How to Build a Super Single Bed With Drawers

Making a Bed Frame

• 1

  Measure and cut four 2-by-4 pieces 75 inches long, using a tape measure and circular saw. Measure and cut four 2-by-4 pieces 39 inches long. Draw out a 1-by-1-inch square on both ends of one of the 2-inch-wide sides of each 2-by-4 timber piece you just cut, using a pencil and ruler. Cut the rectangles out using a hacksaw.

• 2

  Attach a 1-inch pilot bearing into your router. Bore a 1-inch-wide, 1-inch-deep groove into two of the 75-inch-long pieces, along one of the the sides where the rectangles have been cut out. Cut an additional four pieces of 2-by-4 10 inches long using the circular saw.

• 3

  Apply wood glue to the cut ends of the 2-by-4 pieces with the rectangles cut out of them. Fasten the two 75-inch lengths with grooves cut into them to two of the 39-inch-long pieces, with the rectangle ends interlocking to form mortice joints. Repeat with the other 75- and 39-inch-long pieces. Reinforce each connection using a hammer drill and screwdriver drill bit to countersink long screws into the joints.

• 4

  Measure and cut a 2-by-4 piece 71 inches long. Glue the ends of the piece and attach it 20 inches in from the right-hand 75-inch-long side of the rectangle with no grooves in it. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 16 inches long. Glue the ends of these pieces. Attach each piece between the 71-inch piece and the side of the frame, 20 inches from the 39-inch-long sides of the rectangle.

• 5

  Glue and screw the 10-inch-long pieces of 2-by-4 so they stand at right angles on to the rectangle with no grooves in it, on the corners of the rectangle. Glue and screw the other rectangle to the other end of the 10-inch-long pieces, to form the frame of the bed. Reinforce the joints on the 71- and 16-inch-long pieces with countersunk long screws.

• 6

  Cut three 2-by-4 pieces 10 inches long. Glue and screw two of the pieces together to form one block 2 inches thick, 8 inches wide and 10 inches long. Glue and screw this to the center of the 80-inch-long side of the bed frame where the 16-inch-long pieces have been attached, to form a side support. Glue and screw the remaining piece in the center of the opposite side, to form the other side support.

• 7

  Measure and cut 23 sheets of 1-inch-thick hardwood to 37 inches long and 2 inches wide. Arrange the sheets in the grooves on the top of the bed frame, to form the slats that will support the mattress on the bed. Leave a 1-inch gap between each slat to provide air gaps to keep the mattress healthy.

Building the Headboard and Bed Surrounds

• 8

  Decide on which side of the bed the drawers will be on, either the left or the right. Turn the bed frame so the 8-inch-wide side support is on the side where the drawers will be. Measure and cut a sheet of 1-inch-thick hardboard 24 inches wide by 39 inches long. Screw this to the head of the bed frame to form the headboard.

• 9

  Measure and cut a sheet of 1-inch-thick hardboard to 39 inches long by 20 inches wide. Screw this to the bottom of the bed with countersunk long screws, to form a footer. Measure and cut two sheets of 1-inch-thick hardwood to 75 inches long and 18 inches wide. Screw one of the sheets to the side of the bed that will not have drawers in it.

• 10

  Measure 2 inches along the 75-inch-length of the final piece of hardwood, then 4 inches up from the bottom of the sheet. From this point, draw a rectangle 35 inches wide and 10 inches tall. Leave an 8-inch gap horizontally along the sheet and draw a second 35-inch-by-10-inch rectangle. These are the holes where the drawers will fit into the bed.

• 11

  Fit a 1-inch drill bit to the hammer drill. Drill starting holes in each corner of the rectangles. Cut the rectangles out of the hardwood sheet using the hacksaw or a reciprocating saw, if preferred. Screw the hardwood sheet to the side of the bed where the drawers will sit, using countersunk long screws.

Making Drawers

• 12

  Cut one piece of 1-inch-thick hardwood to 10 inches wide and 31 1/2 inches long. Cut two pieces of 1-inch-thick hardwood 9 inches wide and 18 inches long. Cut one piece of 1-inch-thick hardwood 9 inches wide and 31 1/2 inches long. Cut one piece of 1-inch-thick hardwood 19 inches wide and 31 1/2 inches long.

• 13

  Glue and screw the two 18-inch-long pieces at right angles to the edges of a wide face on the 9-inch-wide 31 1/2-inch long piece. You should now have a U-shaped frame. Glue and screw the 19-inch-wide and 31 1/2-inch-long piece to the bottom of the U shape to form the shape of a drawer with no front panel.

• 14

  Screw a drawer handle to the center of one wide face of the 20-inch-by-31 1/2-inch piece of hardwood. Glue and screw this piece to the front of the drawer so the handle faces out. You have now completed one drawer. Repeat this whole process to make the second drawer for the bed.