This gorgeous solid wood bed is all style and structure! Very sturdy, with an updated rustic modern farmhouse vibe. Build it yourself for a couple hundred dollars. Free plans with step by step diagrams and video tutorial from Ana-White.com
RELATED: Rustic Modern Nightstand Plans
Rustic wood paired with a modern form updates the farmhouse bed into a beautiful and functional focal point to your bedroom.
This plan covers all mattress sizes, the bed I built for reference is a standard king.
Thoughtful Design Features
You might not know it, but we are thinking of you when we design plans - here's a few details that you'll love:
- Headboard sized so you won't need a ton of decorative pillows, no expensive euro pillows needed!
- Headboard sized for artwork above
- Headboard panel is inset, which helps keep pillows on the bed
- Comfortable finished mattress height even paired with today's extra deep mattresses
- Footboard is enclosed but siderails are not - so you can stand next to the bedside and not stub your toe
- Easy to change sheets with mattress slightly embeded on the siderails
- Panel boards sized to conserve materials and save you money
More Photos and Quick Build Video
Would you like to see more photos and the quick build? Here's the build video:
Sister Plan - Traditional Farmhouse Bed Plans
This bed is built very similar to our traditional farmhouse bed plan.
If you love this but want something a little more classic, check out this free plan.
Matching Plans in this Collection
I loved this bed plan so much, I had to make more matching plans:
Plan Notes:
- Mattress depth - This headboard works well with a 10" or deeper mattress. For a shorter mattress, an open gap below the headboard panel may be visible. You can also increase the length of the panel boards to account for this.
- Twin size - the twin size does not need the center support structure.
- Modifying to Traditional Farmhouse Bed - Very easy to do, plans coming soon
- Planking Cuts - note that the planking is right at 12" and 24" - if your 1x8s are exactly 8' or 12' - you may wish to cut boards 1/8" less so all your cuts fit with the saw blade waste accounted for
- Other materials for planking - yes, you can use just about any material instead of the 1x8 planking
Even More Bed Plans
Want even more DIY Bed Projects? Here's a round-up of some of our favorites!
Pin For Later!
Preparation
Twin Size (38" x 75")
- 1 - 4x4 @ 10 feet long
- 5 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long
- 18 linear feet of 1x8 boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 8 feet long
- 5 - 1x4 @ 8 feet long
- 40 - 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 20 - 1-1/2" self tapping wood screws (Spax or similar)
- wood glue
- 120 grit sand paper
Full size (54" x 75")
- 1 - 4x4 @ 10 feet long
- 4 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long
- 3 - 2x4 @ 10 feet long
- 24 linear feet of 1x8 boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 8 feet long
- 5 - 1x4 @ 10 feet long
- 40 - 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 30 - 1-1/2" self tapping wood screws (Spax or similar)
- wood glue
- 120 grit sand paper
Queen Size (60" x 80")
- 1 - 4x4 @ 10 feet long
- 4 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long
- 3 - 2x4 @ 12 feet long
- 27 linear feet of 1x8 boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 8 feet long
- 6 - 1x4 @ 10 feet long
- 40 - 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 33 - 1-1/2" self tapping wood screws (Spax or similar)
- wood glue
- 120 grit sand paper
Standard King (76" x 80")
- 1 - 4x4 @ 10 feet long
- 10 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long
- 33 linear feet of 1x8 boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 8 feet long
- 11 - 1x4 @ 8 feet long
- 40 - 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 33 - 1-1/2" self tapping wood screws (Spax or similar)
- wood glue
- 120 grit sand paper
California King (72" x 84")
- 1 - 4x4 @ 10 feet long
- 10 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long
- 30 linear feet of 1x8 boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 8 feet long
- 11 - 1x4 @ 6 feet long
- 40 - 2-1/2" pocket hole screws
