DIY White potato Bed and Bookcase

A cozy actress bed when you need information technology, a handsome showpiece when yous don't take a ton of room. We'll show you how build a Murphy bed.

Time

Multiple Days

Complexity

Advanced

Cost

More than than $1000

Introduction

A Murphy bed tin be simple: Some are an upright box with a folddown bed. This is a deluxe version. Get the knowledge to know how to build a Spud bed.

Tools Required

How to Build a Potato Bed

When William Lawrence White potato filed patents for his infinite-saving bed in about 1900, he couldn't have known that he was solving a 21st-century problem: the need for a dwelling house function or hobby space, plus extra sleeping space for guests. And although his invention has been improved over the last century, the basic idea is still brilliant.

Building a Murphy bed requires some precision—you have to install the hardware exactly according to the instructions. But the woodworking here is actually simpler than that required for many bookcases. At that place are no dadoes, mortises or tricky joinery. And all of the door frames are impostors. They look exactly like classic rail-and-stile frames, merely they're but 1/four-in.-thick solid wood applied to plywood. The bookcases that flank the bed are optional.

Plus: Cheque out this other disappearing bed and bookshelf project by a Family Handyman reader.

DIY Potato Bed: Designed to Pamper Your Guests

A Murphy bed tin can be super simple: Some are just an upright box that contains a folddown bed. Only this is a deluxe version. Aside from the handsome design and storage spaces, I included some convenience features to brand guests comfy: On both sides of the bed, there are pullout tables mounted on drawer slides. Inside the side cabinets, there are display lights that tin likewise human activity as dark-lights. On the headboard, I mounted a touch knob then guests could switch on lights higher up the bed—no groping for a low-cal switch in a dark, unfamiliar room.

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Pullout tabletops function like nightstands – the perfect spot to set a volume or a cup of bedtime tea.

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Lights and switches congenital into the side cabinets aren't just decorative; they can act as night-lights for guests.

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Just touch a knob on the headboard to operate the dimmable reading lights above the bed.

Irish potato Bed Hardware

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Hardware kits include folding legs that support the foot of the bed, pivots that permit the bed to swing down and, virtually of import, gas pistons that operate like the pistons on a hatchback, lifting almost of the weight of the bed when y'all close information technology. In that location are lots of online sources for Murphy bed hardware. I ordered mine ($375) from rockler.com and was impressed with both the quality of the hardware and the detailed instructions. Twin-, full- and queen-size kits are available. Bated from the hardware, I spent nigh $115 on lighting kits designed especially for White potato beds and bookcases.

Before you Build a White potato Bed

Don't begin this projection until you have the Murphy bed hardware on hand—y'all may have to alter my design slightly to suit unlike hardware. Also be certain the room and furniture will accommodate the bed. As built, my bed protrudes 80 in. from the wall. Most of the materials you'll need are available at dwelling house centers. The exceptions are the Murphy bed hardware and 1/4-in.-thick solid oak. Yous can order ane/4-in. hardwood online (walllumber.com is i source) or "resaw" thicker boards.

Projection step-past-pace (11)

Footstep 1

Build the Inner Frame

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You'll want a large associates table for this project. A full sail of iii/4-in. plywood screwed to a pair of sturdy sawhorses does the trick. Otherwise, y'all'll need to piece of work on the floor. Assemble the struts (GGG) from stock that's at least ane/4 in. likewise long and trim them to final length after assembly. Then join them to the frame sides (HHH) with screws. Next, endeavour edifice one of these amazing platform beds.

Step 2

Assemble the Side Rail

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The residuum of the bed frame is made from oak plywood (G–J). The bed track go 1-one/2-in. edging (KK) on the cease and 3/4-in. edging on the top (LL). The side rail are plywood strips edged with solid wood. Clamp the top edging in place, using cauls to distribute the pressure. You'll need a long clamp to adhere the end block edging. To extend the reach of a pipe clamp, merely add another length of piping using a coupler.

Step 3

Brand a Template for the Side Rails

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Trace along the newspaper template and and so cut a template from 1/iv-in. plywood. The plywood template serves double duty as a drilling guide and a routing pattern. Apply the template to position hardware holes and to mark the curves. Rough-cutting the curves with a jigsaw. Smooth the curves by sanding or by running a design router bit forth the template.

Step 4

Drill the Hardware Holes

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The template positions the holes perfectly. A stop block ensures the correct depth. Rough-cut the bend, then stop it with a router and a pattern bit guided by the template.

Pace 5

Assemble the Bed Frame

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Attach the head rail, pes rail and side runway to the inner bed frame. Cut two pieces of plywood for the bed face panels (A). Trim ane side and the top edge (where the foot of the bed will be) of each panel with ane/iv-in. edging. Lay the 2 panels face down on your bench and barrel the two pieces together and then the hardwood edges are to the exterior. Lay the assembled bed frame on top of the panels and attach with screws. Flip the entire bed frame over and then you can comprehend the confront panels with imitation doors and drawers.

