Setting Up the Slats of a Wood Bed Frame

Bed slats, commonly used on a variety of beds, are particularly important on wooden frame beds for added strength. The slats are the flat, horizontal boards that stretch across a bed frame and rest on the left and right rails. The slats serve to distribute the weight of the box spring, the mattress and any people on the bed. Setting up wood bed slats properly involves spacing and attaching them to a bed.

Tape measure
Chalk
Power drill
1/4-inch drill bit
1/2- to 1-inch long screws

Instructions

- 1
  Place the wooden bed frame in the location of the room where you want it to reside after assembly. It is very difficult to move the bed after assembly.
- 2
  Examine the provided slats to determine how many there are. Measure the entire length of the left side rail from the headboard to the foot board. Divide the total length by the number of slats to determine the proper spacing for each slat.
- 3
  Measure along the left side rail with the tape measure and use a piece of chalk to draw a line at the proper location for each slat, using the measurement you determined. Repeat the process on the right rail to draw chalk lines there as well.
- 4
  Place the first slat closest to the head board aligning it on top of the chalk mark on both the left and right rail. Install each additional slat on top of the chalk marks all the way down the rails to the foot board.
- 5
  Insert a 1/4-inch bit in a power drill and place the bit tip on the center of one slat 1/4 inch from the end. Drill through the slat until you puncture the underlying wood rail by at least 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Repeat the process to create holes in each end of every slat.
- 6
  Insert a 1/2- to 1-inch long screw through each hole using a power drill until they feel tight.
- 7
  Assemble the remainder of the bed by placing the box spring on top of the slats, followed by the mattress.

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