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Furniture

Twin Bed with Storage

Step-by-step build — 23 steps. Also available as a print sheet.

  1. 1Prepare Footboard 1x4s

    Begin constructing the footboard by making pocket holes (set for 3/4" thick material) on the back face of the footboard 1x4s.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 2
  2. 2Join Headboard 1x4s to Posts

    Begin constructing the headboard by making pocket holes (set for 3/4" thick material) on the back face of the headboard 1x4s. Attach headboard 1x4s to headboard posts with 1-1/4" coarse pocket hole screws at the positions shown. The front face of the headboard 1x4s should be flush to the front face of the headboard posts.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 3
  3. 3Construct Bed Storage Area

    Construct the Bed Storage Area by making pocket holes (set for 3/4" thick material) on the bed storage area sides. Attach with 1-1/4" coarse pocket hole screws to the bed storage area top and bottom pieces.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 4
  4. 4Build Drawer Boxes

    Construct six drawer boxes from 3/4" plywood. Make pocket holes (set for 3/4" thick material) in the drawer box front and back pieces and join with 1-1/4" coarse pocket hole screws. Remember to adjust the size of the two center drawer boxes if your plywood is less than 3/4, leaving you with a center opening larger than 24". The width of each finished drawer box should be one inch less than the width of the opening, to give room for 1/2" drawer slides on either side.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 5
  5. 5Make Drawer Faces

    Cut drawer face and drawer face vertical and horizontal panel pieces. Attach drawer face panel pieces to drawer faces with wood glue and clamps.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 6
  6. 6Finishing

    • Finish the bed as desired. If desired, add edge-banding along the edges of exposed plywood drawers.
    • Sand.
    • Prime.
    • Paint.
  7. 7Putting it all together

    • Remove the drawers from the bed storage area compartments. Bring all bed pieces (footboard, headboard, six drawers and two bed storage areas) to the room where the bed will be.
    • Set the headboard and footboard in place.
    • Clamp both bed storage areas to the footboard and headboard posts, set 3" above the floor. Use lag screws to attach the storage area compartments to the headboard and footboard. Drive 3" lag screws into the headboard/footboard posts, and 2" lag screws into the the 2x4 headboard/footboard supports.
    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 7
  8. 8Join Footboard 1x4s to Posts

    Attach footboard 1x4s to footboard posts with 1-1/4" coarse pocket hole screws at the positions shown. The front face of the footboard 1x4s should be flush to the front face of the footboard posts.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 8
  9. 9Footboard Plywood

    Make eight pocket holes (set for 3/4" thick material) on the back face of the footboard plywood. Evenly space four holes on both the left and right sides. Attach with 1-1/4" coarse pocket hole screws directly behind the footboard 1x4s.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 9
  10. 102x4 Footboard Supports

    Make pocket holes on the 2x4 footboard supports (set for 1-1/2" thick material), then attach to the footboard posts with 2-1/2" coarse pocket hole screws. These should be attached flush to the back face of the footboard posts.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 10
  11. 11Attach Footboard 2x4 Cap

    Attach the 2x4 footboard cap to the footboard using 3" wood screws, into four pre-drilled, countersunk holes (two per side).

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 11
  12. 12Attach Footboard 2x6 Cap

    Attach the 2x6 Footboard Cap to the footboard using 3" wood screws, into four pre-drilled, countersunk holes (two per side). Be sure to offset the screws from the screws in the previous step. The 2x6 Footboard Cap should overhang 1" on all sides. *For even more stability, add wood glue to the underside of the 2x6 before screwing it into place.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 12
  13. 13Fill Footboard Holes

    Fill countersunk screw holes with wood filler, or appropriately sized dowels with wood glue.

  14. 14Headboard Plywood

    Make eight pocket holes (set for 3/4" thick material) on the back face of the headboard plywood. Evenly space four holes on both the left and right sides. Attach with 1-1/4" coarse pocket hole screws directly behind the headboard 1x4s.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 13
  15. 152x4 Headboard Supports

    Make pocket holes on the 2x4 headboard supports (set for 1-1/2" thick material), then attach to the headboard posts with 2-1/2" coarse pocket hole screws. These should be attached flush to the front face of the headboard posts.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 14
  16. 16Attach Headboard 2x4 Cap

    Attach the 2x4 headboard cap to the headboard using 3" wood screws, into four pre-drilled, countersunk holes (two per side).

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 15
  17. 17Attach Headboard 2x6 Cap

    Attach the 2x6 Headboard Cap to the headboard using 3" wood screws, into four pre-drilled, countersunk holes (two per side). Be sure to offset the screws from the screws in the previous step. The 2x6 headboard cap should overhang 1" on all sides. *For even more stability, add wood glue to the underside of the 2x6 before screwing it into place.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 16
  18. 18Add Bed Storage Area Dividers

    • Make pocket holes (set for 3/4" thick material) on the bed storage area dividers.
    • Attach to the bed storage area with 1-1/4" coarse pocket hole screws.
    • Attach so that the left and right openings are both 24." The middle opening will be 24-1/6" if your storage area dividers are true 3/4" plywood, but because most plywood is slightly less than 3/4", it may be slightly larger, and the dimensions of your center drawers will need to be adjusted in the next step.
    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 17
  19. 19Attach Drawer Bottom

    Attach a 1/4" plywood drawer bottom to each drawer using a nail gun with 18 gauge 1" nails.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 18
  20. 20Attach Drawers to Bed Storage Area

    Install 14" drawer slides in each of the six compartments. Install 1" from the front to allow room for the drawer face. Next, attach slides to drawers, then add drawers to the bed storage area.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 19
  21. 21Attach Drawer Faces

    Attach drawer faces to drawers using screws from inside the drawer box. There should be 1/8" gap between the drawer face and all sides.

    Twin Bed with Storage — step photo 20
  22. 22Fill Headboard Holes

    Fill countersunk screw holes with wood filler, or appropriately sized dowels with wood glue.

  23. 23Add Knobs or Pulls

    Drill a hole into the center of each drawer and install drawer knobs or pulls.