DIY metal trestle bed. What is a trestle bed

A trestle bed is a rectangular or square piece of furniture for relaxing or sleeping, which is usually made of. It has backrests located on three sides or even along the entire perimeter. In the latter case, one or two entrances are made in one of the backs. The design of the trestle bed does not have specific dimensions, but its height rarely exceeds 50-75 cm. At the same time, the height of the backrests ranges from 40 to 60 cm.

Since this is a rather specific item, it is not often found in furniture stores. Usually it is ordered from master carpenters so that the dimensions and finish of this furniture fully correspond to the interior. And some connoisseurs of trestle beds bring them from Central Asia, where this kind is especially common.

Some types of trestle beds today are made with a roof on which transparent curtains or a thin mesh are attached. This furniture option is ideal for a country holiday, as it can protect against the vagaries of the weather and annoying insects.

History of the trestle bed

It is known that the trestle bed came to Europe from eastern countries. Since the floor in the East was previously laid out mainly from stone, the trestle bed served as a certain elevation above it. This piece of furniture has been used as a bed, modern and even a dining room. In the latter case, a low table was placed in the middle of the trestle bed - by the way, this is still common today.

The table, which is installed in the middle of the trestle bed, is called “Josie”. Its height usually does not exceed 30-40 cm, and its style always corresponds to the style of the trestle bed.

The place for the trestle bed in the house was chosen meticulously, because later it was considered almost consecrated. It had to be quite light and comfortable. Entrance to the trestle bed used to be restricted to women and slaves, but guests were seated there first.

How to make a trestle bed

Provided you have basic carpentry skills, you can make trestle beds yourself. To do this, you need to make a frame of the required size from boards, similar in design to a bed frame. Carefully planed boards or plywood are fixed on it.

The width of the plywood must be at least 15 mm.

Backrests 40-60 cm high are nailed to the frame on two or three sides. After this, the trestle bed is thoroughly cleaned with sandpaper and coated with varnish or paint. After the trestle bed is ready, a mattress is laid down and pillows are thrown out for comfort.

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Arranging a comfortable and ergonomic relaxation area in an apartment or country house is one of the most important tasks during renovation. But ready-made furniture from stores, such as sofas or dining tables, often do not fit the space available to the owners. Of course, an excellent solution is to order a set of furniture from a workshop so that every detail fits perfectly into the interior of the living room, veranda or gazebo. Would anyone want to pay huge amounts of money for such a service? That is why this article will talk about how to create a cozy and comfortable place for the whole family to relax with your own hands using a trestle bed.

What is a trestle bed?

Traditionally, a trestle bed is a platform raised on legs that can be used as a lounger, sofa, and even a dining area (if there is a small table-stand). The trestle beds are made from wood.

Initially, this piece of furniture appeared in East Asian countries. This is due to the fact that the floors in eastern houses were either smeared with clay or stone, and therefore cold. A wooden trestle bed allowed, during sleep, rest and meals, not to come into contact with a cold surface, but to sit on a warm mattress among soft pillows. Often the design of the trestle bed was complemented by a wooden canopy or a fabric canopy.

In Rus', the idea of ​​using a trestle bed was adopted from the Mongols, but it was not customary to eat on them - this piece of furniture was used exclusively as a bed. But modern fashion trends have once again revived the popularity of the trestle bed as a place for relaxing, drinking tea and eating food.

What could a trestle bed be like?

As mentioned above, often when making a trestle bed, its simple design was supplemented with various elements such as awnings, canopies, etc. Now, if you have high-quality tools and materials, you can make an ergonomic relaxation area from a simple bed, even on your own.

So, the trestle bed can be:

• Open - that is, it is an ordinary spacious lounger, raised above the ground or floor with the help of legs;
• With a canopy that protects people relaxing on the platform from rain, sun, etc.;
• With a canopy or tent, the fabric of which will also protect the trestle bed from the sun, but will also perform a decorative function especially well;
• With drawers, shelves, a small ladder, seats, a table for meals, etc. - with any additional elements that you have enough imagination for.

In addition, you can make a trestle bed that will be used either as a platform for gatherings with family and friends, or as a sunbathing bed in the garden or as a sofa for a gazebo.

Within the framework of the article, we will dwell in more detail on trestle beds with awnings. There are many options for implementing such an idea, and you can easily choose the one that is suitable for your room, veranda, gazebo or even loggia. But first, let's talk about how to make the design of a simple trestle bed with your own hands.

We make trestle beds with our own hands

Since the trestle bed has a very simple design, you don’t need any special materials or tools to make it. Here is a list of what you need to prepare to create a lounger with your own hands:

• Wood - you will need both bars and boards. It is possible to use plywood or chipboard;
• Protective primers and wood compositions, varnish or paint, depending on your preference;
• Saw or jigsaw;
• Drill, screwdriver;
• Fastening elements (screws, self-tapping screws, corners, etc.);
• Tape measure, level, construction angle;
• Sandpaper or sander.

