I just got done working on a antique iron twin bed for my little girl. The bed frame was to short for today’s mattresses. The easiest and most cost effective way to fix this for me was to use an extra bed rail from another bed long gone before my time for material. I cut the two side rails and welded 6” to them. The rails are now 76” long. An inch longer then what I needed, no big deal. As far as a mattress we got a medium size box spring about 6” tall they come even shorter. I think the mattress is average height. I sent the bed out to be sand blasted using a light abrasive. (Ask if they have prior experience blasting these kind of beds), most iron beds are hollow and if they are really rusty they can blast holes in them. The company I sent it to also powder coats parts. So I opted for that too. (Some parts can NOT be powder coated fully) the block and pin assembly on the end of the rails or you could say all of the mating surfaces, the wheels if you have them slide out can be gently blasted and painted. To sandblast and power coat it cost $250.00 It sounds like a lot, but a new bed frame would be more expensive, made poorly with cheap materials and more then likely made using child slave labor from china. Same thing goes for all the new iron beds.. No thanks to any of that. It’s not done yet so I can’t add a picture. Hopefully this is written clear, basically all I did was add 6” to the sides, cleaned it up and powder coated it, that’s it! Did it loose value by cutting the rail ? No the value is in the head board and foot board, Also in using it. The bed will get a new life with lots of use!

Got it - thanks! I ended up without time to shop, so rummaged around the garage and built a truly redneck center support. It's missing only duct tape. Cut 2x4s into blocks, made 4 stacks of 5 blocks (1 stack per slat), ran a 1" board across the top of the stacks, and arranged so that each slat is supported in the center. Only had nails, so that's what I used. It's quite solid, but looks like something a 10 year old would make.

If you are "stuck with the bookcase headboard" as you say, then I would not go streamlined with the bottom of the bed. It just won't look right IMHO. Keep the dust 'ruffle' and use a plain flat, box pleated one to avoid fussiness. It sounds like you just hate the dust ruffle and adequate storage in the room also seems to be a problem too, if there is no room for a nightstand and the only bookshelf is in the headboard..........maybe consider a captains bed for your son. It will look sturdy and streamlined and won't be fussy. It will provide more storage. Check CL. If you absolutely want no dust ruffle, and the captains bed is not right for you, try hiding the wheels with coffee cans. You can paint them to match the color of the frame. Use a quilt that is long enough to cover the frame even though it will match the cans. Personally I would not spend a dime, or waste the time, to try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Those metal bed frames on wheels are ugly and noisy. Get a new bed that fits your needs and decorating desires. If your are on a strict budget consider the following options......... If you do not need wheels on the bed to move it around for cleaning why not just build a platform bed. You can just get four sturdy pillars or use glass block or just about anything and put a sturdy board over it. Make sure you also provide center supports. Since bookshelves are needed can you just put some on the wall. Get lumber and cut to size and make or buy brackets. Consider checking CraigsList for a new bed. Goodwill in my area has wonderfull items and always has beds, usually the full size ones and twin size. Freecycle may offer a bed frame that you can get just for hauling it away. If you live in a city keep your eyes peeled for great curbside finds. I've seen perfectly good bed frames and headboards set out curbside all the time. I've curbside shopped myself, and often I grab things that I can't use, but hate to see go to a landfill, and I bring them in to Goodwill. You wouldn't believe the nice things that people toss out.

We've used a Bunkie board with our last mattress ever since buying the mattress. We did use it with a box spring for one night. Several years ago, bought a new mattress and springs for our four poster railed bed. I had probably laid on and tried a dozen before narrowing down my choices and having DH come with me to lay on the bed at the same time, make a final decision. A very deep, chiropractic approved mattress (that is a pain trying to fit with sheets but thats another story). The delivery people just about laughed themselves silly when they put it in place, made immediate arrangements to come back the next day and take the box springs, replace with Bunkie board. It was so high, normal sized adult people couldn't get in. Made up and with the comforter in place - about chest high ;) We aren't kids, we didn't want to pole vault into bed. With a Bunkie board, the mattress top is 33" from the floor. It wouldn't work for everyone, but does work for us. (bunkie board: 2-inch foundation that provides adequate mattress support to ensure you don’t void your mattress warranty, without adding extra height, rigid and upholstered)