How to build a bed using pipes and wood slats.
Ana and I are up to our old tricks again except this time we’ve entered new territory by combining wood boards with galvanized steel pipes to make this twin bed.
It’s a match made in heaven and Ana has the plans here so you can build this bed too.
Inspired by both the Pottery Barn Owen bed and RH Baby’s industrial steel pipe bed we married the two designs to create our own diy version.
This is definitely a different type of build requiring very little tools except your hands to screw the pipes together.
And just like all of Ana’s other plans we designed this plan using off-the-shelf, readily available supplies that can be found at any big building supply store.
Costs:
steel pipe $466
lumber $54
Yes this bed will cost just over $500 to build but that’s still cheaper than any retail price and combines both retail looks for a truly unique build.
Thank you Ana for working with me on this project, your willingness to work with a new medium gave me the support I needed to pull this build together.
How to build a pipe and wood slat bed:
NOTES:
– No glue was used on any pipes or pipe-to-wood
connections.
connections.
– Hand tighten pipe connections until
you are confident of pipe placement, this allows you to unscrew if necessary – that’s the beauty of working with pipe.
you are confident of pipe placement, this allows you to unscrew if necessary – that’s the beauty of working with pipe.
– The most difficult portion will be connecting
the siderails to the footboard and headboard since the pipe screws together in
the same direction on both ends (if you’re screwing in one end essentially you
are unscrewing the other end simultaneously).
Follow the step by step instructions carefully.
the siderails to the footboard and headboard since the pipe screws together in
the same direction on both ends (if you’re screwing in one end essentially you
are unscrewing the other end simultaneously).
Follow the step by step instructions carefully.
1. Follow Ana’s plans for supplies.
All the pieces are off-the-shelf available except the (2) siderails at 75″ and (4) top horizontal portions at 18″. You will need to have these pieces cut and threaded at the store.
2. Start with one footboard leg:
3. Then begin the other leg, foot portion only and connect the siderails.
4. Do the same for the headboard except opposite, completed headboard leg attaches to siderail with footboard foot portion only leg. Completed footboard leg attaches to siderail with headboard foot portion only. This allows you to screw siderail completely into tees by swinging the foot portions around and around.
5. Then begin connecting the horizontal pipe support section using 1″ close nipple.
6. Prepare the wood slats, I stained my boards using Minwax weathered oak.
Attach the split ring clamp hangers:
7. Then place wood slat on footboard and screw in 1″ x 8″ nipple:
8. Add next horizontal pipe and tee section:
9. Screw clamp into position centering board between horizontal pipes:
10. At the top screw two 18″ pieces together using 1″ coupling:
11. Build the mattress support:
Please leave a comment or email if you have questions when building this bed, it’s a learning curve using the pipe but completely doable for those who love diy.
The walls are painted Benjamin Moore old navy matte.
Korrie@RedHenHome says
February 21, 2014 at 6:01 PMUtterly, truly awesome, Jaime!
danellejv says
February 21, 2014 at 8:08 PMReally cool. Definitely expensive though – I would suggest checking out Craigslist for used 1" pipe and fittings though. You can get a huge savings that way.
Our Pinteresting Family says
February 21, 2014 at 8:29 PMThat is such a cool project! Great job as always, Jaime!
Kelley says
February 21, 2014 at 8:54 PMThis is so awesome! Awesome! Now if I could just justify why I would need such a bed in our house. 🙂 So cool.
amyk5 says
February 21, 2014 at 9:18 PMVery cool bed! I also love the wall color. Do you mind sharing what it is?
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
February 21, 2014 at 11:57 PMthis is amazing! you are amazing! in case you couldn't tell, i am totally amazed!
Jen says
February 24, 2014 at 2:12 AMThis bed is unbelievable. I have a question for you–are you woman or a woman/robot mix? I can't believe how many projects you do. You have to be one of the hardest working DIY bloggers out there. If you are indeed part robot, it all makes sense. If you are not, please share your secrets, you're amazing!
