How To Put Up A Bed Frame - Step By Step Guide

Each bed is different, and the assembling process is, in that case, unique for each bed frame.

Generally, the assembling process is not complex as long as you have the basic guidelines on how to go about it.

The purpose of the bed frame is to lift the mattress off the ground, and to give you the comfort you need to enjoy your resting time.

They offer the mattress the seating needed for mattress pads. Raising the bed also allows you to create storage space beneath the bed.

You can also attach wheels on the bed frame to facilitate moving the bed around, especially when you need to clean the room.

How to go about assembling a bed

Table of Contents

There are different types of beds, and one way of categorizing them is by the type of the frame material.

Tools you will need to assemble the frame bed:

Cordless Drill with screwdriver attachment

Technology has advanced such that most cordless drills have the capacity to drive screws.

This explains why they are given the term drill drivers.

When you use the cordless drill for the first time, the basic thing to learn is to identify the types of the bit and the shapes of the head of the screws each uses.

The star-shaped screw, also known as Philips head, is the most common. It uses the No. 2 bit, which also serves most of the screws.

Another common driver bit is the internal hex one which works well with the screws with a bugle batten head shape.

The square bit works with decking crews while the nutsetter hex bit fits well on the roofing screws.

Start using the drill on low speeds for excellent outcome, and increase the speeds as you get used to it.

Check the guidance on the correct settings for the drill before using it.

Socket wrench with 5 by 6” Allen key attachment

A wrench is a spanner that inserts into a socket, to turn a fastener, such as a nut or bolt.

The socket wrench has a ratcheting mechanism on the head.

The drive is a square nub that enables a variety of sockets to attach to the ratcheting part.

The role of the ratchet is to keep the socket I place as you turn the wrench handle.

The Allen key serves to drive bolts and screws with a hexagonal socket.

They come in different sizes, but share a common factor- they all have a hexagonal-shaped tip.

There are different sizes of the Allen key attachment.

You will notice that the 5 by 6” one comes in handy with most of the woodwork you will need to do.

Circular saw

The saw is mainly an electric handheld device, mainly meant to cut wood in different designs, but can also be used to cut other materials with variety of blades.

You can check where the blade of the saw sits, it will tell you whether the saw is either left or right sided.

Tape measure

You will need the tape measure to measure your wood as you work.

It has linear measurements to help you identify the distances and lengths as desired.

Take care of your tape measure, you will need it so often!

Pencil

As you work with the tape measure, you will need to mark the desired measurements and areas where you need to cut your wood.

The pencil will come in handy.

Level

The other term for the level is the spirit level. The spirit level acquired its name from the mineral spirit solution.

The level has a small vial holding a colored liquid which indicates the level of a surface.

It also indicates how parallel the surface you are measuring is to the earth.

The level will come in handy to ensure your woodwork turns out perfect.

The more you use the spirit level, the better you get at it, making you more accurate with level measurements.

The spirit in the vials is UV protected.

This is to mean it cannot evaporate and up to a certain degree in temperatures, it remains liquid, without solidifying.

It works best at temperatures between -20 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. For best accuracy, use minus or plus:

5 milliliters
005” or
029 degrees

Wipe the level dustless, so that it does not affect the way you use it. Dust the area you will place the level as well.

Identify the bottom level of the level and hold the level correctly so that you do not block your view.

Use the special levels to get the true horizontal and the true vertical. Use the level manufacturer’s manual to guide you on usage.

How to assemble a metal bed frame

The metal frames are usually solid and sturdy and can withstand any weight.

They last long and can be used for many years to come. You could also paint it to match the theme color of your bedroom.

Assembling metal bed frames

The metal frames have two common components, the left and the right leg.

Step 1: – The first step is to place both legs across each other, such that you leave enough space in the middle to fit the mattress.

There are wheels that come with the frame legs.

Step 2: – The next step is to attach the wheels to the frames, one leg frame at a time.

There are short beams that extend from the frame legs, which come in handy for this step.

If you are intending to have an immobile bed, use the available rubber or plastic feet on each leg.

If your focus is a mobile bed, then use the available roller wheels.

You may not need any special tools for the work, most of the frames attach easily. In a few cases, you may need to use nuts and a screw.

Many manufacturers make the process even easier by attaching the side arms to the leg frames.

When this is so, all you will need to do is pull the already attached side arms ensuring they are fully extended.

If the side arms come unattached, attach them separately- the nuts and screws will come in handy.

