Bosch Global
Verktøy for Hjem og Hage

Build your very own bed (in a shabby-chic look) – using scaffolding planks

A bed made of scaffolding planks is standing in a surfer-style room.
You can build something cool out of scaffolding planks, too.
  • Difficulty
    medium to difficult
  • Cost
    65 €
  • Duration
    4-5 h

Introduction

Can you build a cool, unique-looking bed from used scaffolding boards? Of course – by cleverly recycling and upcycling. And the best thing about it: it’s actually quite simple! Our step-by-step instructions will tell you everything you need to know for this admittedly somewhat complex project.

Have you heard about our 18V system yet? It offers a huge variety of devices for many different applications. The thing that makes the project below so special is that you can use the same rechargeable battery for every part of this project. Simply swap out the battery pack, insert it into a different device that’s part of the 18V system and move on to the next step.

It should go without saying that your safety is paramount at every stage of the project. Make sure you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself. You can find everything you need to know about the correct protective clothing you need when using each type of tool in our overview.

You need

Let's go - step by step

Build your very own bed (in a shabby-chic look) – using old scaffolding planks

Build your very own bed (in a shabby-chic look) – using old scaffolding planks

Can you build a cool, unique-looking bed from used scaffolding boards? Of course – by cleverly recycling and upcycling. And the best thing about it: it’s actually quite simple! Our step-by-step instructions will tell you everything you need to know for this admittedly somewhat complex project.
Step16

Sawing the scaffolding boards

A scaffolding board is being sawn with a circular saw.

When sawing the boards, make sure that the dimensions are correct and that the connectors (the plank hooks) are on the correct side.

You need:
Hand-held circular saws
,
pocket rule, pencil, Regular G-clamps, 2x scaffolding board (45 mm thick, 2100 mm long), 1x scaffolding board (45 mm thick, 1500 mm long), 1x scaffolding board (45 mm thick, 1410 mm long), 1x wooden slat

Your new bed made of old scaffolding planks should fit a 1.4 x 2 m mattress once it’s ready. These dimensions match the internal dimensions of the newly built frame. The scaffolding boards need to have a little extra length on the ends so that there’s still enough space to screw the frame together.
In this step, measure the two boards for the long side at 2100 mm and saw them to length with a circular saw. The boards for the short sides need to be sawn to 1410 mm and 1500 mm in length.

Clamp everything together tightly and use a guide rail when cutting – a wooden slat works best for this.

Step26

Sawing out slots

Slots are being sawn into a scaffolding board.
Slots are being marked on a scaffolding board.
Slots are being sawn into a scaffolding board.
Slots are being marked on a scaffolding board.

You need:
Jigsaws
,
HCS jigsaw blade for curved cuts, U 1 AO
,
pocket rule, pencil, Regular G-clamps, Scaffolding boards that have been sawn to length (from step 1)

The scaffolding boards will be joined together at the plank hooks later. This means you need to cut out the corresponding slots on the 1500 mm short board.

Use the plank hooks you sawed off in step 1 to mark the exact size of the slots. By laying the plank hooks on the wood, you can determine the exact depth and position and mark them accordingly (image 1).

Then, use a jigsaw to cut the slots into the board (image 2).

Step36

Mounting the boards at the foot of the frame

Boards and plank hooks are being screwed together.
Drill holes are being marked with the aid of plank hooks.
Holes are being pre-drilled with a metal drill bit.
Holes are being pre-drilled with a wood drill bit.
Boards and plank hooks are being screwed together.
Drill holes are being marked with the aid of plank hooks.

You need:
Cordless combi drill
,
Mini-X-Line-treborsett, 7 deler
,
Treborsett, 5 deler, sekskantskaft
,
Large G-clamps, Short scaffolding board with slots (from step 2), Long scaffolding board with plank hooks, Hex head wood screws (10 x 120 mm)

Now, clamp the short board with the slots (from step 2) vertically to your workbench. Use the sawn-off plank hooks again to mark the position for the drill holes (image 1).

Then, take a long scaffolding board with plank hooks, tightly clamp it and interlock it with the short board. Using a 10 mm metal drill bit, drill a hole from the top through the wood along the hook and back into the wood (image 2).

Now, use an even longer wood drill bit (at least as long as your screws) to drill the hole deeper into the middle part (image 3).

Then, set the screw (image 4).

Repeat the same steps on all four corners of the foot of the frame (on the left and right side from the bottom and top respectively).

Step46

Pre-drilling the boards at the head of the frame

Holes are being pre-drilled.
A pocket rule is being used to mark holes.
Holes are being pre-drilled.
A pocket rule is being used to mark holes.

You need:
Cordless combi drill
,
Treborsett, 5 deler, sekskantskaft
,
Regular G-clamps, pencil, Ratchet straps, Scaffolding board (1500 mm long)

For the next step, put the entire wooden bed frame together in your work area and fix it in place. Since the foot of the frame is already screwed in place, fixing the head in place with G-clamps and ratchet straps is sufficient.

Now, mark the drill holes on the outside of the long board for the head. Measure 70 mm from the top and 25 mm from the side to determine the correct position of the first drill hole (image 1). Mark the corresponding second hole in the lower corner (70 mm from the bottom and 25 mm from the side). Mark the same holes on the other side of the head of the bed.

Then, pre-drill all four holes (image 2).

Step56

Screwing the boards into place at the head of the frame

Two boards are being screwed together at a right angle.
The position for a recess is being marked.
Holes are being pre-drilled with a Forstner drill bit.
Two boards are being screwed together at a right angle.
The position for a recess is being marked.

You need:
Cordless combi drill
,
25 mm Forstner drill bit
,
Regular G-clamps, Set square, Scaffolding board (1500 mm long), 2x carriage bolts (120 mm) with nuts

Unclamp the 1500 mm board for the head. You need two recesses on the inside of both sides to be able to screw it together and tighten the nuts.
Using the holes you drilled in step 4 as a reference point, you can now use a square to determine the respective positions for the recesses (image 1). Then, use a Forstner drill bit to drill a recess of about 40 mm (image 2).

Afterward, clamp the board again and set the four carriage bolts from the outside to join the boards at the head. Use the recesses on the inside to tighten the nuts to the bolts (image 3).

Step66

Attaching the supports for the bed slats

Squared timbers are being screwed to the inside of a bed frame.

One squared timber on each of the two long sides of the bed frame is all you need to support the bed slats.

You need:
Cordless combi drill
,
Suitable bit set
,
Treborsett, 5 deler, sekskantskaft
,
Regular G-clamps, pocket rule, pencil, Bolted together frame, 2x squared timber (40 x 40 mm, 2 m long), Wood screws (5 x 70 mm), Casters (if necessary)

In the last step, you need to mount two squared timbers to support the bed slats. The exact position depends on the thickness of your mattress. So, take a look at it and measure it beforehand.

Once you’ve determined the height, you can clamp the squared timbers to the inside of the long side of the bed. You need to pre-drill four holes on each side and fix the squared timbers in place with wood screws.

If you want, you can mount casters to the bottom four corners – then you can even move your bed whenever you need to. You can also paint the bed your favourite colour, of course, or simply keep the rustic look of the scaffolding boards.

Want more cool DIY furniture in your bedroom? Then this clothing rail made from a branch or nightstand lamp with a copper look could also be suitable projects for you.

We hope you have lots of fun building your new bed – sweet dreams!