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This is the foundation of the Hailey storage system: a twin bed that rides on two long cubby benches, so the entire space under the mattress becomes open storage (perfect for fabric bins) instead of dead air. Add the matching towers, hutch, or daybed arms and it grows into a whole bedroom set. On its own it's a sturdy, storage-packed twin.
The benches are simple 1x12 boxes divided into cubbies — keep the middle cubby centered and space the rest to suit your bins — trimmed in 1x2 and backed in 1/4" plywood. Reinforce by fastening the top and bottom trim into the cubby dividers, not just the ends. The signature detail is ripping the 2x4 headboard and footboard legs down to 3" wide (1/4" off each edge) for crisp square faces; that needs a table saw and every panel dimension assumes it, so don't skip it. Taper the footboard legs to match the clearance under the benches.
Two real-world notes the plan makes. Children have accidents, so the mattress needs to breathe — rather than a solid platform, cut a pile of slats to fit the gap between the two benches (measure it, since 1x12 widths vary) and screw them down spaced apart. And the end cubbies are ideal for fabric bins or even a nightstand; if you'd rather hide them, they're easy to fit with doors. Assemble by screwing the headboard and footboard to the benches — the result is extremely sturdy.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12 board, 8 ftBench tops/bottoms and dividers. Or a plywood sheet ripped to 11-1/2" strips. | 4 each |
| 1x2 board, 8 ftLegs, trim, cleats. | 12 each |
| 1/4" plywood or hardboard, 4x8 sheetBench backs. | 1 each |
| 3/4" particle board, half sheetHeadboard and footboard panels. | 1 each |
| 1x3 board, 8 ftHeaders and slats. | 3 each |
| 2x4 board, 8 ftHead/footboard legs, ripped to 3". | 2 each |
| Screws and finish nails, 1-1/4" and 2" | 100 each |
| Wood glue and filler | 10 oz |
| Paint or finish | 24 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bench top/bottom1x12 | 4 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 75" |
| Dividers1x12 | 5 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 13 1/2" |
| Legs1x2 | 8 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 18" |
| Top/bottom trim1x2 | 8 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 72" |
| Backs1/4" plywood | 2 | 1/4" × 15" × 75" |
| Headboard panel3/4" particle board | 1 | 3/4" × 30 1/4" × 33" |
| Footboard panel3/4" particle board | 1 | 3/4" × 15" × 33" |
| Headers1x3 | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 39" |
| Panel trim1x2 | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 33" |
| Footboard legs2x4Ripped to 3" wide. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3" × 18" |
| Headboard legs2x4Ripped to 3" wide. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3" × 48 1/4" |
| Cleats1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 75" |
| Slats1x3Approximate — measure the gap between benches and cut to fit. | 14 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 13" |
Buy 26 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
1 board
1 board
5 boards
Build a simple box out of 1x12s for each bench, placing the cubbies at any spacing but keeping the middle cubby centered. Build two benches. Finish nails or pocket holes both work.
Add the 1x2 legs, tops and outsides flush. Trim out the tops and bottoms, securing the trim to the cubby dividers too for strength. Then tack 1/4" plywood to the backs with 1-1/4" finish nails and glue.
Rip 1/4" off each side of the 2x4s so they're 3" wide. Build the headboard panel with the ripped legs, headers, and panel trim. Taper the legs slightly if you like the look.
Build the footboard the same way, tapering its legs first to match the clearance under the benches. Attach the headers with 2" finish nails and glue.
Assemble the bed by screwing the headboard and footboard to the two benches with 2" screws. Measure the gap between the benches (1x12 widths vary), cut a pile of 1x3 slats to fit, and screw them down spaced apart so the mattress can breathe. Fill, sand, and finish.
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3 boards
12 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 →