How to make an American Girl Twin Bed for under $5

Things you will need:

Pencil
Tape Measure
Dust/Paint Mask
Square
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Drill
Circular saw
Sander
Optional:
1 1/4″ wood screws or buy a Kreg Jig
and use 1 1/4” Kreg Jig Screws.

Instead of using screws, You could use
an 18 Gauge Nailer with 1 1/4” Nails (*You need an air compressor also)

Shopping List:

2 – 1×2 @ 8 Feet
1 – 1/4” x 2′ x 4′ Plywood or MDF
Wood Glue
1 inch screws or Kreg Jig and 1 1/4 Kreg Jig Screws

 Cut List:

2 – 1×2@ 9 1/2” – Very TOP of Headboards
2 – 1×2@ 7 1/2” – Top of Headboards
4 – 1×2@ 3” – Front Slats
2 – 1×2@ 4 1/2” – Front Legs
8 – 1×2@ 6” – Bottom of Headboards, Slats on the Back, and support for mattress board
2 – 1×2@ 9” – Back Legs

Step 1: 

Attach bottom board to slats using glue and 1 1/4″ screws or nails.  Pre-drill each hole and countersink, then attach from bottom of headboard.  One screw or nail per slat.

 

Step 2:

Attach legs by screwing through pre-drilled Kreg Jig holes.  The top of the legs need to be flush with slats.

Step 3:

Attach top of headboard with glue and screws. Put one screw in each leg and slat.

Step 4:

This is the base of the bed.  I put all four pieces together, then attached the whole unit to the headboard and footboard.

Step 5:

Put on the headboard’s top board. Follow the same steps to build the foot board.

Step 6:

Attach bed support to headboard and footboard.  Use glue and 1 1/4″ screws.

Step 7:

Slide in the mattress support.  I did not glue or nail this piece on.