Farmhouse Bed for American Girl or 18" Dolls

This is very cute! I make porcelain French dolls. I am looking for
Victorian era reproduction doll beds, cradles, etc to make and or buy. You did a wonderful job with this tutorial. I will ask Home Depot about cutting
my required pieces as I do not have a saw that does accurate cutting. I think the store would cut the pieces for me as I buy them. I do have a drill, however.

I like this bed very much! I am a big fan of American Girl Dolls and have bought several for gifts, including one for myself. I want to make this for my Ruthie Doll!

I can't decide what I like more, the bed or the bedding!!! I plan on making my daughter the twin farmhouse soon and she will definitely be getting one of these to go with it! Thank you:)

thank you for sharing your plan and construction. I am going to get some wood today and my daughter (6) and I will work on it together this week end, it will be different of the sewing and crafting we usually do together.
I think you bed will turn out a lot better than the bunk bed I made last year....better planning and directions!
I also enjoy your post with the other doll furniture, more interesting idea!

Just "finished" this, though it's not painted yet. Very happy with the design - Molly brought the pillow over for a makeshift mattress, and has been lounging ever since. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VikfuS7uU9Jus5HUdDzD4VJD36mpn4zBEF…

I had to kick her out to take the picture.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xevdizw-8Xpn1qeHUxUvkVJD36mpn4zBEF…

Yes, she has whiskers and a pink nose.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sJHUuA1WqXI/TOb7IfMaYOI/AAAAAAAAF9g/iZRnuRcIVRc/s…

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sJHUuA1WqXI/TOb6E7zj-7I/AAAAAAAAF9Q/yd7nxLdih1g/s…

Love it! This is just what I was looking for. I've looked for doll bed plans and didn't like any that I found. One of my daughters just walked by and gasped, "Mommy, who is that for?!"

I refuse to pay the prices for AG doll accessories, so I sew their clothes, and this year for Christmas we are building some doll furniture. You are awesome as always!

I'm giving this to a friend to custom finish for her daughter, so I'm done with it. It is super sturdy and cute, as I suspected. http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sJHUuA1WqXI/TOb6E7zj-7I/AAAAAAAAF9Q/yd7nxLdih1g/s…

Ok, I have to make this for my daughter who is getting her first AG doll for Christmas......but I have never made anything like this before. FIrst question I have is, can I just nail and glue it together instead of screws and contersinking (which I cannot do, I bet!). And will Home depot cut all of these things for me? I just really don't even know when or where to start?! I would love some advice, thanks for the plans they are beautiful!

I swear I posted the other day but I looked today to see if there was a reply and my comment is no where to be found. So, I'll post again! I was just saying I LOVE THIS BED!!! I am getting my daughter her first AG doll for Christmas and have to make this bed. I have never done anything like this before and don't have the saws or countersinking tools and so I was wondering if I could use nails and glue and would it work as well? Also, would Home Depot do all those cuts for me? Thanks in advance!

um wow!
My girls have American Girl Dolls, and our oldest has her dolls bed. But the younger needs a bed for her doll, but I cannot get over the $118 pricetage. OUCH!
I think we are going to give this a go! Thanks so much for posting!!

quick question. on the "shopping list" for the farmhouse doll bed it says you need 2- 1x3s at 10' tall - which would be 120" each right? because when i add up the total 1x3s that you use I only got 116", so would you be ok only getting 1 @ 10'tall?? sorry for the random question. i want to make a few of these and don't want to go overboard buying wood.

I'm so excited about these plans! My three year old will be getting two for her new dolls this Christmas! My Dad is going to make the beds and my Mom and I will be making the bedding. She's getting two of the Target version of the AG dolls since they are far above what I can pay for a doll.

Thank you so much!

Shannon, I believe you are correct. I would go for 2 - 8' 1x3 pine boards - should be about $1.50. That way you can cut any knots or cracks out and use the good parts. Ask away, I try really hard to answer as many questions as possible, but when I can't, there are so many good smart people that chime in too!

I'm so excited to have found this! My daughter is getting a Farmhouse Bed for Christmas and an American Girl Doll. Looks like she's getting a matching doll bed! Thanks so much Ana! I will make sure to post some pics after Christmas!

