Inventive Ways To Repurpose An Old Box Spring Frame In Your Home And Garden

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If it's time to retire your box spring, don't throw it to the curb. The mattress' accompaniment can be useful in many ways around your home and garden thanks to its wooden frame. You can turn the frame into a furniture piece, decor item, storage space shelving unit, or a garden accessory. Below, we have listed 14 ingenious ways you can give an old or unused box spring frame a new life, and you don't have to be a master builder to complete any of these DIYs.

Any box spring with a wooden frame will work well for these upcycling hacks, from one that's a twin to another that's king-sized. Even box springs made for baby beds can function as mini versions of these home DIY projects and are ideal for small spaces. It is also perfectly fine if the box spring's fabric lining and stuffing are ripped, stained, or missing. In fact, if they're still intact, you can strip the bed support of these pieces since you won't need any of them for these upcycling ideas (but do save the old bed springs to repurpose around the house). Once the wooden frame is bare, put it to good use around your indoor or outdoor space.

Instead of bringing the old box spring to the curb, take it out back to your garden and gift it to plants that could use a trellis for support. The tall frame, when supported vertically or horizontally next to trailing plants, provides ample space for the vines to climb and is the perfect support for your foliage. Once the greenery takes over, the bed support transforms into a beautiful plant wall that is not only functional but also stylish for your outdoor space.

There are several benefits to raised garden beds, including improved drainage, fewer weeds, and warmer soil. They also afford a way to increase growing space if your outdoor space is limited. Fortunately, you can create a raised garden bed from a box spring frame just by placing it down flat on the ground and filling it with soil. The interlocking planks act as built-in dividers so you can plant various herbs, flowers, and vegetables all in one garden bed.

A box spring's shape, size, and frame-like configuration lend themselves well to crafting a DIY door — at least a simple one you can add to a garden fence. Strip the fabric from the box spring and detach the coils and any supporting rods from the frame. Paint the frame any color you like, then attach some chicken wire and a latching mechanism, and the door is ready. Now, it's just a matter of affixing the door to the fence in your yard — you may have to install new fence posts to do this. 

Not only does an old box spring frame work for growing plants, but it also makes a great base for styling them, too. You can create a hanging plant display by simply draping vines and flowers through the framing. Once the box spring is filled with greenery, secure it to the ceiling to create a show-stopping decor piece. You can even dangle artificial plants or prop the box spring up against a wall to customize the statement piece. Adding lights, like these Zilue Paper Lanterns, would make it even more beautiful.

Are you into artistic DIYs? If so, then this upcycle is for you. How about transforming your old box spring into a giant canvas? Once you've stripped away all the stuffing and coils, you are left with a sturdy frame you can cover in fabric and turn into a canvas. Then, what the blank sheet becomes is all up to you. Once your masterpiece is complete, consider hanging the large-scale artwork in your home, where it will undoubtedly become a focal point.

Your fur babies can benefit from the old box spring frame, too. With a few toys attached to the wooden stand, like scratching posts and squeaky plush animals, it can become a jungle gym for your four-legged friends. Since the box spring frame is slim, the structure shouldn't take up a lot of space, and you can design it horizontally or vertically to best fit your home. It is a great way to create a pet space the whole family will love without having to spend any money.

Another piece your old box spring can become is a bookshelf. After turning it on its side with the support beams in the back, all you need to do is add a few rows for shelving. Then, the new furniture can house books, decor, plants, and other trinkets. Feel free to cover the framing with a fresh coat of paint or roll of wallpaper to elevate the homemade piece and make it blend into your space.

If your footwear needs extra room to hang out, your old box spring can come in handy as a shoe rack. Depending on the type of box spring, you may need to add baskets or shelves to the frame for support. You can place the structure horizontally against a wall and add a bench on top for a stylish addition to your mudroom or simply place it upright near your closet.

Besides working for your sneakers and boots, you can use a box spring frame for extra closet space as well. The structure's wooden beams act as a two-tier clothing rod that you can drape hangers onto. Just attach the box spring frame to the wall at least 2 feet up from the floor and hang your clothing along the wooden bars. You can even add baskets for accessories or place your shoes on top of the structure.

An alternative to using the box spring as a closet is turning it into storage shelves for a shed, garage, or basement. Similar to the bookshelf upcycle, all you need to do is add planks for shelves and pile on your things. If you have limited space, you may want to orient it vertically instead of horizontally. It is perfect for organizing gardening supplies, hardware tools, or your overflow stock of household products. Furthermore, you can attach hooks or clips to the frame to hang more items.

Another way a box spring comes in handy is as a DIY room divider. Just cover the framing with your fabric or screening of choice and use it to separate an area in your home to increase privacy, maximize space, and boost flow. It could also serve to divide your garden or balcony and provide more privacy. Just don't forget to use weather-appropriate fabrics if you're planning on placing it outside.

Old box springs typically have a wooden or metal frame; if yours is made from wood, you can salvage it and use it to build furniture. For example, with basic woodworking tools and a bit of skill, you could easily turn the wood into a bench that could function as decor and storage. Once you've removed the fabric, supports, and springs, separate the planks, cut them to size, and put together the perfect DIY bench. It's a good idea to sand the reclaimed wood first, then finish it with stain after the bench is ready. 

Wood isn't the only material you can reclaim from an old box spring. The steel coils and rails that provide buoyancy and support the structure can also come in handy in various DIY projects. You can recycle the metal and the wood to fashion anything from decor to furniture. For example, use the steel rails and coils to create a frame, turn the reclaimed wood planks into shelves, put it all together, and you've got yourself a tiered stand. Use the stand to store bathroom towels, books, or any other objects that fit its shelves. 

The internal components of a box spring are excellent for making a DIY wine rack: The coils support the bottles and the planks to hold everything together. To make the rack, disassemble the box spring and cut the planks to size if needed. The lengths are really up to you; if you want the rack to hold a good number of bottles, use the full-length planks without cutting them. Sand the wood, stretch the coils to fit a wine bottle, and nail them onto the wood using u-shaped staples like these OMOTOOL Steel Wire Staples.