Building a Platform Bed

In this episode, I build a platform bed with a sheepskin headboard for a Colorado Springs Client.  The bed is made from walnut and features four floating shelves attached to the headboard. Each side of the bed has an integrated reading light.

Headboard Construction: Precision Mitered Corners

The headboard frame required tight mitered corners, so I took extra care prepping the material. I started by ripping rough walnut stock slightly wider than needed, allowing room for any warping that might occur. After joining and planing the boards square, I ripped them to the final width using a feather board to keep them tight against the table saw fence.

For the miters, I clamped the long boards to the miter gauge to prevent wobbling during the cut. A test fit confirmed the corners lined up perfectly. To reinforce the joints, I:

• Added pine clamping blocks with CA glue for extra clamping surface.

• Used Dominos in each corner for strength.

• Applied slow-setting epoxy for ample adjustment time during glue-up.

Bed Rail & Hidden Supports

Since the bed rail (which supports the mattress) would be hidden, I used cost-effective alder. After milling it flat and square, I centered it on the walnut frame, marked Domino locations, and glued it in place.

To enhance the frame’s visual appeal, I added a walnut filler strip where the mattress and lower shelf would sit. Parallel clamps kept everything aligned during glue-up.

Mattress Support & Knockdown Hardware

The mattress support rails (also alder) attach to the side skirts and footboard. I cut them to fit knockdown hardware, ensuring they sat just below the walnut platform to hold the mattress securely.

For the knockdown hardware, I:

• Built a plywood jig matching the hardware dimensions.

• Used a router with a pattern bit to notch out recesses.

• Hand-routed relief slots for the hooks.

Once installed, the hardware allowed for easy assembly and disassembly.

Side Skirts & Footboard Assembly

The walnut side skirts were ripped to width, milled to thickness, and cut to length using the same clamped-miter-gauge method for square cuts. To hide the alder end grain on the headboard, I notched the side skirts for a seamless fit.

The footboard consisted of a walnut skirt with an alder support rail glued in place. After glue-up, I sanded off excess squeeze-out and test-fitted the hardware.

Mattress Platform & Slats

To support the mattress without a box spring (and avoid voiding the warranty), I ripped and beveled slats so they could be rolled up for shipping. A center support, using the same knockdown hardware, added extra stability. Nylon strapping kept the slats bundled together.

Floating Shelves: Veneer & Perfect Miters

The modern floating shelves required no visible end grain, so I used walnut veneer and mitered all corners. Steps included:

• Resawing veneer at the band saw and planing it smooth.