Read also: Bench with storage box for the balcony - convenient and functional!

But it is important to remember that the primary condition for obtaining a high-quality result is the presence of at least basic skills in using all of the listed tools and working with materials.

So, the stages of making a trestle bed with your own hands:

1. Estimate the size of the trestle bed and its location in the room or in the free space where you plan to place it. After this, you need to take measurements using a tape measure.
2. Prepare a sketch of the future product.

To do this, you don’t need to have artistic skills - just sketch out the shape and approximate aspect ratio and details of the trestle bed. After this, it is important to note the exact dimensions of all parts.

1. Prepare bars, boards and other materials for work.

Firstly, they need to be cut exactly to the dimensions that you indicated in the sketch. Maintaining accuracy is perhaps one of the main conditions for creating a smooth and comfortable trestle bed. In addition, if you cut several bars to a size smaller than required, you will simply throw material and money down the drain.

Secondly, wooden elements should be treated with protective agents against fungi, mold and insects already at this stage. This will allow you not to be afraid that a problem will arise at the points of connection and placement of fasteners.

1. Assemble the trestle bed frame.

The simplest option is a rectangular shape, but when assembling the seat frame it is important to use the angle for comparison. Next, the legs are attached to the frame - they must be strong enough to support the entire structure with the people on it. It is best to play it safe and make them wider and thicker than to restore a broken structure later.

1. Assemble the seat.

The base of the structure is connected and strengthened with the help of bars, boards, and slats. A seat is knocked together on top - it is advisable to use solid sheets of chipboard or plywood for this if the trestle bed is planned to be small.

1. Install the side on three sides.

The side elements are also attached to the base - vertical bars are connected by horizontal slats along the perimeter of the trestle bed on three sides (alternatively, you can cover all four sides with a side and leave only a small passage to the platform).

In general, after installing the seat, the trestle bed can already be considered complete. Now you can paint it, put a mattress and pillows on it, or leave it as is. But such a piece of furniture will not be comfortable or beautiful enough, so it’s worth thinking about “upgrading” it:

• In addition to the side, you can also install a base for a canopy or canopy. It is best that the vertical columns from the beams turn into legs - then the structure will be the most durable;
• One of the sides can be covered with something like a wall (in this case, chipboard or plywood are also great), and then you can organize niches or shelves in it. If the trestle bed is spacious enough, you can place small potted flowers, decorative elements such as figurines or dishes for tea parties on the shelves;
• In small trestle beds on verandas or loggias, it is advisable to install drawers for storing various small items or things. They are included in the design at the sketch stage, and are knocked together along with the base;
• If the trestle bed is planned to be used as a place for relaxing and dining in the fresh air, it is worth installing seats along the perimeter sides. They should be slightly higher than the level of the trestle bed itself. Usually the platform in this case is upholstered with soft material and covered with a beautiful fabric, while leaving space for installing a table;
• For the same purpose, you can make a table in the center of the trestle bed. An alternative is to install it in a small recess, having thought through this element at the sketch stage. But a removable and folding table will be much more practical, because then the trestle bed can easily be used for sleeping;
• To make it easier to climb onto a high platform, install a small ladder. This element of the trestle bed looks especially good with solid sides and a canopy.

To create a soft country trestle bed you will need:
plastic bottles with a volume of 1.5 liters - 72 pieces;
scotch;
double sided tape;
scissors;
glue "cosmofen";

A spool of any strong rope;
foam rubber 5cm thick;
artificial fur;
thread and needle;
knife.

The first link is created from three plastic bottles. One of them remains intact, and the upper part of the other two is cut off and thrown away. The resulting bases are put on the first bottle on both sides. There are 24 such links assembled for this model. Now the three links are folded into a section and tightly wrapped with adhesive tape. A total of 8 sections will be required.

Sections of bottles are connected together and secured with tape on all sides. A rectangle is cut out of cardboard, equal in size to the narrow plane of the plastic blank. You will need a piece of foam rubber of the same size. The cardboard is glued to the upper base of the product with universal glue, and additionally secured with tape on top.

Next, double-sided tape is applied to the sides of the workpiece, the top paper part is removed and a rope is pulled over the sticky layer. The rope canvas is laid in dense rows around the entire side of the model. The winding begins at the bottom of the product and ends 5 cm short of the top. Strips 6 cm wide are cut from fur fabric. and using “cosmofen” glue they are glued onto the walls that remain without winding. Strips of fur are also glued along the side edges of the rope fabric, this will fix the winding.

It's nice to lie down after a hard day, reading magazines or just listening to music. And you don’t have to do it on the bed or sofa. A hand-made trestle bed can be your favorite place to relax. After all, you can put it not only in the living room of an apartment, but also in the courtyard of a house or cottage in the fresh air or even in a sauna.

