Farmhouse Storage Bed with Drawers

Drill two pocket holes on each end of the 1x4 rails and attach them to the 4x4 posts with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws and glue, keeping the front edges flush.

Drill 3/4" pocket holes on the sides and top of each plywood panel. Glue the back edges of the 1x4 rails on the headboard, attach the panel assembly to the 4x4 legs with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, then secure the plywood panel to the 1x4s with 1-1/4" screws or nails.

Drill two 1-1/2" pocket holes on each end of the 2x4 bottom supports and attach to the 4x4 legs with 2-1/2" pocket hole screws and glue.

Attach the top 2x4 support through the pre-drilled pocket holes in the headboard panel with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, then cap it with the 2x6 top rail using 2" or longer fasteners and glue — center it for a 1" overhang on all sides.

If you're staining this project, edge-band the front edges of all 3/4" plywood pieces now — plywood edge grain drinks stain unevenly and reads as a stripe if left bare.

Build the storage boxes from 3/4" plywood, and take real care making them square: a drawer will not slide smoothly in a box that racks even slightly. If your drill can't fit inside to drive a second set of pocket holes, nail that side instead with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue. Attach the 1/4" plywood back with 3/4" brad nails and glue.

Measure the actual opening in your assembled storage box. If it isn't 24" wide, adjust the drawer box dimensions to match — don't build to the plan number over the real opening.

Build the drawer boxes with the pocket holes on the outside faces, where they'll be hidden by the drawer face in a later step.

Install the drawer boxes in the storage box, inset 3/4" from the outside face.

Attach the drawer face to the drawer box with an even 1/8" gap on all four sides, then add the 1/4" hobby-stock trim around the face if you want the paneled look.

Attach the storage boxes to the headboard and footboard. Where a box meets the footboard, you may need to place shims between them to keep everything aligned and square.

Sand the whole bed, fill any visible fastener holes, and finish before the mattress goes in.