How Do You Assemble Divan Bed?

The Process in Brief

To assemble a divan bed, fit the castors or glides into the base sections, join the two halves together with the supplied linking bars or clips, attach the headboard to the base using the bolts through the pre drilled holes at the head end, then lay the mattress on top. Most divans take twenty to thirty minutes with two people and need only a screwdriver and an Allen key. The bases arrive fully built, so there is no frame construction involved: the job is joining, fixing and levelling rather than building.

That simplicity is the reason divans remain popular in British homes. A two piece base travels up a narrow staircase where a one piece frame will not, and it comes apart just as easily when you move.

Before You Start

Clear the room first. You need the full footprint of the bed plus working space around it, because you will be turning base sections on their sides to fit castors. Move the old bed out entirely rather than working around it.

Unpack in the room where the bed will live, not downstairs. It is far easier to carry a wrapped base up a staircase than to manoeuvre an unwrapped one, and the packaging protects the fabric from door frames and banister rails.

Lay out the fittings and count them against the instructions. A typical divan pack contains castors or glide feet, linking bars or clips, headboard bolts, and sometimes threaded inserts. If anything is missing, stop and sort it before you commit to the assembly, because a base held together with half its fixings will not stay square.

Keep the packaging until the bed is fully assembled and you are satisfied with it. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days, but that is far simpler to manage with the original wrapping intact.

Step One: Fit the Castors or Feet

Stand one base section on its side against a wall, or lay it face down on a soft surface such as a rug or the flattened cardboard packaging. Never work on a bare hard floor with the fabric face down, as it will pick up marks.

Locate the sockets in each corner of the base. Push each castor firmly into its socket until it seats fully. Most are a push fit with a sprung collar and will click home. Some designs screw in, in which case turn until the plate sits flush against the base.

Take care to press them straight. A castor pushed in at an angle will either refuse to seat or will sit proud, leaving the base rocking. Give each one a twist once fitted to confirm it turns freely.

If your divan came with glide feet rather than castors, the same principle applies. Glides suit carpet and stop the bed drifting, while castors make the bed easier to move for cleaning but can mark soft floors. On laminate or wood, thin felt discs under glides are a worthwhile addition.

Repeat with the second base section, then stand both upright side by side in their final position.

Step Two: Join the Two Halves

Push the two base sections together so the inner edges meet cleanly along their full length. Check the tops are level with each other and the outer edges are flush. Any misalignment here will show as a ridge under the mattress.

Fit the linking bars. These are usually flat metal plates that drop into slots on the top face of the base at the head and foot, or hooks that engage between the two halves. Some divans use plastic clips underneath instead. Whatever the type, both bars must be fitted, not just one, because they are what stops the halves drifting apart when you get in and out.

Once linked, push the joined base gently from one end. If the halves move independently, the bars are not seated properly. Lift and refit rather than forcing them.

On zip and link divans, the two mattresses fasten to each other with a zip that runs around the joining edge. Zip these together before the mattresses are on the base, working from one corner and keeping the two mattresses level as you go.

Step Three: Attach the Headboard

Divan headboards attach with two long bolts that pass through the headboard struts into threaded inserts at the head end of the base. Locate the inserts first: they are usually behind the fabric at the top of the base, sometimes covered by a small flap.

Hold the headboard against the base with the struts aligned to the inserts, then start both bolts by hand before tightening either. Starting one bolt fully first pulls the headboard out of square and makes the second impossible to align.

Tighten alternately, a few turns on each, until both are firm. Check the headboard is vertical and centred before the final tightening. Most divan headboards have some height adjustment in the strut slots, which lets you set the headboard so it clears a skirting board or sits at the right height above the mattress.

Do not overtighten into the fabric covered board. Firm is enough. If a bolt spins without gripping, the insert has stripped and needs replacing rather than forcing.

Headboards vary considerably in style, and it is worth choosing one that suits the room rather than defaulting to whatever comes with the base. Our modern beds UK sale range includes divan sets with matching headboards in fabric and faux leather finishes.

Step Four: Position and Level

Move the assembled base into its final position before the mattress goes on, because it is much lighter to shift at this stage. Castors make this straightforward on carpet, though you should lift rather than drag on wood or laminate.

Check for rocking by pressing each corner in turn. A base that rocks usually has one castor not fully seated, or is sitting on an uneven floor. If the floor is the issue, a thin packer under the short castor solves it.

Allow a small gap between the base and the wall if the headboard is fitted, so the headboard is not pressed forward. Felt bumpers on the back of the headboard prevent it marking the wall.

Step Five: Fit the Mattress

Lay the mattress squarely on the base with any label at the foot end unless the instructions say otherwise. Many modern mattresses are single sided with a defined top face, so check before you position it.

Leave a new mattress to air for a few hours before making the bed up, particularly foam and hybrid types that have been compressed for delivery. Let it recover its full shape before you sleep on it.

Add a mattress protector before the sheet. It is the least expensive way to extend the life of the mattress and keeps any guarantee intact. Our modern mattresses UK sale listings state the recommended care for each construction.

Common Problems and Fixes

If the two halves will not meet flush, check for a castor fitted into the wrong socket or packaging trapped between the sections. If the headboard sits crooked, loosen both bolts, realign and retighten alternately. If the base creaks in use, the linking bars are the usual cause: refit them and check every castor is fully home.

If a castor keeps falling out, the socket may have widened. A layer of tape around the castor stem takes up the slack, though a replacement socket is the proper repair.

Divans with drawers need a final check that the drawers open fully without catching the carpet. If they do catch, raising the base slightly with taller glides usually solves it. For rooms where drawers cannot open due to lack of floor space, a lift up base is the better format, and our modern ottoman beds UK sale range offers that alternative.

Once the bed is in, the rest of the room follows. You will find coordinating bedside cabinets and wardrobes across the collections at Furniture in Fashion, and our modern bedroom furniture sets UK keep the finishes consistent if you are starting from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to assemble a divan bed?

Twenty to thirty minutes with two people. The bases arrive built, so the work is limited to fitting castors, joining the halves and bolting on the headboard.

Do you need two people to assemble a divan?

It is much easier with two, particularly when holding the headboard in place while starting the bolts. One person can manage a single or small double, but larger sizes are awkward alone.

Which way round do divan base halves go?

Either way for most plain bases, but check the position of the headboard bolt inserts and any drawer fronts first. On drawer divans the drawers must face into the room.

Should I fit castors or glides?

Castors make the bed easy to move for cleaning and suit carpet. Glides give a more stable feel and stop the bed drifting. On hard floors, add felt discs to whichever you choose.

Why do the two halves of my divan keep separating?

The linking bars are almost certainly not seated correctly, or only one has been fitted. Both must be in place and fully engaged to hold the base square.