Cindy * Daisies and Crazies says
February 25, 2014 at 11:02 PMPopping over from Ana's site. Love this. LOVE! 🙂
Dr.Mommy says
February 26, 2014 at 12:25 PMLove this bed!We are just finishing up building a house in Puerto Rico&I want to build some unique pieces to furnish it.This bed would look great in our son's/Guest BR.Do u think it could be made as a full size by just adjusting the lengths of pipe?I found u from Ana's site.Can't wait to check out your other projects!Thanks!!!
Danielle Bartran says
February 26, 2014 at 2:03 PMBeyond awesome!!! Love this bed!
J. Bishop says
February 27, 2014 at 5:30 PMWe love this bed and would like to adapt your plans to make a bunkbed, similar to the pipe bunk bed sold by Restoration Hardware. Do you have any advice or thoughts for us before we take it on? Thanks so much for posting the instructions and thanks to Ana too.
Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence says
March 3, 2014 at 6:06 PMLove this! A winner for share! From a fellow entrant!
Cathy Wall says
March 4, 2014 at 1:25 PMAn amazing DIY, such a cool bed! Good luck with CWTS!
Lauren Lanker says
March 5, 2014 at 4:31 AMJamie, you knocked it out of the park, yet again! This is SO creative! Best of luck in the CWTS competition. I'd love to see you as a contestant. I know you'd create such stellar projects.
Warmly,
Lauren
The Thinking Closet
Bliss says
March 6, 2014 at 12:45 PMFantastic!
Jani says
March 15, 2014 at 6:45 AMAmazing project! Saw you on the CWTS link up–best wishes! You'd be an awesome contestant.
Lynne Trask says
July 16, 2014 at 2:28 PMWhat about a full size version??
Tumaini @ Curbside Connections says
October 8, 2014 at 11:40 PMI'd like to build a KING sized version. Are center supports needed? I'm assuming they are. This project is EXACTLY what I've been looking for!!! Great job.
Roel Bobis says
October 22, 2014 at 1:40 AMDo you know any affordable but quality pvc pipes in the philippines
Emily says
November 13, 2014 at 5:50 AMI would love to re-create this for my boys. How exactly did you attach the mattress support to the metal?
Tom McDaniel says
June 5, 2016 at 7:53 PMEvidently I'm mathematically challenged what size would the three quarter cross pipe be for a queen size bed
TripleAMom says
March 23, 2017 at 6:50 PMWhat size screws were used to nail the split ring hangers to the wood headboards?
Hector nunez says
October 25, 2017 at 4:30 PMI love the bed….do you have dimension and pet list for a queen been.
Jaime says
October 25, 2017 at 7:21 PMThanks Hector. Unfortunately I don’t have a cut list for the queen size.
Olivia says
February 23, 2018 at 5:10 PMTo cut down on cost, I wondered if this would work: instead of buying bushings to convert the 1″ opening of the tee to 3/4″, could you just buy a tee that reduces down to 3/4″ in the middle?
Jaime says
February 25, 2018 at 1:46 PMGreat idea and yes that would probably work perfect. Thanks for sharing.
Kirsten Paoletti says
May 11, 2019 at 3:31 PMI am right in the middle of working on this bed. At some point you end up screwing in one end and unscrewing the other somewhere. I am following your directions. I’ve got the 2 siderail sections and I’m trying to attached a horizontal rail to connect the two sections so they stay upright. How do you compensate for the screwing in and unscrewing issue?
I’m stuck and feel like I need to take this completely apart, but may still end up with the same problem.
I can really use some guidance. My 6yo boy is being extremely patient and I try to assemble his new big boy bed.
Thanks
Jaime says
May 12, 2019 at 8:00 AMHi Kirsten, it’s been awhile since I built that bed but if I remember correctly I screwed in one side all the way and then unscrewed enough to catch the other side. It’s a back and forth dance until you get it solid and I used the bushings to aid in the screwing / unscrewing.