How to Design & Build Your Own Wall Bed

Saving space is a priority for many homeowners. Wih the addition of a wall bed, your office or sewing room converts into a guest bedroom at a moment's notice. A basic wall bed is a box with a mattress mounted inside of another box, which is attached to the wall. The bed box pivots down, resting on four legs. While the bed may be mounted vertically or horizontally, depending on the layout of your room, a horizontal installation is easier for one person to set up. A wall bed usually uses a twin or full-size mattress.

2 boards, 1-by-4-by-41-inch
2 boards,1-by-4-by-77-inch
Drill with a screwdriver bit
Deck screws, 3-inch
1 piece of plywood, 3/4-by-41-by-77 inch
4 mounting plates
4 pre-made furniture legs, 4-inch
2 boards, 2-by-12-by-45-inch
2 boards, 2-by-12-by-82-inch
1 piece of plywood,3/4-by-45-by-82 inch
Stud finder
Lag screws, 1/4-by-3-inch
Socket set
4 hinges
2 decorative finials
2 headless screws

Instructions

- 1
  Lay out the 1-by-4-inch boards in a rectangle. Align and butt the ends of the shorter boards against the sides of the longer boards. Predrill three holes at each corner, through the sides and into the ends of the boards. Screw together with deck screws.
- 2
  Align the plywood on top of the rectangle. Predrill every six inches through the plywood and into the boards. Screw together with deck screws. This box becomes the mattress box.
- 3
  Measure and mark the corners for the legs on the end of the bed. Measure four inches in from the end and sides. Drill a 1/4-inch hole completely through the plywood at each mark. Measure, mark and drill a second pair of holes four feet from the end of the bed and four inches in from the sides.
- 4
  Turn the mattress box over. Align the mounting plates over the holes in the plywood. Screw to the plywood using the screws enclosed in the package. Turn the mattress box onto its side and attach the four legs, inserting the screws through the holes in the plywood and into the mounting plates. Set the mattress box aside.
- 5
  Assemble the 2-by-12-boards by arranging into a rectangle, with the shorter boards' ends butting against the sides of the longer boards. Predrill three holes at every corner and screw together using deck screws.
- 6
  Place the second sheet of plywood on top of the 2-by-12 boards. Predrill every six inches, through the plywood and into the boards. Screw together using deck screws. This becomes the wall box.
- 7
  Locate the wall studs, using a stud finder. Generally wall studs are installed 16 inches on center, so once you've found the first stud, measure over 16 inches and locate the center of the next stud. Mark the center of each stud at one, two and three feet from the floor.
- 8
  Align the wall box with the studs, shifting right or left as needed to fit into the space. Mark the locations of the studs inside the box. Adjust the height of the wall box according to the height of the mattress box with the legs attached. The inner edge of the wall box should be aligned with the bottom edge of the mattress box, allowing room for the hinges to operate.
- 9
  Predrill three 1/4-inch holes per stud through the box and into the studs at the 1, 2 and 3 foot marks. Attach the box to the wall using 3-inch lag screws.
- 10
  Install four hinges along the bottom inside edge of the wall box, according to the manufacture's instructions. Align the mattress box with the wall box and attach the hinges.
- 11
  Lift the mattress box into the wall box. While a helper holds the mattress box in place, drill two holes straight down through the top of the wall box and into the mattress box, one inch in from the edge. Attach a headless screw to each decorative finial and place in the holes. These hold the mattress box in place when not in use.
- 12
  Lower the mattress box. Place the twin mattress into the box and make up the bed. Raise back into place, reinserting the finials. Remove the feet by unscrewing and storing in a convenient location or a decorative box on top of the wall box.

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