Brandy Scrap Wood Storage Bed with Drawers (Queen)

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.