How to Build a DIY Live Edge Wood Bed

modern teen boy bedroom with blue trim accent wall and live edge wood bed with black and white and gray bedding

Is there anything better than your own bed? Especially if it’s this lovely live edge wood bed?! I’m currently writing this on a plane while we travel out to Colorado to hang out with Caitlin and Zac for a week!! We’re so excited for this trip and I cannot wait to see those gorgeous mountain views, but I know I’m going to miss sleeping in my own bed (even if it’s still just a mattress on the floor!).

Lincoln however, has this cozy bed to look forward to coming home to! We shared his bedroom makeover a couple months back and this was another one of the DIYs from his room. He’d also been sleeping on a mattress on the floor for months on end until we finally got around to tackling his room.

Since Lincoln loves the outdoors and wanted a slightly rustic vibe to his room, I thought a live edge headboard would be perfect for the space. We paired it with a simple wood bed frame that brings a little bit more modern feel to it. So it’s not an all out cabin-style bed.

We used live edge maple wood for his headboard, I love the lighter color and knew it would work well with the other wood we used throughout his room. Lincoln loved the way it turned out and is very happy to finally be off the floor!

live edge wood bed against blue wall with black and white bedding on bed

live edge wood headboard againt blue wall with black, white and gray pillow on bed

Materials:

2 -10’ 1×6 boards
3 – 10’ 1×5 boards
4’ x 8’ sheet of plywood
3’ long piece of 2×4
screws
pocket hole jig
pocket hole jig screws
wood glue
live edge wood for headboard (we used maple)
4’ 1 x 4 board
circular saw
speed square
tablesaw
compressor and nail gun
clamp
sand paper
clear polyurethane finish

drilling piece of wood with pocket jig and piece of wood with picket jig holes in it

wood bed frame on ground and bed without mattress

Directions:

Cut a 45 degree angle on one end of both of your 1×6 boards using your circular saw and the speed square. Measure 76” from the tip of the angle and draw a line on the boards. Return the saw to a 90 degree angle and cut the boards to length. Set the boards aside.
From the remainder of one of the boards cut a 45 degree on one end. Measure 39” from the tip of the angle, make a mark, cut a 45 degree angle at this end so that you have a board measuring 39” with a 45 degree angle at each end.
Return the saw to 90 degrees, using the left over piece from the other board cut a piece 37-1/2” long.
Use a pocket hole jig to drill 4 pocket holes into the back of this piece at each end.
Lay out your pieces on a flat surface. Glue a mitre on one end of a long side and one end of the 39” piece. Using the nail gun, nail the pieces to hold the mitre together. Repeat with the other mitre joint.
Put wood glue on the ends of the 37-1/2” piece and place between the sides flush with the end. Use a clamp to secure it in place while you install the pocket screws. Allow the glue to dry.
Cut one of the 1×5 boards into one piece 74-1/2” long and one piece 36” long; repeat with another of the 1×5 boards.
Cut the remaining 1×5 board into three 36” pieces.
Make a frame (4-1/2” tall) using the 74-1/2” boards, with two of the 36” boards between them flush with the ends.
Use screws to attach the boards.
Layout and attach the other 3 pieces, evenly spaced within the frame, screwing them in place.
Place this frame inside of the bed frame keeping it flush with the bottom, screw in place.
On the table saw, cut 4 legs out of a 3’ piece of 2×4, make the legs 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” x 12-1/2” long. Glue and screw the legs to the inside corners of the bed frame keeping them flush with the top of the inner frame.
Cut a piece from the sheet of 1/2” plywood 74-1/4” long by 37-1/2” wide. Place this inside the frame and attach with screws to the inner frame.

For the Headboard:

Cut your live edge board that you will be using for a headboard to 39” long.
Cut your 1×4 board into 2 pieces long enough to attach to the bed frame and to your headboard to support it; the length of this will vary according to the size of your board for your headboard.
Sand and apply finish

bedroom with green blue wall with live edge wood bed in front of wall with black metal stool night stand

live edge wood headboard against blue wall with plant next to bed

For another live edge project, you can check out the desk we made for the boy’s room. And for more headboard inspiration you can check out this DIY wood slat headboard, this DIY string headboard, and this DIY plywood print headboard.

-Manda

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