We need a platform bed, but cost is an Issue...

Question

We downsized to a one bedroom apartment.  Our daughter has the bedroom and my husband and I are in the living room.  Purchasing a sofa bed is pricey, so I thought I would get a platform bed and during the day put cute throw pillows on it and make it a couch. This was all in my head - theory, now reality has set in and I don't know what the best plan is and hoping you great creative people can give me some wisdom. I was stuck on purchasing Ikea's Brimmes white platform bed.  Now, I'm thinking of just buying a metal frame bed and a box spring -we have a mattress. I saw one at Walmart that I like, but am concerned if I would be wasting my money.  I am not a thin mint and neither is my husband, so I can't afford for this thing to start to bend and give out., but it gives me the height I am looking for and it's within budget. Thanks for your help.

Velvet Guthrie Yeager · Answer

I have purchased 2 Spa Sensations full-sized bedframes from Walmart (similar to the one pictured) and LOVE them. There is only 1 bed in my house that isn't of this type and I'd like to replace it soon as well. They allegedly support up to 1200 pounds. I am not a slip of a woman but I find my bed to be really supportive. I enjoy not having to have a box spring because the frame is very sturdy.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Personally those frames do not like they have that much support for the both of you.If you are going to invest on box spring and mattress why not look into a pill out sofa bed.

Nancy Lutz · Answer

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures but we have built 2 platform beds so far and are doing another one for a Granddaughter this summer. For our king size bed, we cut MDF lengthwise and made 2 long boxes, 18' wide and 24' deep. We put dividers and shelves for shoes and baskets. The boxes will be the length of the bed and lay on their side so they are 18' high. Of course you can make it lower but my husband likes it high, we have a 17' deep mattress, no box spring. To make the width of the bed, set the 2 boxes so the open shelving edges measure the width of your mattress with a space in between. In between we put 2x4's (4) across the open space, down 3/4' to allow for the board to go on top. Rip MDF to fit the space. We also put a sheet of MDF sideways at the top and screwed it to the framework, I then covered it with foam and fabric for a headboard. We have had this bed for about 14 years and it is very sturdy and has storage galore! If memory serves me I think this was about 4 sheets of MDF. It is smooth and a fine platform for the mattress. You can paint it or stain it or be as creative as you want. I'm not sure how this would be in a living room. I suppose you could build it for 2 twin mattresses and make an L shaped sofa with cool pillows etc. It would be really heavy to move together at night to be side by side, and kind of a hassle! Good luck, I'm not sure this helped you but I have sure enjoyed mine.

MN Mom · Answer

There are lots of designs for platform beds constructed from pallets. I personally don't think there is anything more uncomfortable than a pull out bed or a metal frame. Even if you bought a quality box spring and mattress you could still make it into a lounging  area using toss pillows etc and then use as your sleep space at night.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

To add to my comment there are plenty of very comfortable pull out beds these days. I have slept on many. These times have changed...

Jean Myles · Answer

Have you thought about a trundle bed.. its a day bed with an other pullout bed underneath. Google it if cost is a problem you could look for second hand and buy new mattresses, this would solve the problem and all will have a good nights sleep.

Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot · Answer

You could put a piece of plywood across those and also use some cut 2X4's for legs for added support. This is a very crude solution that you would have to refine to make it look better, but you get the gist. You could also built a simple frame around those metal things or just ditch them all together. Build a frame to hold the mattress. We made one for our sons room. Pretty cheap depending on the materials you choose, and not that difficult http://makemeprettyagain.blogspot.com/2014/07/building-platform-bed-to-go-with.html Or you can just google 'how to make a platform bed' You can even make one out of pallets.

Laura Laskey · Answer

Honestly I would check out Craigslist - there are many very nice pieces everyday and with a little effort you can get a quality piece in your price range. Good luck!

Bit By Bit Shop · Answer

My daughter used this walmart bed frame & it was well worth the money. It actually made her mattress more comfortable.

Heidi Geores · Answer

Look around on Craigs List for free pallets...make sure to get the HT pallets, heat treated. Clean them....this info is on Pinterest and then search platform pallet bed....there are a lot of good ideas out there. Its not that hard to do and the best part is, its free.

Romayne Dee Dray · Answer

I actually have purchased 2 of these frames and they are very sturdy.