Notice that the side arms are usually strong and robust.

Step 3: – The next step is to safely lock the side arms with each other.

Check for secure holes on the sides of the side arms, and the protruding nubs.

Push the nubs through the holes, and attach them together.

However, some side arms will come with holes only, in that case attach them with nuts and screws.

If you have metal plates availed, you can use them too to securely attach the side arms.

The dimensions of your mattress will also guide you if you have an adjustable frame, use the small holes on the frames to match that dimension.

Most metal bed frames will come with a strong center support leg. Check all the necessary wheels and feet to that leg.

Step 4: – When done, set it at the center of the bed frame.

Check for grooves at the center of the side arms. Use them to attach the side arms to the center leg.

All you need for this step is to slide the ends of the center leg into those grooves on the side arms.

If you do not find the grooves, go ahead and use the nuts and wheels to attach.

The manufacturer will often, if not always, include protective caps to accompany the metal frames.

Check if the frames leave any small exposed pieces of metal. Use the provided protective caps to cover them.

If you do not have the caps, use duct tape in multiple layers for the same purpose.

You will be safe in future in case you bump into the frames; you will not hurt your skin.

If your frames came with the headboard or baseboard, the next step is to attach them, if you desire to have them on your bed.

Step 5: – Extend the board fully and if need be, attach any legs provided using the nuts and screws.

Some metal frames have slots on the main bed frame for you to slide the frames legs.

In cases where that is not provided, align the legs to the slots on the sides and attach them together.

Congratulations, your metal frame set up and is ready for use!

Pros and cons of using the metal bed frame:

Pros

It is easy to maintain as compared to the wooden frame. It is durable, and cannot be damaged by pests and parasites, as is the case for the wooden one.
You can get a variety of amazing shapes and designs for the headboard and foot-boards. Wrought iron also gives elegant look and this comes in handy to give the desired outlook for your bedroom.
Metal is highly durable, and can also withstand heavy weights.
In case you need to paint the frames, you can have variety of color especially for your kid’s bedroom.

Cons

Your frame may not last as long as expected if the welding was poorly done.
Metal could give you lots of problem in high temperature conditions because it is highly affected by heat. You may need to invest in temperature control system in your room.
The metal frames can have a classic look, but their elegance can never match that of the wood!

How to put a wooden bed frame together

Things keep changing every day, but making furniture out of wood does not lose it popularity.

In fact, in recent times people have been constructing beds using pallets.

It remains the most desirable material because of the beauty that comes with it.

You can choose the best wood frame for your bed before making your purchase.

It is an uphill task to move an already assembled bed into the room you will set it up.

It is therefore advisable to assemble it in the same room, and save yourself later inconveniences.

Steps on how to assemble a wooden bed frame – DIY

Support the headboard against the wall

Check the taller wooden frame- that is your headboard- and let it rest against a back wall or any other surface that can offer the needed support.

The best way is to place it where it will remain after the assembling of the bed is complete.

Let the finished side of the headboard face you, this is what everyone else will view.

If your headboard cannot stand on its own to allow you to do the rest of the fixing, ask someone else to hold it for you.

Attach the side rails and the headboard

Check for the small holes or grooves at the lower side of the headboard.

Ensure that you have a balance amount of the same, on both the left and the right sides.

Take each of the side rails and attach it to each side of the headboard.

Some rails will not need you to use the nuts and screws to fix them together, while some others will need you to.

Attach the side rails to the baseboard

The process will be similar to the steps you take with attaching the side rails to the headboard.

The difference is that the baseboard is shorter than the headboard, and consequently the holes or the grooves may look different too or smaller.

As you attach the side rails to the baseboard, make sure the side of the frame that is not finished, faces in.

Attach beam guides or the board to the side rails

Check if your side rails have holes, ridges or small panels, whose purpose is to hold the support legs.

If that is not available, use nuts and screws to attach the available guides.

Some side rails will have markings you can follow to determine the drilling points.

Drill the holes and attach your guides accordingly.

If the markings are not available, count the number of guides you have, measure equal distances and attach them accordingly.

Check if you need support legs on the center board or beams

Some bed frames will come with support legs for the beams or boards.

If your bed frame came with that, attach them first before placing the beams or boards.

Some frames will simply require screwing the leg and attaching it into the board by hand, while some will require you to use the nuts and screws.

Attach the center board or beams to the side rails

The frames could come with metal or wooden support beams.

