How to Build a Log Bed

Last Updated: February 3, 2023

A log bed is a bed frame built entirely from logs that are cut and shaped to fit together without nails or screws. Early log beds were made with crossrails and topped with a mattress. Modern log beds hold a box spring as well as a mattress, and so have no need for crossrails.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Preparing the Logs

1
Choose which logs you will use.
- The best choice is a log from a fire-killed standing dead tree. A wildfire burns diseased trees to the ground, but leaves healthy trees dead but still standing. Therefore, your chances of getting good logs are best from these trees. Fire-killed wood also loses its bark, saving you time when you start building.^{[1]
  X
  Research source}
- You can find fallen logs or logs that wash onto a beach or riverbank. You can also buy logs from a sawmill. However, you may find after you start working that these are rotten or have other problems that make them unsuitable.
- Cut live trees down to get logs if it's legal to do so. You will have to wait about a year for the wood to dry enough to build with it. Stripping the bark will help it dry faster.
2
Saw the logs to the lengths you need for bed.
- Saw 2 4-foot (1.2 m) posts and 2 3-foot (90 cm) posts to make the legs and the ends of the headboard and footboard. The posts should be cut from large, sturdy logs.
- Saw 4 rails to separate the posts. Measure the mattress width and cut the rails to be 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) longer. When you cut the tenons to fit the rails into the posts, they will be the width of the mattress.
- Cut spindles to place between the rails of the headboard and footboard. You need 36-inch (90 cm) spindles for the headboard and 24-inch (61 cm) spindles for the footboard. After cutting the tenons, they will measure 1 inch (2.5 cm) shorter. The number of spindles you need depends on the size of the bed.
- Prepare 4 bed rails to connect the headpost to the foot post on each side. Measure the mattress length and cut the bed rails so they're 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) longer.
Advertisement
3
Remove the bark and shape the logs with drawknives. These are blades with 2 handles that you set against the wood and pull toward you. A curved drawknife removes bark and a straight drawknife shapes the log.^{[2]
X
Research source}
4
Form tenons in the rails and spindles. You can do this with a drawknife, but it's easier to do with a tenon maker, which attaches to a drill and operates like a giant pencil sharpener.
5
Carve out mortises with a drill and Forstner bits. Frostner bits drill flat-bottomed holes large enough to hold tenons.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Mortises for the headboard should be cut at 9 inches (23 cm) and 44 inches (1.1 m) from the floor. For the footboard, the mortises are cut at 9 inches (23 cm) and 32 inches (80 cm).
- Spindle mortises are cut so the spindles will be evenly spaced.
- Mortises for the bottom bed rail are drilled at 5 inches (13 cm) above the floor in all 4 posts. The mortises for the top bed rail are drilled at 13 inches (33 cm) from the floor.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Assembling the bed

1
Attach a metal eye hook to each post at 12 inches (30 cm) above the floor. Place the eye hooks so you can stretch a cable between the right headpost and left footpost and the left headpost and right footpost.^{[4]
X
Research source}
2
Connect cables diagonally between the bedposts using the eye hooks. Use turnbuckles in the centers to tighten the cables and hold the bed together. Adjust as necessary to make sure the bed is square.
3
Notch each of the top bed rails near the head and foot so the box spring will fit securely on them without slipping.
4
Stain the bed to protect the wood.^{[5]
X
Research source}
5
Top the bed with the box spring and mattress.

Community Q&A

Question

How do you fix a long cracs on a bed post?

Community Answer

Long answer short: you can't. However, you can use wood filler, then sand and wax. It will never look the same but it will add character.
Question

How round do the cedar logs need to be for the bed post and the railing?

Community Answer

You could do this same build with square posts and it would be okay. However, if the logs are a lot bigger at one end than the other, you might have to change the length of a higher or lower railing to make it fit together correctly.