In our space age, high speed transportation invites long-distance trips and surprise overnight visits. Hence, the need now and then for an extra bed. Whether you use this wall bed for a surprise visitor or a member of the family, it will subtract only a small space from the living area of your home. It folds away into a space 32" wide, 28" deep and 6' high.      

All pieces in this project are 3/4" Nakora plywood, except for the back wall panel, which is 1/4" plywood. The bed itself is ¾ plywood, reinforced with 3"-wide 3/4" plywood strips. The wall bed is attached to the base with a l"-wide, 32"-long piano hinge.

Two cabinets in the wall bed compartment have combined storage space of about 8 cubic feet, enough to hold a guest's belongings and bedding. The top cabinet has space-saving sliding doors and an adjustable shelf. The bottom cabinet is covered by an upholstered reclining headboard. A bracket holds the headboard so it can be moved out to a slanting position to allow the bed's occupant to sit up comfortably.

The wall bed is built in a housing of 3/4" plywood partitions and is enclosed behind accordion-type folding doors, construction of which is discussed in detail in the chapter titled three-in-one wall unit, A flush light fixture is mounted in the wallbed ceiling and its switch is located near the head of the bed so the bed's occupant can reach it easily. Before beginning construction of this project, place an electrical outlet in the wall where the bed unit will be located for the light and other electrical fixtures that may be used near the bed.

Floor and walls are prepared, and plywood partitions are assembled according to instructions in chapter titled three-in-one wall unit. Size and spacing of the partitions may be determined from the exploded view and Fig. A of this chapter. After partitions have been assembled, draw a full-size layout of wall bed cross section on one partition.

A back panel of 1/4" plywood is cut to size of width and height of wall bed space and mounted snugly against wall with 1 1/4" No. 16 brads. In this project, an electrical outlet was covered by the panel, so the outlet was extended through and attached to the panel.

Headboard cabinet is made first. To make main shelf, glue together two pieces of 3/4" plywood, 6" wide and 32" long, and mount against back wall, driving 6d nails from outside of partitions. A piece of scrap wood, cut to correct height, will help you keep Using glue and 6d finishing nails, attach a 3/4"-by-6"-." by-32" plywood piece at bottom, and a 3/4"-by-6"-by-32" plywood piece to each side, between top and bottom pieces, flush against back wall. This completes frame for the headboard cabinet of the wall bed.

With glue and nails, mount a second frame of 3/4" plywood, the top piece to be 7" above the double-plywood main shelf. Cover all front edges of frames and shelves with matching wood trim. The author used Weldwood wood trim in this project.

Fig.. A. Side view with wall bed and headboard pulled out.

The top cabinet frame of the wall bed is assembled next. It is made of 3/4" plywood and is 301/2" wide, 27" high, and 6" deep. Attach pieces with glue and screws, and cover front edges with matching wood trim.

Place cabinet frame in place flush against back wall. Check to be sure it is level then mount it to side partitions, driving 6d nails from inside.

Next, cut a top and a bottom strip, 3/4" by 2" by 29", for sliding doors in top cabinet of the wall bed. Make two grooves in the bottom strip, each 1/4" apart, 9/16" wide, and 1/4"  deep. Make two grooves in the top strip, 1/4" apart, 9/16" wide, but make these 1/2" deep. Grooves in top strip are 1/4" deeper than those in the bottom strip.

From 3/4" plywood, cut two cabinet doors 17 1/2" wide by 26 1/8" high. Rabbet top and bottom back edges 3/8". These rabbets will slide in the grooves of top and bottom strips.

Try rabbets in grooves to make sure they slide freely. This method of making sliding doors eliminates the use of hardware, and does a neat job. But before enjoying your new wall bed, you should perform some additional steps, which will be described in next chapter.

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