DIY Storage bed with drawers, covered in scrap wood pieces. You can use pallet wood or any scrap wood, or use regular drawer faces for a more refined finish.
This plan is also available in a King version.
Boy oh boy do I ever have a treat for you today!!!
It's been terrible keeping this one for you - but I really wanted to share this project during March, while we have the #GetBuilding2015 #ScrapWorkLove social media share and inspire contest going on!
Here's a project that might just make you save every single little scrap piece of wood!
This amazing bed was actually built by my friend Brandy.
Brandy had some time off from work this winter, and asked me to help her build a storage bed with drawers.
So I drew up a really simple plan, with just plywood boxes covered in wood face frames and trim.
But when it came time to cover up that plywood and those drawer faces, Brandy and I came up with the idea of using scrap wood, kinda like "siding" on the bed.
Brandy took scrap wood frm my scrap wood bin and fit them together on the side panels. I love how she used different depths and types of wood - just whatever was there, and whatever could fit.
Once all the pieces were fit in place, she then glued each piece,
And then nailed the pieces on to the side panels of the bed.
This was the first panel Brandy did. We both LOVED it so much, we decided to do the drawers too!
After coating the ENTIRE bed with a coat of light stain (try Rustoleum Golden Oak), Brandy when over select pieces with a slightly darker stain (try Rustoleum Early American or Light Walnut), and then a few more in an even darker stain (try Rustoleum Dark Walnut or Kona).
Isn't it breathtaking?
I actually asked Brandy if she would sell her bed to me. I sure did.
It is that crazy beautiful. I was having a hard time parting with it.
Even the little children running around the house playing while we were photographing the bed all came over to admire it. They ooohed and ahed, even as young as five years old, able to appreciate how beautiful this bed is!
And while Brandy wouldn't sell this bed to me, I am quite honored that she let me help her build it and I got to be part of such an amazing piece.
Scrap wood. Who would have thought?
The plans follow (if this is the homepage, click READ MORE below). We can't wait to see how you make your bed, so please share if you build!
XO Ana
Preparation
You will need to add pallet or scrap wood for the "siding" - drawer faces can also be 1x12s
- 2 full sheets of 3/4" plywood ripped into strips
- 15-3/4" wide (very important that all rips are the exact same width)
- 1 full sheet of 1/4" plywood (rip into strips 15-3/4" wide for drawer bottoms)
- 11 - 1x4 @ 8 feet long
- 4 - 1x3 @ 8 feet long (for slats)
- 4 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
- 2 - 1x8 @ 8 feet long (for drawer boxes)*
- 3 - 1x8 @ 10 feet long (for drawer boxes)*
- 6 - 16" Euro Drawer Slides (the white bottom corner mount ones)
- 6 knobs or handles
*Drawer boxes could also be made of plywood ripped into strips 7-3/4" wide (1/2" or 3/4") (could save money and would be more structurally sound and square than pine boards
END BENCH (for building 1 bench)
- 1 - 3/4" plywood @ 15-3/4" x 58-1/2""
- 3 - 3/4" plywood @ 15-3/4" x 15-3/4"
- 4 - 1x4 @ 28-1/8"
- 2 - 1x2 @ 16-1/2"
- 1 - 1x2 @ 57"
- 1 - 1x4 @ 57"
End Bench Drawers - Cut to fit opening and drawer slides
- 4 - 1x8 @ 15-3/4"
- 4 - 1x8 @ 25-5/8"
- 2 - 1/4" plywood @ 15-3/4" x 27-1/8"
SIDE BENCHES (for building 2 benches)
- 2 - 3/4" plywood @ 15-3/4" x 62-1/2""
- 6 - 3/4" plywood @ 15-3/4" x 15-3/4"
- 8 - 1x4 @ 30-1/8"
- 4 - 1x2 @ 16-1/2"
- 2 - 1x2 @ 61"
- 2 - 1x4 @ 61"
Side Bench Drawers - Cut to fit opening and drawer slides
- 8 - 1x8 @ 15-3/4"
- 8 - 1x8 @ 27-5/8"
- 4 - 1/4" plywood @ 15-3/4" x 29-1/8"
TIE-IN PIECES
- 4 - 1x4s or 1x3s @ 58-1/2"
- 2 - 1x4s or 1x3s @ 62-1/2"
- 12 - 1x3s @ 26-1/2" (can be any scrap wood or plywood)
Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!
