Aloha!
So today’s plans are for a toddler canopy bed! How adorable is this:
Now screw in two of your 27.5″ 1×3’s (using the 1.25″ screws).
We made the cleats slightly shorter than our sides to allow for these two end pieces.
Now space out the rest of your 27.5″ 1×3’s along the base. When you have them spaced how you want them, use your 1.25″ screws to screw them to your cleats. I just put one screw in each side.
Let’s stick the crib mattress on there to make sure it fits…PHEW! Fits like a glove.
For the headboard and footboard, I just used a pencil directly on the board. I start in the middle and mark it, then go down the sides to see how far down I want it to be, and I kind of connect the two points on just one side. Then I cut out the one side with my jig saw, and then flipped that over to the other side and traced it to get the exact same pattern. 🙂 It really is easy. I have no art skills. Erasers are wonderful things.
If you’re using the decorative headboard piece, now is when you’ll want to put that on, too. Just glue and clamp. 🙂 I found mine at Lowes for just over $4. Here is a similar wood onlay found on Amazon for less than $3.50.
Now glue and screw your 2×2’s into your headboard and footboard. I wanted to give the illusion that my headboard was taller than the footboard (without having to purchase a larger piece of wood), so I placed the headboard up 6″ from the bottom, and the footboard is only 3″ up.
Since we’re attaching a 1″ thick piece of headboard to a 2″ thick side post, it’s hard to get it centered just right. I ended up setting up quite the work station to do this. I used some scrap 1/2″ plywood I had in order to center the headboard on the 2×2.
You’ll need to do the same with the 27″ 1×2 pieces that will be flush with the top of your posts. Glue and screw. Sink all of these since you’ll just be mudding and painting right over the top of them.
So here are two headboards that I finished:
After I had these three separate pieces built, I mudded all my holes with wood putty, let that dry, and then primed and painted them all before attaching them. I did NOT do the poly at this point, though. I left the slats and inside of the bed unpainted. After painting so many rooms in our Hawaii home, I’m pretty good at cutting a straight line, so I just used my angled 2″ Purdy brush and made a straight line right along the top of those sides.
And I didn’t catch a pic of the debacle that was the stack of boards I had to use to get the base at the right height, so I could screw in the headboard and footboard! That was quite a feat! I ended up placing it up 4″.
Here, you can see how high it is on my toddler. Just right. 🙂
This is the best pic I could find of the headboard detail. I think it adds a nice touch.
HERE is a link for the tutorial on how to make finials from door knobs:
All done!
I had planned to sink the screws and use the wooden screw covers over them, but they were a HUGE pain o paint. Tiny little pieces of garbage!! Blah. But after getting it all put together, I decided the gold screws that I had chosen actually looked fine, so I kept them as is. 🙂
What do you think?!
Aloha,
Charlie
Charlie this is purely awesome…thanks so much for sharing!
What a beautiful piece! I'm sure your daughter is loving that! You do very nice work. 🙂 Megan your newest follower vai the Today's Creative link party.
Oh wow, please come and help me make one! This is so pretty!
Oh Please, help me make one!? lol
My little girl needs to upgrade to a toddler bed.. your tutorial looks very easy!! I have to give it a try!!
Found you on TT & J and I would love for you to come by my party and link this up or any other projects you have!
http://www.littleinspiration.com/2012/03/create-inspire-party-features.html
Best of Luck!
Angie from ALI
You are truly incredible!! I really can't believe you made this, but it's incredible! Thanks for sharing at oopsey daisy!
Thanks, Alison! Honestly, I wouldn't believe I made it if I hadn't actually been there… 😉
Aloha,
Charlie
So beautiful. Great job. Thanks for sharing. I'm stopping over from Between Naps On The Porch's Party.
Thanks! It was fun to build. Can't say I love the painting process, though! lol
Aloha and thanks for visiting,
Charlie
Very lovely piece! Looks great.
Charlie! how sweet is that bed! Love the picture with your little one sitting on it! Great tute, thanks for sharing at catch as catch can!
gail
So CUTE!!!
Thank you for the fantastic article. The place else could anyone get that kind of info in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such information.
where did you get the knobs on the top? i cant seem to find any!
Lowes!
Can you tell me about how much you spent on everything?
I built two of them for just over $100 including paint and accessories. 🙂
I am new to building and have a question about the measurements. the 2x2s at 84 inches, are they supposed to be cut into 4 equal pieces? I am confused at how to get the four 47.5 inch 2x2s. I have never built anything and want to attempt this bed!! thank you so much
Thanks for the catch! They actually come in 96" lengths. I'm not sure why my brain had typed 84"! 😉
Aloha,
Charlie