Upgrade Your Basic Box Spring Cover with These Clever Ideas

All box springs deserve a cover. Not only do they help keep out dust and allergens, but they also protect against normal wear and tear and can help extend the overall lifetime and quality of your mattress. What's more, a box spring cover is an easy way to add another layer of style to your bed as a whole. That said, store-bought box spring covers, especially the attractive ones, rarely come cheap. Options available in stores generally cost you anywhere from $50 and $250, which is a steep price to pay for something that simply covers an element of your bed. Luckily, there are ways to dress up your box spring that don't require a trip to the store. Here are two DIY alternatives you can make in just a few hours.

Use a Fitted Sheet

If you want to dress up your bed but find the options readily available on the market a little too boring, consider slipping a fitted sheet over your box spring (as pictured here) for a more interesting look. You can repurpose one that's already hiding in your linen closet or find an affordable, neutral option at your local home goods store. For a streamlined look, use a sheet that matches those on the bed. If you want to offset the rest of your bedding, cover the box spring with a fitted sheet in either a matching pattern or contrasting hue. No matter which direction you choose to go in, using a fitted sheet means you have far more options available to you than if you were to purchase a standard box spring cover.

Make Your Own Using a Flat Sheet

While a fitted bed sheet may be a more low-maintenance option, you can also create a box spring cover using a flat sheet and some upholstery pins. We love how DIYer Carrie Spalding of Lovely Etc. came up with this easy method, which makes good use of a bedding element that many homeowners leave sitting in their linen closets. The best part? Transforming a flat sheet into a box spring cover can be done in less than an hour and requires just those two items. If you don't have any flat sheets on hand, look to old duvet covers or even fabric shower curtains to double as your cover. Anything that has finished seams should do the trick.