Instructions
Step 1
END BENCH (BUILD ONE) - Attach the side panels and middle panel to the top plywood piece. Make sure that center piece is exactly centered (we used the 1x4 pieces from the next step as guides). Attach with pocket holes. We also drilled 3/4" pocket holes facing forward on the end panels (outside) and top panel (on top) for attach the face frame in later steps. Remember that the entire bed gets "sided" so place pocket holes on the outsides.
Step 2
END BENCH (BUILD ONE) - Tie in the bottoms of the bench with 1x4s. Keep pocket holes on outside for easy attaching and more strength.
Step 3
END BENCH (BUILD ONE) - Build the face frame separately, then attach the completed face frame to the bench. Insides will be flush on the sides, top will be flush to top, bottom 1x4 boards will match up. Use the pocket holes you drilled in earlier steps to attach at the top and sides. Nail to the bottom 1x4 board with 1-1/4" nails and glue.
Step 4
END BENCH (BUILD ONE) - Cover the end panel of the bench in wood boards. We used scrap wood but any wood can be used here. Nail and glue on.
Step 5
Step 6
Tie in the two side benches with 1x4s or 1x3s (we actually used scrap strips of plywood - anything will work here, these boards are just to keep the two benches lined up. We actually did this in the room after finishing the entire bed in the garage and then carrying all the pieces into the room for final assembly.
Step 7
The slats will rest on top of boards tied into the backs of the side benches. Consult your mattress for recommendation on slat spacing. We actually burned up lots of random sized scraps for the slat system.
Step 8
There's alot of drawers, so this is where much of the time and money was spent. We also built our drawers out of 1x10s so the front face would be easy to nail scraps too but that is an added cost. The measurements given are for the perfect build - make sure you measure each and every opening, and build to fit your drawer slides and openings. I actually number each drawer box and custom make to fit each opening.
I build drawers by placing 3/4" pocket holes on outsides of front and back and attach with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws. The pocket holes then get covered up by the drawer face.
Step 9
Install drawers inset 3/4" from face frame (or flush with front edge of plywood). To make installing drawers easier, I cut a spacer block and rest the drawer slides on top -
That way I knew all my drawer slides were installed at the same height, and it took alot of measuring and marking out of the build process.
Step 10
Finally, attach drawer faces to drawer boxes. The drawer slides will have some play, so make sure you attach with the drawer sitting upright (as pictured in the diagram). The openings are sized for 1x12s if you wanted to go that route. Leave about 1/8" gap around all sides of the drawers.
It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.
Comments
iyhyari
Fri, 04/15/2016 - 01:22
Full size plan
This is great, is there any way of getting a full size plan. I would love to do this for my sons room!!
reikidancer
Fri, 09/30/2016 - 06:08
Full size bed with feet?
Hi Anna,
I love your plans! Do you have plans for a full size version of this bed? Also, if I wanted to raise it up off the floor a little, to provide essentially a "toe kick" (yes, I stub my toes a lot on furniture), would I modify the plans to have plywood bottoms and then just add scrap wood "feet" to give me a few inched of toe "relief"?
Thanks,
Lisa
CruiseB
Mon, 12/19/2016 - 16:14
Box Springs
Do you need a box springs with this, or does the mattress go right on top of the frame?
daryl.woerz
Wed, 03/22/2017 - 05:22
Drawer bottoms
I am new to woodworking and really like your simple and straightforward plans. I am working on the Brandy scrap wood bed and just want to be sure I do it right. Could you tell me how are the drawer bottoms to be attached? Thanks and keep up the good work.
meustice
Wed, 08/21/2019 - 14:31
Full size plans
Wondering what would be the simplest way to convert these plans to a full size? Thank you and it is very beautiful.