How to Make a Wooden Bed Base

Building your own bed base for an average queen-sized mattress rather than buying one at a retail store saves you money. Bed bases, or frames, raise mattresses 6 to 8 inches off the ground so they are at a more comfortable level for people to get in and out of bed.

Things You'll Need

• 6 boards, 7 foot, 2 by 4 inches
• 4 boards, 6 foot, 4 by 4 inches
• 1 sheet of 3/4-inch high-quality smooth-finish 5-by-10 foot plywood
• Measuring tape
• Circular saw
• Sander
• Wood stain or paint
• Wood screws, 2 1/2 inch and 1 1/2 inch
• Screwdriver

Instructions

Cutting the Pieces for Your Bed Base

1. Cut two 6-foot 9-inch pieces from the 2-by-4 inch boards with the circular saw for part of the frame.

2. Cut four 4-foot 9-inch pieces from the 2-by-4 inch boards.

3. Cut the four 6-foot 4-by-4 inch pieces in half for the eight legs that support the frame.

4. Trim the sheet of plywood down to a 5-by-6 foot 9-inch piece for the top of your frame.

5. Sand all rough edges of the cut pieces. Apply wood stain or paint and allow to dry.

Assembling the Bed Base

1. Find a hard surface and place the two 6-foot 9-inch pieces on edge parallel to each other, 5 feet apart. Complete a rectangle by laying the two 4-foot 9-inch pieces between them. Drive three 2 1/2 inch screws through each end of the longer pieces into the shorter ones.

2. Add support beams inside the frame using the other two pieces of 2 by 4. Lay them on edge parallel to the shorter sides of the frame. Equally space them out inside the frame and attach them. Drive two 2 1/2 inch screws through the 6-foot 9-inch sides into the ends of the two support beams.

3. Stand a 3-foot piece of 4 by 4 on end against each inside corner of the frame for the legs. Drive 2 1/2 inch screws through the frame into them. Use two screws on both sides of the frame that each leg touches.

4. Sit another 3-foot piece of 4 by 4 on end in the center of each of the longer sides against the inside of the frame. Drive four 2 1/2 inch screws through the outside of the frame into them.

5. Use the remaining two 3-foot 4-by-4 pieces for the legs in the center of the frame. Sit one 4 by 4 on end against the center of each support beam. Put them against the sides of the support beams closest to the outer frame. Drive four 2 1/2 inch screws through the side of each support beam into them.

6. Flip the completed portion of your frame over on the legs and put the piece of plywood over the frame so it lines up. Drive one 1 1/2 inch screw down through the plywood piece every 6 inches around the edges into the frame including the support beams.

7. Add extra strength to the eight legs by driving two 1 1/2 inch screws down through the plywood piece into each one. Your new frame is ready for a mattress.

Tips & Warnings

• Be cautious when using power tools.