How to Build a Box Bed With Storage Drawers Underneath

Building the Frame

• 1

  Cut the two-by-fours into five 6-foot rails, four 5-foot rails, ten 4-foot-6-inch slats, and two 2-by-2-inch slat supports measuring 6 feet long. These will form the skeleton of the box bed.

• 2

  Cut 2 inches from the top of one of the 2-by-4-inch rails, leaving 4 1/2 inches untouched on both ends. This will form the middle support for the flat 2-by-4-inch slats.

• 3

  Divide a 4-by-4-inch plank into four even pieces measuring the desired height of the bed, subtracting about 1/2 inches to allow for the plywood top.

• 4

  Cut 2 inches out of the tops of each 4-by-4-inch leg, cutting down 4 inches out of the top and bottom. When looking at the legs from over top, you should see a 2-inch square within a 4-inch square. This 2-inch square will fit into corners of each rail intersection like a puzzle piece.

• 5

  Arrange two 6-foot rails and two 5-foot rails into a rectangle, placing the 6-foot rails inside and between the 5-foot rails, flush with the edges. Using 4-inch screws, secure the rails together, placing 3 screws per intersection.

• 6

  Place the 4-by-4-inch legs into each of the corners of the bed frame, making sure they fit snugly and that the edges of the legs are flush with the edges of the frame. Attach the legs to both connected rails using 3-inch screws, placing them alternatively.

• 7

  Turn the frame over, and place the bottom head and foot rails on the legs, fixing them with four 4-inch screws each as with the top rails. Slide the 6-foot side rails into place and fix them. Turn the bed back over.

• 8

  Attach the middle slat support with three 6-inch screws on each end, securing it to the top head and foot rails.

• 9

  Screw the 2-by-2-inch slat supports into the bottom of each top side rail, using 3-inch screws placed approximately 12 inches apart, leaving 2 inches untouched on the top. The top of these slat supports should align with the top of the middle slat support.

• 10

  Lay the slats atop the slat supports, and screw them into place using 3-inch screws.

• 11

  Drill a hole large enough to fit the wheels on each leg.

Plywood Cover and Drawers

• 12

  Divide 1-inch lumber into two 2 1/2-foot boards and 2 boards of desired length, per drawer. The height of the lumber will depend on the space allowed for the drawers, which will be determined by the desired height of the bed. Subtract 1/2 inch to allow for the plywood base. Depending on the number of drawers, the length of the front and back boards will vary.

• 13

  Cut the 1/2-inch thick, 4-by-8-foot plywood into two 6-foot-5-inch and two 5-foot boards measuring the height of the bed, two pieces measuring 5 feet by 3-feet, 3-inches, and two pieces large enough to stretch across the bottom side rails. These last two pieces will form the bottom of the drawer platform.

• 14

  Create a hole in the middle of each 6-foot-5-inch board that measures the exact height and length of the space between the side rails. This will allow for the drawers. Make sure this hole lines up with the space already present in the frame.

• 15

  Secure each plywood board in place with 3-inch screws spaced enough to fix each board to the frame. Trim any excess to ensure that the edges all align.

• 16

  Assemble the 1-inch-thick drawer pieces into the drawers with 3-inch screws. The drawers measure 2 1/2 feet long, half the width of the bed, to allow for storage of equal size on each side of the bed. Attach drawer handles.

• 17

  Slide the drawers into the holes.