How to Make Your Bed Look Like It’s Floating
A floating platform bed can add an interesting aesthetic and dimension to your bedroom, and is relatively inexpensive to make and install yourself. However, there are some things to consider before diving into them, both in terms of design and security.
To begin with, “floating” platform beds don’t actually float – it’s an optical illusion. The base of the bed frame is set far enough away from the platform that you cannot see it unless you lower yourself to the ground. But the trick is to make the base at the bottom strong and wide enough to avoid tipping over if someone sits on the edge of the bed.
Here’s what you need to know before making your own floating platform bed.
Tools and materials
This is a simple project, but it needs to be solid so some basic carpentry skills are needed. Tools and materials needed for this project:
- Miter saw
- 2″ x 6″ lumber and 2″ x 4″ lumber
- wood glue
- Wood screws 2-½”
- Drill
- screwdriver
- Wireframe square
- Roulette
Building your base
A “floating” platform bed is made by creating a smaller structure under the mattress support frame so that the mattress platform can sit on top of the base. The size of the smaller structure below your mattress platform depends on the size of your mattress. You can measure your bed or use this handy sizing guide to help you determine your measurements.
The base structure underneath must be strong to support the weight of the platform with the mattress, so it is recommended that this base be made from 2″ x 6″ boards. Making a rectangular frame that is 16 inches narrower and 8 inches shorter than your mattress platform will give you the look of a floating platform without enough of your main bed’s cantilever platform to cause tipping over (unless a large amount of force is applied). Once you’ve made the rectangular frame, you’ll need to add some supports in the middle, running along the length to support the weight of your bed. It will also add weight to your frame to make it rollover resistant.
Making a mattress frame
Once you’ve completed the stand, you can build a rectangular frame out of 2″ x 6″ boards that will fit your mattress. If you plan on using slats for your bed, the rectangle should be large enough for your mattress to fit inside of it. Next, add some supports made from 2″ x 4″ boards to the mattress platform running in the opposite direction from the base structure’s supports. Supports can be used to connect two frames and evenly distribute the weight over the entire surface.
To add bed slats or a box spring to support the mattress, build a smaller rectangular frame of 2″ x 4″ boards that will fit inside the mattress platform frame. Attaching it to an inner or outer frame with screws will make it strong and functional. This will make a handy surface for attaching your slats or box spring.
Connecting your frames
Then lay the mattress frame on top of the base structure, centering the base structure from side to side and aligning the ends of the headboard together. The result should be an 8-inch overhang on three sides, just enough so that you can’t see the underlying structure unless you bend down to look under the bed. You can screw the supports together to connect the two layers where they overlap, and then also use 2″ x 4″ supports cut to the height of the two frames together and screwed vertically to add structure and prevent slipping.
Set up your mattress
You are now ready to install the slats or box spring and mattress. It should only fit inside the outer edges of your mattress frame and float about 5-1/2 inches off the floor, and it should be stable and roll-resistant. If you’re still worried about sitting on the edge of your bed, you can use a pair of L-brackets to attach your frame’s headboard to the wall from the underside, making sure you screw into the stud. This will make your bed practically anti-slip and very safe.