A trundle bed is a small bed that can be pushed under the master bed. It is lower and usually has a set of wheels for easy movement. Sometimes, it is also known as truckle bed (old English). Trundle bed can be made of wood or on ready-made iron frames available in the market. These frames can be simple or collapsible to provide the desired height for the trundle.
The trundle bed is a space saver bedroom furniture. It is smaller in size than the upper bed and is generally used for the children's room. It is a must when you have limited space and frequent visitors who stay over.
Making a Trundle Bed
These are a few steps in which a trundle can be built.
Step 1: Decide the size of the mattress. The length, width and height of the mattress should be measured correctly. Ideally, there should be 4-6 inches' gap between the upper bed and the mattress of the trundle. Also make sure that the size is not too small.
Step 2: Cut a plywood base in the size of the mattress, keeping a slight margin of ? inches in length and width. Then cut two pieces of a 2x4 board of the length 4? inches more than that of plywood. Cut two more pieces of 2x4 board, of the width ? inches more than that of the plywood. These would form the frame, so there should not be any size mismatch. Also, keep in mind that the frame should fit below the master bed.
Step 3: Join the four 2x4 boards using L-brackets from the inside and support it with small posts, to form a rectangular open frame that can support the plywood. Use strong nails and secure the board to the post, on both sides.
Step 4: Attach the plywood inside the frame by strong nails or heavy duty staples.
Step 5: Turn the trundle upside down and attach caster wheels at each corner of the trundle, on the posts. Make sure that the wheels do not increase the height so much that it can not fit in the master bed. Also use same-sized wheels to avoid imbalance.
Step 6: Paint the sides of the trundle to match the master bed.
This is the simplest way of building a trundle bed. There can be some variations in the above design to customize it to your needs. For the guest bedroom trundle, some drawers can be added to provide storage space in the bed. It can also be made in the form of a box bed by adding another ply board at the bottom and securing it properly to sustain the load. The trundle can be colored in a lighter or a darker shade than the master bed or in contrast to it, so as to add to the bedroom decoration. For a child's bedroom, some detachable shelves may be added to keep cans or stationery. Cross pieces of the board can also be used instead of the plywood as it has to support less weight. They are also a cost-effective alternative but then, the trundle cannot be used for storage.
Building a trundle bed requires advanced skills since there is a need to use carpentry tools. Care should be taken in this process, especially when young ones are around. Nonetheless, self-made trundle beds are one of the best gifts to give your children and express your love for them.
