Q: I'm super cheap, and looking for a very plain queen bed frame. I've been living with our metal bed frame (you know, the one that came free with the mattress) for years now, but I hate the look of a bed skirt almost as much as I hate the look of the ugly metal frame. I recently snagged a great deal on an overlapping squares headboard from West Elm ($100!), but I can't find a good plain bed frame to match it.
Yes, I'm aware that West Elm sells a simple bed frame, but I feel like I should be able to find something like this for less than $300. I've asked around and searched online, but it seems strangely impossible to find a plain bed frame without a headboard. I've even though about buying a Rykene bed from Ikea at $129, chopping off the headboard, and painting it white. I'm fairly handy, but I'd like to avoid building my own bed from scratch if possible.
What do you think, people? Should I suck it up and spend the $300 plus tax at West Elm, or is there a cheaper way?
Sent by Julie
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I'd check thrift shops, Goodwill, etc, for an old wooden bed frame to fix up. There are plenty out there.
Another Ikea option, much cheaper than the Rykene, is the Fjellse bed that's only $49.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80185066/
I snagged the same headboard for $100 a while back. I have one of those cheap metal frames like this: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/DuraBed-Queen-size-Steel-Foldable-Platform-Bed/5201282/product.html
You definitely need a bedskirt with it but it works.
http://www.target.com/p/Simply-Basics-Platform-Bed-White/-/A-10212033
You can buy some wood planks to match the height at any lumber store. Paint or shade them any color you want and join them on the corners. Use them to cover the metal bed frame. Match them to the headboard or contrast the headboard. Them don't have to be structural, but they can look it.
p.s.
Oh and check out this site, you could build it for cheap
http://ana-white.com/
i recently discovered the wonder that is the boxspring cover. No bed skirt, but no new frame.
Check it out:
Click me to view the Awesomeness
We had a hard time finding a headboard-less frame myself and ended up with this: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Murray-Queen-size-Platform-Bed/4362136/product.html
We love that it is sleek and has such a small footprint. Unfortunately, it only comes in Mahogany and Black.
But you could always paint it!
I second the wood planks idea from funstraw. It's cheap and easy and can look really polished. If you want to go a bit further you could upholster it instead of painting. Spray glue some batting to the wood, cut some fabric a few inches wider and longer then the planks, wrap and staple gun in place. Let me know if you want clearer details.
@tbgboodler: unfortunately that awesome deal only comes in full size, i was going to get it for this same purpose and was totally bummed.
Depending on how high your matress is maybe you could just get a king sized quilt/ bedspread/ whatever the kids are calling it now days. It might be long enough to cover your metal frame and boxsprings (without having to do a bedskirt which I am not a huge fan of either) This is what we do at our house.
It would depend on your style. If you do a search for platform bed you can find many styles without headboards.
I have heard some people claim that screwing casters or ready made furniture legs straight into a boxspring works for them. Or getting sheets of mdf or osb and affixing legs or casters to that if a platform style works better for you.
Good luck.
Hi, Julie -
This headboard is great!! We are big fans of platform beds at our simple abode (we have three so far) and I recently found a very simple platform bed at roomdoctor.com that is unfinished pine. Room Doctor sells their full size platform bed on Ebay for $115 plus shipping. Our purchase arrived yesterday, and only took 5 days. Judging by the look of the headboard in your photo, the scale of the platform bed we bought would probably work really well, and my daughter and I are planning to paint it white for her room.
Good luck!
SillySara! Thanks for the info on the Room Doctor! Good stuff!
As usual, Apartment Therapy already has the answer you're seeking:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/bedroom/universal-bedlegs-from-sleep-solutions-center-106391
I wouldn't call ugly bed legs that don't contitute a bed frame (which is what the post asked for) "the answer." But thanks!
o.co