Introduction: Basic and Budget-Friendly Bed Frame
I made a Twin Side Bed Frame for my son at his mom's house. The goal was to make a really simple and budget friendly bed frame to put his mattress on it, since the mattress was on the floor. I decided to make an instructable so anyone looking for a simple and affordable Twin Size Bed Frame could follow a build tutorial and make one easily, without breaking the bank.
I included some affiliate link in my instructables, those link will help you find the material and tools you need to complete this project, and will help me create more projects and keeping them free for you.
Once you completed the bed frame, you can purchase a Twin size mattress : https://amzn.to/3qpqjpt
Supplies
MATERIAL :
[3X] 2x6-8' Framing Lumber
[2X] 2x3-8' Framing Lumber
[1x] Slatted Bed Base Kit https://amzn.to/3OmTNwj
[1x] Wood Stain ( I Used SAMAN Charcoal Color )
[1x] Box of 2"½ Wood Screws https://amzn.to/3YlIXuY
[1x] Box (8x) 3"½ Black Structural Wood Screws https://amzn.to/3KviPbk
[4x] Metal Legs https://amzn.to/3QvCUlI
TOOLS :
Cordless Drill : https://amzn.to/47m8U1F
Circular Saw : https://amzn.to/47ezry1
Drill bits kit : https://amzn.to/3OK1jCV
Countersink drill bit : https://amzn.to/3DJif69
Self Centering drill bit : https://amzn.to/3Yp8tzF
Mouse Style Sander : https://amzn.to/3DKiE8s
Mouse Style Sandpaper : https://amzn.to/43ZnaKV
Sanding Sponge : https://amzn.to/3DMy2RL
Corner Clamps : https://amzn.to/45ib9kC
Step 1: Cutting the Lumber to Size
Let's start this bed frame project by cutting the lumber to the right length. Finding good pieces, especially from framing lumber can be hard, but keep in mind that for this project, the longest piece is 75'' from a 96'' piece. So make sure when choosing your wood to have at least 75'' long of good lumber for all the pieces. As you can see in my first picture of this step, one of my 2x6 have a pretty bad section, but won't be used in the build.
I'm using a circular saw and a speed square to cut my pieces to the right length, you don't need a miter saw for this project. You can use the cheapest brand of circular saw and it will do the job.
Here's the final dimension of the pieces you will need before assembling the bed frame.
[2x] 2x6x75"
[2x] 2x6x42"
[2x] 2x3x75"
Step 2: Drilling Holes
To assemble the frame, we need to drill 4 pilot holes on each 2x6x42", two at each end like in the picture. I make the pilot holes at 3/4 from the side edge, so the structural wood screw will be right in the center of the 2x6 when i will assemble the frame later. The pilot hole is also 1 inch from the top and the bottom of the 2x6.
So 3/4 from the side edge, 1 inch from the top and the bottom.
Since the structural wood screw is 3/8 , a 1/4 pilot hole is perfect for the task.
Those structural wood screw don't require a pilot hole, but making one will make sure that the assemble pieces will be right where you want them.
Step 3: Preparing the Pieces for Assembly
Once the holes are drilled in the 42" long pieces, I lay down all the 2x6 pieces on the ground.
I'm using some corner clamps to help me secure those pieces in place. Those are not required, but greatly recommended since we will drill some pilot holes in the 75" long 2x6, using the holes in the 42" pieces as a template.
So using corner clamps will help making sure the pieces don't move while I drill the pilot holes, and so both 42" and 75" will align perfectly.
Buy Corner Clamps : https://amzn.to/45ib9kC
Step 4: Assembling the Frame
Now that my corner clamps are in place, I drill the pilot holes in the end of the 75" long 2x6, using the pilot holes I previously made in the 42" long 2x6 as a template. Like i said, it will ensure a perfect assembly.
I'm using some 3"½ black structural wood screws to secure the pieces together. I do this for all 4 corners of the bed frame. You will need 8 of these screws for this bed frame build.
Corner Clamps : https://amzn.to/45ib9kC
Box (8x) 3"½ Black Structural Wood Screws https://amzn.to/3KviPbk
Step 5: Sanding the Bed Frame
The fun part, sanding time! Like any woodworking project, sanding is a crucial part. I will ensure a smooth finish for the stain, and also since it's furniture with construction lumber, you want to make sure no one can take a splinter.
I'm using a black and decker mouse sander to sand the whole frame, going from 80 grit to 120 grit.
BLACK AND DECKER MOUSE SANDER : https://amzn.to/3DKiE8s
MOUSE SANDER SAND PAPER : https://amzn.to/43ZnaKV
Also, I remove the sharp corner edge of the bedframe with a sanding sponge. I do this by hand because using the electric sander will remove to much material faster, so doing it by hand will ensure you get the desired result.
SANDING SPONGE : https://amzn.to/3DMy2RL
Step 6: Stain and Varnish
Time to stain the frame. I'm using a stain and varnish from the company SAMAN, the color is charcoal. You may not be able to find this brand locally, but any wood stain from your local hardware store will do the job. The most important is to choose the color you like. I used this brand and color because I already had it on hand, so it cut the cost of the bedframe.
Step 7: Supports for the Slats
I'm now adding the 75" long 2x3 on both inside side of the bedframe. Those 2x3 will support the wooden slats for the mattress.
I'm drilling some pilot holes using a #8 countersink drill bit , then I'm using some #8 - 2"½ construction wood screws to secure the 2x3's in place. The 2x3's are placed at the bottom of the 2x6's, so it will "sink" the mattress into the bedframe to help the mattress stay in place inside the bedframe.
COUNTERSINK DRILL BITS : https://amzn.to/3DJif69
#8 by 2"½ WOOD SCREWS : https://amzn.to/3YlIXuY
Step 8: Installing the Legs
I'm using some black metal legs that I bought on amazon for my bed frame build. This process is so much easier when using a self centering drill bit. Just clamp the legs under the bed frame using some woodworking clamps, make the pilot holes using the self centering drill bit, then screw the leg in place.
If you want to cut the cost, you can make the legs with the 2x3 left over. Just cut 2"½ inches from both side of the 75'' long 2x3's that will support the slats, and install some 2x3 vertically to make some legs.
Step 9: Wooden Slats for the Mattress
I now lay down the wooden slats that will support the mattress. You can buy wooden slats at your local IKEA for a cheap price, buy slats online or use 1x3's lumber. In my case, the IKEA option was the cheaper one.
Also, when buying a slats kit, they all come ties together at the same distance of each other using 2 straps. That said, they can still move to the center when moving on the mattress.
So to prevent this, I'm placing 2 screws at each end of the bed frame in the 2x3's supports. This will ensure the wooden slats stay in place.
Step 10: BedFrame
Here's the result of the bed frame build. Hope you like it, it's pretty simple and budget friendly to build. This is for a Twin size bed frame, if you need to make one for another mattress size, you can ajust the dimensions according to the size of mattress you need.
Step 11: Transport and Installation
Since this bed frame is for my son at his mom's house, I need to transport it to it's final destination. It may look heave but it is not at all, it was easy to transport it from my basement shop in some L shape stairs, to the bed of my truck, all by myself.
Then, once at destination, i placed the bed frame in my son's room, installed the slats, the mattress and sheets on!
Step 12: Final Result
Here's the final result of this bed frame build with the mattress and the sheets on!
Hope you like this budget friendly bed frame build tutorial.
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