How to Build a Bed Canopy Using Two by Fours

Build Canopy Top Frame

• 1

  Gather and sort all two-by-four pieces of lumber by length to prepare for assembly.

• 2

  Assemble two two-by-four pieces of lumber in 79-inch lengths and two two-by-four pieces of lumber in 56-inch lengths on the floor with lumber standing 3 1/2 inches upright. Place the two 56-inch lengths between the 79-inch lengths at each corner.

• 3

  Glue each corner with all wood end pieces meeting flush and let dry.

• 4

  With a 9/64-inch drill bit, predrill two holes ¾ inch from the outer corner of each 79-inch length from the top and bottom into the adjoining 56-inch lengths as pilot holes for two 2 ¾-inch number 13 tapered flat-head wood screws.

• 5

  With a ½-inch drill bit, drill each hole again to ¼ inch deep as countersink space to hide the screw heads beneath the surface when attached.

• 6

  Use a number 3 Phillips-head point size drill attachment and eight 2 ¾-inch number 13 tapered flat-head wood screws to attach all four corners together, sinking each screw slightly below the wood surface using pilot holes to guide screws. Use wood putty to fill in any space remaining between the wood surface and each screw. Let dry, then sand the wood putty flush to the wood surface to complete the canopy top frame.

Build Headboard Frame

• 7

  Assemble two two-by-four pieces of lumber in 79-inch lengths and two two-by-four pieces of lumber in 56-inch lengths on the floor with the 79-inch lengths standing 3 1/2 inches upright and the 56-inch lengths laying 1 1/2 inches high. Place one 56-inch length between the 79-inch lengths measuring 12 inches up from the bottom of the 79-inch lengths to the top of the 56-inch length as a bottom cross rail and other 56-inch length measuring 36 inches up from the bottom of the 79-inch lengths to the top of the second 56-inch length as a top cross rail.

• 8

  Glue each piece in place with all wood end pieces meeting flush on the floor and let dry.

• 9

  With a 9/64-inch drill bit, predrill eight holes ¾ inch from the outer side of each 79-inch length into the adjoining 56-inch lengths as pilot holes for eight 2 ¾-inch number 13 tapered flat-head wood screws.

• 10

  With a ½-inch drill bit, drill each hole again to ¼ inch deep as countersink space to hide the screw heads beneath the surface when attached.

• 11

  Use a number 3 Phillips-head point size drill attachment and eight 2 ¾-inch number 13 tapered flat-head wood screws to attach all four corners together, sinking each screw slightly below the wood surface using pilot holes to guide screws. Use wood putty to fill in any space remaining between the wood surface and each screw. Let dry, then sand the wood putty flush to the wood surface to complete the canopy top frame.

Build Footboard Frame

• 12

  Assemble two twp-by-four pieces of lumber in 79-inch lengths and two two-by-four pieces of lumber in 56-inch lengths on the floor with the 79-inch lengths standing 3 1/2 inches upright and the 56-inch lengths laying 1 1/2 inches high. Place one 56-inch length between the 79-inch lengths measuring 12 inches up from the bottom of the 79-inch lengths to the top of the 56-inch length as a bottom cross rail and other 56-inch length measuring 24 inches up from the bottom of the 79-inch lengths to the top of the second 56-inch length as a top cross rail.

• 13

  Glue each piece in place with all wood end pieces meeting flush on the floor and let dry.

• 14

  With a 9/64-inch drill bit, predrill eight holes ¾ inch from the outer side of each 79-inch length into the adjoining 56-inch lengths as pilot holes for eight 2 ¾-inch number 13 tapered flat-head wood screws.

• 15

  With a ½-inch drill bit, drill each hole again to ¼ inch deep as countersink space to hide the screw heads beneath the surface when attached.

• 16

  Use a number 3 Phillips-head point size drill attachment and eight 2 ¾-inch number 13 tapered flat-head wood screws to attach all four corners together, sinking each screw slightly below the wood surface using pilot holes to guide screws. Use wood putty to fill in any space remaining between the wood surface and each screw. Let dry, then sand the wood putty flush to the wood surface to complete the canopy top frame.

Attach Headboard and Footboard Frames to Canopy Top Frame

• 17

  Assemble the headboard and footboard frames to meet the canopy top frame with the flush side of the middle cross rails on both the headboard and footboard facing outward. Glue the top of all four 79-inch lengths to the canopy top frame and let dry.

• 18

  With a 9/64-inch drill bit, predrill four holes ¾ inch in from each corner of the canopy top frame centered into the adjoining 56-inch lengths as pilot holes for four 2 ¾-inch number 13 tapered flat-head wood screws.

• 19

  With a ½-inch drill bit, drill each hole again to ¼ inch deep as countersink space to hide the screw heads beneath the surface when attached.

• 20

  Use a number 3 Phillips-head point size drill attachment and four 2 ¾-inch number 13 tapered flat-head wood screws to attach all pieces together, sinking each screw slightly below the wood surface. Use wood putty to fill in any space remaining between the wood surface and each screw. Let dry, then sand the wood putty flush to the wood surface to complete the canopy top frame.

• 21

  Paint or stain the canopy structure, if desired. Let dry, then place a full size metal bed frame with box spring and mattress in the middle of the structure to complete the canopy bed.