How to Build a Modern Platform Bed

A platform bed is a nifty little sleeping contraption that puts your sleeping quarters 5 or 6 feet off the ground. Underneath a platform bed is an especially nice place to place a desk or a set of drawers. If your living place is desperately in need of more functional area, then consider making such a piece of furniture to make your room for functional.

Things You'll Need

• Four 4-by-4s
• Four 2-by-10s
• Circular saw
• Sawhorses
• 2-inch lag bolts with washers
• 3-inch lag bolts with washers
• Electric drill
• Drill bits
• Countersink
• 3/4-inch speed bore wood-cutting bit
• Mechanical wrench or ratchet wrench
• 2-by-4s
• 2-by-6s
• Plywood (3/4-inch interior grade)
• 3-inch flathead wood screws (8 gauge)
• 1 1/2-inch builder's screws
• Electric screwdriver
• Carpenter's square
• 1-by-6 pine boards

Instructions

1. Cut four pieces of 4-by-4 to the length of 6 feet, or whatever height you desire to create your platform bed. You can use a circular saw to do the cutting, but make sure each end is square. Each cut will require two passes with the power saw.

2. Notch the top of each 4-by-4 to accommodate a 2-by-10 piece of lumber. This means taking a circular saw and setting the depth to exactly 1 1/2 inches. Make a square pencil mark at precisely 9 1/4 inches from one end of the 4-by-4.

3. With a carpenter's square as a guide, make a cut at the 9 1/4-inch mark. Split the line with your saw blade and then continue making cross-cuts with your circular saw and keep using the carpenter's square as a guide. Chisel out all the wood between the cuts with a sharp wood chisel and a hammer. Do this for all four posts.

4. Determine the size of the bed frame (width and length). If you have already purchased a mattress, then add 4 inches to each dimension to determine overall size of the wood frame (this includes an extra inch for flexibility). For example, a mattress the size of 80 by 56 inches will need a frame cut to the length of 84 inches (7 feet) by 60 inches (5 feet). We will go with these dimensions.

5. Cut two pieces of 2-by-10 at 84 inches, but we need to shorten the end pieces by 3 inches (to allow for the thickness of the two long pieces). So the end pieces get cut at 57 inches. Cut these four pieces on a pair of sawhorses with a carpenter's square and a circular saw.

6. Attach the two long pieces of 2-by-10 (84 inches is the correct length) to two 4-by-4s with 2-inch lag bolts. Remember to drill pilot holes and also make a recess space that is about a 1/2 inch deep. Use a 3/4-inch speed bore bit to do this. Be sure the recess cut is only a 1/2 inch deep. The recess cut will be used instead of a countersink to contain the head of the lag bolt.

7. Attach the 4-by-4 posts with lag bolts at the very end of each post so that the outside edge of the post is flush with the square-cut end of the 2-by-10.

8. Attach the end pieces between the two built-up pieces that you constructed earlier (one or two assistant required; two is preferred). Use 2 1/2-inch lag bolts to do this. Drill pilot holes and a recess area with a speed bore bit. Four lag bolts per joint is ample. Tighten all lag bolts with a ratchet wrench. After this step is complete, your frame should be freestanding.

9. Build the 2-by-4 frame for the plywood, which supports the mattress. Cut and fit seven 2-by-4s at 16 inches on center. These boards will be cut to the length of 57 inches and installed on end with 3-inch (8 gauge) flathead wood screws. Use pilot holes and a countersink for these.

10. Put three screws at each end and four angled screws (two per side) on the inside (no countersink necessary for the inside screws). The first and last 2-by-4 will be attached directly to the 2-by-10 end pieces.

11. Cut and fit a 3/4-inch sheet of interior grade plywood on top of the 2-by-4 frame. Attach the plywood to the top edge of the 2-by-4s with 1 1/2-inch builder's screws.

12. Brace three sides of the frame (back and both sides) with 1-by-6 pine boards (no knots). Place the boards about a foot off the ground and use the builder's screws to attach them.

13. Sand all wooden edges for appearance and safety's sake, and then add a wood finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Locate and purchase a mattress before you build the bed. You can build a simple ladder on one side with 2-by-4s.