Donna · Answer

Subscribe to freecycle.com You can google it to find the one closest to your area. Peope are always posting furniture. The freecycle idea is to keep things out of landfills and help one another out. You can offer items or ask for items. And yes, it truly is free. People give things out of the goodness of their heart.

Rachel Richardson · Answer

We have this bed frame from Walmart and love it. Never have had a problem with it. It doesn't squeak and it holds up under heavy use. And we don't have a box springs, just a mattress. Hope this helps.

Mary Ker · Answer

The apartment therapy web site has lots of ideas for dealing with a bed in the living room.  You might get some inspiration there.

Linda · Answer

I have that same Wal-Mart frame in my daughter's room and it is pretty great!. I bought it b/c the box spring was broken and you can put the mattress right on it and because I knew I would be moving within a year and it folds down to virtually nothing to move and it's fairly light. It sits high enough to put storage containers under it. For the price, I'm not sure you can do much better.

Mary · Answer

How about having a Murphy bed instead? You can build one or buy one. And if you make or buy the portable ones, then if you move you can take it with you. Type in Murphy beds in the search box at hometalk and you'll see all sorts of pictures of Murphy beds, and some have given links to places where you can buy one or just buy the parts to make one. I'm going to be building a Tiny House on Wheels in 2018 and I am going to have a Murphy bed put in because I don't want to have to climb up a ladder to a loft bedroom. Search Murphy beds.

Lizzy L · Answer

I've seen people make very cool platforms out of wood pallets.

Barbara Nichols · Answer

I have the queen version of the pic above, although not from Walmart. It is the BEST because no box spring is needed (I have a memory foam mattress) but the VERY BEST part is that the bottom lip of the frame is 14' from the floor. A ton of stuff can be stored under this frame...unlike any other.

861650 · Answer

Lizzy L is so right about wood pallets. Here is an idea I found. Take four wood pallets and screw them together to form a square/rectangle. You can paint it (I would google the 'how to' for pallets before you even begin. Or, you could cover with carpet. The examples I have seen look beautiful and professionally done all on a dime. Oh boy! Now that I'm thinking about it, I wonder if one could stack one on top of another for height...hmmmm

Pam Walker · Answer

Use the same picture but create it using PVC pipes instead. Larger pipes will give more support.

Carolyn Noyer · Answer

When I first moved here I only had a mattress, I had $100.00, not enough for a bed. I had my grandsons go to Home Depot and get 2 by 4s and a piece of plywood.  For about  $60.00 I had a bed. Yours most likely be as much as they made mine high.

Linda Johnson · Answer

We made a platform bed for our daughter. It was a 2 x 4 wood frame with 4 x 4 legs and a plywood top. She didn't need a box spring. We made it high enough to put storage totes underneath and put a skirt on the top of the wood frame. Looked great and could be made out of wood we already had. (You can use 1/2' or 3/4' plywood.)

Ali Kay · Answer

Not sure what your budget is for a platform bed but we were able to get one on amazon- it's a foam mattress but very good quality and doesn't seem like it will break down.. if you don't see one there look under mattress liquidators or wholesalers. Also - big lots has some inexpensive furniture.

Deana Thaxton Samms · Answer

We made a platform bed for our king-size mattress out of two old waterbed supports and some plywood.

Dae · Answer

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I so appreciate all of your help. After much 'talk at home' we decided to buy cinder locks and thick ply wood and make platform bed. I saw so many cute way to do this and I am so excited.

Rick Lester · Answer

Milk crates work great to build up projects. If you can find them for free, grab as many as you can , they can be used for storage (don't overfill and they stake perfectly into eachother), set on there sides and make great shelves (I have 8 stacked in the closet screwed to the wall...I don't like dressers, take up too much room), lots more crate ideas.....Anyway, if you have a box spring, a single layer of milk crates will work perfect, 1 at each corner, one in the middle of each sides, front and back, and 2 in the center and you should be good to go. I don't have a box spring so I made as above but added plywood to the top of the crates. Add a really long comforter to cover crates of a sham or a sheet to cover the bottom. Also move crates in a little and add se sides, ie cutdown paintable/stainable plywood, paint, stain, cover with fabric, wallpaper, actaully anything can work.

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