How to Turn Your Antique Double Bed into a Queen

I am soooo excited! I have been waiting to write this post ever since I read Miss Mustard Seed’s post about her new guest bed! Here’s what she says:

One reason we had just a metal frame for our own queen bed for so long is that I couldn’t find an antique bed frame that would fit a queen mattress and I couldn’t find a new bed that had the antique look I was going for. (I know you can sometimes convert a full to a queen, but I haven’t heard many success stories with that.)

Well my friends you are about to hear a success story! My mom bought this double size antique cast iron bed frame for me straight out of college. So that means I have been sleeping on my antique double bed for almost 5 years. We took it home and set it up in our guest room… I hadn’t moved out yet and we wanted to see how it looked. We knew right away that if we wanted it to work we would have to find a way to convert the rails to a queen size… a double just wouldn’t cut it.

So we did some research. A Queen size bed is both longer and wider than a double… so in order for the conversion to work the rails have to become longer to support the added length… and you have to be okay with a little overhang. The Queen size mattress will be a tad bit wider than your headboard and footboard. Luckily I really haven’t had a problem with it!

So what exactly are the steps? Well friend, I’m glad you asked!

UPDATE: Want to see this little bed after 10 years of use? I update it here!

Step One!

Longer rails! In order for the larger mattress to fit your bed rails have to be about 6 inches longer. See where the seam is on the rail above? That’s where the extention was welded on. If you are an expert antique cast iron welder then don’t bother asking me for tips… go lengthen those rails! If you happen to be in the 99.9% of the population that doesn’t know how to lengthen cast iron (that would be me!) it’s ok! We did a quick google search for extended queen bed rails and were able to find a gentlemen who specializes in this sort of thing. That was five years ago so I don’t remember exactly where he was… but he shipped the rails to us in Colorado so you don’t have to be local! Score!

Of course if your little brother is helping you put your bed together and doesn’t realize you can’t use a hammer to put cast iron rails into cast iron pin holes… you may need a second set of rails! Did you catch that?! If you use a normal hammer to put your rails together THEY WILL BREAK!! Take it from me and use a rubber mallet! It’s not worth it!

Luckily fate was on my side and I happened across a pair of already extended rails at an antique store for a very good price. Someone must love me.

See the point where the rails fit into the joint? Do not hit those with a hammer! USE A RUBBER MALLET! I don’t want what happened to me to happen to you! Learn by my mistakes grasshopper.

Step Two!

We made the bed longer… now we have to make it wider. Mainly because our larger mattress will not fit down into the rails like a double size mattress would. This part is easy… all we need is a couple two by fours! Cut three pieces as wide as your mattress… then cut 12 smaller pieces… nail them together like so.

Now your mattress has a great platform to sit on top of!

Side note: Make sure your boards are only as long as your mattress… I thought it would be a good idea to make mine a bit longer so the bed had room to slide. Not a good idea. I have permanent bruises on my legs from hitting those darn boards in the middle of the night. They are not 3am potty run friendly.