The DIY platform bed plans are designed for a double mattress, which is sometimes also called a full mattress. We’ve designed them with a simple plywood headboard, and included two storage cubes that can act as end tables. The entire piece is built from three sheets of plywood and a few 2x8s.
Tools Required:
- Table saw or track saw
- Miter saw
- Sander and sandpaper
- Drill/Driver
- 2 1/2″ wood screws
- 2″ wood screws
- 1 1/2″ wood screws
- Finish nailer
- Tape measure
- Square
- Small iron for edge tape
Materials List:
- 3 – 4×8 sheet of 3/4″ plywood
- 4 – 2x8s @ 8′
- Wood Glue
- 2″ edge tape
Step 1: Build the 2×8 support frame
These platform bed plans use four 2x8s for the support frame in order to raise the bed 7 1/2″ off the floor. If you want your bed lower, you can use 2x6s instead. Cut the following lengths from your 2x8s and then use wood glue and screws to build the structure in the diagram below.
- 2 @ 66 1/4″
- 1 @ 63 1/4″
- 2 @ 32 1/2″
- 4 @ 15 1/2″
Step 2: Skin the frame with plywood
Once you have the frame assembled, we’ll want to skin it with some plywood to have it match the rest of the platform bed. Use wood glue and finish nails to attach two pieces at 67″ on the sides, and one piece at 37″ on the footer. All three pieces should have 45° miters at the joints to hide the seems. You won’t need a board at the head of the platform bed, as this will be covered by the headboard.
Step 3: Add the platform
The main platform in these platform bed plans is built from two pieces of 3/4″ plywood, both cut to 79″ x 30 1/2″. These boards should be flush with the head board of the 2×8 frame, and aligned to have a 12″ overhang on both sides and at the foot. Use 2″ wood screws to secure these pieces directly to the 2×8 frame.
Next we’re going to rip three 4″ strips – two at 69″ and one at 61″, and cut 45° miters on the ends as show below. Make certain these are aligned flush with the edges of the platform. Then use 1 1/2″ finish nails and wood glue to attach them to the plywood platform.
Once you have the 4″ strips attached, use your edge tape to dress up the exposed ends of the plywood.
Step 4: Attach the headboard
Now we are onto the headboard in these platform bed plans. There are lots of easy different designs you can do for your head board, but to keep our plans simple we are using a single sheet of 3/4″ plywood cut to 73″ x 36″. We’re then adding 3/4″ plywood strips, cut to 3″ wide, as stiffeners across the top and on the sides. Use wood glue and finish nails to attach the stiffeners.
When you’re ready to attach the headboard, which we don’t recommend until you have the platform bed in the room where you want it, use 1 1/2″ wood screws to attach it to the head 2×8 of the frame. You don’t want to use wood glue here so you can take it apart if need be in the future.
Step 5: Add some storage
The last step in constructing these platform bed plans is to add the two storage cubes. These are built using more of the 3/4″ plywood, and are designed with the top and bottom pieces 10″ x 10″ square. You can make the sides as tall as you would like, though these plans have them designed at 5 1/2″. This brings the total height of the storage cubes to 7″, which rests just under the height of a standard 8″ mattress.
Use 1 1/2″ finish nails and wood glue to assemble the storage cubes. Use wood glue where the bottom of the storage cube rests on the plywood platform, and along the back edge of the cube where it connects to the headboard. You’ll also want to use finish nails to secure the cubes to the plywood platform (driven from underneath), and some more finish nails driven from the backside of the headboard into all four pieces of the storage cube.
Step 6: Finish and enjoy!
Once you’ve finished assembling the headboard and storage cubes, use more edge tape to cover the remaining exposed plywood edges. Then coat the entire platform bed in your favorite finish and enjoy.
If you have comments or question, please feel free to connect with us via the comments section below. We love the feedback! Also, don’t forget to check out our other free DIY furniture plans.
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