# A Homemade Bed Bar
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Dimensions
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The table top for the bed bar should be large enough to accommodate a plate and one or two beverages. A bar top that is 18-by-36 inches will typically suffice. The table top should sit about 12 inches above the top of the bed for comfortable access. To determine the height of the bed bar, measure the height of the bed from the floor and add 12 inches to this measurement. The base of the bar should have the same dimensions as the table top.
Materials
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Depending on your aesthetic tastes, you can construct the bed bar from a variety of wood types. You can make a simple bed bar from 2-by-4 lumber sections for the base, top frame and legs, with a section of 5/8-inch-thick plywood for the top. If you prefer a more refined look, you can choose hardwood, such as oak or maple, for the frame and serving surface, and paint or stain the hardwood to give the bed bar a finished appearance.
Construction
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Bed bars typically have a "C" shape, which allows you to slide the base under the bed and the bar top over the bed. You can create the frame by cutting four sections of lumber to the width of the bar and four sections to the depth, then mitering the ends at 45-degree angles to form two rectangles. Attach the sections at the corners with wood screws driven in with a drill and a screwdriver bit. Cut three lumber sections to form the legs and attach them at each end and the middle of the frame on one side with wood screws. Cut the serving surface to fit the frame top and attach it with wood screws.
Considerations
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Because bed bars are not designed to support heavy loads, bracing the legs may not be necessary. However, you can miter each end of a lumber section at a 45-degree angle for the top and bottom frames. Place the sections diagonally to meet the front of the legs and the frame sections then attach these braces with wood screws. Also, a bed bar can be difficult to maneuver -- you can add casters to each corner of the underside of the bottom frame to allow you to roll the bed bar along the floor.
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