools must be available, which not everyone has.
Advantages and disadvantages of forged beds
Furniture made using the forging technique has many more advantages than its wooden counterparts, for example:
Purity of the material – forged beds do not emit harmful substances, they are hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly, which makes it possible to install them in children’s rooms;
Long service life – metal frames are highly durable and can be used for several generations. This indicator fully justifies the considerable cost of the products;
Variety of designs - an unlimited number of design options for frames and backs makes it possible to choose the most interesting option that will be appropriate in a stylish design;
Individuality - a handmade bed, made according to the customer’s drawing, will become a real exclusive, as it will not be repeated in other interiors;
Compatibility with other materials - metal can be paired with any other materials - wood, stone, leather, etc.;
Beauty - this indicator is often the most significant in choosing a bed for the bedroom. Such a chic piece of furniture will become a real decoration, especially if it is complemented with forged similar parts, for example, candelabra on bedside tables.
As for the shortcomings, although there are few of them, they still exist. These include the large weight of the structure - moving it alone will be quite difficult. Also, it will not always be appropriate in studio apartments, where one room serves as a bedroom, living room, office, etc. Another disadvantage is the high cost, but it is fully justified by the long service life.
Sizing
The dimensions of a bed are influenced by 2 factors: the number of people who will use it and the available space for installation.
The bed model depends on the size of the bedroom. A luxurious backrest will look awkward in a small area, and in large apartments it is inappropriate to install a narrow bed with a low headboard.
Depending on the size of the bed, the bed can be:
- single, intended for use by a child;
- one and a half, on which a teenager can sleep comfortably;
- double – intended for use by two people.
The larger the bed, the more space it will take up in the room. Given the need to install other pieces of furniture, there may not be any room left to move freely. Therefore, sometimes you should refuse to purchase or make a metal bed.
If all the requirements for comfortable accommodation are met, you can begin to create a drawing and make a bed with your own hands.
