DIY Bunkie Board: Perfect Alternative to Buying One

This article will explain all you need to know about building a bunkie board and highlight all the necessary materials to build a bunkie board.
By
Romeo Vitelli
Romeo Vitelli
Expert Writer
Received his doctorate in Psychology in 1987, spent fifteen years as a staff psychologist in Millbrook Correctional Centre. In 2003 went into full-time private practice. read more
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Last updated: August 21, 2023
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So here you are, ready to invest in a lifetime of better sleep, comfort, and better back support. However, you are on a tight budget, and you’ve decided to build your DIY bunkie board.

Beds consist of three vital components: a mattress, a mattress support system, and a frame. The mattress’s support system primarily holds the mattress and prevents it from falling through the frame. There are three types of mattress support systems available for use. There’s the slate, box spring, and bunkie board. If you don’t know what a bunkie board is, we have a simple answer for you.

A bunkie board is a flat board often made of plywood, particleboard, or any composite material. Bunkie boards are designed to fit between a bed frame and a mattress. They offer a comfortable solution that prevents mattresses from sagging, and in the process, increases the lifespan of the mattress. Most importantly, they improve the quality of your sleep Trusted Source How we can all get more high-quality sleep | BBC It’s not always easy to know exactly what justifies a break-up with your long-term bed buddy, but here are a few clues to help you decide if it’s time for a new mattress. www.bbc.com , offering adequate comfort.

Why a Bunkie Board?

DIY Bunkie Board: Perfect Alternative to Buying One
The bunkie board provides added support to the sleeper while protecting and extending the life of the mattress.

Box springs are matchmade for traditional spring mattresses. They assist in absorbing pressure and providing additional support. However, more modern mattresses like hybrid mattresses and memory foam no longer require a spring box. In fact, many companies no longer recommend box springs for beds.

Here’s why– modern foams such as latex form, hybrid mattresses, memory foam, and poly-forms now need to rest on a solid surface. Otherwise, they sag. Without adequate support, these modern mattresses Trusted Source 6 signs it’s time to break up with your mattress | The Washington Post It’s not always easy to know exactly what justifies a break-up with your long-term bed buddy, but here are a few clues to help you decide if it’s time for a new mattress. www.washingtonpost.com develop soft spots and begin to deteriorate. There’s also a higher chance of developing back pain if you sleep on the mattress without solid support. Hence, the need for a bunkie board.

According to most reviews, one of the best bunkie boards you can use for your mattress is the Continental Sleep king-size bunkie board. This bunkie bed is excellent for day beds, platform beds, and bunkie beds, offering a solid foundation and additional support.

It’s now apparent that you need to rest your mattress on a solid base to protect it from sagging and losing shape. If you don’t have a bed frame with a strong base, you can put a barrier between the frame and the mattress. This is the function of the bunkie board. You can put a bunkie board above any bed frame to establish solid support for your mattress.

Preparation for Making a Bunkie Board

Users also recommend Spinal Solution queen-size bunkie board as one of the best in the market today. It offers deeper sleep, better back support, and reduces fatigue. But if you’re on a budget, you might not be able to afford it.

So if you’ve decided to make your DIY bunkie board from scratch, be it a DIY queen-size bunkie board or a DIY bunkie board twin, here are the materials you will be needing:

  • Medium-grit sandpaper
  • One plywood sheet.
  • A circular saw or an electric sander
  • Quilted upholstery fabric.
  • A heavy-duty staple gun.
  • Upholstery spray adhesive.

How to Make Your Own Bunkie Board?

So, have you decided yet? Great! below you will find step-by-step instructions on how to make a bunkie board yourself that is best for you.

Step 1: Measure the size of your mattress

To measure the size of your mattress to know how big the bunkie board you want to build is, firstly, remove the mattress. Then, you measure the bed frame area to know the exact space your mattress takes up. Once you’ve done that, subtract an inch from the width and length of your measurement. This will give you the exact fractions you need for your Bunkie board.

Don’t forget that you will be coating the plywood in upholstery fabric. The thinner the padding, the bigger the board you will need.

Step 2: Cut the plywood with a circular saw

DIY Bunkie Board: Perfect Alternative to Buying One

With the plywood in place, cut into the proper measurement and size. To do this, you can use a circular saw (best you use a carbide-blade since it is designed for plywood cutting). If you’re contacting a twin-size bed or bunk bed with 38 x 75 inches frames, you should cut the size of 36.5 by 73.5 inches. This helps to give a thicker upholstery on the sides.

If it happens you don’t have a circular saw, we advise you to cut your plywood at a local hardware store closest to you.

Step 3: Sand down the rough edges until they’re smooth

DIY Bunkie Board: Perfect Alternative to Buying One

After cutting your plywood, use the prepared sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges you might have noticed. Make sure you achieve a smooth and sleek board to curb wear over time. You can make use of a power sander to quicken the smoothing process.

Step 4: Cut the upholstery fabric to the exact size

DIY Bunkie Board: Perfect Alternative to Buying One

Spread up and measure the quilted upholstery on the floor. Ensure the upholstery is inside up and carefully cut out two pieces—one for the bottom and the other for the top of the plywood board. The bottom upholstery can measure the exact length and width of the board. However, the top upholstery should be some inches longer so each side can be plywood can be adequately wrapped.

Step 5: Glue the upholstery fabric to the top and bottom of the plywood board

DIY Bunkie Board: Perfect Alternative to Buying One

Ensure you clean both sides of the plywood sheet before applying glue. Spray an upholstery adhesive spray on one side of the plywood sheet and fit the upholstery fabric to it. Do the same for the other side.

Step 6: Staple the fabric in a spot

Place the bottom side facing upward and carefully tuck the excess fabric from the top. Pull the fabric firmly and staple it to a position. Carry out the process on all sides of the plywood board. The corners of each board don’t have to be perfect. But if stapled perfectly, the appearance is more stunning and pleasant.

If you’ve carefully followed all these steps, you should have a stunning bunkie board at the end of it all. You can also add extra fabrics to the board to give it a more polished and elegant appearance.

Final Thoughts

Bunkie boards are undoubtedly a great support system for your mattress and an incredible alternative to box springs. Bunkie boards are easy to construct and assemble, allowing for a short height for your mattress to rest.

Building your DIY bunkie board will save you a lot of money and give you the flexibility to make designs as you deem fit. Ensure you have a frame in place to put the bed slats on and ensure the frame is well measured. By having the exact measurement, you’re sure to purchase a slat that fits perfectly

References

1.
How we can all get more high-quality sleep | BBC
It’s not always easy to know exactly what justifies a break-up with your long-term bed buddy, but here are a few clues to help you decide if it’s time for a new mattress.
2.
6 signs it’s time to break up with your mattress | The Washington Post
It’s not always easy to know exactly what justifies a break-up with your long-term bed buddy, but here are a few clues to help you decide if it’s time for a new mattress.
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