Bed frames are expensive. It’s one of the unavoidable truths of becoming an adult and moving into your own home. But what if we told you there’s a way to circumnavigate costly bed frames by taking the DIY approach to building your own platform bed?
While bed frames come with high price tags, there’s nothing that says you can’t simply make your own! Instead of spending a lot of money on a predesigned bed frame, consider a DIY project building your own platform bed.
While DIY platform beds can be a lot of fun to put together, there are a few important details that you should consider before you try to do it yourself. From the platform bed size to the types of materials you will need to use (and other considerations worth mentioning), planning ahead is key to successfully building a DIY platform bed.
For starters, you’ll need to consider the size of the platform bed. If the dimensions are too wide for your space or the platform bed plan is not large enough for its intended purpose, you’ll spend time building a DIY platform bed only to find yourself unable to use it. Avoid this unfortunate circumstance by paying attention to the size of the DIY platform bed plan.
When searching for DIY platform bed plan ideas online, always look at the blueprints and dimensions of the plans. Compare the length, height, and width of the DIY platform bed to the space where you plan to put the bed frame when you finish the DIY process.
Once you are absolutely certain that the bed you plan to build can comfortably fit in the allocated space, you can start looking into the tools and materials that you’ll need.
We recommend looking into the types of materials you will need to construct a DIY platform bed and which tools the building process will require. A great question to ask yourself is if the DIY platform bed plan calls for materials that you already have at home.
One of the many beauties of building a platform bed yourself is that it’s cheaper than purchasing a new, already-constructed bed plan from a big company. The best way to make sure you are planning to make the most cost-effective platform bed plan possible is by double-checking that you already own the necessary supplies.
This includes tools such as a hammer, nails, a table saw, and other equipment that makes building a platform bed possible. In addition, you may find yourself asking, “What is the best wood to use for a platform bed?”
The best way to answer this question is to think about which types of wood are strongest. You’ll want your DIY platform bed to be sturdy, so exploring the various wood types and seeking out the strongest ones is key.
Here is a list of wood types that many people use when building their platform bed.
As you review the various bed plans out there, keep in mind how much it will cost you to build the platform bed frame. Even though DIY platform beds are a lot less expensive than prebuilt and in-store bed frames, you will still have to spend some money when doing it yourself.
Maybe you don’t have one of the essential tools, so you find yourself needing to make a purchase at the local hardware store. Or what if you want to add an accessory, like wheels or handles, to your DIY platform bed? Are you okay with spending some money, or would you rather do it all for free?
There’s no right or wrong answer. These are just important questions to ask yourself when planning to build your own platform bed. Your answers can also help guide you when you’re trying to figure out which platform bed plan is right for you.
Without further ado, here are 18 awesome DIY platform bed plans for you to consider!
When you set out to build your own platform bed frame, be honest with yourself in terms of how experienced you are. It’s okay to admit that you would like to follow an easy DIY platform bed plan if that’s what feels best. Luckily, there are many easy DIY platform bed plans to choose from, including this very simple bed plan that only requires wood, pocket hole screws, wood screws, glue, and a drill.
Platform beds come in all shapes and sizes. If you are interested in building a large DIY platform bed, we found the one for you. Excellent for big families or couples who like spacious beds, a large DIY platform bed is easy to put together.
When looking for a small DIY platform bed plan, you don’t have to settle for a twin bed frame design. You can find bed plans that are much smaller, like this DIY platform bed daybed design. Whether you plan to save the daybed for guests who spend the night or you intend on placing this DIY platform bed plan in your kids’ room, the daybed is an amazing solution for small spaces.
As one of the biggest mattress sizes out there, creative king bed frames can be hard to come by, but with DIY bed plans, that’s not true at all. Since the power to be as creative as you want lies in your hands, a DIY platform bed plan is ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to sacrifice the aesthetic of a bed frame for the sake of a king-size mattress. With this DIY platform bed plan, you can achieve the best of both worlds.
Heads up! This reclaimed wood DIY bed frame idea requires more time, energy, and effort than most DIY platform bed plans. The workload is definitely worth the end result, but make sure you go into this DIY project understanding it’s best suited for experts. The DIY instructions are tailored for a queen-size mattress, so keep that detail in mind as well.