I did it, I made the bed this week end! My daughter helped me a little, but I think she is more excited about painting it that building it. It still need some TLC: filling the holes, sanding, paint and bedding, but I am proud of my work.
Thank you so much for this bed, the explanations were great.
http://beardollyandmoi.blogspot.com/2010/11/not-so-perfect-doll-bed.html

I swear I posted the other day but I looked today to see if there was a reply and my comment is no where to be found. So, I’ll post again! I was just saying I LOVE THIS BED!!! I am getting my daughter her first AG doll for Christmas and have to make this bed. I have never done anything like this before and don’t have the saws or countersinking tools and so I was wondering if I could use nails and glue and would it work as well? Also, would Home Depot do all those cuts for me? Thanks in advance!

Brooke, thanks for checking back, and I'm so sorry if your comment got spammed . . . we get thousands (4261 this month to be exact) of spam comments, and it's unfortunate that well meaning people like yourself get grouped in. One of the issues with using nails is the boards might split on you as you nail. If you choose an extra fine trim or finish nail and glue, the bed should hold together, but be very careful when nailing to avoid splitting boards. And depending on your local home improvement store, they may cut boards for you. I would call ahead and ask first. Make sure you read this post, Christine got all the lumber for under $6 and blogged the receipt!

Thanks for sharing such information just have a look at chiniot furniture and you can found much more as we are only doing the local marketing but want to export some for like your company so please read this comment so we can have some more business

Our little girl is getting the Easy Loft Playhouse bed with Stairs for Christmas. I was just wondering if I could convince my hubby to make a matching mini for her doll after seeing this post. Then I saw your comment - love it!

OH MY GOSH! This is THE most adorable thing ever. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! My granddaughter just got her very first American Girl Doll for her birthday two months ago so this I HOPE can be completed in time for Christmas.

I just made this bed and it is VERY WIDE, more like a queen version. But I love still love it so I made another with one less slat (about 2 1/2" narrower), more like a twin version. You can see the difference here:

http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com/2010/11/b-is-for-bed-1.html

http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com/2010/11/b-is-for-bed-2.html

Hi. I am making this bed right now. My changes are that I used 1/2" x 3 and I created a dado versus screwing all of the slats in. Am thrilled with the results.

What did you use for the mattress?

SOOO adorable! My daughter is getting her long awaited American Girl doll for Christmas. I'm going to precut and prime the pieces and put them in a box with the directions and wrap it up as a present. It's a present AND a fun project we can do together - she loves making things! thanks so much!

I think this may be my go-to gift for little girls from now!

Ana,Thanks, maybe I'll just stick to the screws as intimidating as that is to me! Don't want to split the wood! Thanks again!

What a perfect gift idea for any little girl! I made one (I couldn't help myself) and linked to your blog! Thanks for the awesome ideas; it is good to know that I will NEVER run out of projects on my "need to build" or "want to build" list. :)http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BYywtI43O8o/TP3QR6OxaTI/AAAAAAAABLE/o1hfJql6G…

Just wanted to thank you again.....my husband made this last night! I love it and can't wait to see my daughter's face on Christmas morning! I still have to sand and paint but it is beautiful already! Thank you!

I am no expert, but have built a few things and since no one else has replied I will try to help since you're running out of time! Home Depot should cut those for you, especially if you find the right person and talk sweetly. Sometimes they charge but it will probably be worth it. As far as using nails and glue, screwing is much easier. You need a drill but you probably have one, if you have a husband or dad or brother or uncle. While you're at Home Depot ask them for a drill bit that will countersink screws. I would print your lists take them with you, when you get to Home Depot walk around a bit and find the person most likely to be the most helpful, hand them your print out and take as much help as they will give. Get an extra board or two to practice drilling a few holes and putting in screws. Then give it your best shot. You will also need sand paper and I've found it super helpful to sand before assembling, if you feel like investing in a hand sander they are also a lifesaver.

Thank you so much for your instructions! I made two beds for my two younger girls. One is pink and one is green. I also posted instructions for a mattress for the beds on my blog here: http://theprojectprincess.blogspot.com/2010/12/farmhouse-doll-beds-and-… if anyone is interested.

I can't wait for the girls to unwrap these on Christmas morning! :)

My husband, son and my son's friend worked on making three of these today! My girlfriend had a teenage son so he was here helping to make one for his little sister and my husband and son were making them for my two younger daughters. My husband got them all together and is priming them tonight. I will likely paint them once tomorrow and again the next day. They are bigger than I pictured in my head but oh so cute! I plan on making sheets and pillows and a quilt for the beds for the girls too. I can't wait to see their faces Christmas morning! Thanks so much for doing this and sharing with the rest of us!

