How to Build a Canopy Bed Using Posts

Sand the posts, boards and dowels with 180-grit sandpaper until smooth. Wipe with a tack cloth to remove all dust.

Wipe wood stain over the posts, boards and dowels with a rag. Remove the excess stain with a clean rag and allow to dry according to the manufacturer's directions.

Brush satin polyurethane smoothly over the wood. Allow to dry according to the manufacturer's directions, and then lightly sand with 240-grit sandpaper. Wipe with a tack cloth. Brush a second coat of polyurethane over the bed parts and allow to dry completely.

Lay a 2-by-8-by-84-inch board flat, with the best side down. Draw a line down the center of the board, from end to end. Align a 2-by-2 board with the line on the 2-by-8. Predrill seven screw holes equidistant through the 2-by-2 and into the 2-by-8 board. Screw together with wood screws. Repeat with the second 2-by-2 and 84-inch board. These become the side rails.

Measure one inch up from the bottom of the side rails on both ends of the board. Center the mark, and then measure and mark again at four inches from the bottom. Predrill a 1/2-inch screw hole at each mark, two inches into the end of the boards.

Predrill the ends of the 2-by-8-by-62-inch boards. Measure and mark at three and seven inches from the bottom of the boards. Then predrill two 1/2-inch-wide, 2-inch-deep screw holes. These become the head- and footboards on the bed.

Lay the posts in a row on a flat surface. Align the bottoms so they are all even. Measure up one foot from the bottom of all four posts. Center the mark on the post. Make a second mark four inches above the first.

Rotate all the posts one turn to the right, keeping the bottoms aligned. Mark each post at 14 and 18 inches up from the bottom.

Predrill a 1/2-inch screw hole all the way through each post at the pencil marks. Each post will have four screw holes, two on each side. Change the bit on the drill to a 7/8-inch spade bit and drill half an inch into each hole.

Set the first post on end. Have your helper hold a side rail in place, aligning the screw holes and butted tightly against the post. Insert a hex lag screw into the first hole and screw through the post and into the board using a socket. Screw a hex lag screw into the second hole. Attach a second post at the other end of the side rail. Repeat with the other side rail and posts.

Butt the 2-by-8 against a post, perpendicular to the side rail with the screw holes aligned. Screw the post to the board with two hex lag screws. While your helper balances the bed frame, screw the post to the other end of the board. Repeat at the head of the bed so that the bottom part of the frame is complete.

Measure and mark two inches from the top on the inner corners of the posts. Center the marks on the post.

Drill a half inch into each post with a spade bit. Add glue and insert the dowels. You may have to loosen the bottom screws slightly for the dowels to slide into place. Allow the glue to dry completely.

Insert the 1-by-6 boards into the frame, spanning the side rails. Space equidistant across the bed. Place the box spring onto the boards. Set the mattress onto the box spring and make up the bed.

Place the curtain hooks onto the dowels. Clip the curtains to the hooks to enclose the canopy bed with fabric.