How to Build a Cushioned Bed Frame

Take two pieces of 5/4-inch by 4-inch board and two pieces of the 1-inch-by-10-inch board. Cut each piece to the required length -- 75 inches for a twin-size mattress, or 80 inches for a queen or king-size mattress. Nail the first piece of 5/4-inch by 4-inch board to the first piece of 1-inch-by-10-inch board, three-quarter-inch from the bottom of the 1-inch-by-10-inch board. Repeat with the other two pieces of board to create the two side pieces of the bed frame.

Create a head and foot board by taking two pieces of 1-inch-by-10-inch board, add 1 1/2-inches to the required width measurement -- 39 inches for a twin-size mattress, 60 inches for a queen-size mattress or 76 inches for a king-size mattress -- and cut to the required length. Nail these pieces to the side boards, mounting the side boards inside the head and foot boards so that the inside dimensions of the bed are the exact size of the mattress.

Turn the frame upside down and nail one piece of 1-inch-by-4-inch board -- cut to the width of the mattress -- near the head piece of the frame, and one piece near the foot board. Position two pieces of 1-inch-by-3-inch board, cut to the width of the mattress, evenly spaced in between the two pieces of 1-inch-by-4-inch support boards, and nail in place. Turn the bed the right way up.

Create a three-sided box by cutting two pieces of 5/4-inch-by-4-inch board to the length of the mattress, one piece of 2-inch-by-4-inch board cut to the same length, and nailing the two 5/4-inch-by-4-inch pieces to the sides of the 2-inch-by-4-inch piece. Lay this three-sided box lengthways down the center of the bed, and nail to the head and foot boards.

Attach the legs to the bed by fixing a heavy duty top plate, available in hardware stores, to each bottom corner of the frame, and then screw the legs into the plates. Create mattress supports by cutting 14 pieces of 1-inch-by-3-inch board to the width of the mattress. Space the supports evenly across the frame and screw in place.

Take a foam mattress cover and wrap it around the frame. Use a staple gun to secure the foam in place on the inside of the frame. Take your selected fabric, wrap it over the foam around the frame and staple it in place in the same way as the foam.

Create a headboard by cutting a piece of medium density fiber board (MDF) to the outside width of the bed frame, and to the desired height. Cover with foam and fabric and screw to the head end of the frame.