Main types of trestle beds: photos

Open trestle beds

Top beds for a summer residence

Top beds with awnings

A trestle bed under an awning can be organized in several ways:

DIY trestle bed options

To make the simplest version of a country trestle bed you will need:

Step-by-step instructions for making a trestle bed

1. A link is created from three bottles. To do this, the upper part of two bottles is cut off and thrown away, and the lower parts on both sides are put on the whole bottle. Twenty-four such links should be assembled.
2. The three links are folded together and tightly wrapped with tape. There should be eight sections in total.
3. All sections are connected and secured with tape on all sides.
4. According to the size of the upper plane of the resulting plastic structure, rectangles are cut out of cardboard and foam rubber.
5. Cardboard is glued to the upper base with special glue and secured with tape.
6. Double-sided tape is applied to the sides of the structure, along which the rope is subsequently stretched. It should be laid in dense rows along the entire side of the product. The winding should start from the bottom and end before reaching a little (about five centimeters) to the top.
7. Strips of fur fabric are glued onto the walls that are left without winding. The width of such stripes should be six centimeters. To secure the winding, strips of fur are glued along the side edges of the wound rope.
8. A flap is cut out of fur fabric, the size of which should be seven centimeters larger than the cardboard base on each side.
9. The corners of the fabric are sewn up and the fabric is put on foam rubber.
10. A few drops of glue are dripped onto the cardboard and the fur seat is glued. The simplest and most budget-friendly trestle bed for a summer cottage is ready.

Living room trestle bed with drawers for baskets

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions:

• first of all, you should make a drawing of the future sofa, focusing on the existing baskets that will be inserted into the plywood drawers of the sofa;
• to create such a trestle bed from materials you only need plywood, the thickness of which must be at least twelve centimeters;
• Three boxes are made from plywood according to individual scales;
• plywood boxes are painted in a color suitable for the interior of the living room and fastened together;
• Baskets are inserted into the boxes, a mattress and pillows are placed on top. The trestle bed is ready, you can go to rest.

Transformable trestle bed in oriental style

This design is quite difficult to manufacture, but it is multifunctional. From a sleeping place it can easily be converted into a coffee table and vice versa.

Such a piece of furniture will be useful in the country, it will easily fit into a small-sized apartment and will not interfere with the loggia if it is placed there for relaxing in the fresh air.

To make a transformer you will need:

• pine beams 175, 58.7 and 17.7 centimeters long;
• bolts and nuts;
• two pine planks 2x4x50 centimeters;
• one sheet of MDF 1.2x32x64;
• extended washers;
• threaded rods;
• Allen key;
• glue;
• stain;
• sandpaper.

Before starting work, you should decide on the size of the trestle bed.

Construction manufacturing technology.

1. Pieces of the required length are cut with a saw.
2. On the outer bars, drilling locations are marked with an awl.
3. Holes are drilled on the front side of the outer beams. They must be deaf and have a depth of three centimeters. Nuts and washers are inserted into the holes.
4. Holes are drilled on both sides, the depth of which should be approximately half the block.
5. The “tabletop” is almost ready. Now two 17.5 centimeter bars are glued together.
6. Using clamps, the finished legs are fixed to the bars of the “table top”. The result should be a structure tightened by six rods.
7. Now the structure should be secured with pairs of beams so that it can support a person. The bars will connect the legs together. To do this, drill each leg with a round drill, lubricate each hole with glue, insert screws into them and press the bars tightly together.
8. The surface and legs of the table are sanded. After sanding, the trestle bed is painted and varnished in several layers.
9. Now all that remains is to assemble the trestle bed and attach to it the back, made of an MDF sheet and two slats.

The oriental-style trestle table is ready. All that remains is to put pillows on it and place it in a cozy place to rest.

So, without much difficulty, showing a little imagination and spending not much time, you can make a wonderful place to relax with your own hands from almost any materials.

Comfortable couch for a beauty salon

Often, couches are found in hospital waiting rooms and treatment rooms. But this is a universal piece of furniture that can be used in the countryside - complement it with side stands, throw a canopy on top - you will get a beautiful, cozy place for relaxing in nature.

Do-it-yourself outdoor couch in the country from pallets

In the kitchen, a couch will create additional seating, and if you equip it with shelves, there will be a place to store various kitchen utensils.

Kitchen couch with soft seat and extra storage space

In the hall, such furniture will be especially useful for people with back problems, because it’s not for nothing that doctors recommend that they rest on a hard surface.

Fashionable and stylish red couch in the living room

By showing your imagination, such a nondescript accessory can be turned into a real masterpiece. A DIY couch will fit perfectly into your interior and is not difficult to make.

