Do they still make 'bedspreads'? They go to the floor and cover everything. Or how about trying a queen sized duvet that is made with a more generous width?

Well, I just saw in a catalog some wooden covers for bed legs that were designed for just such a situation. The link is below.

Or you could work with the exposed metal on the sides of the bed and the white wheels and give the room an industrial feel.

Or you could get a bedspread instead of a duvet. If the bedspread is long enough, it will hide not only the legs, but anything he shoves under the bed.

Here is a link that might be useful: bed leg covers

parma they probably do still make bedspreads but I'm hoping to 'lift the look' off the floor which is why the dust ruffle is going.

skatiero - you know I'd considered that - using wood and liquid nails to attach to the metal the way some people have done with frame molding to their frameless bathroom mirrors. I wonder if it would hold - the frame has to give a bit when someone's in the bed, I think.

camlan that is truly an ingenious idea! Thanks for that link. I bet I could cut and paint a big mailing tube to slip the legs in. Then the casters are still on the floor and the bed can move for cleaning.

Love these ideas - keep 'em coming! And if anyone knows if Liquid Nails wold work for this or has experience, please share.

Thanks

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.

dilly thanks for your suggestions. The current dust ruffle is tailored - ruffles are not the issue. Although the room is not large (roughly 11 x 13)storage isn't the issue, either. The room has bizzarre, chopped up wall space so furniture arrangement is beyond challenging. That's a big part of the issue and why the bookcase headboard became necessary when he went from a twin to a full bed.

My wish is to not involve my DH in yet another project - I'd like to give him a break on this one and do it with things I can handle on my own! Money isn't really the issue however since this is for a college son, there's no reason to sink much into it. This needs to be a quick, down and dirty, update/freshening. I want to paint walls, furniture if called for, throw the new duvet and sheets on, hang a new window shade and call it a day. I check our CL regularly (it's slim pickens here for some reason), I'm an active freecycle member, and have done my share of dumpster diving and curb pickin' so I know what gets tossed but thanks for those suggestions!

Your thought on the decorated mailer is great! You could put brass or aluminum piano castors or any felt backed coaster under the wheels with whatever paint or wallpaper covering the poster tube (I can see one of the fabulous wood papers which you can get a sample of for $5 or less) sitting on the metal rim and, voila, you've replicated a super high end look for virtually peanuts. For a sleek look, staple a neutral upholstery remnant to cover the rim of the box spring, get a cool duvet with Euro shams and you're done!

I thought about making "sides" to cover the metal, but I am thinking of using something similar to cup hooks along the top so they can "hang" from the metal bed rail...hard to explain the idea.......

You you can buy bed legs and upholster the boxspring. Keep these legs for reuse or sell them if you don't need them after your son moves on. I am on this thread, because I too have this issue. Trying to stage a double bed that I won't be keeping in the new house. At least if I buy legs, I can reuse them on a queen size in the future. There is good tutorials out there with insteuctions. An afternoon project that won't involve the husband. (I also get that, he thinks everything looks fine. Since the move has been planned for a while, I feel my house is getting stale. Don't want to spend a lot, but I have my pride, lol)