How to Make a Kid's Bed With Cubbies

Stand two pieces of 20-by-75 inch, 3/4-inch plywood on their long edges, 20 inches apart and parallel with one another.

Insert two pieces of 20-by-20 inch plywood between the ends of the 75-inch panels to make a rectangle box shape, and two more pieces of 20-by-20 inch plywood evenly spaced in the middle of the first two, so you create three cubbies measuring 25 inches long, and 20 inches tall and deep.

Glue the end and dividing panels (the 20-inch panels) to the 75-inch panels; then secure them with three 1 1/2-inch wood screws evenly spaced through the 75-inch panels into the ends of the 20-inch panels.

Place a sheet of 21 1/2-by-75 inch, 1/4-inch plywood over the top of the rectangle box and secure it with screws through the sheet of plywood into the edges of the 75-inch panels as well as the dividing and end panels. Turn the box over, so that it is resting on one of the 75-inch panels, and the end and dividing planks are now vertical, with the 1/4-inch plywood sheet forming the back. Repeat so that you have two identical cubby units.

Glue the cubby units back-to-back; then secure them together with 1-inch wood screws driven through the corners of the cubby units from both sides, staggering the screw position slightly to avoid collision.

Place a piece of 21 1/2-by-40 1/2, 1/4-inch plywood over the ends of one end of the bed base, covering up the joint between the two cubby units. This will be the end of the bed. Secure the plywood panel to the cubby units with 1-inch screws.

Apply spackle over the top of visible screw holes to fill them in. Let the spackle dry before painting the bed base. A twin mattress will fit on top of the cubby bed base.