How to make a crib yourself at home
Each parent tries to choose the best for their child, this also applies to furniture in the nursery. But the prices in stores leave much to be desired, and there is no certainty about the quality of purchased furniture. In this case, it is possible to make a baby bed with your own hands. The child will remember such a crib for the rest of his life.
Determining the model of the future bed
In order to choose the right bed, you need to rely on age, number of children, gender of the child, room size, available budget and skills in working with tools and materials. So, the bed of a girl and a boy will be very different; for two children of the same sex, it is worth choosing a bunk bed.
The simplest bed model is a regular rectangular box with a headboard and footboard. It is versatile and easy to assemble. If the bed will be in a small room, then it is recommended to make a bed with additional functionality - the presence of a table, drawers or shelves.
It should be borne in mind that the assembly of a bunk bed is much more difficult. If the area of the room allows, then it is better to make two single-tier ones.
Note! If desired and possible, you can make a bed in the form of some favorite character, boat, crown or castle.
The most popular do-it-yourself baby bed models at home are:
- With bumpers for added safety;
- Attic bed;
- Transformer;
- An ordinary rectangular bed without sides.
It should be borne in mind that the bed must first of all be safe and comfortable to use, therefore it is recommended to avoid sharp corners. Bunk beds must be with bumpers so that the child does not fall out during sleep.
Selection and preparation of material
Since the bed will be made for a child, the following conditions must be observed: choose only natural and environmentally friendly materials; the structure must be reliable and strong; there are no sharp corners or dangerous protrusions; wood (if it is used) must be free of roughness or chips; fit the height and width of the child; eliminates the possibility of injury.
It is recommended to use the following materials:
- Solid wood;
- Metal;
- Durable and high quality plastic;
- Chipboard;
- OSB;
- MDF.
It is recommended to give preference to natural wood, as it is completely safe and environmentally friendly.When using a species such as pine, antiseptic substances will also be released, which reduce the likelihood of colds and other diseases.
If it is not possible to buy solid wood, then it is better to take MDV or chipboard. According to its characteristics, the first is slightly better, since it does not contain formaldehyde resin. These materials are cheaper and more affordable.
When choosing a metal, you need to pay attention to the fact that all seams are carefully welded. Keep in mind that metal structures are more traumatic and work with this material requires special skills.
In addition, you will need the following tools:
- Glue;
- Self-tapping screws;
- Drill;
- Roulette;
- Sandpaper;
- Nails;
- Brush.
Other tools may be needed, depending on the material chosen.
Sketches and drawings
A drawing of a child's bed with dimensions is necessary for the correct installation of the structure. On the sketch, you need to display the exact dimensions, the number of parts, tools and materials used, this will help to accurately track all stages of work.
The drawing must have the following elements:
- Legs;
- Bottom;
- Frame;
- Side faces;
- Back.
The more complex the design itself, the more difficult the sketch will be. Examples of drawings:
- Plain rectangular bed with sides;
- Bunk bed;
- Cradle for the baby.
Step-by-step production of a bed at home
Consider in detail the assembly at home of a simple single-tier single-tier bed for a child made of wood. To do this, you will need boards, beams, slats, screws and bolts.
Assembling the frame and base
The assembly of the frame is the simplest step. To do this, you need to cut out the side faces in accordance with the drawing, connect them with self-tapping screws so that a rectangular box with right angles is formed. You can check the evenness of the corners using a triangle.
The base is made using rails that are interconnected at a distance of five centimeters, and are attached to the frame. After that, the sides are cut, if any. They need to be attached to the frame and base with self-tapping screws.
Important! It is recommended to place something heavy on the mattress to check the strength of the structure.
When the frame with the base is ready, you need to cover everything with varnish or paint. You can also use sheathing material - fabric, leather, or something else.
Headboard making
This process is a little more complicated. From a sheet of wood or chipboard, you need to cut the headboard in accordance with the sketch and process it with sandpaper. Attach it to the frame and mark its correct position with a pencil. If necessary, saw off the excess, you can give a more bizarre shape.
The backrest must be decorated before it is attached to the entire frame. In order to attach it to the structure, you need to drill four holes and connect with bolts.
Assembling the bed
The final stage is the preparation of the last parts and assembly. Cut four legs from a piece of timber and sandpaper them. Attach to the frame.
If you wish, you can make storage boxes at home.To do this, you need to mount the boxes with the bottom and use treadmills to attach them to the side walls of the bed. In this case, you do not need to make legs, you just need to make the foot and headboard a little longer so that they touch the floor.
Assembling the bed includes connecting all the components with bolts and self-tapping screws. Carefully make sure that each of the elements must be processed with sandpaper.
Subsequent decoration of a crib
Since the crib will be located in the children's room, it is recommended to make it as bright and attractive as possible. It can be decorated with drawings, ornaments, stencils or stucco moldings. It is very popular to use the decoupage technique, which consists in transferring the pattern to the surface of the furniture.
If the bed is intended for a girl, then you can make a canopy, so she will feel like a little princess. High enough above the bed to attach a wooden beam. A fabric, preferably chiffon, is attached to this beam.
The material of the bed itself can be coated with colored paint or simply varnished.
Making a baby bed with your own hands according to drawings and photos is not difficult. You need to clearly follow the instructions and follow all the recommendations with accuracy. Then you can create a wonderful sleeping place for your beloved child.
Video: do-it-yourself crib