How can I turn a waterbed frame into a platform bed?

I would put something under the mattress to lift it up higher so it is still in the box , but mostly above it. If it is like most water beds, it is deep. Perhaps you could put cinder blocks or something in each corner and in the middle, with a long plywood board on top. You could use the area under the plywood for long term storage of anything you want to keep but do not get at too often. Then with the bed higher but still contained in the box you could make the bed much easier. Hope this helps, Mary. That is what I would do.

On most platform beds the matress does sit inside the frame otherwise the mattress would slide all around.

Hi Mary, go to a store that sells foam mattresses and have them cut you one to fit, measure the inside dimensions of the bed and write down the measurements, you can also check online for sizes, usually water beds are regular sizes, so if it's a queen, measure to be sure and order a queen foam mattress. Hope this helps

Hi Mary! Could you remove the frame, using the pedestal for the base and use the headboard from the frame? That's my best guess without seeing it.

I had exactly the same problem. I have a California King water bed and put a regular California King mattress in it and it was very difficult to keep lifting up the heavy mattress to make the bed. What I did was put enough layers of foam below the mattress to raise it just above the box so I could more easily get to the mattress to change the sheets. I used California King foam toppers to put under the mattress as they fit. I hope this helps.

You can actually put three-quarter inch plywood across the top of that water bed frame out and screw it into the frame then your new your your mattress would just sit on top of that platform so we don’t longer have that problem with having to try to make the bed

Hi! I was thinking that slats across the base may be enough to support the mattress or a solid piece of plywood attached to the top of the frame would work. Good luck!