• About
  • Contact
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Image Map

Southern Revivals

A DIY, home decor, lifestyle and interior design blog based near Savannah, GA.

  • Home
  • Furniture Makeovers
    • All Furniture Projects
    • Client Files
  • DIY Tutorials
    • Home Improvement
    • Projects
    • Style & Design
  • Crafts
  • Entertaining & Recipes
    • Entertaining & Party Ideas
    • Just Recipes
  • Travel & Life
  • SHOP

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed | CB2 Inspired – ORC Week #4

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

I can’t believe we’re already four weeks into the six-week One Room Challenge but it means I get to share our DIY platform bed with you! You might’ve already seen it when I wrote about the mattress we chose but I finally get to share the details of this amazing mid-century modern DIY platform bed. To recap, here’s week #1 – The Plan, week #2 – DIY Board & Batten Walls and week #3 – Modern DIY Dresser.

The thing about letting your teenager help choose the designs for his room is that you’re taking the chance that he’s got taste like yours. And I think they refer to that as caviar taste on a beer budget. So when he picked out this gorgeous bed from CB2, the Drommen Acacia Bed with Leather Headboard I knew, more than ever, that he needed a really good job when he grows up! But for now, I knew we needed another DIY.

Last week I shared our DIY dresser and it was an easy enough build but I’ve learned over the years that for most anything you want to make there’s almost always a blogger who’s already tried it and will help make your life a million times easier. I was not disappointed. Ashley, from Bigger Than the Three of Us, tackled this years ago and, while we did things differently, her tutorial saved me a ton of time. She’s the real MVP!

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

DIY Platform Bed

Instructions and material for a full-size bed. Can be easily adjusted for any size.

Supplies for bed frame

  • 2 – 1 x 4 x 8
  • 2 – 1 x 4 x 12
  • 1 – 1 x 6 x 10
  • 5 – 1 x 8 x 8
  • 2 – 1 x 8 x 6
  • 9- 1 x 3 x 6 (slats)
  • 3/4″ plywood
  • 2 – 1 3/4 x 5″ metal ties
  • 4 – 2.75″ framing angle
  • 3″ wood screws
  • 1 1/4″ wood screws
  • 5/8″ wood screws
  • 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws
  • wood glue
  • stain/conditioner
  • wax or sealer
  • foam
  • fabric

Tools

  • measuring tape
  • Kreg Jig
  • miter saw
  • drill
  • jigsaw
  • sander
  • planer
  • clamps
  • table saw or skil saw
  • staple gun

Making the Frame…

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

We started by creating the underframe or bottom frame, the one you don’t see once the bed is finished.  The top and bottom pieces (2) of this frame are 1 x 6 x 50.5″, the sides (2) are 1x 6 x 64.5″ and the center brace (1) is 1 x 4 64.5″. We cut these with a miter saw.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

Next, we worked on the top frame, the one you will see once the bed is finished.  The top and bottom parts (2) of this frame are 1x8x45.5″ and the side pieces (2) are 1 x 8 x 81″.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

We assembled the bottom frame using our Kreg Jig and drilling pocket holes on in the inside and outside of both ends of the side pieces and both ends, inside and out, of the middle brace piece and screwed those into the top and bottom piece. We used 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws.

Pocket Hole Placement Illustration

See the arrows for reference on our very professional illustration.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

For the top frame, we used the Kreg jig on the inside and outside of both ends of the top piece, the headboard end, and inside only inside of the bottom piece. This way the pocket hole doesn’t show from the outside on the bottom end.

We then added the top from onto the bottom frame and attached with wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

Since we didn’t use pocket holes on the outside of the bottom piece, we added these metal ties from the underside for added security.

I feel like I should pause here and address the fact that you might notice in the pic above we’ve added an extra 1 x 2 that I do not address in the supply list. That’s because we realized, too late, that we should have used a 1 x 6 here instead of a 1 x 4. This way the legs will line up with the brace later. So just do as I say, not as I do.

Pocket Hole Placement Illustration

Also, see yet another very professional illustration of the pocket holes for the top frame.

Making the Legs…

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed
Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed
Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

For the legs and headboard braces, we’ve used sandwiched 1x4s. To put together the legs we’ve used 1 1/4″ screws and wood glue to join them. Obviously, you’ll want the screws to be on the insides of the legs so that they won’t be seen from the outside. Our legs are 7 1/2″ tall with a 21-degree angle.

We planed and sanded these sandwiched pieces to give them a more finished look. You can’t tell they were sandwiched together at all.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

There are four legs with one brace in the center.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

In addition to being screwed in from the top of the frame, using 3″ screws – one angled, one straight down, we also added a framing angle to each leg for added support.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

And because we felt like we needed to at that last minute, we also cut an extra length of wood (approx. 12″), attached a middle leg to it (no need to angle this leg) and added that to the already existing middle brace.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

For this leg, we just drilled pockets holes and attached it to the brace using pocket hole screws.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

A little closeup for reference.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

There are nine slats made from 1 x 3 x 45 3/8″ spaced 4″ apart. They’re attached with wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws. The fit just inside the top frame and screw into the exposed section of the bottom frame.

