How do I extend an antique wooden bed?

Bj Demetriades
by Bj Demetriades

I got an antique wooden bed- headboard, wood rails and foot board, from my husband's grandmother who recently passed. We have a queen mattress and box spring and it is too big. I feel like we should be able to extend it without ruining the bed itself. Any suggestions?

  5 answers
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Jul 19, 2019

    Is the queen mattress too long, too wide or both? If the frame is not wide enough, there is unlikely anything you can do. If it is just length, you could cut and piece in longer side rails and then use a dust ruffle and/or bedspread that would cover the new side rails.

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Jul 19, 2019

    Hi Bj,

    If the bed is a full size and your mattress/box spring are queen size the mattress won't fit on the bed frame. :( What you could do is to make or buy a wood frame foundation for the mattress/box spring then attach the head and foot boards. They will be a little bit smaller than the mattress/box spring though so you'll have to decide if you like the look. Here's another idea from hunker.com. Wishing you the best.

    https://www.hunker.com/13403297/how-to-convert-a-full-size-bed-to-a-queen

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Jul 19, 2019

    What we've done with antique beds if the posts are thick enough is move the bed rail system to the outside edge from the center to widen. If bed is too short a furniture maker can add to or remake your side rails.

  • Gk Gk on Jul 19, 2019

    Many antique beds can actually be what is called 3/4 size--more than a twin size, less than a full size. Is your queen mattress to wide or too long?

  • Weare2oldtimers Weare2oldtimers on Jul 26, 2019

    You can purchase new metal side rails that are queen size in length and have swing out wings on them to support the queen size box springs. I too have an antique maple bed with head and foot board. It also has a center support with foot for the middle of the bed.