Twin-size platform bed plans are wonderful ideas when designing your children’s bedroom. Since twin beds are compact, you can usually fit more than one twin-size DIY platform bed in the same room. With this DIY platform bed design, your kids will be able to get in and out of bed with ease. The bed frame is designed in a way that works well for children because the plan calls for sturdy materials, meaning it won’t break on those nights where kids inevitably jump up and down on their beds.
Searching for a platform bed plan that will fit a full mattress? Look no further! We found an easy-to-handle DIY platform bed plan for full mattresses. The best part is that the bed plan is easy to follow, even for people with little to no experience constructing bed frames.
A very popular style of home decor is none other than farmhouse-inspired interior design. The catch is that farmhouse bed frames can cost an arm and a leg, which can deter people shopping on a budget from being able to fulfill their farmhouse platform bed frame dreams. That’s why being able to DIY a bed frame is the perfect alternative to high in-store prices.
Did you know it’s possible to create storage space when constructing your own DIY platform bed frame? Leave it to the experts at Lowe’s to offer an in-depth guide on how to make a DIY platform bed with storage space. Made from plywood and designed for convenience, this storage space DIY platform bed is ideal for anyone with intermediate skills.
One of the best features of this wooden platform bed plan is it’s designed to make use of materials that would otherwise go to waste. If you don’t already have the necessary materials, consider looking locally or asking your neighbors if they have any plywood they no longer need.
Pallets are a very popular tool in the shipping industry. Many heavyweight products are secured to pallets and shipped securely thanks to the sturdiness that pallets provide. However, providing stability and structure to heavy products in transit is not the only use of pallets. They actually make for great bases when building a DIY platform bed.
Floating bed frames are a chic, sophisticated, and modern style of designing your platform bed. As such, they tend to be mighty expensive when purchased from large retailers, so your most budget-friendly option is to DIY a floating bed plan on your own.
If you are after a simple and beginner-friendly platform bed plan, you might just fall in love with this 3-step design. That’s right! There are only three steps involved in the process of making this platform bed frame idea for beginners.
Similar to the approach of adding storage space to your DIY platform bed plan, this do-it-yourself bed frame design comes with built-in nightstands. Instead of worrying about purchasing nightstands separately or making sure they match the style of your bed frame, you can simply design a DIY platform bed frame that comes with nightstands already attached. Check out this plan by Modern Builds for insight into making a bed frame with built-in side tables.
If you are someone who loves to read a book before bed, this DIY platform bed design was made for you! We’re introducing you to a queen-size DIY platform bed with bookcases built into the sides of the bed frame. Simply slide the drawers open, grab your book of choice for the evening, and get into bed with a good read.
If you’ve ever wandered through the many aisles of IKEA, you already know just how creative you can get with all of the furniture they sell. As a furniture store that tends to be affordable for people of all incomes and lifestyles, IKEA is a great place to turn to when trying to come up with a unique and quirky platform bed plan. Take this kitchen cabinet DIY platform bed idea as a prime example of how innovative you can get with your DIY project.
Who knew wheels were something you could add to your DIY platform bed? Well, someone sure did because they came up with this DIY platform bed plan that offers exactly that! As an easy DIY project for beginners and experts alike, equipping your platform bed frame with wheels makes it easy to move around if you ever want to rearrange your room. The one thing to avoid is putting a bed frame with wheels in a room with wood floors. The last thing you want is for your gorgeous DIY platform bed to roll around unintentionally.
Now that you have some inspiration, you can get started creating the best DIY platform bed for you! From bed plans with attached nightstands and built-in bookshelves to platform beds with wheels and extra storage, the creative options are endless.
If you have children, the twin bed plans might be more suitable than king-size DIY platform beds. Likewise, if you are building a bed frame for multiple people to share, larger bed plans are key. At the end of the day, the right DIY platform bed plan for you will meet all your needs.
Kane is the founder of Insteading. He lives on his own urban homestead with his family in WA State.
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