Instructions for a Captain's Mission Twin Bed Trundle
A trundle bed is the perfect way to add a second bed to a child's room for a sibling or sleepover. Adding a trundle bed means that your twin bed no longer has room underneath for true captain's bed-style drawers. However, if you like the look of the captain's style furniture and don't mind the loss of under-the-bed storage space, you can convert your child's twin-sized mission-style bed into a captain-style mission bed by adding a trundle styled to simulate the captain's bed style. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the depth, width and height of the available space between the feet under your twin-sized mission bed.
The space available under your twin mission bed must be at least 76 inches long by 40 inches deep to fit a standard twin mattress. You will also need about 8 inches or more in height. If the space is not large enough to fix a commercial mattress, you may instead buy thick foam at a craft or fabric store to use as a mattress.
2. Purchase materials for your bed. You will need one full sheet of plywood or similar for the base of the trundle.
Select three 1-inch-thick boards with a width 1 to 2 inches less than the height under your bed. One must be as long as the width of space under the bed, and two must be as long as the depth of space under the bed.
Buy one additional 1-inch-thick board that is slightly longer than the width of space under the bed and 1 to 2 inches wider then the height under your bed.
Finally, buy enough wood to create false drawer fronts to give your trundle bed the appearance of a captain's bed, and select drawer handles.
3. Cut your sheet of plywood. The width of your plywood should equal the depth of the bed. The length should equal the width of the space under your bed minus 1 inch. Bolt one caster wheel near each corner so that the plywood rolls across the floor when laid horizontally.
4. Cut and attach the headboard and footboard for your trundle bed. The boards for the head and foot of your trundle should be cut equal to the depth of your bed.
Attach the plywood to the footboard and the headboard using 2-inch wood screws. For additional support, you may attach L-brackets to the headboard and footboard under the plywood.
5. Cut and attach the first side board. Measure the total length of the plywood, headboard and footboard together and cut your side board to this length. Use screws to attach the side board to the side of the plywood that will roll under your bed and to the headboard and footboard.
6. Cut and attach the second side board. The second side board should be 1 inch or more wider than the height available under your bed. You may also cut it to be slightly longer than the width of the space available under your bed. Attach the second side board to the side of your plywood that will remain visible when the trundle is rolled under the bed and also to the headboard and footboard.
7. Cut between two and six false drawer fronts. The drawer fronts should fit in one or two rows of two or three columns on the side of the trundle that will be visible. Use a Dremel tool to round or curve the front edges of each false drawer front.
8. Attach a drawer handle to the front of each false drawer, making sure any screws on the back sit flush with the wood. Align the false drawer fronts into columns and rows. Glue or screw the false drawer fronts to the visible side of the trundle.
9. Use wood putty to fill cracks between the boards and any visible screw or nail holes. Allow the wood putty to dry, then sand it flat. Paint or stain all wooden surfaces of the trundle to protect the trundle and match the look of your mission bed.
Tags: under your, false drawer, side board, drawer fronts, headboard footboard, false drawer fronts