Can you build a box? What about three boxes? Then put some trim on the outside edges? Yes? Then you can build a storage bed like this one. The Storage Daybed is actually made up of three benches, very different benches than the Queen-Sized. These benches are much more simple. Thank you readers for the photos! Special thanks to Kara for sharing her amazing bed.
Preparation
3 sheets of 3/4 inch plywood 3 - 1x4 @ 8 feet 6 - 1x2 @ 8 feet 6 - 1x12 @ 8 feet (optional drawers) 6 sets of side mount drawer slides, 18″ long, designed to fit in a 3/4″ gap (optional drawers)
Pieces to Frame 3Benches A) 6 – 3/4″ Plywood cut at 16″ X 39″ (Sides of Benches) B) 3 – 3/4″ Plywood cut at 23 1/2″ X 39″ (Bottoms of Benches) C) 3 – 3/4″ Plywood cut at 23 1/2″ X 12 1/2″ (Center Cubby Dividers) D) 3 – 3/4″ Plywood cut at 25 X 39″ (Top of the Benches) Trim Pieces for all three Benches E) 6 – 1×4 @ 25″ (Bottom Trim, Top 1 1/2″ upper corners mitered off at 45 degrees, see diagrams below) F) 6 – 1×2 @ 25″ (Top Trim, Ends mitered off at 45 degrees, see diagrams) G) 12 – 1×2 @ 14 3/4″ (Side Trim, ends mitered off at 45 degrees, see diagrams) Trim Pieces for the 2 Outer Benches, Exposed Edges H) 2 – 1×4 @ 40 1/2″ (Bottom Trim, top 1 1/2″ upper corners mitered off at 45 degrees, see diagrams) I) 2 – 1×2 @ 40 1/2″ (Top Trim, ends mitered off at 45 degrees, see diagrams) J) 4 – 1×2 @ 14 3/4 (Side Trim, ends mitered off at 45 degrees, see diagrams) K) 2 – 1x2s @ 11 3/4″ (Middle trim for the outside end benches) Optional Drawer Pieces L) 6 – 3/4″ Plywood cut at 20 1/4″ x 18 1/4″ (Drawer Bottoms) M) 6 – 1×12 @ 20 1/4″ (Backs of Drawers) N) 12 – 1×12 @ 19″ Sides of Drawers O) 6 – 1×12 @ 21 3/4″
See more details for cutting diagrams at the bottom of the page in the additional photos. Special thanks to Jen!
Begin by cutting all your boards. Check the diagrams for exact measurements on the trim pieces that need to be mitered out on the corners at 45 degree angles. Use 2″ nails unless otherwise directed. Always use glue. If you expect your bed to take heavy abuse (for example, used daily in a children’s room) you may wish to use screws. Screws will prevent wiggling and make the bed last longer, but are more difficult to build with. For the trim pieces, you may wish to cut as you go to guarantee the most perfect fit. If you are adding drawers, it is crucial that you build a perfectly square box for the drawers. Make certain that you cut the plywood square and that you check for square as you go. Your drawers will not slide properly if your drawers or the drawer box is not square. Learn how to check for square in the HOW-TO section.
Instructions
Step 1
You will make 3 of the following benches: Start by nailing through the sides, A, into the bottom B. Use the measurements above to guide you.
Step 2
Then nail the center cubby divider, C, in place as shown above. Make sure you also nail from the bottom of the benches into the center cubby divider.
Step 3
Nail the top of the bench, D, to the benches, as shown above. Make sure you nail into the center cubby divider, C, from step 3.
Step 4
Cut trim piece E as shown above. Then nail to the bench on the top and ends, keeping all outside edges flush.
Step 5
Step 6
Cut pieces G as shown above and nail to the sides of the bench, keeping outside edges flush. Make sure you use 2″ nails to nail from the outside edges of G into the ends of the top and bottom trim pieces.
Step 7
Line the three benches up and on the outsides of the outer two benches, add the following trim pieces: Cut H and I as shown above. Then nail in place, keeping outside edges flush. Use 1 1/4″ nails.
Step 8
Cut J and K as shown above and nail in place. Use 1 1/4″ nails.
Step 9
Drawer Assembly If your bench openings are not perfectly square, your drawers will not slide right. Assemble the drawer by nailing the back of the drawer, M, to the bottom of the drawer, L, as shown above. Keep outside edges flush.
Step 10
Add the drawer sides, N, as shown above.
Step 11
My “trick” to getting the perfect drawer front is to mount the drawer box into the slides in the benches without the face. Then, with the faceless drawer pushed in, center the drawer face on the opening (and not the actual drawer). When you are happy with the gap around the drawer, nail the face to the sides and bottom of the drawer.
Comments
MrsA_42212
Sun, 08/10/2014 - 11:54
Final measurements
Hi Everyone!
Does anyone have the final measurements of this bed once built? I'd like to build two of these and arrange as a sectional on our screened in porch (we plan on adding backs so we have something to lean up against.). I'm hoping it's high enough that we can slide a table (eating height) in when we are dining outside, and then slide it out of the way when we use them as lounge furniture. Anyone do this yet? Suggestions are welcome!
Thanks!
burnn1
Sun, 12/07/2014 - 04:18
Twin XL
This plan is for a twin day bed - posting doesn't state it, but it is obvious.
I will modify for twin XL which is 5" longer by adding 2" to pieces in the length direction.
Will post when I have it completed.
Thanks for the detailed plans
tyrellgentry
Mon, 10/11/2021 - 07:13
Full and twin day bed with corner hutch
I am planning on starting on this and the corner hutch project this weekend. I do have one question though. I am limited on length, so plan to just shorten one side of the hutch, which shouldn't really cause a lot of issues. My other questions is I also plan making the second bed a full, which i realize will end up overlapping on the twin side, but im not really that worried about that. I just have to figure out how much to increase all my cuts for the daybed in width only because the full should be the same length as the twin.