Instructions for a Bed Frame

Prepare Lumber

• 1

  Cut your lumber to the appropriate dimensions for your mattress size.

• 2

  Sand all faces of the lumber with coarse grit sandpaper. You don't have to get polished smooth. You're just looking to avoid splinters.

• 3

  Using a drill bit 1/8" narrower than the diameter of your 2-inch wood screws, drill three holes in a line across the 12-inch face of one long plank. Drill the holes 1/2 inch from the end of the board and 3, 6 and 9 inches from one edge.

• 4

  Drill a similar line of holes on the other end of the plank, 1/2 inch from that end. Drill two more lines of holes, evenly spaced between the end holes.

• 5

  Repeat step four for the other plank.

• 6

  Drill a line of holes 1/2 inch deep in both ends of each short plank. The holes should be 3, 6 and 9 inches from one edge, corresponding to the holes in the faces of the long planks.

Mattress Frame

• 7

  Position all four beams in a rectangle, with the shorter beams inside the longer beams. The beams should lie on their narrow side.

• 8

  Attach the rectangular frame with two 3-inch wood screws per point of connection.

• 9

  Lay the plywood sheet on top of the rectangular frame, with all edges flush.

• 10

  Attach the sheet with one 3-inch wood screw per corner. For larger bed sizes, put an additional 3-inch wood screw in the center of each side.

Support Frame

• 11

  Attach one short plank and one long plank in an "L" shape by connecting them with 2-inch wood screws driven through your pre-drilled holes.

• 12

  Attach the second long plank to the short plank in the "L" with three more 2-inch wood screws, forming a "U" shape.

• 13

  Complete the rectangle by screwing a second short plank into position on the open side using six 2-inch wood screws.

• 14

  Insert and screw in place the remaining two short planks. The end result should resemble a book case lying on its back.

Assembly

• 15

  Slide the support frame into position where you intend to keep your bed. Leave some clearance from the walls for now.

• 16

  Set the mattress frame on top of the support frame, beam side down. It should fit snugly. If you have trouble, soap the outer face of the top 3 inches of your support frame.

• 17

  Screw the mattress frame in place using 3-inch wood screws driven through the beam and into the support frame behind. Use one screw per two horizontal feet of board, evenly spaced.