I wanted to share with you my latest DIY project—how to make your own pallet bed. Adding baby #3 into the mix put us in a pickle that required some rearranging/redesigning. Bunking up the two older kiddos made the most sense; that way the upcoming arrival would get his own pad. Even though it was quite a bit of work since I am halfway through my pregnancy, it was so much fun to dream up and watch this project evolve.
Our oldest has been in a twin bed for quite some time, so our first instinct was to add another twin bed, but we ran out of real estate fast. Bunk beds, a common, small space solution, wouldn’t work for us since our oldest only turned three a few months ago. Instead, I looked for an “in between” sized bed, and it turns out IKEA happens to have a mattress, the Vyssa Vinka, in just the right size—smaller than a twin, bigger than a toddler bed and big enough for a few years of growth.
With such a specialty-sized mattress, finding the perfect frame was going to be a challenge. When I realized I wasn’t going to find the exact idea I had in my head, I knew I had to get creative and start this little DIY project. I did some research and decided I wanted a platform style bed using wooden pallets on casters. Unfortunately, finding a pallet that isn’t in need of some stray nail removal, major sanding and general TLC would not prove easy, so I decided it would be best to make my own pallets (material list at end of post).
Since all of the boards were pre-cut, the first step was a light sand, prime and paint.
Next, I laid out all of the pieces. I first attached the 4″ blocks to one end of the (3) 64″ 2 x 6 boards. Then the (3) 64″ boards were attached on each end with wood screws to the 28″ 1 x 4 boards. The remainder (9) 28″ 1 x 4 were evenly spaced out and screwed into place. This step was repeated on the bottom.
We filled all of the screw holes with wood filler and then sanded.
Next, we attached the (4) casters to the bottom side and applied a final coat of paint.
We placed the beds in the corner in an L-shape to create their new sleep/lounge area—I was two boards short on one bed so it is almost complete.
The room still needs quite a bit of work. Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for more DIY Projects: Headboard Tutorial, Decorating Tutorial and then…the final room reveal!
Materials for each bed platform:
(Wood was cut for me at my local Home Depot)
(3) 2 x 6 – 64″L
(22) 1 x 4 – 28″ (11 boards for the top and 11 for the bottom)
(3) 1 x 6 – 4″ blocks
(4) Casters – I got mine at Ikea
Drill
Wood Screws
Wood Filler
Sandpaper
Primer
Paint
Remember to measure the mattress you are working with and adjust your wood sizes as necessary. I was working with the Vyssa Vinka mattress, which measures 27.5″ x 63″.
Comments
andrea
oh my goodness what a great project!!
Carrie ~ A Sweet Spot: Home
That is darling! What a great space saver, still plenty of play room on the floor!
Christina
super cute!!!!!
Angela Willis
Hi! What a great project! EXACTLY what I need for my son’s room…
I have a question… he is getting really big and I think that he would need more support than just the wooden frame., Do you think that the frame you built would hold a box spring?
vicki mehaffey
Awesome!!! Does Ikea also sell the linens for the mattresses there? ALso for the backboard on this, did you attach to the wall? I love this!!!
Maureen Anders
This is genius, Rebecca! LOVE
Rebecca
Vicki…IKEA sells the fitted sheets and mattress pads and I have tutorial coming soon that I did for the quilts, but twin comforters could work. The headboard are attached to the wall…that DIY is coming SOON!!! (:
vicki mehaffey,
Rebecca
Angela Willis,
Hey Angela…here is the reply I left on FB (:
Hi Angela…typically with a platform style bed you wouldn’t need a box spring. Many times they use a wooden slat style support so that is what I tried to duplicate. I paid a little more for solid pine 1×4 boards but it is solid!!! -especially with the center support (; hope that helps!!
MJ
This is FABULOUS! Can you give me an approximate finished height (including the mattress) for these? I’d love to make something like this for our playroom….to work as a guest room in a pinch!
Heidi
What an amazing project! I can’t wait to see the rest!
Ruthy
What a awesome idea. I am going to try this. The colors great with the patterns.
Lisa @ HR Creative Design Studio
Okay, I totally need to do this project for my son’s room! Love the colors!
Vena
I absolutely adore this project! I’m excited for the follow ups(Headboard/Quilts)! Great Job..i’m inspired!
Lindsey
UGH!!! I just love this, from the colors to the wheels…everything it just so fun! I want one!
Kristen M.
I love this idea. It would work great as a kid’s “couch” in a family room too.
Amaya
It turned out really nice! I love the color you used. I cannot wait for your Part 2!
Stina
You are brilliant!! This is amazing.
Beckie
So… how much would you say the entire bed-making project cost you (per bed)? Just wondering how the cost of this compares to buying a new bed.
Looks AWESOME, by the way! Wanna make ME a set??? lol.
Erica
This is a great idea. I plan to file it away for the near future. I do have a question, how does it work with both your two sleeping so close together? Do they keep each other awake?
Ashley
I’d love to know where you got the headboard fabric and that orange polk-a-dot pillow?! LOVE!
Julia
Love the idea, but I was also wondering what the paint color is on the walls?
Lee Ann Dover
Love these beds. I’m working on my set now. I got the casters at Ikea, too. Can you tell me how you attached yours? I don’t think the bolt that is on them will be long enough to come out the other side of a 1×4. Did you drill a large hole and attach with a nut?
marisilvagamorim@gmail.com
OLÁ, NAO FALO A SUA LINGUA,MAS ESTOU ESCReVENDO COM A MINHA MESMA,SOU BRASILEIRA(BRASIL) E FIQUEI ENCANTADA COM SEU SOFA. AQUI NO BRASIL REAPROVEITAMOS MUITAS COISAS TAMBEM.AMEI O PASSO A PASSO DEU PARA ENTENDER MESMO SEM LER. ABRAÇOS
Aimee
How much did all of the wood cost?
Alex Hulme
absolutely love this, myself and my girlfriend are attempting to build our own l shaped sofa for our new house! Just wondering how you upholstered the mattresses? They look great!
Beth_PN
Hi Alex, Rebecca actually used these as beds for her boys, so I think the mattresses are just made up with bedding. Good luck on your sofa!
Yaz
How much was the whole project both beds plus the headboards?
Jennie
You little toddler might be my favorite part of the pictures! So cute! I cannot wait to have my husband make this for our enclosed patio! We can have sleepovers in the summer with our kids by pulling the beds apart, and make them like couches for when we have company!
Ademuyiwa
Wao it lovely nice one.
Neha
You said that you were a couple boards short. The list of supplies you added at the bottom, does that include everything?
Tasha
I love this idea!!! How well would it work as a sectional for a small living space
Ali Lock
Oh my goodness, I would love to be able to figure out the measurements to do this for two twin size “beds”. It would be a wonderful addition to my craft studio that I’m working on that is also going to function as a “guest room”.
owen
Nice DIY Pallet Bed. Liked your project. especially I like this tilt green very much.