How to Build a Floating Drawer Bed Frame

Floating drawer bed frames add a touch of style to the bedroom. They provide extra storage space for bedding, clothes or other bedroom items underneath the bed itself. Because a drawer bed uses the space under the mattress for storage, the number of cabinets needed in the room is reduced. This makes a bed frame with drawers in it the ideal choice for small rooms where storage space is limited.

Things You'll Need

• 15 timbers, 2-by-4
• Circular saw
• 16 1/2-inch-thick plywood sheets
• Screwdriver drill bit
• Hammer drill
• 16 L-brackets
• Screws
• 2 drawer handles

Instructions

1. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 67 inches long using the circular saw. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 to 35 inches wide. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 to 16 1/2 inches long. Cut one piece of 2-by-4 to 71 inches long. Cut four pieces of 2-by-4 to 17 inches long. Cut three sheets of 3/4 inch thick plywood 39 inches long by 25 inches wide.

2. Fasten the screwdriver drill bit to the hammer drill. Screw a 67-inch piece of 2-by-4 to one of the 24-inch pieces of 2-by-4 so the 67 inch piece using an L-bracket. The 67-inch piece must be fastened at one end of the 17-inch piece with the L-bracket fastened to a 2-inch-wide sides of each piece.

3. Screw another 17-inch piece to the other end of the 67-inch piece, using an L-bracket fastened to the 2-inch-wide sides. Repeat this process with the other 67- and 17-inch pieces to form two capital “I” shapes. Screw the two 35-inch-wide pieces between the 17-inch pieces on the ends of the “I” shapes using L-brackets to form a bed frame.

4. Screw the 71-inch piece of 2-by-4 down the middle of the bed frame between the 35-inch 2-by-4 pieces, using an L-bracket on either side of each joint. Screw one of the 16 1/2 inch 2-by-4 pieces between the side of the bed frame and the 71-inch piece using two L-brackets per joint. Screw the three 39-by-25 inch plywood sheets to the top of the bed frame to form the mattress base.

5. Cut four sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood 16 inches long by 8 inches wide using the circular saw. Cut two sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood 25 inches long by 16 inches wide. Cut two sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood 25 inches long by 18 inches wide.

6. Screw one 16-by-8-inch sheet to either 16-inch-long side of the 25-by-16-inch sheets to form two “U” shapes. Screw a 25-by-18 inch piece to the end of each “U” shape so it is flush with the 16-by-8 and 25-by-16 inch pieces with a 2-inch lip above the “U”.

7. Screw each “U” shape to the underside of the bed using L-brackets so the “U” is flush with the outer edge of one of the 75-inch-long 2-by-4 pieces and the 2-inch lip above the “U” connects with the underside of one of the mattress base sheets. These are the floating drawer frames.

8. Cut four sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood 14 1/2 inches long by 7 inches wide. Cut four sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood 24 inches long by 7 inches wide. Cut two sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood 23 inches long by 13 1/2 inches wide.

9. Screw a 14 1/2 by 7-inch piece to the end of a 24-by-7-inch piece to form an L shape 7 inches wide. Repeat this process to form another “L” piece. Screw a 23-by-13 1/2-inch piece to one end of an “L” shape. Screw the other “L” shape to the other side of the 23-by-13 1/2-inch piece to form a drawer. Repeat this step.

10. Screw the “L” shape pieces together on each drawer to reinforce the sides of the drawer. Screw a drawer handle to the center of one of the 24-by-7-inch pieces on each drawer to form the front of the drawers. Slide the drawers into the floating drawer frames to complete the bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider adding a 3/4-inch-thick sheet of plywood to the head and foot of the bed to form a basic headboard and footer. This will not only make the bed look fantastic but it will also stop the mattress from being able to start to slide off either end of the bed during the night.

• The sizes provided in this article will construct a single bed to U.S. single bed measurements. This bed frame is not suitable for a double bed sized mattress, which requires longer cross pieces and a second lengthwise brace in order to maintain the strength of the frame.