How to Build a Platform Bed With Cinder Blocks

If you find that someone's getting rid of old cinder blocks and you want an inexpensive platform bed, consider making a platform bed from the cinder blocks. Create your own personalized platform bed with a little ingenuity, some fabric or paint and strong arm muscles.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paint or fabric
• Felt, fabric or old sheet
• Scissors
• Paintbrush (optional)
• Fabric glue (optional)

Determine How Many Cinder Blocks You Need

1. Measure length and the width on the outside of the box springs to be used on the platform bed. Also measure the length and width of an individual cinder block of the type you'll be using.

2. Divide the length of the cinder block into the width of the bed. This gives you the number of blocks for the head and foot of the platform bed. Divide the width of the cinder block into the width of the bed to see how many you need in a row across.

3. Subtract the width of two cinder blocks from the length of the box springs. Divide the difference by the length of the cinder block to find the number in each row.

4. Multiply the number of blocks in each row times the number of rows and add the amount of blocks used for the top and bottom edge. You now know how many blocks to get.

Complete the Platform Bed With Cinder Blocks

5. Purchase enough paint or fabric for the outside of the cinder blocks and enough felt or fabric for under the cinder blocks. Alternately, you can use an old sheet under the cinder blocks.

6. Cut the material or sheet to the exact size of the cinder block base. Lay it down where you plan to put the bed. The fabric base is an easy way to check the placement of the bed. Moving it around is a lot easier than moving all the cinder blocks.

7. Paint the outside of the cinder blocks that go to the outside of the frame, if you choose. The interior blocks don't need any paint. Move on to Step 7. If you cover them with fabric, omit this step and follow Steps 4, 5 and 6.

8. Place the cinder blocks in the outline of the platform bed's frame. Now is the time to add any material that you desire. Cut two fabric strips that are wide enough to wrap around the blocks plus 2 inches. Make them 20 inches longer than the length of the bed. Cut two strips that are the same width of the bed.

9. Tuck the edge of the fabric under the blocks on length of one side of the bed. Wrap it over the blocks and tuck it under on the other side. Round the corner and tuck the last four inches under the first block on the width. Make a fold at the top, on the corner so you can tuck it under on the inside. Do the same for the opposite side. Use a thin layer of glue on the cinder blocks if you choose. Glue down the ends.

10. Repeat the process for the top and bottom of the bed except turn the fabric under where it butts up against the side block. This covers the first row of fabric. Turn the material for the end under so there is no frayed seam showing, so it butts up against the interior of the side block. Glue down on the inside.

11. Fill in the interior of the platform bed with the rest of the cinder blocks. Place the box spring on top and the mattress on top of that.