How do I make a bed on wheels stay put?

February 24, 2005 11:31 PM

Moving, got new queen bed. I have a metal frame on wheels, but find the idea of rolling my bed around the room retarded. How do I make my bed stay put like the piece of furniture its supposed to be without spending the $$ for a wooden platform bed?

So I'm moving, and I've made me a fake queen-sized tempurpedic bed (ebay memory foam + 6 inches of polyurethane in a dust mite zippered cover, plywood boxspring underneath...here's hoping it's comfortable!). I have wood floors, and I believe the bed would feel too low to the ground if I just removed the metal rolling frame. Ideas?

Question 2: why on earth do bedframes have wheels in the first place? I don't know if I've ever seen anyone have any urge to roll their bed to the other side of a room.

posted by sirion to home & garden (11 comments total)

You can buy caster cups -- little rubber cups that caster-type wheels will fit right inside and that, being rubber, will stay put -- from any hardware store.

My bed had casters and I found it handy for pulling it away from the wall to make the side that was pushed against the wall. Slightly easier than pulling a bed without wheels, anyway.
posted by tracicle at 11:41 PM on February 24, 2005

cinderblocks?
posted by funkbrain at 12:40 AM on February 25, 2005

why on earth do bedframes have wheels in the first place

So that you can move the bed to vacuum underneath it?\
posted by Neiltupper at 2:04 AM on February 25, 2005

Don't the wheels lock? I used to have a wheely metal bedframe and the wheels definitely locked.
posted by SoftRain at 2:06 AM on February 25, 2005

Regarding the wheels, if they don't lock (which I'd be surprised if they don't), then that's what casters are for, like tracicle said. Any Home Depot/Lowe's will have them in a bunch of different sizes and shapes.

If you're handy enough to make your own boxspring, though, you might just consider making it into a simple platform by creating an open box underneath it--just four 2x6s standing on their thin edges to make a square, with some cross-bracing. Used to have a setup that was just basically one of those and a simple plywood platform across the top, as a futon frame, and it worked great.
posted by LairBob at 3:38 AM on February 25, 2005

First, to answer your question: get six sturdy crates, like milk crates, that are about one cubic foot in size. Set them in two rows of three, lengthwise, and put your box spring on that. They must be really sturdy milk crates, not the cheapo things from walmart, etc.

Second, there's no benefit whatsoever from having a box spring, and potentially some harm (OK, I'll admit, a box spring does make the bed feel better if you're sitting on the edge of it, but how often do you do that?). Best thing is a platform bed, with the mattress directly on a nice flat support. You'll find it is better for you, especially if you've had back troubles, and there is less disturbance to one partner when the other moves around.
posted by yesster at 6:06 AM on February 25, 2005

My queen bed has wheels on the frame, and it doesn't move around on me, but my bedroom has a rather thick carpet. You may have a wooden floor though, so in that case use the caster cups as suggested above. Otherwise give it a try, and see how movable it actually is. I find that the weight of the bed seems to make it less likely to move around unless I actually shove it on purpose.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:35 AM on February 25, 2005

Don't the wheels lock?

The wheel locks on my bedframe don't stop it from rolling, they just slow it down. It's infuriating. I'm guessing it's a result of cheap manufacturing.

On topic: Since you sound like you're half-way handy, you could frame out a base with some 2x4s and cover it with plywood. Paint it and it'd look a lot like a waterbed base.
posted by me3dia at 9:13 AM on February 25, 2005

Most metal bedframes with castors use a standard stem. Pop a castor out and take it with you to your evil hardware big box of choice where you will be able to buy plain feet that go in the same socket as your caster. This will probably lower your bed a few centimetres.
posted by Mitheral at 9:49 AM on February 25, 2005

I too detest the nasty form and non-functional function of those metal bed frames - so I made my own (queen - anything bigger takes 4 sheets or more) with two $50 sheets of 3/4" maple veneer plywood and ten $4 2x4s.
I can draw a plan and "cut list" if you want, I would be happy to do this since I am sitting in front of a cad program all day anyway. :)
posted by wzcx at 10:23 AM on February 25, 2005

Great advice from all! Thanks! (Simple answers highlighted only because I don't have the time for the DIY suggestions)
posted by sirion at 8:38 PM on February 25, 2005