How to Build a Platform Bed With Lips

Platform beds are an excellent way to build stable beds, especially if you like sleeping closer to the floor. Platform beds can built to contain drawers, or they can be left simple and elegant like many Asian-themed beds are. However, if the bed isn’t build with proper lips, a mattress can easily slide right off, causing you to lose sleep or potentially injure yourself. Luckily, building a properly lipped platform bed from scratch is a straightforward process.

Decide on the dimensions for your bed. For a twin, the bed surface will have to be at least 39 inches by 75 inches. A full will be at least 54 inches by 75 inches, a queen will be at least 60 inches by 80 inches, and a king will be at least 76 inches by 80 inches.

Saw 2-by-10-by-96-inch lumber into two side rails and 2 end rails, using a circular power saw. Saw through the shallow side of the wood as the saw cannot extend enough to cut 9 1/4-inches deep.

Divide 2-by-2-by-96-inch lumber into 2 slat support rails to fit within the bed frame. These should measure 3 inches shorter than the side rails.

Cut 2-by-6-by-96-inch lumber into one center support beam that measures the length of the slat supports.

Cut 2-by-4-by-96-inch lumber into at least 5 slats to space evenly across the slat supports and support your weight.

Saw 4-by-8-foot, 3/4-inch plywood into sheets that will lay across the slats to spread the weight of your body over more surface area.

Make a butt-joint by juxtaposing the end rails between and perpendicular to the side rails, flush with their ends. Secure each joint with five 3-inch countersunk screws.

Fix the slat support rails into position 4 inches from the bottom of the boards using wood glue and 3-inch screws spaced every 6 inches.

Lay the center support beam down the center of the bed, and secure it with wood glue and screws on each end. The top of the center support beam should be level with the top of the slat supports, 5 1/2 inches from the bottom of the frame.

Lay the slats across the slat supports and center beam, and nail them into place using 3-inch nails.

Lay the plywood sheet atop the slats and nail it into place with 1-inch nails. This should leave a lip of 1 1/2 inches to secure the mattress in place.

You’ll Need:

Measuring tape

Circular power saw

2-by-10-by-96-inch lumber

2-by-2-by-96-inch lumber

2-by-6-by-96-inch lumber

2-by-4-by-96-inch lumber

4-by-8-foot plywood, 3/4-inch thick

3-inch countersunk screws

Wood glue

Hammer

3-inch nails

1-inch nails