Things You'll Need:
- Tape measure
- Butcher paper
- Masking tape
- Pencil
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Step 1
Determine what type of décor theme you want your bed design to have. For example, you can select a Gothic style bed with gargoyles poised at the top of each post, or you can design a modern bed with simple lines.
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Step 2
Design the overall dimensions of your bed. Start with the dimensions of the bed frame. The bed frame consists of two long side boards, a headboard and a footboard. To get the length dimensions for these pieces, simply look at the dimensions of a standard bed frame that has already been manufactured for the size of mattress you want--full, twin, queen or king. You can then design the height of these boards. The height can be anywhere from 4 to 8 inches. Finally, determine the dimensions of your four posters. You will need to determine the height as well as the width and depth of each poster.
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Step 3
Develop a design plan for your posters. You can select a simple four-sided prism-shaped poster, a cylinder-shaped poster or even a claw and foot poster design. At this point you can also decide if you want to leave your four posters flat or if you want them to be carved.
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Step 4
Select a color scheme for your bed. You can stain the wood or paint it a designer color. For a natural look, you can simply use a clear polyurethane finish, or for a more dramatic look, consider painting the wood with black lacquer.
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Step 5
Pick out hardware for assembling your bed. The hardware that you will need include screws, washers and frame brackets. These items can be unfinished or finished. If you don’t want the hardware to stand out, spray paint them a complimentary color with a paint designed for metal.
