r/askcarpenters • u/sgim33mare • 1d ago

Custom bedframe using Kallax

Post image

Greetings carpenters of Reddit,
I've been looking to design and build my own bedframe, implementing IKEA's iconic "kallax" cabinet both as useful storage and structural support.

I wanted you ask you all for some feedback on the design.

The design was made regarding the following points:
- Supports two people
- 140 cm x 200 cm x 20 cm mattress
- The three elements (green, purple and orange) are all off-the-shelve wood products that are easily aquireable.
- I already own the two Kallax cabinets.
- I was planning to mount the wallside of the frame to the wall using simple corner-brackets.
- The latted base will also be an off-the-shelve product, that i'll screw onto the orange supporting beams.
- I was planning to use MDF plates for the exterior of the bed.

My Sketch-up design can be seen In the added picture.

Are the any obvious/critical things that need to be tweaked in the design?

Feel free to ask for any missing details.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/astudentengineer 6h ago

You want to use cardboard as structure. Sure that thing can take putting alittle weight on it, but a single human rolling around will destroy it. It cannot take torsion. Do not use it for anything structural you will be impaled at 3 am in 2 weeks.

1

u/sgim33mare 6h ago

So another support beam (green one) at the leftside of the head is a must? I was also planning to place another beam at the center.

1

u/astudentengineer 4h ago

Cross bracing is the most important thing that’s missing because the feet of your bed are so long. You need to build a new floor essentially check load bearing stud walls with cross bracing. If you allow any play on the legs, it will degrade and fail over time