Step 6

Add together Faux Doors and Drawers

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With a helper, carefully turn over the bed frame assembly and so it'south face up on your bench. Rip the stock for the false panels and drawers (UU–BBB) to width. Use one/8-in. spacers to create gaps betwixt the simulated doors and drawers and attach with glue and brads or pins. Be sparing with the glue to avoid clasp-out, which is tough to clean up. Become ahead and mount the pulls and knobs. Exist careful to avoid the inner frame structure when placing your hardware. Remove all the hardware until later the chiffonier is finished. Cut and fit the mattress supports (X). Don't spiral these into identify until final associates.

If this project is a little also complicated for you lot, bank check out these half dozen woodworking projects y'all can make with only a jigsaw.

Footstep 7

Build the Shelf Units

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Cutting the bed chiffonier plywood parts (B, C, E). Glue and clamp 3/iv-in. hardwood edging (MM) on the bed chiffonier verticals. Add ane/4-in. edging to the top and bottom edge of the headboard. Lay out and drill for the hardware. If you plan to add the light fixtures, now is the time to cutting the ii-7/viii-in.- diameter holes in the bed header panel. Follow the instructions in the kit. Spiral and glue the mounting cleats (JJJ) to the ends of the header board. Add the header front and dorsum (BB) according to the instructions. Look to assemble the bed cabinet.

The bookcases on either side of the bed cabinet are assembled with the aforementioned screw and cleat system used for the bed cabinet. Cut the plywood parts (F, N–R, U) and cleat stock (KKK–NNN). Cut i/4-in.-deep by 3/eight-in.- wide rabbets along the dorsum edge of the middle and bottom shelves and on the cabinet sides betwixt the two shelves. Get together the side cabinets with screws.

Cut the confront frame and pullout parts for the side cabinet (DD-HH). Build the confront frames with pocket screws or dowels. Clench and glue the face up frames to the cabinets. Cutting and glue the hardwood edge on the heart shelf. Build and mount the pullout. Add the faux panel frames (CCC–EEE) to the doors. Mount the doors. If you lot're using Euro-style cup hinges, be sure to lodge the ones made for thick doors. Cutting and fit the backs (Y).

Step 8

Build the Fascia Boxes

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Cut the parts for the three cabinet peak and fascia assemblies (D, Thousand–M, South, T, V, W, PP–TT). Assemble the fascia boxes with screws and glue. Cut and fit the i/iv-in. oak fascia with mitered corners. Trim the i/2-in. plywood in the same mode. Attach the fascia trim board to the bottom of the fascia boxes, then screw the box downwards onto the top of each cabinet. If yous're using lights, use a jigsaw to make a four-in.-diameter hole in the bottom of each fascia trim lath. Cut the top parts (D, M, CC). Cut a xv-degree bevel on the top trim on the table saw. Cutting and miter the top trim to fit. Wait to attach the tops until installation. Drill ventilation holes in the cabinet tops for the lights.

Stride 9

Assemble the Bed Cabinet

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You lot'll demand at least i helper for this stage of the project. The Murphy bed tin be disassembled every bit far every bit y'all need to go the bed into the room. The only matter remaining that'due south large and cumbersome is the bed frame. If the bed has to wind its way through a narrow staircase or other obstacle, consider leaving off the middle drawer and the ii horizontal dividers on the fake front. These are the elements that bridge the ii confront panels and once installed cannot be easily dismantled for moving. You tin reassemble the bed frame in the room and add the drawer and horizontal dividers at that bespeak.

Earlier installation, reattach all the bed hardware but exit the bed stops, pulls and handles off for now. Place a pad on the floor about 2 ft. in front of the wall where the bed volition be mounted. Lay the bed frame face down on the pad with the head of the bed frame toward the wall. Mount the bed cabinet sides to the bed frame on the metal pivots. At this point, the cabinet verticals should also be face downwardly alongside the bed frame. Adhere the headboard with screws.

Step 10

Screw the Cabinet to the Wall

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With a helper on the other side, elevator the bed cabinet upwardly to the vertical position. Be sure the leg support is folded up before you elevator the cabinet. Then adhere the bed header assembly to the superlative. Adjacent, lift the bed frame into the vertical position while your helper holds the cabinet. Be conscientious: Until the cabinet is attached to the wall, you demand someone property the bed in place and keeping the cabinet steady.

With the bed cabinet and frame vertical, it'southward fourth dimension to attach the gas springs. Snap the ends of the springs onto the ball stud plates on the bed frame and the cabinet verticals. The springs are marked with a "This Cease Upwardly" sign; follow the directions carefully. Attach the bed stops from inside the cabinet. With the bed held in identify by the gas springs, go ahead and move the chiffonier up against the wall. Mark the stud locations just above the bed header and attach with screws.

Step 11

Add the Side Cabinets

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Slide the bookcases in position and adhere to the bed chiffonier. All that's left is to remount the crowns and add together the tops. Go alee and pull the bed frame downwardly and swing the leg supports to the flooring. Without the mattress, the bed will desire to close support. Add a lilliputian weight to it to concur it down while you attach the two one/4-in. plywood mattress supports to the inner frame. Add the elastic retaining straps and you're ready to prepare the mattress into place.

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