If that is available, lay them across the frame, ensuring that you maintain an equal distance between them.

However, if the support panels are wooden, let them lay on top of the frame.

Ensure that they securely hold, by using screws and nuts, or the secure locking grooves or holes available.

Some frames will come with both the panels and center support beams.

If that is the case, lay your panels on top, after securing the beams.

Check whether the bed is slanting

When you are done with the above steps, use a tape measure and a level to ensure the side rails and the center support align well, and that the bed is not slanting.

The tape measure will come in handy to ensure that if your bed frame is the adjustable type, then it fits the size of your mattress.

Your bed frame is ready now, carefully place the mattress on top and enjoy your bed.

Pros and cons of using the wooden bed frame:

Pros

Wood easily flows with most interior designs, and therefore can easily match the rest of the room. Wood usually comes in different designs and you will be spoilt for choice.
Wood is durable and your room will look for years to come.

Cons

Wood is heavy and can be an uphill task to move a heavy bed around when relocating, or up the stairs.
Wood is generally expensive and may not be easily affordable by most people.
Wood can inhabit and encourage the growth of bacteria and mold especially if it gets wet. It can pose as a health hazard.

How much weight can a bed frame hold?

When choosing a suitable bed, comfort, style and the assurance of a great sleep experience are among the things you will consider.

You will also need to consider your best sleeping position and your body weight.

It goes without saying, when you are buying a bed for you or your loved ones and you need the best experience with the bed.

It is unimaginable to have a bed that would break in the middle of your sleep!

On that note, it is critical to consider how much weight a bed can hold, so that you make informed decisions.

Consider whether you will be sleeping alone, with your partner or whether you will sometimes have the children joining you.

That will tell you the combined weight you will be putting on your bed.

Consider the weight of the mattress as well.

The bed manufacturer will always provide the bed frame weight capacity.

Always note that the capacity includes the weight of the mattress as well.

The size and type of the mattress will determine its weight.

Two things to consider when choosing the right bed frame should hold are:

A sturdy and strong bed frame
A bed frame capable of distributing your weight evenly. You can also let the bed frame manufacturer know when you need a bed that is reinforced to take more weight.

If you choose a bed frame that does not support your body weight adequately, it will at some point start sagging in the middle.

Such sleeping conditions are not good for your health.

How to reinforce a bed frame

Are you having trouble with the stability of your bed?

That squeaking bed can be so annoying and uncomfortable to sleep in.

What you need is a permanent solution and this is how to solve the problem once and for all.

Lets get straight to it;

Stabilizing a metal bed frame:

The tools you will need include:

Screwdriver
Electrical tape
Lubricant- get one that is petroleum based
Wrench

Steps to stabilizing a metal bed:

Remove the mattress and the spring box from the frame. Identify the squeaking points.
Use the wrench and screwdriver to remove bolts and nuts holding the side arms and the frame. Place plastic washer between the frame and the bolt, tighten accordingly.
Spray the petroleum-based lubricant on every interconnecting connectors. Concentrate on the corners and the squeaking parts.
The electrical tape comes in handy as the cushioning for the bed frame. Wrap it around the legs of the bed. Make a hole on the tape and insert a screw through it. You will stop all the squeaking noises.

Stabilizing a wooden bed frame:

Is your wooden bed frame causing you sleepless nights with its squeaky creaky noises?

Here are the steps on stopping that noise:

Apply pressure on the mattress and identify the squeaking areas. Check especially around the headboard and footboard.
Determine what you need to do with the squeaking noise depending on what is causing it. Check for all the frames to adjust, screws to tighten or areas to lubricate.
Check the metal joint that binds the wooden frames to the headboard and footboard. It is a possible source of squeaking if the parts rub against each other.
Add slats if your bed frame has only a basic frame and the support center. That will make it more sturdy and able to support you. Its critical to measure the width of the inner frame to help determine the height of the new slats. Get a 1×4 feet wooden board and mark the length of the new slat you need. You will need a handsaw to cut off the excess wood. If you are not skilled enough to do it, you can get a professional to cut it for you. Get enough slats for your bed.
On the center beam place one board and do the same with the left frame. Leave a space of 2 to 2 ½ feet away from the bar at the middle of the frame.
The power drill will come in handy to secure the slats to the inner side of the bed frame.
Check if the supportive center is the major problem in your bed. If so, completely remove it and replace with a new one.

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When you reinforce your bed frame in good timing, you will escape the task of fixing a broken bed.