You might also notice that we rounded the edges of the top frame. We just used a paint can to draw off the rounded edge and then we used a jigsaw to cut it.

Making the Headboard…

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

For the headboard, you’ll use a skil saw or table saw to cut a length of plywood for the headboard. Ours is 54″ x 31″.

Foam is expensive. So instead of spending about $100 on the upholstery kind, I just used the memory foam topper I had taken off my son’s old bed. It is a twin size so it already fit the plywood perfectly. Then I wrapped that in a cheap twin size 1 1/2″ egg crate mattress topper that I got from Walmart.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

And THEN, I wrapped all of that in a queen size 1/4″ mattress topper, also from Walmart. This helped to smooth out any hard edges and will prevent a bulky appearance.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

I found this faux leather fabric (2 yards) at JoAnn. I used my coupon so it cost me less than $15! I attached all of these layers with my handheld staple gun.

Making the Headboard Braces…

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

We attached the completed headboard to a 1 x 4…

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

and added another 1 x 4 on top of that. We attached them to one another using screws. The doubled boards accommodated the bulk from the foam. Prior to attaching the final board, we drilled pocket holes in either end in order to attach the headboard to the headboard braces.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

We also added a scrap board at the bottom of the back of the headboard for added support.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

For the headboard braces,  we just kind of played around with it until it looked right to us but there’s some wiggle room here if you want to change things up. The main thing for me is that these braces lined with the legs underneath so that it looks like the braces go through the bed and become the legs. These braces are also made with sandwiched 1x4s. They’re attached using wood glue. We clamped them and allowed them to dry before working with the them.

The long brace is 36″ l with a 45-degree angle and the shorter brace is 10 3/8″ with a 21-degree angle. Both measured from long end to long end.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

The top of the brace is clipped, in keeping with the design, and is attached from the back with the pocket holes from the back of the headboard.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

The smaller brace is about 9″ long with a 21-degree angle and is attached to the long brace with a 3″ screw (as seen here).

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

And the long brace attaches to the bed frame from underneath using screws.

DIY Board Batten Black White Walls Bedroom

To finish the bed, I used wood conditioner and Minwax stain in Honey. Once that dried I waxed it to give it some sheen but not too much. I like that it makes the wood look more natural.

Mid Century Modern DIY Platform Bed

And, OMG, can you believe it?? I can hardly believe it! I mean it’s not Acacia wood but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen pine look so good. Or maybe I just feel accomplished! There was lots of sanding to keep things smooth and I definitely think that helps the wood to appear premium.

Now I get to move on to decorating and, possibly the most exciting part, ripping out this old carpet! See you in week 5, friends. We’re almost there!

More Posts You'll Love!

  • Teen Boy Bedroom Makeover Reveal – ORC Week #6Teen Boy Bedroom Makeover Reveal – ORC Week #6
  • Teen Boy’s Modern Bedroom Makeover | ORC Week#1 The PlanTeen Boy’s Modern Bedroom Makeover | ORC Week#1 The Plan
  • Master Bedroom Makeover Plan | ORC Week#1Master Bedroom Makeover Plan | ORC Week#1
  • The Foam Mattress I Chose and Why I Think It’s The BestThe Foam Mattress I Chose and Why I Think It’s The Best

Filed Under: All Furniture Projects, DIY Tutorials, Furniture Makeovers, Instagram, Popular Posts, Projects, Southern Revivals 23 Comments

IF YOU LIKED IT THEN YOU SHOULDA PUT IT IN YOUR INBOX

* indicates required
Email Format
« Everything You Need to Know About Brooding Chicks
DIY Chicken Coop – Framing Out the Fancy Farmhouse Coop »

Comments

  1. Michelle says

    at

    Wow Jamie that looks sooooooooo awesome! I admire your skill! Your son is very lucky (and has excellent taste indeed). I can’t wait to see the finished room. I am seriously considering painting my own bedroom wall dark (I live in a rental apartment but it’s paint so I guess I could always paint them again?!). It makes for such a cool, modern look!

    Reply
  2. Regine from The 256 Project says

    at

    I have wanted that bed for so long and your version is beautiful. Well done!

    Reply
    • jamie says

      at

      It’s such a good bed, right?! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  3. Courtney says

    at

    This is my dream bed but yikes the price! Even though we’re handy I never thought to DIY it!! Thank you so much (it looks awesome and I will be using your tutorial!!)

    Reply
    • jamie says

      at

      Yay! Thanks so much. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  4. Ricky says

    at

    Absolutely loved this! I am obsessed with the Scandinavian bedroom style, but I’m a college student living on minimum wage checks in California, and relying on student loans to stay afloat. I’m curious about the time and cost to make this? My other bed frame idea is wooden crates for bed support. What’s your opinion?

