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A queen storage bed that's really three cabinets bolted into a platform: one bench at the foot and two along the sides, each carrying drawers, for six drawers of under-bed storage in total. The show surfaces are clad in reclaimed pallet or scrap wood, which is where the rustic look comes from and how the original kept the material cost down on the visible parts.
The single most important rule is up front: rip all your plywood strips to exactly 15-3/4" wide, every one identical. The whole bed's squareness depends on it — benches built from strips that vary by even 1/16" won't line up when you tie them together. Consider building the drawer boxes from plywood ripped to 7-3/4" rather than pine 1x8s; it's cheaper, squarer, and more stable, though 1x10 boxes make it easier to nail scrap faces onto.
Build each bench as its own unit — panels to top, tie the bottoms with 1x4s (pocket holes to the outside for strength), then a separate face frame attached to the front. Clad the exposed end panels in your scrap wood. Then tie the three benches together into the bed footprint, run slats across supports tied into the backs, and consult your mattress for slat spacing. Drawers go in set back 3/4" for the faces; a spacer block resting under each slide keeps all six drawers at a consistent height. Attach the faces last, with the drawer sitting upright so the slide play settles where it will in use.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Plywood, 3/4", 4x8 sheetRipped into 15-3/4"-wide strips — all rips exactly the same width. | 2 each |
| Plywood, 1/4", 4x8 sheetDrawer bottoms, ripped to 15-3/4". | 1 each |
| 1x4, 8 ftFace frames and tie-ins. | 11 each |
| 1x3, 8 ftSlats. | 4 each |
| 1x2, 8 ft | 4 each |
| 1x8, 8 ftDrawer boxes — plywood ripped to 7-3/4" is a cheaper, squarer alternative. | 2 each |
| 1x8, 10 ftDrawer boxes. | 3 each |
| Euro drawer slides, 16" bottom-mount (sets) | 6 each |
| Knobs or handles | 6 each |
| Pallet or scrap wood for siding and drawer facesReclaimed; drawer faces can also be 1x12s. | 1 each |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4" | 150 each |
| Wood glue | 16 oz |
Overall cost: $$$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| End bench top3/4" plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 58 1/2" |
| End bench panels3/4" plywood | 3 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 15 3/4" |
| End bench frame verticals1x4 | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 28 1/8" |
| End bench short rails1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| End bench long rail (1x2)1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 57" |
| End bench long rail (1x4)1x4 | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 57" |
| End drawer fronts/backs1x8Cut to fit opening and slides. | 4 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 15 3/4" |
| End drawer sides1x8Cut to fit. | 4 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 25 5/8" |
| End drawer bottoms1/4" plywood | 2 | 1/4" × 15 3/4" × 27 1/8" |
| Side bench tops3/4" plywood | 2 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 62 1/2" |
| Side bench panels3/4" plywood | 6 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 15 3/4" |
| Side bench frame verticals1x4 | 8 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 30 1/8" |
| Side bench short rails1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| Side bench long rails (1x2)1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 61" |
| Side bench long rails (1x4)1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 61" |
| Side drawer fronts/backs1x8Cut to fit. | 8 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 15 3/4" |
| Side drawer sides1x8Cut to fit. | 8 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 27 5/8" |
| Side drawer bottoms1/4" plywood | 4 | 1/4" × 15 3/4" × 29 1/8" |
| Tie-in pieces (long)1x41x4 or 1x3. | 4 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 58 1/2" |
| Tie-in pieces (cross)1x41x4 or 1x3. | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 62 1/2" |
| Slats1x3Any scrap wood or plywood; space per your mattress. | 12 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 26 1/2" |
Buy 30 boards at 8 ft.
4 boards
Building the foot (end) bench first: attach the side panels and middle panel to the top plywood piece, making sure the center panel is exactly centered — use the 1x4 face-frame pieces from the next step as spacers to locate it. All plywood must be your uniform 15-3/4" strips or the box won't be square.
Tie the bottom of the bench together with 1x4s. Keep the pocket holes on the outside — easier to drive and stronger.
Build the face frame separately, then attach the completed frame to the bench. The insides sit flush on the sides, the top flush to the top, and the bottom 1x4s align with the tie-ins.
Cover the exposed end panel of the bench in scrap or pallet boards — any wood works here. Nail and glue it on. Repeat the whole bench sequence for the two side benches.
Arrange the end bench and two side benches into the bed footprint and tie them together with 1x4s or 1x3s (scrap plywood strips work too — these just keep the benches aligned). It's easiest to do this with the benches positioned as they'll sit.
The slats rest on supports tied into the backs of the side benches. Run the slats across and space them per your mattress manufacturer's recommendation — random scrap of consistent thickness is fine for the slats themselves.
Build the six drawer boxes. This is where most of the time and money goes. Pocket-hole the boxes together and attach the plywood bottoms. Building boxes from 1x10 (or plywood ripped to width) gives a face that's easy to nail scrap onto, at a little added cost.
Install each drawer inset 3/4" from the face frame (or flush with the front edge of the plywood) on its 16" slides. A spacer block cut once and rested under each slide keeps all six drawers at the same height. Finally, attach the drawer faces with the drawer sitting upright so the slide play settles where it will in use, aiming for an even gap all around. Sand and finish.
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Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →