How to Build King & Queen Bed Frames

Making a king- or queen-sized bed frame is a cheap alternative to buying one. Modern interior designs often include clean-cut and streamlined bed frames that are easy to make. However, it is also relatively painless to jazz up a simple bed frame with a headboard, which can attach to the bed frame or stand freely. The process for making queen bed frame is the same as for making a king, the difference lies in the sizes of each. Queen bed frames are 60-by-80 inches, while king frames measure 72-by-84 inches.

Things You'll Need

• 2 wood 2-by-4s (5 feet for queen, 6 for king)
• 2 wood 2-by-4s (6.5 feet for queen, 7 for king)
• 4 wood 2-by-4s, (4.5 feet for queen, 5.5 for king)
• Power drill
• Assorted screws
• 4 brackets
• Nuts
• Bolts
• Power saw
• Optional:
• 4 6-inch tall-by-5-inch wide wood blocks (for feet)
• Sandpaper
• Varnish
• Paint
• Stain

Instructions

Instructions

1. Place sets of 2-by-4s in a rectangle with the narrow sides on the floor. For a queen bed, place the 5 feet 2-by-4s opposite each other--these are the head and foot of the bed--and the 6.5-foot 2-by-4s are the sides. It's the same for a king, just that a king bed is 6 feet wide and 7 feet long. Place the long boards outside the head and foot planks.

2. Take the screwdriver and 2.5-inch screws to affix the sides to the top and bottom planks at the corners. Use at least two screws per corner. Place brackets within each corner, keeping the brackets toward the middle of the wooden boards. Screw the brackets to the frame--though make sure to use shorter screws that won't pierce through to the other side.

3. Begin placing the four remaining 2-by-4s (4.5 feet long for queen, 5.5 feet for king) to build the support structure for the mattress. For a king bed, each 2-by-4 should be about 1.5 feet apart. For queen frames, measure about 1.3 feet between each slat. Lay each board flat on its wide side and screw to the rectangular frame.

4. Embellish or alter as desired. Affix legs at the bottom of the corners if preferences run toward a higher bed. Feel free to sand, varnish or paint--though bare wood has a certain attractiveness as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to take care while constructing a bed. Stability is important as nobody wants a wobbly bed when they're trying to sleep. Consider the evenness of the legs and the stability of the slats---everything that holds the bed up off the floor. Use good grade lumber and put the bed together with proper hardware. Use dowels and miters for reinforcements.

References

• Hydee Small, "The Complete Bed Building Book," 1979