How to Make a Suspended Bed

A suspended bed is a great and relatively low cost way of adding a touch of flair to a bedroom. Secured with the aid of decorative chains attached to the ceiling, creating a suspended bed can be accomplished with a few simple tools and a free afternoon.

Things You'll Need

• Two 4 by 8-foot panels of one inch thick plyboard
• 2 by 4 wood planks
• Tape measure
• Hand or power saw
• Power drill
• Hammer
• Nails
• Heavy duty chain
• Large eye hooks
• Channel or chain cutters
• Washers
• Bolts
• Nuts

Instructions

1. Cut the two panels of plyboard to fit the dimensions of the mattress that will be placed on the platform of the bed. Allow a couple of extra inches around the edges of the boards.

2. Measure and cut sections of the 2 by 4 to create a lip along the tops of both panels. Secure the sections of the lips using a hammer and nails. Also cut sections of the 2 by 4 to place within the lip of one of the panels.

3. Space the sections of the 2 by 4 within the lip of the panel, running them across the frame. Ideally, cut enough sections to space the sections no more than two to three feet apart. Secure the inserted sections with the hammer and nails.

4. Place the second panel on top of the completed bottom panel. Make sure the lip on the second panel is facing upward. Secure the top panel to the bottom panel with the hammer and nails.

5. Drill holes in each corner of the assembled platform. The holes should be large enough to allow the eyehooks to slide easily through the frame.

6. Secure the eyehooks in place with the use of the washers and nuts. Make sure washers are placed at both the point of entry and the point of exit. Thread one nut onto the eyehook, threading the nut to near the top of the threaded section of the hook. Slide the eyehook into place and secure on the bottom with a second washer and nut. Repeat the process on all four corners.

7. Paint or stain the frame. Set the frame aside to allow the paint or stain to dry.

8. Secure a second set of eyehooks into the ceiling, taking care to space them the same distance as the eye hooks mounted in the bed frame.

9. Cut four equal lengths of chain. Make sure the length chosen will allow the frame to be suspended at the desired height. Secure the four lengths of chain to the eyehooks in the ceiling. Attach the bottom ends of the chains to the eyehooks in the bed frame.

10. Place the mattress on the suspended bed frame and dress the bed with bedding of your choice.

Tips & Warnings

• While the construction of this type of suspended bed is fairly simple, it can get messy. Assemble the bed frame in the garage or cover the floor or carpet with some type of plastic cover while cutting and assembling the pieces.

• Make sure to secure the eyehooks in the ceiling directly into support beams. Failure to do so could cause the bed to detach suddenly and possibly cause an injury.