How To: Make a Platform Bed on the Cheap

This is an oldie, but a goodie. Back when Berkeley-based ReadyMade was still just a gleam in Meredith Corp's eye, Shoshana Berger made a splash with a preview issue that included instructions on how to make a "meat cart" platform bed. Sound sexy? Well, it actually was. With just casters and a simple ladder frame as supports, its minimalism rivals that of the Ligne Roset Maly bed -- but for a whole lot less green.

We recently came across David Nunez's blog entry on his own version, and went in search of the original article. Alas, it's not online, but we did discover that ReadyMade now sells a $115 queen size "bed in a box" kit.

Wood for this project will probably cost no more than $200, and you can customize by adding your own fun casters. (Check out this post for caster ideas.) David also added a safety pull bar as a handle, which is a great idea.

Also, apparently the ReadyMade product people will answer emails about adjusting the pattern's measurements, so you can check your specifics with them.

If you build one, let us know!

(Edited from a post originally published 02.06.07 - CB)

Comments (7)

I'm not a fan - There are much better DIY beds out there.

Don't care for it but I can see some people being into it. It is certainly different for sure.

If you had sex on this, would you end up rolling to the other side of the room?

love the look of platform beds but i keep thinking of the bruises i'd have on my ankles/shins

I have always been told to never put a mattress down on a solid surface---something to do with air circulation and mold growth. That is why most platform beds come with slats for the mattress to sit on. A mattress soaks up a lot of moisture from our bodies every night---during the day it needs to dry out.

I would think I fell asleep somewhere and wake up in a totally different place, just like college.

A good platform should not be solid on the bottom as it does not allow the mattress to breathe. If you build this, consider sawing or routing out slots in the platform under the mattress to promote air flow through the mattress. Our bodies perspire and we exhale moisture into the mattress while sleeping (and during sex!). You don't want your mattress getting funked out, let it breathe. Look at commercially available platform beds and you will see they usually are made of wood slats, not solid sheets of wood.