In the interior of the bedroom, the bed plays a major role. It should be comfortable, functional, stylish. Despite the large selection in furniture stores, it is still worth making a bed with your own hands. In a store, most often the price of a bed exceeds its quality.
Comfortable bed with wooden slats at the base and built-in drawers for storage
The benefits of making it yourself
Doing it yourself has the following benefits:
First of all, it's not as difficult as it seems.
Secondly, with independent production, under control, the selection of materials, the accuracy of preparation of parts, and assembly. You can make the bed the way you want, and not the one they offer. The choice of natural, healthy materials is very important, because a person spends a third of all time on the bed while sleeping.
Thirdly, a bed made by yourself will cost at least 2 times cheaper than a purchased one.
A simple wooden bed with a homemade orthopedic base
Common problems and errors
Possible problems or violations of the assembly technology include:
- Errors in marking or the need to drill holes. Some models come with pre-made holes, but in most cases you prepare them yourself. The backrest requires special attention; the slightest mistakes when attaching it lead to distortion of the entire structure.
- Errors when installing gas lift. Replacing the right side with the left or lack of symmetry makes the load on the lifting mechanism uneven, which ultimately leads to its rapid breakdown.
- Excessive pressure on the slats during installation.
- Strong tightening of fasteners.
- Assembling a bed on an uneven place or fluffy carpet.
- Using fasteners of the wrong length. The supplied kit may contain hardware of different sizes similar in appearance or purpose. Accidentally replacing long fasteners with short ones is considered a mistake; as a rule, assembling a bed with a lifting mechanism will not work in such cases.
Causes of bed squeaking, how to fix it and what to do for prevention
Most of the above errors are typical, appearing both when connecting parts of a bed without a lifting mechanism, and when assembling models with a gas lift. Separate problems arise when it is necessary to use special tools to tighten countersunk bolts, the initial laying of the lifting mechanism in disassembled form (low, but not zero probability), or the presence of blind holes in the design. The latter are indicated in the drawing, but are actually absent in order to preserve the integrity of the panel during transportation. Such holes are drilled independently at the initial stages of installation.
Planning
You need to take the choice of mattress seriously
Making a bed begins with choosing a mattress; the dimensions of the base and the entire bed depend on its size. Then materials are selected, drawings and cost estimates are drawn up.
The most durable and durable base will be made of beech, ash or oak. The wood of these trees is the hardest, but expensive. Spruce, larch, and pine are cheaper.
Wooden double bed with beech slats
You should be careful when purchasing a mattress. It is better to give preference to orthopedic. A bad mattress causes poor circulation and spinal diseases. The length of the mattress should be at least 15 cm greater than the height of the person sleeping on it.
The dimensions of the base depend on the parameters of the mattress. If the length of the mattress is 2 m, width 1.6 m, height 0.2 m, then add 1.5 cm for the base on each side.
The base of the bed is made of chipboard, wood or MDF. Wood is the most preferred.
Design and individual components of a homemade bed
Types of bases
The beds offered for sale can be with or without an ORT base. It is ideal when the bed and mattress are made by one manufacturer, which allows you to achieve the optimal beneficial effect.
Before you buy yourself a sleeping place, you need to understand the concept of foundations. Not everyone fully understands what it is and why it is needed at all.
There are 2 types of bases.
- Flat solid. This is a surface made from plywood, chipboard and planed boards. They are coated with protective compounds, varnishes, and attached to the furniture frame. It is a heavy design and not particularly mobile. Plus, it will not allow you to unlock the full potential of a mattress with an ortho-effect;
- Orthopedic. This is a frame with slats and a convenient lifting mechanism and legs, on which the slats themselves are attached. The slatted or lamellar base is fixed with lath holders.
Orthobases have a number of advantages in the form of comfortable and healthy sleep, comfortable body position, and proper load distribution. It is a mistake to think that it’s all about the mattress. To achieve maximum effect, it is highly recommended to use a bed base that is beneficial to the human body. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a bed measuring 120x200 or 160x200 cm.
Necessary materials
When choosing a material, you should take into account its harmlessness to humans, because you will have to spend quite a lot of time on it. The best material is natural wood. It is strong, durable, harmless, but also the most expensive.
- pine timber 50Х50 2 pcs. 4.5 m each;
- laminated furniture chipboard (chipboard);
- MDF (fine fraction board);
- plywood;
- fasteners (screws, confirmations, dowels, plugs, eccentric clamp);
- glue;
- edge material.
You should prepare a headboard, drawers, and footboard. They are made after choosing a design and drawing up drawings.
Lifting mechanism
It is also recommended to pay attention to the type of lifting mechanism used. There are several types in total.
- Manual. They are distinguished by an extremely reliable mechanism and a fairly long service life, compared to competitors. But it is often inconvenient to use, since you will have to support both the mattress and the base itself;
- Spring. They are difficult to lift, but perform their basic functions perfectly. Over time, the springs used will stretch, which means replacing them;
- Gas. Smooth, silent, easy to use. Suitable for heavy and large beds;
- Electrical. Operates from a control panel. The only downside is the high cost.
A soft and folding bed with a convenient mechanism, be it wooden or metal, suits many people.
Someone even decides to do something similar with their own hands, relying on photos, video instructions, their own experience and their imagination. Reading the reviews, I can say with confidence that beginners can create a bed with their own hands. But it’s better to buy lamellas ready-made. After all, it is extremely difficult to make such curved elements yourself. But at home it is almost impossible.
Tools
The following tools are prepared for work:
- screwdriver;
- hammer;
- screwdriver;
- drill, drill bits;
- jigsaw, hacksaw;
- construction stapler;
- knife;
- pencil;
- ruler;
- laser level.
