How to Build a Twin Bed Out of Wood

Form two 39-inch and two 77-inch pieces of 2-by-10-inch lumber into a rectangular frame. The ends of the shorter planks will make 90-degree corners with the inside of the ends of the 77-inch planks. This is the bed frame.

Glue the frame together where they meet, then secure the joints with three evenly-spaced 3-inch wood screws driven through the 77-inch planks into the 39-inch plank ends.

Glue a piece of 75-inch 1-by-2-inch lumber along the inside edge of both 77-inch sides of the frame, 3 inches below the top. The ends of the 1-by-2 planks will sit flush against the 39-inch planks of the frame. These planks will support the bed slats.

Secure the bed slat supports in place with a 2-inch screw driven every 10 inches along the length.

Turn the bed frame ove, so that the bed slats supports are now closer to the work surface.

Abut a 20-inch piece of 2-by-6 lumber against each end of the bed frame sides for the bed legs. The one edge of the legs should be flush with the 39-inch side of the frame at each end of the bed, and there should be 10 inches of leg standing above the bed frame.

Secure the legs in place with four evenly-spaced 3-inch lag bolts through the legs into the sides of the bed frame. Then, turn the bed back over so it is now standing on the legs.

Finish the bed frame in the desired wood finish and let it dry. Position the bed frame in the bedroom as desired, then place a 39-inch 1-by-3 plank across the frame, with the ends resting on the bed slat supports, spaced 1/2-inch apart.

Secure with a 2-inch screw through each end of the slats into the support planks -- there will be 21 slats altogether.