Comfortable and practical DIY wooden couch

Depending on individual needs, location and available space, couches can be of different sizes: large, small, medium, straight and corner. They can be equipped with additional shelves or drawers, made with or without a backrest, covered with fabric or leatherette - such a piece of furniture will not go unnoticed and will be your pride.

Small sofa-couch, do-it-yourself for the living room

A special mobile massage couch that allows you to adjust the height

• with or without an armrest;
• with and without backrest;
• on thin and thick legs;
• soft couches;
• completely covered with fabric or leather.

Backless couch with decorative bolsters

The main types of couch models:

Types of medical couches with a metal frame

• with a metal frame;
• with drawers;
• with additional shelves;
• folding (can be transformed into a sleeping place).

Transformable couch, easily allows you to transform the bed into a sofa, sofa or chair

Choose a model of couch that will not only fit perfectly into the interior, but will also be affordable for you to manufacture. If you have some carpentry skills, you can take on more complex versions of the product. If you are mastering this type of activity for the first time, first make a simple model.

A simple daybed for the kitchen with an extra bed, made by yourself

Advantages of a self-made couch:

Handmade wooden bench for comfortable relaxation on the balcony

• low cost - you only have to spend money on the necessary materials;
• organization of additional space;
• reliability of design;
• manufacturing according to the required dimensions;
• combination with the interior;
• elegant appearance.

Beautiful children's room with a daybed for relaxation

Making a couch with your own hands is not difficult; you don’t have to be a professional carpenter. The most important thing is to carefully think through all the details, draw up a plan, accurate drawings (they can be found on the Internet) and choose high-quality materials.

Drawing for making a couch with your own hands

For the frame, ordinary wooden blocks are suitable; it is better to give preference to natural wood. But you can also use chipboard. To make the product softer, use a mattress or foam rubber. Upholstery fabric will give this type of furniture a beautiful appearance.

Beautiful handmade leather banquette for the hallway

How to make a couch with your own hands?

Please note that all wooden elements must be sanded with sandpaper, painted, and then varnished. Therefore, immediately decide on the desired color of the future product. When the first layer of varnish has dried, you can sand the parts again - all the small chips sticking out will harden and will be easy to get rid of.

Wooden couch with a soft mattress and a lifting part for ease of procedures

If you want to give the product softness, use a universal and cheap material - foam rubber - as a filler. Choose a medium level of hardness, since too soft will sag, and hard will cause discomfort. Cut the foam rubber a few centimeters more - it must be secured to the bottom of the parts to prevent premature wear of the upholstery.

Foam rubber for softness

To make it easier to sheathe the product, follow this procedure: first fix it in a loose state to one long side of the part, then pull it and fasten it from the center of the opposite side to the edges. Follow the same sequence with short ends.

The process of securing upholstery fabric in corners

The best option for the headboard lifting mechanism would be a stepped fixation, popular in models of old folding beds.

Headboard lifting mechanism – step fixation

Please note that the device for a sofa or ottoman will not work in this case - due to the small size of the lever, you will have to make a lot of effort to lower the headboard.

You can choose a two-position headboard, the operation of which is ensured by gas microlifts with a force of 40N-80N.

Legs made of timber for a future couch

For the legs of the structure, cut the block into pieces of 50 centimeters, for the remaining parts you need to prepare plywood with the following parameters:

• for the bed 170cm*70cm;
• on the headboard 38cm*70cm;
• two long drawers 200cm*17cm;
• four short drawers 56cm*17cm.

Short drawers are fixed between long ones. For long ones, do everything the same way, but in a plane with a diameter of 8 mm. Place one short drawer at a distance of 40 centimeters from the headboard.

The legs are attached using 4*60 self-tapping screws. To avoid the formation of cracks in the wood, drill holes with a diameter of 5 mm in the drawers, and 2.5 mm in the legs.

We fasten the legs with self-tapping screws

Along the perimeter of the box, except for the headboard, screw the corners to secure the bed. If the couch is equipped with gas shock absorbers, attach them as well, following the included user manual.

Screw the stock to the corners of the box, retreating 5 centimeters from the foot and on the sides. Install the butterfly loops at the headboard, then place them in a lowered, horizontal position under the bed and secure them. All that remains is to fix the counter part of the gas lifts and the couch is ready with your own hands.

Decorating the product

Unusual rope daybed-bed

For decoration, you can only use paints and varnishes, various synthetic ones, microfiber, dermantin or velor - it all depends on your taste and budget. Synthetic upholstery retains its color and shape for a long time, but it tends to electrify and attract dust.

Massage couch with wooden legs and soft upholstery

The couch will have an interesting appearance if you drill holes in the plywood and tighten the filler with nylon thread. The holes will be hidden with the help of beautiful buttons covered with matching fabric.

Using the couch for relaxation, massage and treatments

Video: Couch with nightstand