I set out on quest to make a platform bed with matching headboard unlike anything you could buy at the furniture store. This is what I came up with so if you decide to make a project like this use the mattress as your base point for measurements and build away... Enjoy..

Step 1: Locating the Perfect Wood for the Project

Since I am located in the heart of the Redwood Forest on the northern coast of California I am able to locate scrap wood fairly easily. For the project I used the following materials: Old and new growth redwood, Doug fur and Pine which was in various sizes and condition.

As a bonus the wood for this project was free..... When y search for the wood make sure you get a big pile of various lengths and sizes to get the unique finished project.

Material needed:

Since this a unique project the wood will be various sizes you will need screws in the following lengths to hold the project to together.

Screws: 3", 2.5", 2" and 1 1/4"

Finish nails 1 1/4

Glue LOTS OF IT..... I use the Dura bond but you can use whatever you prefer.

Tools needed:

Safety glasses

Hearing protection

Table saw

Compound saw

Nail Gun

Drill

Kreg Jig: optional

Large and small clamps to give you the extra hand...

Step 2: Preparing the Material for Use

This might be the single most important step in the process. You must thoroughly go over every board looking for nails or other objects imbedded into the wood. Also, if you have metal detector its a good idea to run it over the wood to double check.

This is step is critical since you will be using a table saw or compound saw to rip the wood and it could be potentially dangerous striking a metal object with your saw.

Step 3: Cutting the Material for the Project

Head board

4 headboard supports at 42"

Lots of 1x boards cut to 22" using various sizes to give the face some character.

Lots of 1x boards cut to 54" using the same material as the smaller boards

Note: For my job I used the same board or each span across the headboard to be constant but you can adjust as you find visually appealing.

Now you say I do not have 1x boards that are to thick or just do not work no worries. With your table saw rip the boards to the desired thickness making sure you use the exterior or the board to give you more wood with a raw finish.

Take the supports and make mortise groves in the back of the board. For this project I used my table saw and ripped a 1x1 corner off of the 2 end supports... This is important so you have a guide and grove to place the 1x boards into place.

Now for the 2 center supports I used the same technique and ripped 1x1 squares of off each side of the support to give a channel foe the face boards.

With the supports channels cut place the 1x boards into the slots face down and groves up in a pattern you desire. This is your dry fit (no nails or glue)

Place glue in the groves and place the 1x face boards into place. Then tack them down using you nail gun.

For this project I found it easier to make the 2 outside sections then attaching the center boards giving you a nice square finish.

With all three sections completed take some 1x boards and secure them to back of the head board which will give extra stability. With the space left between the supports place pieces wide enough so they overlap they cover up the groves and the boards you placed into the groves.

Step 4: Cutting the Material for the Base of the Platform Bed.

With the headboard complete I take make the following cuts. remember using various pieces of wood would cause you to make several other cuts but for my project I made the following cuts.

2 Side support boards @ 74" long ( used a odd sized beam and ripped it in half with my table saw so the upper lip support is about 2")

2 Head and foot support boards @ 54" long

Attach these boards together making a box. Flip the box over and make a secondarily box with overlapping the boards to give additional stability. Screw and glue the boards together and flip the frame back over.

Since I did not have 2x8 boards I used 2x6 boards for the first box then uses a 3x3 for the base of the box to give the desired height.

Lastly you cut the platform skirt using a standard 2x6 board to fit so it lays flat on top of the platform base which will give about 3" overhang.

I glued the skirt to the top of the base and used 3" screw to hold the lip into place. For added stability I used pocket hole jig set at 1 1/4 inch at the foot of the bet to hold the skirt firmly together.

Step 5: Making the Floating Shelfs

Since this project was built to handle a full size mattress which the standard size is about 53 x 73 the thickness of the mattress varies from brand to brand.

For this step you will need to make the following cuts.

4: 1x10x14 boards for the top and base of the shelf

4: 1x10x6.5 for the sides of the box

2: 1x6.5x12 for the back side of the shelf

Use glue and clamps and attach the sides to the top. Using your nail gun tack the boards together.

Next attach the back into the box and use the same process as attaching the sides of the shelf

Lastly, attach the bottom of the shelf and there you go a simple box tube used as a shelf

With the shelf unit now built and the platform bed in place with head board attached. Put your mattress on and attach the shelf to the headboard centered on the sides level with the mattress. Based on the material you used attach the shelf from the inside with screws long enough to hold the shelf in place and hold a little weight.