A doll bed can be easily made at home using wood and only a few basic woodworking tools. Balsa wood is a popular choice for doll furniture because it is easy to work with. If the bed is intended to be used for a child's toy, harder woods would be preferable because as balsa wood is easily damaged. Other wood choices can include knot-free pine or hardwoods like oak or maple, which can be cut using a jigsaw. This bed is six inches long, suitable for a dollhouse, but the same design can be scaled for larger dolls.
Instructions
Measurements and Cutting
1. Measure two pieces of 1/4-inch by 1/4-inch square wood to a length of 3 5/8 inches for the headboard legs. Measure two pieces 2 5/8 inches long for the footboard legs. Measure two pieces 4 1/2 inches long for the top rails, which will go on the headboard and footboard. Draw lines across the wood at these marks using a metal square to make sure the lines are square to the sides of the wood.
2. Measure two pieces of 1/8-inch by 1/2-inch wood to a length of 5 1/2 inches for the tops of the headboard and footboard.
3. Measure two pieces of 1/4-inch by 3/4-inch wood to a length of 4 1/2 inches. These are for the headboard and footboard bottom rails.
4. Measure two pieces of 1/8-inch by 3/4-inch wood to a length of 6 1/4 inches for the side rails of the bed, which will run beneath the sides of the mattress.
5. Measure one piece of 1/8-inch by 1-inch wood to a length of 2 1/8 inches for the headboard center spindle, which will connect the top and bottom rails in the middle of the headboard. Measure another piece 1 1/8 inches for the footboard spindle. Measure three pieces to a length of 4 5/8 inches for the mattress supports, which will be attached to the side rails to support the mattress.
6. Cut each piece above using a jig saw. Then sand each piece using a fine grit sandpaper.
Assembling and Gluing
7. Place the top and bottom rail of the headboard on a flat surface about two inches apart from each other. Mark the center of each rail with a ruler and pencil.
8. Apply glue to the ends of the headboard spindle with a brush and place it between the rails in the center of each piece. Apply glue to the sides of the rails and place the headboard legs beside them so the top of the legs and top rail are flush. Put two clamps on the rails, one vertically and one horizontally, to keep all the pieces together. Wait for the glue to dry.
9. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to assemble the footboard.
10. Place the two side rails on a flat surface on their edges and parallel to each other about 4 5/8 inches apart. Place a piece of scrap wood 1/8 inch thick between the rails.
11. Place two mattress supports on the scrap wood between the rails at each end. Align them so the corners are square and flush. Place a third mattress support in the middle.
12. Brush glue onto the ends of each mattress support and then glue them to the rails. The scrap wood will keep the supports 1/8 inch from the bottom of each rail. Clamp the pieces together until the glue has dried.
13. Place the footboard and headboard against the rails. Mark where the wood meets with a pencil. Brush glue onto the wood and reassemble the pieces. Clamp the pieces together until the glue has dried.
14. Sand any glue from the joints. Paint the bed frame any color you choose.
15. Cut a piece of 1-inch foam rubber to a size of 6 1/8 inches by 4 1/2 inches. Place this on the bed to serve as a mattress.
16. Cut two pieces of 9-inch by 7-inch fabric. Fold these around the mattress to serve as bed sheets.
Tags: length inches, Measure pieces, wood length, wood length inches, which will, between rails