A box spring cover can resemble upholstery to protect your bed’s foundation from dust and wear. You can create one yourself with the right supplies, tidy techniques, and just a few hours of work. Here’s exactly how.
Materials and Tools for a Box Spring Cover
Choose a durable, medium-weight fabric that complements your bedroom decor. Some popular choices include cotton duck, upholstery-weight cotton, and polyester blends.
You’ll also need these tools and supplies:
- Iron and ironing board
- Scissors
- Staple gun and staples
- Tape measure
- Upholstery tape
- Upholstery twist pins, if your box spring doesn’t have a wood frame
Measuring Your Box Spring
To determine how much fabric you’ll need, take all the bedding off your box spring and measure its length, width, and height. Add 1 inch to each measurement to allow for seams.
Generally, having slightly more fabric than you think you’ll need is better. That way, if you need to make an adjustment or fix a mistake, you won’t have to return to the fabric store.
Making the Box Spring Cover
To make your box spring cover, wrap the fabric around the box spring and secure it to the frame.
Preparing the Fabric
Pre-wash the fabric before cutting it to prevent shrinkage. Iron each piece for a crisp look and a more accurate assembly process.
Cutting and Attaching the Corners
Cut four 1-square-foot pieces of fabric to wrap the corners of the box. Staple or pin the fabric to the box, top and bottom.
Cutting and Attaching the Sides
Next, cut four pieces of fabric to cover the sides of the box. Add 2 inches to the length of each side and 6 inches to the width. Lay one long panel upside down on top of the box such that three sides of the fabric overhang the box’s edges by about an inch.
Then, place a strip of upholstery tape about an inch in from the box’s long edge. Staple through the tape and fabric into the wood frame every few inches. Once again, if your box spring has no wood frame, use upholstery pins to fasten the tape and fabric.
Flipping the Fabric
Flip the fabric down against the tape so it’s right-side up and hangs over the box’s long edge. Keep cutting and attaching the sides until you’ve surrounded your box spring with the fabric.
The Final Staples
Turn the box upside down and staple all four panels to the underside. Keep the corners tidy for a tight and professional fit.