How to Build a Wall Bed Cabinet

Determine the best location in the room for your wall bed, being sure not to use a wall with windows. Ideally, the cabinet should center on as many wall studs as possible and each side should center on a stud.

Build a wall bed box for the mattress if the wall bed kit doesn't include this. Cut four pieces from 1-inch MDF board: two pieces for the width-by-depth measurement of your mattress, and two pieces for the length-by-depth mattress measurement. Screw these pieces together with 2-inch wood screws to form a rectangle, then cover one whole side with a sheet cut from 1/2-inch MDF board. The mattress should fit snugly on all sides within the box.

Measure the length and width of the mattress box, then add 1-1/4 inch to each measurement.

Cut two pieces of 1-by-12-inch lumber for the length of the mattress box and two pieces of 1-by-12 lumber for the width of the mattress box.

Glue the four 1-by-12-inch pieces at the corners to form an open rectangle, then secure with three 2-inch wood screws at each corner.

Hold the cabinet structure in place against the wall in your desired location, then lightly trace the outline on the wall and floor with a pencil. Set the cabinet aside.

Cut away the baseboard that lies within the area for the cabinet. Mark the location of the studs in the wall, using a stud finder to locate each stud. Also use the stud finder to locate the floor joists through the floor.

Hold the cabinet back in place and secure to the wall with 3-inch wood screws, spaced 6 inches apart, driven through the cabinet sides and into the studs; use the marks on the wall to find the studs. Drive screws in at an angle so the screws go through the 1-by-12 boards and into the studs behind the wall.

Insert screws through the bottom of the cabinet into the floor joists to anchor the cabinet to the floor. Use 4-inch screws, if desired, to increase the stability.

Hold the bed box up inside the cabinet and attach using the wall bed mounting hardware. Your hardware kit likely includes a piano hinge or other large hinge; one side of the hinge mounts to the floor and the other side mounts to the head of the bed. Other hardware pieces likely include latches that hold the bed in the upright position, usually attached to the sides or foot of the bed.

Cut two pieces of 1/2-inch MDF to form the cabinet doors. Each door should be equal to the height of the structure and half the width of the structure, minus 1/4-inch so the doors have room to swing open and close.

Cover the doors with wood veneer sheets to give the cabinet the look of expensive wood. Purchase peel-and-stick veneer sheets and smooth them onto the surface beginning at one corner and working toward the opposite diagonal corner.

Mount the doors to the front of the cabinet, with the bed tucked away, using 6-inch wing hinges. Use 3 hinges spaced evenly apart, with the opposite side of the hinge secured to the side of the cabinet. Add your choice of knobs to the cabinet doors, if desired.