Slide a trundle bed under your bed to provide guests a place to sleep.
A trundle bed allows you to add extra sleeping space without dedicating an entire room to a guest bed. A trundle bed is also a great addition to a child's room. The trundle frame slides under another bed for convenient storage until it is needed. Make sure that the bed you are planning to store the trundle under can accommodate the height of a twin mattress plus the height of the casters. Consider adding bed risers to the twin bed if you need extra height. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut 3/4-inch plywood with a circular saw. The plywood should be 40 inches wide by 76 inches long to accommodate a standard twin mattress. Have the lumber cut at the home improvement store if you don't have a circular saw at home.
2. Sand the edges of the plywood with fine grit sandpaper until they are soft and smooth.
3. Cut two pieces of trim molding to 40 inches long. Cut the ends at a 45-degree angle so that they will fit around the edges of the trundle like a frame. Choose molding that is at least 1 inch wide so it will hold the mattress in place on the trundle.
4. Cut two pieces of trim molding 76 inches long with the proper 45-degree angle. Sand the ends of all four pieces of trim lightly to smooth out rough edges.
5. Apply wood glue on the inside of a piece of trim. Place the trim onto the edge of the plywood and clamp it to the plywood with woodworking clamps. Repeat with the other three pieces of trim.
6. Hammer finish nails through the trim and into the plywood base. Apply wood filler to any gaps or visible seams at the trim molding corners or where it attaches to the plywood. Let the wood filler dry.
7. Turn the trundle frame over and set the casters on the bottom. Measure the wood ½ inch from the edge of each corner. Mark the spots where you will attach the casters with screws. Drill holes at these spots using a drill bit that corresponds to the width of the 1-inch screws you will use to attach the casters.
8. Place the casters on the bottom and slide the screws through the holes in the casters and the holes in the plywood. Hold the trundle up with one hand and screw bolts onto the other end of the screws.
9. Paint the trundle bed frame with interior latex paint. Apply two to three thin coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. Allow the final coat of paint to dry completely. Place the mattress on the trundle bed frame.
Tags: pieces trim, trundle frame, inches long, plywood with, trim molding, 45-degree angle