How to Make a Four Post Bed

Making your own four post bed will likely save you considerably from the prohibitive cost of a store-bought one, and you can make a handsome, simple bed with little carpentry know-how. A modern design, without the addition of complex carving or decorative work is simple to build and will be a sturdy and elegant addition to any bedroom. Make sure you take the lumber dimensions with you to the lumber yard, as it can be cut it to size for you, saving a lot of your time.

2 planks 62-inch-long 2-by-8 inch lumber
2 planks 82-inch-long 2-by-8 inch lumber
Carpenter's square
Drill
3 inch wood screws
4 planks 62-inch-long 2-by-5 inch lumber
2 planks 82-inch-long 2-by-3 inch lumber
4 planks 80-inch-long 2-by-4 inch lumber
Clamps
Helper
4-inch bolts and accompanying nuts
Step ladder
2 planks 70-inch-long 2-by-3 inch lumber
Paint, varnish or wood stain
Paintbrush
2 pieces 3/4-inch-thick plywood, 30-by-40 inch

Instructions

- 1
  Place two planks of 2-by-8 inch lumber, cut to 62-inch-long on their 2-inch side, with 80 inches between them. Abut two planks of 2-by-8 inch lumber, 82-inch-long over the ends of the 62-inch pieces, forming a rectangular, queen-sized bed base frame.
- 2
  Check the corners are 90-degrees with a carpenter's square, then drive three evenly-spaced wood screws, (3-inches long) through the longer side of the frame into the end of the shorter side planks.
- 3
  Insert four planks of 2-by-5 inch lumber measuring 62-inches long into the frame. Push two up against the 62-inch sides of the frame, and evenly space the other two in the middle of the frame. Press all four planks until they are level with the bottom of the frame, leaving 3 inches between the top of the 2-by-5 planks and the top of the base frame; these are mattress supports. Secure in place with wood screws in the same way you secured the frame together.
- 4
  Place an 82-inch-long piece of 2-by-3 inch lumber (the side of the canopy) on the work surface and position two pieces of 80-inch-long 2-by-4 inch lumber (the legs, or posts of the bed) at each end, making right angles with the canopy plank. Fasten the legs to the canopy with four 3-inch wood screws driven through the top of the legs into the canopy. Repeat with another side canopy plank and two more leg-post pieces.
- 5
  Stand the bed leg-posts upright, with the canopy planks in the air. Place the posts on each side of the base frame, even with the corners. Lift the base frame so that it is 5-inches off the ground with the assistance of a helper and clamp the frame to the bed posts. Check with a carpenter's square that the legs are at 90-degrees to the base.
- 6
  Secure the base to the legs with four bolts (4-inch) driven through each leg-post into the base frame. Use the accompanying nuts to secure the bolts inside of the bed frame.
- 7
  Ascend a ladder and get your helper to give you a piece of 70-inch-long 2-by-3 inch lumber for the end of the canopy. Place the end canopy plank between the legs on the end of the bed, which will form a corner with the side canopy planks. Secure the end canopy plank with screws as you did the side canopy planks. Repeat at the head of the bed with another canopy end plank.
- 8
  Paint, varnish or stain the bed frame, posts and canopy as desired. Let dry for the time recommended by the stain or paint manufacturer then place two pieces of 3/4-inch-thick, 30-by-40 inch plywood on top of the mattress support planks.

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