Arts and Crafts ‘Morris’ Bed
The Morris Bed, based on the classic Morris Chair design.
I’ve been meaning to build a bed for years after suffering with just a mattress and futon frame. This summer I decided it was time for an upgrade, so I built this bed.
I came up with the plans by deconstructing a Morris Chair that sits in my bedroom. I scaled the thickness and width of the parts to better suit the dimensions of a queen-sized bed.
I convinced the editors to let me capture the build on video and produced a Video Workshop series that’s currently airing for FineWoodworking.com members. You can watch a preview here, where I also show off the miniature models I made before coming up with a working project plan.
P.S. If you have any questions after watching the video feel free to post them here…
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The Morris Bed, based on the classic Morris Chair design.
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Detail of the faux through tenon, which conceals the bed-bolt hardware.
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The slats, legs, cap, and corbels all mimic the elements of a Morris Chair.
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I settled on the bed dimensions by building 1/8 scale models.
Comments
This is a classic design and you have executed it beautifully. It is a really great bed, and I love the q-sawn white oak. Nice work!
matt you did a fine job....i like the fluid way you presented the video...very clear...i wish there was videos on how to build some of the period furniture....anyhow now you need a dresser and a night stand.
Finally! A bed my wife and I BOTH love. I'm going to have one. All I have is cherry though. Three boards 20" wide and 12' long and one 2"er by 12'by 10". Think thats enough for one of these beauties?
I'd like to modify the plans to accommodate a king mattress set. I was just going to widen it and add extra slats on the head board and foot board. Any reason that wouldn't work?
Hey Irish89! Looks like I found you here so I'll answer your question about modifying for a king-size in case anyone else wants to try it.
You're idea is right on. Adjust the dimensions for the wider king-size mattress set and add a few more slats. One other addition I'd recommend: Add a center rail to support the mattress and prevent it from sagging in the center.
You can easily integrate this into the head and footboard with mortise and tenons. It could sit below the slats, and support them in the center. Or you could make the center rail flush with the slats and then install two sets of slats, one on each side of center.
I think this is covered in Jeff Miller's bed book or in another article from the Mag.
Let us know how it goes!
This is a very pretty bed and I think I'd like to try building it myself. I have one question: Do you think it would be as pretty a design if the bedrails were a little bit higher (providing more space under the bed)? Maybe this is totally silly, but my dog likes to sleep under my bed and I'd like to build one that she can crawl under. My current bed is an English antique bed with bedrails about 11 inches from the floor. 10" would probably work too.
Thanks!
Hi all,
First thing first, Matt this bed is awesome! Secundo, where can I buy thhis plan?
Thank you, regards,
Jean
Are you making this bed for sale? If so what's cost?
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