This beautiful farmhouse bed can be made for just a fraction of the cost to buy - all from standard, off the shelf lumber! You won't need a pocket hole jig or any special tools to build.
This bed has been built thousands of times and is a reader favorite. You can also find the twin version, king version, and all our farmhouse bed plans here.
Preparation
12 - 2x4 8 feet long
2 - 2x6 8 feet long
2 - 1x10 8 feet long
2 - 4x4 8 feet long
1 - 2x2 8 feet long
6 - 1x6 8 feet long
4 - 1x4 8 feet long
100 - 1-1/4" long brad nails
75 - 2-1/2" long self tapping wood screws
HEADBOARD CUT LIST
2 - 4x4 @ 54"
2 - 2x2 @ 30"
11 - 1x6 @ 30"
2 - 1x4 @ about 60-1/2" - measure and cut to fit
1 - 2x4@ 67-1/2" - measure and cut to fit
1 - 2x6 @ 69-1/2" - measure and cut to fit
FOOTBOARD CUT LIST
2 - 4x4 @ 21"
2 - 2x2 @ 8"
2 - 2x2 @ 3"
11 - 1x6 @ 15"
2 - 1x4 @ about 60-1/2" - measure and cut to fit
1 - 2x4@ 67-1/2" - measure and cut to fit
1 - 2x6 @ 69-1/2" - measure and cut to fit
MATTRESS SUPPORT FRAME/SIDERAILS
3 - 2x4 @ 83-1/2"
1 - 2x4 @ 60-1/2"
2 - 2x4 @ 12-1/2"
2 - 1x10 @ 80"
20 - 2x4 @ 32" - can be as short as 30" if you need to burn up scraps
Cut all boards except as noted to measure and cut. We recommend using a compound miter saw for the straightest cuts, but you can also use a circular saw and a carpenter's square - just make sure your cut ends are nice and straight.
Instructions
Step 1
Attach the longest 2x2s to the longest 4x4s, flush to the back edge with 2-1/2" self tapping screws.
Step 2
Layout the 30" 1x6 boards flat, side by side. Measure the overall width of all the 1x6 boards. Cut two 1x4s to this measurement.
Nail the 1x6 boards with glue to the 1x4s. Apply glue between the 1x6 boards as you go.
Make sure the panel is built square by measuring opposite diagonals (outside top corner of 1x4 to outside bottom corner of opposite 1x4) and adjusting so the opposite diagonals match.
Step 3
Attach the headboard panel to the 2x2s on the legs with 2-1/2" screws. Only screw to the headboard panel at the top and bottom portion backed by the 1x4s.
Also attach the panel from the front 1x6s to the 2x2s with 1-1/4" brad nails.
Step 4
Measure and cut the 2x4 for the top. Attach with 2-1/2" screws.
Step 5
Repeat steps for the 2x6 top, leaving a 1" overhang on all four sides.
This completes the headboard build.
Step 6
The footboard is constructed exactly as the headboard, with the exception of the 2x2 cleats and the overall height.
Attach the 2x2 cleats with 2-1/2" screws. The smaller cleat may split on you since the wood piece is so small. You can predrill holes to help prevent wood from splitting.
Step 7
Build the panel and attach to the 2x2 cleats.
Step 8
Attach top 2x4 and 2x6 to the footboard with 2-1/2" screws.
Step 9
Attach the 2x4 cleat to the footboard, set in the 2x2 cleats, resting on the bottom cleat. Use 2-1/2" screws to attach the 2x4 to the 4x4 legs.
Mark the headboard legs as shown in the diagram, and attach 2x4 cleat to the 4x4 legs with 2-1/2" screws.
Step 10
Use 2-1/2" screws to attach the headboard support between the cleats.
Step 11
Center legs add a ton of support and strength to the bed.
First attach the shorter 2x4 "legs" to the center 2x4. Then place the center 2x4 in place inside the bed, and attach to the footboard and the headboard 2x4.
