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How to Build a DIY Trundle Bed

How to Build a DIY Trundle Bed

Learn how to build a DIY Trundle Bed with furniture sliders with this step by step tutorial!

Our boys are growing up so fast!  A few months ago we decided to move them from their Superhero Bedroom back into their old Pirate Ship Bedroom.  The “pirate ship” room has a few features that make it perfect for kids their age.

What seven year old wouldn’t love to have an entire bulletin board wall?!  And a cool hide out built into the wall?! The move was really a good idea to utilize the extra room and twin bed frame.  

The problem was that this room is quite small, tiny really and not meant to house two kids let alone two beds!  To tackle this problem we converted our old bunk beds into a do-it-yourself trundle bed.  Let me show you how to build a DIY trundle bed using a standard bed frame…

We had contemplated buying a trundle bed for a long time.  They were all a bit too big for our space and we had a perfectly good bunk bed that we had purchased just a year before.  The regular bed would not work in this room because it would either block the window or the giant bulletin board.  

It wasn’t until I found Landee’s DIY Trundle Bed post that I had an “ah-ha!” moment.  We could totally create a trundle bed using the supplies from our old bunk beds.  Be sure to check out her post at LandeeLu for how to create a wheeled trundle.

Where to use trundle beds:

  • a guest bedroom or kid’s rooms
  • a studio apartment with limited space
  • to replace traditional beds in small spaces
  • as an extra sleeping space for overnight guests
  • as an extra bed in a small bedroom or spare room
  • for additional space in a small guest room
  • in a small home for extra sleep space
  • use trundle frames in lui of storage drawers

Many bunk beds come with a “bunky board” which is a board with slats that supports the mattress.  Our bunk beds did not. The only thing supporting the twin size mattresses were slats of wood (no board).  So I called a number of mattress stores and was totally laughed at (truly) when I asked if I could order a bunky board.  

You CAN find (affiliate link) bunky boards on Amazon if you want to have one shipped to you.  Many of the retailers had no idea what I was talking about.  I quickly realized that we would need to create our own board.  

In addition, we did not have enough clearance under our bottom bunk to use caster wheels so we used furniture sliders instead (as Landee suggested)! Wheels would work best on hardwood floors while sliders on carpet best fit our individual needs.

Here is how to create your own kids trundle bed with furniture sliders.

This post contains affiliate links.

Materials:

  • 1 3/4″ plywood cut to the size of your mattress | ours measured 73 x 39.5″
  • quilt batting| add 6″ to length and width of the plywood for measurement
  • fabric | add 6″ to length and width of plywood
  • staple gun
  • 4 slats measuring 5″ x 32″
  • 24 screws
  • screw driver
  • 8 large furniture sliders | look for them at your local dollar store
  • no more nails adhesive
  • 2 large drawer pulls
  • drill

Too busy to make this right away?! Pin it for later!  Pin this project to your favorite craft board on Pinterest and it’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.

How to build a DIY trundle bed:

How to Build a DIY Trundle Bed

1. Cover one side of the plywood with cotton batting and fabric.  Begin with the batting and lay it evenly over the plywood.  Use the staple gun to affix the batting to the underside of the wood.  

The best way to do this is to start by wrapping one end of the batting  around to the back of the plywood, fastening it with one staple, then moving to the other end of the plywood, wrapping and pulling the batting taught and stapling once in that end.  

Do the same on the sides.  Now that the batting is smooth and in place, continue to staple around the entire board, affixing the batting to the underside of the plywood using the staple gun.

2. Repeat this process with the cotton material.

Create slats:

3. Now create slats that will allow the board to be easily pulled out from under the bed.  Using the screws and screw driver, attach the four, 5 x 32″ slats to the underside of the plywood.  

Evenly space the slats, making sure that there are two on the ends and two in the middle to provide extra support for the mattress.  

We used six screws to affix each slat to the plywood.  Two screws at each end and two screws in the center of each slat.

4. Next affix the furniture sliders to the slats.  If you have a carpeted space be sure to purchase sliders with a smooth surface, if you have wood or laminate choose sliders with a felt or fabric surface.  

Use the no nails adhesive to glue the sliders to the slats.  Allow the glue to completely dry for at least 24 hours.

Attach drawer pulls:

5. Attach drawer pulls to the plywood to make for easier moving of the bunky board.  Measure a distance that feels comfortable for grasping both handles and pulling.  

Our handles are about 30″ apart.  Drill holes into the wood and fasten the handles to the right side of the board.

Now you have a completed bunky board that is perfect for storing an additional bed under an existing bed!  It is also totally sturdy enough to hold an extra mattress and sleeping (or jumping, bouncing, tumbling) child on the second bed.

How to Build a DIY Trundle Bed

This is how it looks under our bed.  Just enough room for clearance!  This slides really well in and out from under the bed.  

Our boys can easily manuever it themselves and pull it out each night and push it in each morning. Its the perfect pull-out trundle for a child’s room and friends sleepover.

How to Build a DIY Trundle Bed

Brilliant right?!  This has been the perfect solution for our small space and having boys who share the same room! Now to find them a desk for Lego building and storage…. wish us luck!

How to Build a DIY Trundle Bed

I hope that we have helped you to build a DIY trundle bed.  It has been a great investment in extra storage space! If you have one we would love to see it!  Please share!

If you love this trundle bed, please help me share it on Facebook and Pinterest!

about heather

Hello, I’m Heather!

I'm an active mom of twin boys who is always looking for opportunities to inspire creativity through fun crafts, do-it-yourself projects and delicious recipes. This blog has been an integral part of supporting my little family and I am so grateful to have you become a part of our journey! Let's create together... Read more...

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Furniture sliders! You are a genius! Thanks for posting. Hello from Handmade Hangout.

I’m planning to make a trundle when my toddler moves out of his crib, but wonder what you do with the extra pillows, etc.? Is it just my kids that keep half of their possessions on their bed at night (and thus throughout the day too!)? Not sure what we’ll do with that issue. Kind of a silly question but I think it will be a legitimate issue for us :/ And I should clarify, the toddler currently sleeps with minimal “stuff,” most of the time nothing, in bed with him, but I foresee that changing as he ages and becomes more like his big sibs.

I have a stuffed animal net to keep the girls toys in and you can hang it in the corner.

i followed this plan works great but i added two 2×2 between the front and back legs of the bunk bed to act as a guide for when you push it in or pull it out

Smart!!

do you think you could glue the sliders straight to the board instead of adding the wood strips? Just trying to be as frugal as possible but I don’t want to ruin it. :)

I made this trundle bed today and you gave excellent instructions!
I added shelf liner to the plywood so that it would not slip with the mattress .
I used A staple gun as I had chose to paint my plywood and use a piece of decorative wood trim on the front ( same thickness as the plywood so it was perfect and I used finishing nails to attach it ).
I am waiting for a 4 inch memory foam mattress to arrive from Amazon.

I did use casters since my mattress is not the standard size I was able to get away with that. It pulls out perfectly. I chose the casters that only roll one way (making easier to pull straight in and straight out ).
Thank you for posting such good instructions with a lot of pictures I looked up many before I chose yours !

What size is your child’s bed and what size mattress did you purchase for the bottom bed?

Thanks so much!

Do you think this would work for a full size mattress? Or would it possibly be to heavy and awkward? I want to build a false floor with the bed tucked underneath. Height is a concern because my son is pushing 6 foot already, so we need to keep things low. Thank you!

Does the mattress have a tendency to slide on the board?