    Reply
    • jamie says

      at

      Hi Ricky,
      I love the idea of crates or pallet bedframes. Those are easy, budget-friendly, and perfect for a temporary space. You can also make them work for a rustic or modern style. The bed we built here cost just over $300 and it would have been a bit more had I not had some of the materials on hand. I would also say that it isn’t exactly a beginner project so it would depend on how much building experience you have. Another suggestion is building a simple box-style frame, like a platform bed, but without legs. It’s an easier build and it might give you the look you’re going for while allowing you some more design control. Best of luck!

      Reply
  5. Joanne says

    at

    This is awesome! Do you have the measurements for turning this into a king bed?

    Reply
    • jamie says

      at

      Thank you, Joanne! I haven’t done the measurements for a King but our full bed frame is just 4″ wider on each side than our mattress. So depending on the size of your mattress, you can build your bed frame 4″ wider than your mattress on the sides. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Kayla Holloway says

        at

        How did you do your pocket hole. What jig??

        Reply
        • jamie says

          at

          Hi Kayla,

          It’s called the mini jig kit and it’s the Kreg brand. I hope this answers your question!

          Reply
  6. Lina says

    at

    Hi there. Absolutely amazing bed! What do you think the measurements might be for a king? And how much were your supplies ?

    Reply
    • jamie says

      at

      If you add the difference between a full mattress and a king size mattress to these plans, you will have exactly what you need! I hope that’s helpful. We might consider running these exact numbers in the future and developing plans for all bed sizes. Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Sarah Kennedy says

    at

    I’m making this bed! Going through the cut list and step by step directions, I noticed that you call for the underframe to be made from 2–1×6 and 2 –1×8. The picture of the underframe looks as though the pieces are all the same size (except for the middle one).
    Thanks for clarifying this!
    Sarah

    Reply
    • jamie says

      at

      Hi Sarah,

      Please see this section of the post for clarification:
      “I feel like I should pause here and address the fact that you might notice in the pic above we’ve added an extra 1 x 2 that I do not address in the supply list. That’s because we realized, too late, that we should have used a 1 x 6 here instead of a 1 x 4. This way the legs will line up with the brace later. So just do as I say, not as I do.”

      Let me know if you have any further questions! Thanks!

      Reply
  8. Daniel Caban says

    at

    It is on my plans to do.
    But I want to clarify something with the measures, Is the measures the final cut or did you make some adjustment counting with the difference between the common and actual size? Example: (Common: 1-in x 8-in x 8-ft; Actual: 0.75-in x 7.25-in x 8-ft) Pine Board

    Reply
    • jamie says

      at

      Hi Daniel,

      Yes, we always have to make adjustments based on actual size but those are accounted for in the plans so that you don’t have to make those same adjustments, they’re already done for you. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  9. Rakan says

    at

    This is awesome! I’m planning on building this for a king sized bed. 1 Question, what kind of kreg jig can drill pocket holes in the think side of the 1×8? Don’t you need a jig with 8″ clearance? Did you use a pocket jig and a larger c clamp? Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Rakan says

    at

    Thanks for this! One question, how did you drill pocket holes into the 1×8? Most kreg jigs have a size limit, how did you get around that? What kreg jig did you use?

    Reply
  11. Rakan says

    at

    How did you make pocket holes in the thin side of the frame 1×6 and 1×8? I thought the Kreg jig only supports 1 1/2 depth?

    Reply
    • jamie says

      at

      Thanks so much for your email! I’ve included a picture of the jig we used. It’s separate from the main Kreg contraption and can be used on those boards that won’t fit in there. With this one, you can hold it, clamp it, or even screw it to the board you want pocket holes drilled into. The later is undoubtedly an unauthorized use of the jig but we did drill holes in ours and have used it that way as well. I think this came in a kit we purchased but we’ve had it so long neither of us can say for sure. I can’t find the kit that includes this anymore but I did find a link to the actual jig itself. It’s called the mini jig kit and it’s only $14 at Walmart! I’m sure you can find it elsewhere, this is just what popped up when I Googled.

      I hope this helps! Again, I appreciate you reaching out. Take care!

      Jamie

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Kreg Jig Project Plans: 30 Free Plans That Use Pocket Hole Joinery says:
    at

    […] Midcentury Modern DIY Platform Bed from Southern […]

    Reply
  2. Teen Boy Bedroom Makeover Reveal - ORC Week #6 - Southern Revivals says:
    at

    […] started by building this mid-century modern DIY platform bed to accommodate his new world’s most comfortable mattress and because he doesn’t […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me

Image Map

 

Popular Posts

Farmhouse-style Foyer Entryway Makeover
DIY Repurposed Metal Headboard Bench

MORE FROM SOUTHERN REVIVALS

My Spring Tablescape Makeover with World Market

DIY Burlap Canvas Wall Art

DIY Built In Jewelry Organizer

DIY Built-In Jewelry Organizer

Brownie Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fudge Nut Brownie Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fall Autumn Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas

My Thanksgiving Tablescape

Southern Revivals is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2025 · Southern Revivals · Log in