DIY bed making tools
Assembly of non-standard furniture products
When you come across modern beds, the question may involuntarily arise: how to assemble a modern bed according to the instructions. The design of furniture products is so complex and original that sometimes even a detailed manual is not enough to complete the assembly. And the service life of the product will directly depend on its quality and correctness.
An incorrectly assembled bed can lead to unpleasant consequences, even if the furniture itself is of high quality. To prevent such problems, it is better to contact professionals. A good option would be for the furniture store to provide a furniture assembler.
For example, the instructions for assembling a fiesta bed cover all stages of assembling the model. However, performing them incorrectly can negate all of its unique features. If you refuse assembly services and do everything yourself, then all kinds of product warranties become meaningless.
Learn how to build your own closet. Instructions here. What to do if your wardrobe is broken? How to repair furniture with your own hands, read this article.
If the bed breaks after self-assembly, you will only have yourself to blame. This process also takes a lot of time: it will take several days from the start of work until the furniture is put into operation.
Sequence of actions when assembling the bed base
The bed is installed at the place where it will stand.
- The supports are attached to the main beam.
- Place the mattress support and secure it.
- Holders are attached to the backs, and timber is attached to them.
- Install the base under the mattress: plywood or chipboard.
Build quality is assessed based on the following criteria:
- there are no backlashes;
- the bed is stable;
- the fasteners are located evenly;
- There are no leaks in the bonding areas.
Types of bed slats, design features and purpose
Traditional beds with mesh bases are practically not used today. They do not provide proper support to the spine, which leads to the development of musculoskeletal diseases. Modern sleeping places are equipped with an orthopedic base, the springing ability of which is the key to a comfortable sleep. The metal frame of the base is filled with slats for the bed, which can be of different widths and lengths. The plates have a curved shape, are elastic and durable.
Podium bed
Design of a podium bed with drawers
The base of the podium bed is made of timber and boards 22 mm thick.
The entire structure consists of three blocks, which are manufactured separately. The side block is attached to the headboard strictly perpendicularly using wing nuts. This will make it easier to assemble and disassemble the structure. The blocks are assembled using pins with a diameter of 8 mm. The central block divides the entire structure into two parts, each with a drawer. For the walls of the boxes you need a board 16 mm thick, for the bottoms - plywood 10 mm thick. Skids are attached to the side walls of the manufactured boxes, which slide along the corresponding parts fixed to the frame partitions. The drawers should not be made very deep, otherwise it will be impossible to pull them out completely.
The blocks are held together by support bars, which are secured with screws or self-tapping screws. At the end of the work, install the front panel. The frame is primed and painted in a color that matches the interior. All joints, seams, and material defects must be carefully leveled before applying the coating.
If the podium bed is located next to a heating radiator, it is necessary to provide ventilation holes.
Ventilation holes for heat escape near the podium bed installed near the radiator
You should not place such a bed near a window if there are children in the family. The risk of a child falling out of a window is very high. If there is no other place for a bed, then the window is opened slightly only for ventilation.
How to assemble a single bed?
Often a model assembly diagram is included in the kit. However, the general design of all metal or wooden beds is the same. You can make the frame alone, but it is better to have an assistant who will hold the side elements.
Before starting work, you need to check the number of parts and the presence of fasteners that are supplied in the kit. There should be enough free space to allow the bed to be turned over.
To assemble a single bed, you need to prepare the following tools:
- a set of screwdrivers or a screwdriver;
- rubber hammer;
- hexagon.
Features and purpose
Modern mattresses require the most even base possible, making the sleeping person feel comfortable. An orthopedic bed frame with a rigid structure significantly extends the life of the mattress. On the sides, the structure has small sides that fix the position of the mattress. The central part of the metal frame is filled with special curved planks, which are called lamellas or armor.
Only high-quality, well-dried wood is used in the manufacture of bed slats. In production, the array is sawn into layers, which at a certain temperature are impregnated with an adhesive composition and become slightly curved. An important characteristic of finished products is their elasticity, which is possible due to the uniform arrangement of wood fibers. Therefore, not any wood is used in production, but only beech, birch, ash, maple, poplar. For additional protection against changes in humidity, the products are varnished.
The thickness of the plates ranges from 1-10 mm, width - 25-120 mm. When laying them in the base, the distance between the products from each other can be 2-6 cm. In the designs for double beds, two rows of slats are provided, separately for each sleeper.
More frequent installation ensures maximum reliability, which allows the bed to be used even by a person with significant weight. The maximum distance between the slats is chosen for light loads on the mattress. The standard for the base of a double bed 160x200 cm is considered to be a design with 30 crossbars. A smaller number may not provide the required strength. The minimum value is 22 slats for a double base.
The main functions of the rack base include:
- Ensuring good ventilation of the mattress. A lot of air enters the spaces between the slats, which maintains the optimal temperature at the point of contact between the body and the mattress;
- To fix the plates, special holders are used, which ensure a silent design;
- The flexibility and elasticity of the slats allows the mattress to take the most physiological position, which ensures good sleep and complete restoration of strength;
- Reducing and evenly distributing the load on the mattress, which significantly extends its service life. The likelihood of pathogenic microflora multiplying inside the mattress is reduced;
- The products are low cost, they do not greatly affect the final cost of the bed;
- The high base makes cleaning easy. The trash under the bed can be quickly swept away.
When choosing a bed or a base for it, it is important to explore the possibility of purchasing accessories in case of breakage or damage to any parts. Accessories for beds include not only slats, but also transformation mechanisms, lath holders, gas lifts for lifting mechanisms. If the orthopedic base has been damaged due to improper use, then it is possible to replace the damaged slats for the bed with your own hands. Breakage of lamellas often occurs when the air inside the room is too dry, when the wood dries out. In this case, it is recommended to regularly clean the surface of the planks with a damp cloth.