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- 33 - 1-1/2" self tapping wood screws (Spax or similar)
- wood glue
- 120 grit sand paper
Twin Size (38" x 75")
- 2 - 4x4 @ 46-1/2" - headboard legs
- 2 - 4x4 @ 12" - footboard legs
- 4 - 2x4 @ 38" - headboard/footboard back supports
- 2 - 2x4 @ 45" - headboard/footboard tops
- 6 - 1x8 @ 24" - headboard panel boards
- 6 - 1x8 @ 12" - footboard panel boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 75"- siderails
- 2 - 2x4 @ 78-1/2" - cleats and inner support
- 10 - 1x4 @ 38" - slats
- Twin size does not require inner support system
Full size (54" x 75")
- 2 - 4x4 @ 46-1/2" - headboard legs
- 2 - 4x4 @ 12" - footboard legs
- 4 - 2x4 @ 54" - headboard/footboard back supports
- 2 - 2x4 @ 61" - headboard/footboard tops
- 8 - 1x8 @ 24" - headboard panel boards
- 8 - 1x8 @ 12" - footboard panel boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 75" - siderails
- 4 - 2x4 @ 78-1/2" - cleats and inner support
- 6 - 2x4 @ 8" - inner support
- 10 - 1x4 @ 54" - slats
Queen Size (60" x 80")
- 2 - 4x4 @ 46-1/2" - headboard legs
- 2 - 4x4 @ 12" - footboard legs
- 4 - 2x4 @ 60" - headboard/footboard back supports
- 2 - 2x4 @ 67" - headboard/footboard tops
- 9 - 1x8 @ 24" - headboard panel boards
- 9 - 1x8 @ 12" - footboard panel boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 80"- siderails
- 4 - 2x4 @ 83-1/2" - cleats and inner support
- 6 - 2x4 @ 8" - inner support
- 11 - 1x4 @ 60" - slats
Standard King (76" x 80")
- 2 - 4x4 @ 46-1/2" - headboard legs
- 2 - 4x4 @ 12" - footboard legs
- 4 - 2x4 @ 76" - headboard/footboard back supports
- 2 - 2x4 @ 83" - headboard/footboard tops
- 11 - 1x8 @ 24" - headboard panel boards
- 11- 1x8 @ 12" - footboard panel boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 80"- siderails
- 4 - 2x4 @ 83-1/2" - cleats and inner support
- 6 - 2x4 @ 8" - inner support
- 11 - 1x4 @ 76" - slats
California King (72" x 84")
- 2 - 4x4 @ 46-1/2" - headboard legs
- 2 - 4x4 @ 12" - footboard legs
- 4 - 2x4 @ 72" - headboard/footboard back supports
- 2 - 2x4 @ 79" - headboard/footboard tops
- 10 - 1x8 @ 24" - headboard panel boards
- 10 - 1x8 @ 12" - footboard panel boards
- 2 - 2x8 @ 84" - siderails
- 4 - 2x4 @ 87-1/2" - cleats and inner support
- 6 - 2x4 @ 8" - inner support
- 11 - 1x4 @ 72" - slats
For long term durability and more professional results, I recommend using a pocket hole joinery system for wood joints. Here is a video with tips for using a pocket hole jig:
Instructions
Step 1
For the 4 2x4s that are the width of the mattress, drill two 1-1/2" pocket holes on each end.
Also drill 1-1/2" pocket holes facing upward in the top 2x4, to attach the top in next steps.
Attach to the 4x4 legs with 2-1/2" pocket hole screws.
Make sure the top 2x4 has pocket holes facing upward.
Step 2
Attach the tops to the headboard and footboard through the pocket holes drilled in step 1.
Use 2-1/2" pocket hole screws.
Step 3
Lay the planking pieces out on the headboard and footboard to make sure it all fits. Make any adjustments as necessary.
Start in the center and work outward. For an odd number of panel boards, mark the center of the first panel board and match it to the center marks. For an even number of panel boards, start at the center marks.
Attach planking pieces with 1-1/4" brad nails and glue, working from the center outward.
For the end pieces, rip to fit with a tablesaw. Then attach with glue and brad nails.
The headboard and footboard are ready for finish. Fill all nail holes with wood filler and sand well. Apply paint or stain.
Also finish the 2x8 siderail pieces.
Step 4
Drill three 1-1/2" pocket holes on each end of the 2x8s.
Attach with 2-1/2" pocket hole screws.
Step 5
Build the inner support with 2-1/2" screws (you can use pocket hole screws).
Assemble the bed in the room.
Attach the cleats to the siderails, 1" down form top edge of the siderails.
Attach the center support to the footboard with 2-1/2" screws (you can use pocket hole screws), so the center support is centered on the bed.
Step 6
Lay slats on cleats and center support.
Screw down with 1-1/2" length screws.
Sand in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper.
Vacuum all sanding residue off of the bed.