Did you happen to use 2" foam for the mattress? I am trying to figure out what I need for that. Thanks!

jillandcharlieb.blogspot.com

i love this!! this was my very first project! thanks ana!!

Thank you so much for sharing! My daughter has had an AG Doll for a few years and we have never bought a bed (too pricey) so this year for Christmas she wants one and we were going to make one up. I LOVE this one and thanks for sharing the plans :) That will make it so much easier and it is DARLING!!

Ana,

I adore this bed and these plans! I built the toddler-sized bed for my little guy for Christmas and now built the doll-size for my daughter. Since she's getting an American Girl doll (18" tall) I made the bed longer (most AG beds are 22-24" long) and more narrow so it's "full" size dimensions by using 6 1x2s instead of 5 1x3s. Details and pics here: http://alwayscreatingsomething.blogspot.com/2010/12/saras-workshop.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WulIkezVIOw/TQwwmEzRKVI/AAAAAAAAB6U/09aKFILTV…

Best of all, I used 100% scraps - lumber, paint, fabric, everything! For a few hours of my time and ZERO dollars, my daughter will be very happy on Christmas morning thanks to you!

Ana, thank you so much! This was my first project, or should I say my first 3 projects. By the end I was starting to feel like a factory but I loved every minute of it. You are so inspiring. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Kr2y7qxULAc/TQ10gN_zCDI/AAAAAAAAAsU/Nemqtd2zg…undefined

I made another bed - the 'twin' version again which is one slat less in width than Ana's plans here. These beds are fast and easy Definitely recommend.

http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com/2010/12/b-is-for-bed-3.html

When my daughter (3) saw these plans, she said "mommy you bid (build) it, I paint it!" How could I turn that down?!

It went together so easily, and I love the finished product. Thank you Ana!!

http://eightmuddyfeet.blogspot.com/2010/12/natalies-doll-bed.html

I've just built this bed and it's gorgeous! Had to make a few adjustments because I couldn't buy the same size wood here (Australia) but it has turned out very cute. Thank You!

I used left over 2" foam from a head board I made for my kids. It was a little tight though. I glued it to the plywood and stapled the fabric around it.

A friend of mine asked me if I could make bunk beds for her daughter's American Girl dolls. I had just seen these plans and LOVED them so this is what I came up with. Thank you for these plans!

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sorry...I cannot figure out how to get my picture up on this site.

I was so thrilled to come across your website when looking for plans to make a doll bed for my 6 year old. She received her first AG doll on her 6th birthday in October and wanted a bed for Lanie. When saw the prices for AG beds I was FLOORED! I have never done ANY wood working, but deided that the cost of those beds made it a necessity. The pans and instructions were so user friendly and made the process very enjoyable. The bed turned out AMAZING! have been asked by friends and famly to make beds for their girls. I am hooked. I am trying to decide which Ana White to do next!!!

Thank you so much for these plans!!! My father in law mentioned he was making a doll bed for my niece's American Girl doll for Christmas. I asked if he had any plans and he said no, he was just winging it. A day or two later, I came across this post in my Google Reader and immediately sent it to him. He called to say he LOVED it and had scrapped what he had already started in favor of this one. In fact, he had already gone out and bought the wood for it. He put it together and finished it in no time at all and it was just lovely when it was done. He even personalized it by signing and dating it on the bottom of the bed. My 8 year old niece was absolutely over the moon - thank you so much for posting this!!!

Hi Ana,
I have followed your blog for a very long time. I just completed my first project though. I'm thrilled with how it turned out! Thank you so much for the doll plans. I would love to outfit my whole doll house with your cute designs. <a href=""><img src="" width="100%" />

Oh no! I didn't mean to add 3 very large pictures. Sorry.

I made this for my daughter for Christmas....but she has 2 dolls & I wasn't up for making 2 beds. I just separated the slats & extended some measurements, and was able to make a "kig size" bed for her AG dolls! The bedding was a valance that came with my daugters bedding (that I hated...but perfect for the comforter)...and the pillows are made out of scrap fabric from decor in her room!

ag bed

What would you use as a mattress that would be flat looking like you have? I have never made anything like this and am so excited to try! :)

Ali-I used a blue camping pad from Wal-mart because I was making 4 so needed to be very cost efficient. It is pretty thin, probably only a half inch or so. But, I got enough for 5 mattresses out of one camping pad for 5 bucks. You could also use a kitchen chair pad. Just cut them to fit and cover and you are set.