Step 12
Measure and cut to fit the 1x10 siderails.
Attach with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue.
NOTE: If you find your 1x10s need to be attached at the top, you can buy small L brackets and use to attach
Step 13
Cut the wood slats from remaining 2x4s and set inside the bed with about a 1/2" gap in between each slat. You only need one screw on the siderail cleat to attach - but you can also add screws to the center support.
Comments
Anonymous (not verified)
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 21:12
what kind of chisel did you
what kind of chisel did you use on between the boards?
Ana White (not verified)
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 09:04
No chisel - I actually used a
No chisel - I actually used a flat bladed screwdriver and scraped the paint between all the boards in the panel to add some depth.
Leslie (not verified)
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 07:20
Sorry I am a bit confused how
Sorry I am a bit confused how to make the box spring work with this bed. It I do 2 X 6 joists my box spring is going to sit about 4 inches above the side rails. Can I use 2 x 4's instead or will that make the bed not strong enough? Also, my box spring is 60 inches wide and the joists are only 57. From side to side of my 4x4s there is 60 inches. I really should have premeasured the box spring, but this is my first project and do not really know what i am doing. I have already built the headboard. Any ideas how to fix this without starting completely over. I would like to hide as much of my box spring as possible since I wont be able to use the dust ruffle anymore.
Thanks for all your plans, I am loving this, hopefully I will start to figure out what I am doing though!
Leslie (sorry I saw afterwords you want them on the blog, not email)
Sabrina (not verified)
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 16:36
Also wondering about the 4
Also wondering about the 4 1/2 inch screw. Do you mean lag screws?
Lauren (not verified)
Mon, 02/15/2010 - 03:15
Hi Ana!I just have a
Hi Ana!
I just have a question...
I'm going to start the bed today and it's my first project(so excited!)
I was wondering when you use the brad gun and glue to attach parts of the headboard together, do you have to clamp it? I'm a beginner and am not sure when/if clamping is needed...
Thank you!!
Sabrina (not verified)
Mon, 02/15/2010 - 08:01
Lauren, my husband is almost
Lauren, my husband is almost finished with our bed, and he didn't clamp anything while he glued/nailed. He said the only thing he thinks you would need to clamp is if you didn't find 4x4's and used 2 2x4s, you'd probably need to clamp those. But we had no problem finding the 4x4's at our home depot.
Anonymous (not verified)
Fri, 02/19/2010 - 10:40
WOW! Thank you SO MUCH for
WOW! Thank you SO MUCH for posting this WONDERFUL plan. I tried to make my own plans on Google Sketch-Up and gave up in frustration, but I am SO THANKFUL to have something to build for my wife on a limited budget that looks so phenomenal! Thank you, thank you!
Karianne (not verified)
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 08:10
I am thinking of building
I am thinking of building just the headboard for this bed. Can I bolt the headboard onto our metal bed frame? How would that best work?
sunflowerlin (not verified)
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 20:39
OH MY GOODNESS! I LOVE this
OH MY GOODNESS! I LOVE this bed :D Can you please inform me when you get the plans/dimensions for the king size version because I would love to take a crack at it!
Loving all of your blog, one day when we have a little income, I am going to build a lot of furniture pieces and you will definitely be a HUGE resource!
Thanks!
sun_flower_lin (at) hotmail (dot) com
lorchick @ ON{… (not verified)
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 16:49
Hi Ana, I've been following
Hi Ana, I've been following your blog for a few months and you're just so inspiring to me! My next giftie from my husband is going to be a compound mitre saw. He's absolutely delighted that I want a tool that he wants too ;)
For now, though, I just fired an email off to my dad, who has all the woodworking tools one could want, and asked him if he can help me build this farmhouse bed for my hubby for his birthday (in may). I couldn't pick a countersink bit out of a lineup a few weeks ago, but hopefully by May I'll be tossing around carpentry terms like a pro ;) Thanks for your inspiration! (I've also linked to your blog from my sidebar for a while now, too!)