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How to Make A DIY Upholstered Bed: Phase 1

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When I began this journey of our Modern Classic Bedroom Makeover, I had a few DIY’s on my list. One of which I previously considered an ambitious project – a DIY upholstered bed. Though today, I must say, this project isn’t nearly as intimidating as it sounds! The hardest part is over, in my opinion so far, and again I’m so excited to let you in on how we did it, so you can do it too.

DIY Upholstered Bed Frame

Because I love phases when it comes to any makeover, I thought it best we take this DIY upholstered bed in phases. This way, I can break everything down and you won’t fall into the pit of information overload. I think what makes projects like this seem overwhelming is the amount of details. However, once you begin putting all the pieces of information together, you realize just how easy it was.

There are so many styles of upholstered beds, and quite frankly, I’m still wavering between a wingback or simple flat headboard style of bed. However, the base in many styles are the same. Here are the styles I am considering.

Upholstered Bed Sea Moss Green
Lulu and Georgia
McGee Maxwell Upholstered Grey Bed
McGee & Co.

As you can see, the platform base of each design is similar, therefore, I’m just left to determine the headboard design. So for this tutorial, we’ll focus on building the bed frame. Once you’re done, you can build any type of headboard and attach it to the frame.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff.


Materials Needed:

  1. 1 sheet of 4×8 plywood
  2. 16 1x4x8 pine boards for the crossboards and support
  3. 1.5″ long wood screws
  4. 2″ long wood screws
  5. Screwdriver
  6. Miter saw or circular saw
  7. Long level
  8. Tape measure

Buy Bed Frame Wood

First, you will need to purchase your wood. We used 4’x8′ plywood for the rails, and rough pine for everything else. I certainly did not want to use rough pine, but due to a shortage in wood at Home Depot, this is the only option I had. In the long run, it didn’t make much of a difference, since it will be covered with decor fabric.

When you are buying your wood, be sure to examine each piece to make sure it doesn’t have too many knots or is too rough. The shortage of wood definitely affected my selection, and much of the pine I had to choose from was in very rough shape. So examine each piece before purchasing to make sure it’s in good enough condition to build your bed.

Build Bed Frame Box

First, cut your plywood down to four equal pieces width wise. This means each piece will be 12″ wide and 8′ long. Then cut two pieces down length wise to 81 inches. Next cut the remaining two pieces down to 62.5 inches. These will be the top, bottom, and sides of your bed frame. Let’s call it the bed frame box.

DIY Bed Frame Plywood

Most standard queen size beds are 80×60. Therefore, I added an inch or two to the bed frame box in order to accommodate for the mattress which will be inset, not flush. However, be sure to measure your mattress to make sure you’re accommodating for the right amount of inches.

Just a quick note. We purchased all wood at Home Depot, and had them cut the plywood and some of the 1×4 boards. This made it easier to transport since we don’t own a truck, a track saw, or a reliable circular saw.

If you don’t have some of these tools either, building this bed is possible. You’ll just have to make it work with what you do have like we did. Having Home Depot make some of your larger cuts will help you so much. If you have a truck and reliable saws, you’re good to go!

Now, with your four pieces of plywood, make a box, placing the shorter pieces on the outside of the frame. The length of the inside of the box should measure 81,” and the inside width should measure around 61.” Next, screw the four corners together using your 2″ wood screws.

DIY Wood Bed Frame Box
DIY Bed Frame Screws

Install Crossboard Supports

Next, cut 4 1×4 pine boards down to 81.”

For this tutorial, you’ll want your mattress to sit inside the frame a bit, so you’ll need to accommodate for that by installing crossboards around one inch below the top edge of the box frame. Therefore, your crossboard supports should be installed 2″ below the top edge of the box frame.

First, measure two inches below the top edge of the box frame and mark. Then, (this is how we did it) using your long level, trace a line at this two inch mark, all the way down the length of of your frame on both sides.

DIY Bed Frame Level Support Board

Next, using 1.5′ screws, screw in your 1x4x81 pine board on each side, with the top of the board resting just at the 2″ line you’ve marked. Double check the board is level at this point as well.

DIY Upholstered Bed Support Boards

Then, on the top and bottom edges of the box frame, measure and mark 2 inches below the top edge of the frame (width wise) and 20 inches in from each side (length wise). These are where the two center support boards will be screwed in. Next, screw both boards in at these points using 2″ screws, making sure they are level.

DIY Bed Frame Center Support Boards

To double check they were level, we laid a previously cut crossboard support across the top to make sure the center boards were flush with the crossboard.

Though it is not mandatory, using 1.5″ screws, we screwed in scrap wood below each center board to give them extra support. See the picture below. If you’d like to do the same, just use the extra wood that has been cut from your 1×4 boards.

How to make a bed frame

Install Crossboards

Now, measure across the width of your box frame and cut down 12 1×4 boards to this length. Yours should be just around 61 inches, but measure just in case. Next, lay all 12 boards across the width of the box frame, spreading them equally down the length of the frame. No need to measure their distance apart. Your eye is good enough here.

Then, screw each one in using 2″ screws. If you have two screwdrivers, this is where a helper comes in handy! My husband took one side of the frame, I took the other, and we both went up the frame screwing in each board. This part probably took 25 minutes total.

How to make Upholstered Bed

Install Frame Feet Supports

Now, flip your frame over, then measure two feet below the frame’s bottom edge (which is now at the top) and mark in all our corners of the frame. Next, cut your scrap wood into 8 6” pieces. Then screw two pieces into each corner, flush against the plywood, 2 inches below the frame’s edge. See the image below.

How to Make Wooden Bed Frame Feet Support

Then, cut four pieces of scrap pine down to 12.” Your final pieces of scrap wood may already be this size. Next, lay one piece flat onto the sides of the previously screwed in 6” pieces, and screw in place. See the image below.

DIY Wooden Bed Frame

Repeat this step for the remaining 3 corners. These will be your support boards for any legs you’d like to screw in, after the frame has been upholstered. If you need a little more support for your legs, consider screwing in 4×4 blocks into each corner instead. This will be greater support. I chose to use what we had rather than making another trip to HD.

Now, there you have it. Your official bed frame, ready to be upholstered.

DIY Upholstered Bed Frame

I still can’t believe how easy this phase was. I was a little intimidated when I started researching how to even do this. However, once I started piecing some things together for my own bed frame preference I could see it all coming together in my mind. I’m so glad I dived right in and knocked this out.

If you’re overwhelmed at the thought of building your own DIY upholstered bed, don’t be! It just takes a little bit of planning, cutting, and screwing wood together.

Our next task to tackle in this project is the upholstery of the bed frame. Then we’ll build and upholster the headboard. This DIY upholstered bed is truly coming together and I can’t wait to show you what’s next. Stay tuned!

Want to save this for later? Pin this bed frame tutorial to your favorite Pinterest board!

DIY Upholstered Bed
Chic Misfits Author Signature

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