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This is a genuine bunk bed built at 18"-doll scale, from four tall 1x2 corner posts joined by rails at both bed levels, with a ladder on one end and a guardrail on the open side of the top bunk — the same structural pieces a full-size bunk bed has, just sized for a nightstand instead of a bedroom.
Build the two end assemblies first, using a scrap piece of 1x material as a spacer to keep the rail-to-post joints consistent — the same trick a full-size furniture build uses, just at a scale where a slightly-off spacer is much more visible. A pocket-hole jig keeps every joint's screw holes hidden inside the frame; countersunk screws driven from the outside work too, but need to be filled or covered afterward.
Glue and clamp before nailing — at this scale, clamps do far more of the real work than they would on full-size furniture, since there's very little material to hold a nail's grip on its own. The floor slats are thin plywood or hardboard scrap, which is a good use for the leftover cutoffs from almost any other build in this catalog.
A nice finishing option, and the one the original build used: leave the bed unfinished and gift it that way, so the birthday recipient can do their own painting rather than receiving a finished piece.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x2, 8 ftCorner posts, rails, guardrail, and floor slats. | 4 each |
| 1x1, 8 ft (or ripped from a 1x2)Ladder rails, ladder cap, and guardrail posts. | 1 each |
| Scrap hardboard, 1/4" plywood, or other sheet goodsFloor slats or panel — any scrap qualifies. | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws or 2" countersunk screws | 40 each |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4" | 20 each |
| Wood glue | 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Corner posts1x2The four tall posts shared by both bed levels. | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 18" |
| Bed level rails1x2Front and back rails at both the lower and upper bed levels, plus the ladder-side top rail. | 6 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 19" |
| Guardrail rails1x2Open-side upper-bunk guardrail. | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 14" |
| Floor slats1x2Five per bed level, supporting the doll mattress. | 10 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 9 1/4" |
| Ladder rails1x1, 8 ft (or ripped from a 1x2) | 2 | 3/4" × 3/4" × 19" |
| Corner reinforcing cleats1x1, 8 ft (or ripped from a 1x2)Used as spacers/cleats during assembly per the source photos. | 2 | 3/4" × 3/4" × 19" |
| Ladder top cleat1x1, 8 ft (or ripped from a 1x2) | 1 | 3/4" × 3/4" × 18" |
| Guardrail posts1x1, 8 ft (or ripped from a 1x2) | 2 | 3/4" × 3/4" × 5 3/4" |
Buy 6 boards at 8 ft.
4 boards
2 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 →
Build the two end frames from the corner posts and bed-level rails, using a scrap piece of 1x material as a spacer to keep the rail spacing consistent between the two ends. Attach with a pocket-hole jig, or with countersunk 2" screws from the outside if you don't have one.
Join the two end assemblies together with the remaining bed-level rails, forming the full bunk frame.
Attach the guardrail on the ladder side of the top bunk with the guardrail rails and posts.
Position, glue, and clamp the corner reinforcing cleats in place, then nail with 1-1/4" finish nails — clamps matter more at this scale than on full-size furniture, since there's little material for a nail to grip on its own.
Cut the scrap plywood or hardboard into floor slats or a single panel and set into each bed level to support the doll mattress. Any clean scrap works here.
Sand every edge smooth. Finish with paint or stain, or gift the bed unfinished so the recipient can paint it themselves.
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