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Free Woodworking Plans

Plan Spotting: Platform Bed and Murphy Bed Ideas

Anissa Kapsales, associate editor

56 users recommend

The plans for the patform bed pictured above can be found here.

Photo courtesy of workbenchmagazine.com

The plans for the Murphy bed pictured above can be found here.

Photo courtesy of workbenchmagazine.com

The plans for the patform bed pictured above can be found here.

Photo: Photo courtesy of workbenchmagazine.com

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Without getting too personal, think about how modern-day beds are used.  In the not so distant past, highly ornate and enclosed canopy beds were used just as much as privacy spaces, symbols of social status, and to keep heat in as they were merely for a place to catch some Z’s. I just returned from the 11th annual Colonial Williamsburg conference, Working Wood in the 18th Century. This year, the focus of the program was on bedroom furniture.  In addition to practical demonstrations there was a lot of discussion about how bedroom furniture functioned back in the day.  It got me thinking and poking around the web for some contemporary designs. Check out these two plans for modern bed designs. 

Platform beds seem to be popping up everywhere, and the unadorned design makes this bed adaptable to most modern interiors.  The construction of this platform bed is straight forward, and the plan calls for inexpensive materials (poplar and plywood), making it an attractive project where the wallet is concerned.

CLICK HERE for the free woodworking plans for this platform bed.

The second, a Murphy bed, has been around since the early 1900's, but it is just as appropriate nowadays for small apartment dwellers and for those people whose spare bedrooms double as family rooms or offices. The link below doesn't actually go to free plans. Just a free cutlist. The plan costs another 10 bucks. 

CLICK HERE woodworking cut list for this Murphy bed.

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Free Plan: Build a Shaker-Style Bed

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Comments (6)

Bjorn Button writes: The murphy bed hardware is not to expensive in comparison to some national brands. The hardware is made to last a lot longer then the "hardware" of products you get at places like IKEA. I high recommend the Murphy Bed.
Posted: 3:50 pm on June 19th

mattholmes writes: If you want some more platform bed idea, you can check out the platform beds at Wholesale Furniture Brokers. They keep adding more even week.
Posted: 2:30 pm on May 1st

highfigh writes: It doesn't show that all plans are free, just certain ones like the platform bed and Stylish Modern Credenza (which replaces the handsome credenza).
Posted: 6:51 pm on February 3rd

nvman writes: Yes, misleading advertising.
It is only a 'free' cutting list.
Nothing about plans.
Posted: 2:46 pm on January 28th

MBerger writes: I built a great murphy bed for my house using free plans. The catch is, I had to buy the $300 piston hardware in order to get the free plans that come with it:) I'd recommend it though, if you really do want to install a murphy bed. I purchased the hardware online here: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17212
Posted: 10:32 am on January 27th

ducula writes: Unfortunatly the Murphy Bed plans are not Free. I would've been interested in it if it was.
Posted: 6:24 pm on January 26th

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