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A daybed is really three bed ends arranged in a U — two "footboards" for the sides and a matching back — so this plan builds on a basic bed frame rather than reinventing one. You construct two footboards from a simple bed plan, add a taller slatted back panel built the same way, and tie them together with a front rail. The mission look comes from the evenly-spaced vertical slats with spacer blocks between them.
The part that trips people up is that this is a modification, not a from-scratch cut list — the shopping and cut lists here are what you need in addition to a simple bed's lumber. Build the two footboards first, shortening the top 2x4 as noted, then the back panel, keeping the 3-1/2" overhang on the 2x4 top so the corners resolve cleanly.
Because it holds a twin mattress and doubles as seating, the joints carry real load. Predrill before driving the long screws — construction lumber splits at the ends exactly where these joints land — and check the whole thing is square and level before the last rail goes on.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x6, 8 ftFront rail, back, and mattress-support cleats. In addition to the base simple-bed lumber. | 4 each |
| 2x2, 8 ftMattress-support cleats. | 2 each |
| 1x3, 8 ftSlat spacers. | 2 each |
| 1x4, 8 ftRails / slats. | 3 each |
| 2x4, 8 ftTop of bed. | 1 each |
| Wood screws, 2-1/2" and 3"Predrill before driving — end grain in construction lumber splits. | 1 box |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 8 oz |
| Finish | 1 kit |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Back / front rail 2x62x6 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 74 1/2" |
| Back planks1x6From base simple-bed stock. | 3 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 74 1/2" |
| Slat spacers1x3Between the slats. | 26 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 5 1/2" |
| Rails / slats1x4 | 12 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 20 1/2" |
| Top of bed2x4Leave a 3-1/2" overhang on each end. | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 81 1/2" |
| Mattress-support cleats2x2 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 75 3/4" |
Buy 13 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
1 board
2 boards
3 boards
3 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 →
Construct two footboards from the simple bed plan this design builds on. The only change is the top piece — cut the 2x4 that finishes the top of each footboard shorter as noted, so it resolves against the back panel.
Build the taller back panel the same way you built the footboards' center slatted panel, noting the differences in slat count and height. Keep a 3-1/2" overhang on each end of the 2x4 top piece so the corners resolve with the side panels.
Construct the front rail from a 2x6 and a 2x2, leaving a 5/8" overhang on each end of the 2x2 and keeping the bottom edges flush. This rail spans the open front of the daybed.
Fasten the back panel to the two side panels with long screws, predrilling first to avoid splitting the end grain. Attach the front rail to the footboards. Add the 2x2 mattress-support cleats inside. Check the whole frame is square and level, then sand and finish.
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