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Simple Daybed

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Submitted by Ana White on Tue, 12/22/2009 - 00:47
Difficulty
Intermediate
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This simple sturdy daybed can provide a solid sleeping space for your children or in your guest room. Featuring a classic slatted design, expect this bed to be very very sturdy, but also big and heavy.

Collections
Simple Bedroom Collection
Dimensions
Fits twin sized mattress

Preparation

Shopping List

In addition to the supplies needed for the Simple Bed, you will also need: 

2 - 2x6 @ 8 feet or stud length 
2 - 2x2 @ 8 feet 
2 - 2x6 @ 8 feet 
2 - 1x3 @ 8 feet 
3 - 1x4 @ 8 feet 
 1 - 2x4 @ 8 feet or stud length
Common Materials
Elmer's Wood Glue
Elmer's Wood Filler
120 grit sandpaper
primer
paint
paint brush
Cut List

1 – 2×6 @ 74 1/2″ (Shown in blue above) 

3 – 1×6@ 74 1/2″ (Shown in purple above) 
26 – 1×3 @ 5 1/2″ (Shown in white, spacers between the slats) 
12 – 1×4 @ 20 1/2″ (Rails, shown in green above) 
1 – 2×4 @ 81 1/2″ (Top of Bed, shown in white above) 
1 – 2×2 @ 75 3/4″ (Cleat for mattress supports, shown in white above) 
1 – 2×6 @ 74 1/2″ 
1 – 2×2 @ 75 3/4″
Cutting Instructions

This cut list is in addition to the two footboards required by the simple bed (see step 1).

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Drill
Circular Saw
Brad Nailer
Power Sander
Level

Instructions

Step 1

You will need to construct 2 footboards from the Simple Bed Plans. The only modifications you will need to make to the footboards is in the top piece, the 2×4 that finishes to top of the footboard. Cut this board at 42″ keep the front side flush with the front leg post. On the back side, keep the end edge of the 2×4 even with the end edge of the center panel of the footboard. This is shown above.
Review the plans for the Simple Bed here. You will first need to build (2) footboards, as directed in the plans for the Simple Bed.

Step 2

Next construct the back panel in the same manner as you constructed the center panel for the footboards. Take not of the differences shown above. Make sure you leave a 3 1/2″ overhang on either end of the 2×4 top piece.

Step 3

Construct the front rail piece, as shown above. You will need

1 – 2×6 @ 74 1/2″
1 – 2×2 @ 75 3/4″

Leave a 5/8″ overhang on either end of the 2×2. Keep bottom edges flush. Attach this piece to the footboards by first screwing through the 2×2 into the corner posts (make sure you predrill first. Then predrill and screw through the outside of the legs into the end edges of the 2×6.

The bottom edge of the side rail will sit 10 1/2″ up, or even with the bottom edge of the footboard center panel.

Step 4

Fasten with screws the back panel to the side panels. This is shown above. Use long screws and predrill before screwing.

Project Type
Daybed
Beds and Bed Frames
Room
Bedroom
Style
Children's and Kid's Room Furniture and Toy Plans

Comments

jeannet (not verified)

Wed, 11/10/2010 - 03:23

Oh, please post your daybed pics and share the materials and cut lists for the regular daybed and for your modified daybed, Lynn: I need a list to take to the lumberyard, but haven't had the patience to sit down and figure it all out!

Natalie (not verified)

Sat, 12/18/2010 - 15:10

I just finished building this and I am beyond excited! It was actually the first thing I've attempted to build out of wood (I've done a lot of tile work using finished wood pieces) since high school shop class and I couldn't be more proud of how it turned out.

I have to say that I got a little confused going back and forth between the three plans (I build the trundle as well) and that had me going back and forth to Home Depot more times than I'd like to admit but that's all on me. I also couldn't find affordable 4x4s. The only untreated ones I was able to find were cedar and were be $10 each. So I went ahead and made my own out of two 2x4s for $10 total. This added time and a little more effort to the overall building and had me switching around where I would have attached the 4x4s to bed because of the screws I used to make it but it all worked out in the end!

I love how sturdy this bed turned out to be and I'll echo the suggestion to either build it to disassemble or build it in sections then put it together in the room because it is HEAVY!

Thank you Ana!!!

hfitz1

Mon, 03/28/2011 - 09:10

Can I make this bed first, start to finish, then go back another time and add the trundle to it? Would I need to change the dimensions on the trundle at all or do they work well with this plan?

asroka

Tue, 05/17/2011 - 14:23

My boyfriend currently needs to rent out a spare room, and is thinking of putting bunks in. I have looked through all the bunk ideas... The simple ones could work, but I feel are a bit feminine for an adult boy's room, the other bunks can't separate, and there may not be enough room for the lofted bunk. So, my thinking. Does anyone think this daybed could be modified to be bunkable (and work with adults)??

I think building one with a trundle would be a good addition to the room, but I would like to think about the idea of just two "daybeds" that can stack or be separate. That way, since there's not much living area in this tiny house, they could also feel more like couches/normal seating if they were separate and less like beds.

Guest (not verified)

Mon, 08/22/2011 - 08:56

hello my buddy and I were going through your plans and stumbled across this one!!! I fell in love with it. we are now in the process of building this along with a trundle. We modified it a little by making a picket fence instead of the railing along the three sides. Also on the front of the trundle we added the fence, that way when it's all closed up it looks like a little pature for my daughters' stuffed animals. We modified the overall size to fit the room, so nothing fit but we made our own matresses and sheets along with blankets and smaller pillows. It's almost done and I can't wait to post it!!!

Guest (not verified)

Mon, 08/22/2011 - 08:56

hello my buddy and I were going through your plans and stumbled across this one!!! I fell in love with it. we are now in the process of building this along with a trundle. We modified it a little by making a picket fence instead of the railing along the three sides. Also on the front of the trundle we added the fence, that way when it's all closed up it looks like a little pature for my daughters' stuffed animals. We modified the overall size to fit the room, so nothing fit but we made our own matresses and sheets along with blankets and smaller pillows. It's almost done and I can't wait to post it!!!

Guest (not verified)

Thu, 10/13/2011 - 13:38

How could I make this fit a Queen size mattress? I just want to extend the frame out farther but also would need to make it wider to accomodate the 60x80 mattress. I don't want the 2 sides any bigger though. My girls sleep sideways on a queen and with a daybed, we could eliminate their side rails too and make it much more aesthetically appealing.

jane42

Wed, 01/06/2016 - 20:10

Hi Ana, 

I love this daybed and I want to start building it ASAP, but I'm an absolute beginner and I'm confused about exactly which parts of the simple bed plans I need to follow. I know it says here to make two footboards (instead of one plus a headboard), so do I just follow the ENTIRE simple bed plan or do I start in one place and stop in another? And then at which point in the simple bed plan does the daybed plan pick up? Do I need BOTH shopping/cut lists [omitting the headboard & doubling the footboard]? Probably very silly questions, but I want to make sure I do it right!