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A planked 4x4-post farmhouse bed with a tall headboard and matching footboard, built as separate finished pieces and assembled in the bedroom.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headboard legs | 2 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 54" | Pine 4x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard cleats | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 30" | Pine 2x2 | ☐ |
| Headboard panel boards | 14 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 30" | Pine 1x6 | ☐ |
| Headboard panel frame Measure and cut to fit. | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 77" | Pine 1x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard top cap Measure and cut to fit. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 84" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard top trim Measure and cut to fit; 1" overhang all sides. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 86" | Pine 2x6 | ☐ |
| Footboard legs | 2 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 21" | Pine 4x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard cleats, long | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 8" | Pine 2x2 | ☐ |
| Footboard cleats, short Notched for the side-rail cleats. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 3" | Pine 2x2 | ☐ |
| Footboard panel boards | 14 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 15" | Pine 1x6 | ☐ |
| Footboard panel frame Measure and cut to fit. | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 77" | Pine 1x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard top cap Measure and cut to fit. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 84" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard top trim Measure and cut to fit; 1" overhang all sides. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 86" | Pine 2x6 | ☐ |
| Side rail mattress supports | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 83 1/2" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard tie-in Measure and cut to fit. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 77" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Center legs | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 12 1/2" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Side rail trim | 2 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 80" | Pine 1x10 or 2x10 | ☐ |
| Mattress slats Measure and cut to fit; can substitute 1x4s or ripped plywood. | 11 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 77" | Pine 2x4 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Pine, 4x4, 8 ft | 2 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x2, 8 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x6, 8 ft | 7 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x4, 8 ft | 4 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x6, 8 ft | 2 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 1x10 or 2x10, 8 ft | 2 each | ☐ |
| Pine, 2x4, 8 ft | 18 each | ☐ |
| L brackets, 1-1/2" wings | 2 each | ☐ |
| Straight brackets, 6" overall | 2 each | ☐ |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Self-tapping wood screws, 2-1/2" | 1 box | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 6 oz | ☐ |
| Sandpaper, assorted grit | 4 sheet | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x2, 8 ft
Attach 2x2 cleats flush to the back of the legs with 2-1/2" screws. Pocket hole users can skip this step and attach the panel frame directly to the legs instead.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Speed Square. Materials: Pine, 1x6, 8 ft, Pine, 1x4, 8 ft
Lay out the 1x6 headboard panel boards and measure the overall width. Cut 1x4 frame boards to this measurement. Attach the panel boards to the 1x4s with glue and 1-1/4" brad nails from the back side to hide nail holes, applying glue between each panel board. Check that the panel is square, not a parallelogram.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 4x4, 8 ft
Attach the panel to the 2x2 cleats with 2-1/2" screws and glue, plus a few 1-1/4" nails through the front side into the cleat where there's no 1x4 backing.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x6, 8 ft, Pine, 2x4, 8 ft
Measure the top overall width and cut a 2x4 to this width. Attach with glue and screws to the top of the headboard. Cut a 2x6 2" longer than the 2x4 and attach with a 1" overhang on all sides, using 2-1/2" screws and glue. This completes the headboard.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 4x4, 8 ft, Pine, 1x6, 8 ft, Pine, 1x4, 8 ft, Pine, 2x6, 8 ft, Pine, 2x4, 8 ft
Construct the footboard the same way as the headboard, with the addition of notching the shorter 2x2 cleats on the back so the side-rail cleats can notch in. Predrill the shorter 2x2s if they show signs of splitting.
Tools: Drill / Driver
Attach the side rail cleats inside the footboard and to the headboard legs with 2-1/2" screws. This completes the footboard. Consider painting or staining all the pieces now, before final assembly in the bedroom.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x4, 8 ft
Attach the headboard tie-in piece between the side-rail cleats.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 2x4, 8 ft
Build the center legs, spacing them about a third of the way down the bed's length — this doesn't need to be exact. Attach the center legs inside the bed at this spacing.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Pine, 1x10 or 2x10, 8 ft, Pine, 2x4, 8 ft, L brackets, 1-1/2" wings, Straight brackets, 6" overall
Attach the side rails to the side-rail cleats. Brackets are recommended at the top to secure the side rails to the headboard and footboard.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Pine, 2x4, 8 ft, Sandpaper, assorted grit
Cut the mattress slats and lay them about 4" apart across the bed. Screw down with 2-1/2" screws.
Sand every surface and finish.