A Guide to Platform Bed Plans



Posted: Monday, October 24, 2005

by Elizabeth Morgan

Do you want to try your hand at building a platform bed? For those of you who don’t yet know what a platform bed is, it’s an exciting, old way of sleeping that incorporates a simple, elegant frame and a single mattress. Its lines have been used in Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Platform beds can be made of wood or metal. If you’re looking to build a platform bed, you’re probably thinking about wood.

Platform beds can be extremely simple. The extremely simple platform beds have no headboard or footboard, and certainly no canopy. They incorporate slats, which, in effect, replace the need for a box spring, since, because they are sturdy yet somehow slightly flexible, support the single mattress on top. The result is that you get a good night’s sleep, are very comfortable, and yet don’t end up with back pains or numb muscles in the morning.

It’s ever better for your back than sleeping on the floor. And now, with the rapid proliferation of memory foam, your platform bed can be even more comfortable and healthy. Memory foam is a gel-like polymer that accepts your shapes and bones, but supports it fully. (It was first used in hospitals, and is now a popular mattress and pillow material.)

Platform bed plans can be more complex too you can add headboards, footboards, canopies, even extra flourishes and storage units. You can build the storage units as one with the bed frame, or you can create rolling drawers supported by castors, so that the drawers are modifiable and easily maneuverable throughout your bedroom.

It’s not the most difficult job in the world for a handyperson. If you want to build a platform bed, you can order platform bed plans from any of a number of plans retailers. Woodworking clubs, furniture enthusiast groups, and other organizations can give or sell you plans. You can also buy plans online.

 

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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Natasha
 4 years 180 days ago.
Thanks Elizabeth, the link to the free plans were great!
» left by wendy from south africa 2 years 271 days ago.
pls can you forward me the plans you received, i am going crazy trying to find them, thank you
» left by Bubbles
from Florida 3 years 309 days ago.
We just bought a platform but we have one problem...because it is not flush against the wall (due to the molding at the floor) we can;t lean against the wall when watching tv in bed. We're regretting our choice of platform with no headboard. Just a thought for people out there who are bed frame shopping!
» left by Anonymous 3 years 273 days ago.
Hi, did you try to mount a head board on the wall? If you haven't try MDF board, use batton or some kind of quilting material and cover it with fabric(stapled around the edges). There are numerous ways to attach it to the wall but it is best to hang it securely. Hope this helps.
» left by Anonymous 3 years 223 days ago.
Don't watch TV in bed. Problem solved. Now if you insist on watching TV in the bedroom it would be easy enough to make a headboard and attached it to the bed frame. The very best thing about a platform bed is all the storage space that can be put to use by making cabinets under the bed keeping dirt and dust off your things. No more having to clean under the bed either.
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