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Furniture

Cabin Bed

This adorable twin sized cabin bed is perfect for transitioning your child from a toddler bed to a big kid bed!

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Difficulty
Intermediate
Time
4.8–9.5 hours
Cost
$$$$

About this build

This adorable twin sized cabin bed is perfect for transitioning your child from a toddler bed to a big kid bed! The bed is designed like a house and is perfect for a kid's bedroom! The build incorporates pocket hole joinery to assemble. Measurements / plans can be found under the "Extras" tab below.

Tools

Essential

  • Brad Nailer
  • Circular Saw
  • Drill / Driver
  • Hammer
  • Impact Driver
  • Jigsaw
  • Miter Saw
  • Pocket Hole Jig
  • Random Orbit Sander
  • Table Saw

Optional / nice to have

  • Combination Square
  • Tape Measure

Materials

ItemQty
Board, 2x4 96"13 board
Select Pine, 1x2 96"3 board
Plywood, 3/4" Thick Full Sheet3 board
Primed Pine, 1x3 96"2 board
Primed Pine, 1x4 96"3 board
Primed Pine, 1x2 96"8 board
Fence Pickets, 1x6 96"12 board
1 1/4" 15 GA Finish Nails1000 each
Wood Glue1 each
1" 15 GA Finish Nails50 each
Paint Brush1 each
4 Inch Paint Roller & Cover1 each
Quart White Paint1 each
Quart Gray Paint1 each
Gallon Primer1 each
1 1/2" Kreg Pocket Hole Screws100 each
2 1/2" Kreg Pocket Hole Screws50 each
Kreg Pocket Hole Wood Plugs100 each
80 grit sandpaper (for orbital)1 each
150 grit sandpaper (for orbital)1 each

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.

Cut list

PartQtyT × W × L
Plywood Sheets for Side Panels23/4" × 39" × 53"
Outside perimeter trim on edges for side panels43/4" × 3" × 49"
Outside perimeter trim on top of side panels43/4" × 3" × 24"
Outside perimeter trim on bottom of side panels23/4" × 3" × 39"
Window trim top and bottom for side panels83/4" × 1" × 22"
Window ledge for side panels23/4" × 1" × 22"
Inside trim board and batten on side panel under window83/4" × 1" × 13"
Short inside trim board and batten on side panel above window43/4" × 1" × 14"
Long inside trim board and batten on side panel above window43/4" × 1" × 18"
Window trim side for side panels83/4" × 1" × 17"
Side panel edge supports41" × 3" × 62"
Roof support pieces21" × 3" × 22"
Cedar fence pickets for roof panels125/8" × 5" × 80"
Ledger boards (sides)23/4" × 1" × 69"
Ledger boards (head & foot)23/4" × 1" × 36"
Slats for mattress platform31" × 3" × 39"
Plywood sheet for back panel13/4" × 8" × 73"
Top and bottom support on back panel21" × 3" × 73"
Support beams for assembling bed and attaching panels31" × 3" × 73"

What to buy

Buy 40 boards at 8 ft.

1" × 3"

11 boards

3/4" × 39"

2 boards

3/4" × 8"

1 board

3/4" × 3"

5 boards

3/4" × 1"

9 boards

5/8" × 5"

12 boards

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 →

Start building →

Instructions

  1. 1Cut & assemble side panels

    • Cut 2 side panels out of 3/4 inch plywood with table saw & jig saw.
    • Cut hole for window in each side panel with jig saw.
    • Cut all trim pieces to size and attach as shown in plans with wood glue and finish nails.
    Cabin Bed — step photo 8
  2. 2Cut & assemble back panel

    Cut back panel out of 3/4 inch plywood and attach 2x4 to top and bottom with pocket hole joinery.

    Cabin Bed — step photo 9
  3. 3Add supports to side panels

    Cut 2x4s down to size with 30 degree angle cut at top. Add 2x4 supports to edges of side panels with pocket hole joinery.

    Cabin Bed — step photo 10
  4. 4Build roof panels

    • Build roof panels out of cedar fence pickets stacked horizontally with 4 1/4 inch reveals.
    • Attach together with nails.
    • Once built, spray clear sealant on to seal the wood since these will not be painted.
    Cabin Bed — step photo 11
  5. 5Build roof support

    Build a "V shaped" support piece with 30 degree angled cuts and attach together with pocket hole joinery. This will be added to the middle of the bed under the roof pickets for support.

    Cabin Bed — step photo 12
  6. 6Assemble side & back panels

    Connect the two side panels with 3 total 2x4 supports on each corner edges of the roof and front bottom corners of the panels with pocket hole joinery.

    Cabin Bed — step photo 13
  7. 7Build bed platform

    • There is a 1x2 ledger board added to the inside edges to help support the plywood sheet, which will serve as a the platform for the mattress. The ledger board will be screwed at the very bottom of the panels.
    • Build bottom bed platform with 3 total 2x4 supports attached with pocket hole joinery. Lastly cut a piece of 3/4 plywood down to size and lay on top of ledger boards and 2x4 supports to create platform for mattress.
    • Attach with finish nails.
    Cabin Bed — step photo 14
  8. 8Glue in pocket hole plugs

    Attach pocket hole plug with wood glue to pocket holes in back panel and side panels for a finished look.

    Cabin Bed — step photo 15
  9. 9Prime and paint

    Prime and paint all pieces with paint of choice. We used Falling Snow for the white and Graphic Charcoal for the trim by Behr Paint.

    Cabin Bed — step photo 16
  10. 10Fill nail holes &sand

    Fill nail holes with wood filler and sand to a smooth finish with orbital sander and 80 grit followed by 150 grit sandpaper.

    Cabin Bed — step photo 17

Tags

  • Bed Frames
  • Intermediate

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