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A low farmhouse toddler bed sized for a crib mattress, with planked headboard and footboard panels and an optional arched header. All 1x boards.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headboard center panel | 6 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 18 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Headboard panel sides | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 18 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Headboard bottom trim Cut 2 if not doing an arch. | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 26" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Headboard header Arch to taste; use a 1x2 if not arching. | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 26" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Headboard inside legs | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 18 1/2" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Headboard full legs | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 30" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Headboard top of panel/legs | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 29" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Headboard top cap | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 30" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Headboard inside bottom legs | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 6" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Footboard center panel | 6 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 9" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Footboard panel sides | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 9" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Footboard trim | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 26" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Footboard legs | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 15" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Footboard top of panel/legs | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 29" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Footboard top cap | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 30" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Side rails | 2 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 54 1/2" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Endplate | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 26" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Cleats | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 53 1/2" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Slats | 18 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 26" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1x2, 8 ft (Pine) Legs, trim, cleats, slats. | 10 each | ☐ |
| 1x3, 8 ft (Pine) Panel side pieces and top pieces. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x4, 8 ft (Pine) Center panel boards. | 2 each | ☐ |
| 1x6, 8 ft (Pine) Header, side rails, endplate. Adjust if not cutting an arch. | 2 each | ☐ |
| Wood screws, 2" | 40 each | ☐ |
| Wood screws, 1-1/4" | 30 each | ☐ |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 120 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 8 oz | ☐ |
| Wood putty | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, 1x3, 8 ft, 1x4, 8 ft, Brad nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Fasten the 1x4 center panel boards to the bottom trim piece, using 1-1/4" nails and glue. Add the 1x3 side pieces to frame the field. This is the planked panel that forms the middle of the headboard.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, Wood screws, 2", Brad nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Fasten the inside leg pieces to the sides of the center panel with 2" screws, into the header and bottom trim and the side panel pieces. Then nail the full outside leg pieces onto the inside legs with 1-1/4" nails, using 2" nails into the header and bottom trim where there's enough backing. Building the legs up in two layers makes them read solid.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Jigsaw. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, 1x3, 8 ft, 1x6, 8 ft, Brad nails, 1-1/4"
Fasten the top piece across the headboard with 2" nails, measuring and cutting to fit, and add the top cap. Arch the 1x6 header with a jigsaw if you want the arched look, or leave it square with a 1x2. Add the inside bottom leg pieces.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, 1x3, 8 ft, 1x4, 8 ft, Wood screws, 2", Brad nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Build the footboard panel exactly as you built the headboard panel — 1x4 field, 1x3 sides, trim — then attach the inside legs with screws, the outer legs with nails, and cap the top. It's the same sequence at a shorter height.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Jigsaw. Materials: 1x6, 8 ft, Brad nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue
Measure your 1x6 to confirm it's exactly 5-1/2" wide, then notch the leg bottoms for the side rails per the diagram. Getting the notch to match the actual rail width is what lets the rails seat flush. Fasten with 1-1/4" nails and glue.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x6, 8 ft, Wood screws, 2", Wood screws, 1-1/4"
Fasten the side rails to the endplate with 2" screws, then fasten the endplate to the footboard with 1-1/4" screws, and tie the rails to the headboard. This forms the bed frame between the two ends.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: 1x2, 8 ft, Wood screws, 1-1/4", Brad nails, 1-1/4", Wood glue, Wood putty
Fasten the 1x2 cleats to the inside of the side rails with glue and 1-1/4" nails. Lay the 18 slats across the cleats and screw them down — screwing (not just resting) the slats keeps an active toddler from kicking them loose. Fill nail holes, sand every edge round, and finish with a kid-safe finish.