DIY Decorating & Design host Nancy Golden creates a tailored foundation for a bed from an upholstered box spring fitted with deck-post finial feet. Materials:
Twin-size box spring
Four pieces of 2" x 4" lumber to reinforce the box-spring frame
Four metal reinforcing plates
Jigsaw
Safety glasses
Screwdriver
Drill
Full-size quilted mattress pad
Full-size sheet
Staple gun and staples
Utility knife
Scissors
Six deck-post finials for legs
Paint or stain for legs and appropriate tools
- Turn the box spring upside down. Strengthen its foundation by attaching 2" by 4" lumber to the bottom of the frame with wood screws. Attach a metal plate at each corner for greater strength (figure A). Use a jigsaw to give the new frame an edge that matches the curved corners of the box spring.
- Wearing safety glasses, drill holes in the bottom of the foundation frame for the attachment of deck-post finial legs (figure B). After the foundation platform is upholstered, you'll attach three legs along each side of the bed--one on each corner and one in the middle.
- After drilling the leg holes, begin upholstering the box spring. Put the quilted mattress pad on the box spring, and pull it to the underside of the bed, completely covering the wood sides of the box spring. Use a staple gun to attach the mattress pad to the bottom of the frame.
- Cover the mattress pad with the sheet, and staple it to the underside of the frame. Make a careful tuck of the excess fabric on the side of each corner before stapling (figure C). Locate the metal reinforcing plate on the box-spring frame so you can avoid stapling into it.
- Paint or stain the platform legs before attaching them to the foundation frame. The finials used for legs were painted green and antiqued with a gold dry-brush finish.
- Before attaching the legs, feel through the fabric for the pilot holes, and use a utility knife to poke through the fabric and quilting. Cut away a little circle of fabric at each hole, then screw the legs to the frame (figure D).
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