Cane is a great way to add character and style to your furniture. Learn how to build this DIY Cane Bed with free plans and a how-to video by Shanty2Chic. Just click the image below to watch us build it!

I am loving cane furniture right now! I love the contrast of the raw cane color with stain or paint! My daughter has been asking for a bigger bed, she has been in a twin bed and her older brothers have full beds. So, I took this opportunity to try my hand at my first caning project! I designed and built her this full size, four piece bed. I incorporated the cane into the headboard and gave the rest of the bed frame a nice rustic modern design. This is a super easy build that only requires five basic tools, which makes it great for beginners! You can scroll to the bottom of this post to get the free printable plans! So, let’s get to building!

CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO THE FREE PRINTABLE PLANS

Tools:

Supplies:

How to Build a DIY Cane Bed

How-to Build the Headboard

Note: We used our table saw to rip off all of the round edges from the 2x boards. The width of the boards is noted on the cut list. This is an optional step but if you choose not to rip your boards, make sure to adjust the plans accordingly.

Step 1 – Make Cuts and Drill Pocket Holes

We cut the headboard pieces to size and used our Kreg Jig to drill 1 1/4″ pocket holes in both ends of the horizontal boards.

Step 2 – Assemble the Headboard

Next, we attached the horizontal boards to the headboard posts with 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws and wood glue. Pocket holes should face down.

The headboard rail should be flush with the back of the headboards posts. Pocket holes should face forward.

How-to Build the Footboard

Step 1 – Make Cuts and Drill Pocket Holes

We cut the footboard pieces to size and drill 1 1/2″ pocket holes in both ends of the horizontal boards and at both ends of the foot rail.

Step 2 – Assemble the Footboard

We attached the boards to the footboard side posts with 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws and wood glue. The pocket holes should face the back on the foot rail and down on the horizontal boards. The front of the foot rail should be flush with the front of the side posts and horizontal pieces.

How to Build the Cane Frames

Step 1: Make Cuts and Drill Pocket Holes

We cut the cane frame pieces to size and drilled 3/4″ pocket holes in each end of the front frame pieces and the horizontal frame pieces.

Step 2 – Assemble the Cane Frames

Next, we used our brad nailer to attach the side frame pieces to the front frame pieces with 1 1/4″ brad nails and wood glue. Build three sets of the cane frame.

We attached the horizontal frame pieces to the side frame pieces with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws and wood glue.

Here is what the cane frame should look like when it is done. Now is the best time to cut the cane webbing to size.

We rolled the cane webbing out and laid the cane frame on top of the webbing. We marked where we wanted our cuts to be on the webbing and cut it to size with scissors. Don’t attach the cane webbing yet.

We spaced the cane frames out evenly and attached them to the headboard with 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws. We went through the side frame pieces and into the horizontal headboard pieces. The front of the cane frames should be flush with the front of the headboard.

To attach the cane webbing, we laid the pieces on the back of the cane frames. We cut the 1/4″ trim pieces to size and laid them at the top and bottom of the cane. Then, we used our stapler to attach the trim to the cane and cane frames with 3/4″ staples and wood glue.

Side Rails

Step 1 – Make Cuts and Drill Pocket Holes

We cut the side rails and cleats to size and drilled 1 1/2″ pocket holes in both ends of the boards. Refer to the cut list for the proper placement of the pocket holes.

Next, we attached the side rails to the headboard and footboard with 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws. The top of the side rails should be flush with the top of the footboard and level with the top of the back rail.

Once the side rails were attached, we marked where the cleats should be attached on the side rails and attached them to the side rails with 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws on each end. We added a few more 2 1/2″ wood screws along the length of the cleats.

Attach the Slats

We spaced the slats out evenly and attached them to the cleats with 1 1/4″ wood screws.

The final step was to add a finish! We painted the bed with two coats of Seine by Valspar. If you don’t want the cane painted, just tape it off before you paint!

I couldn’t love this DIY Cane Bed more! Now, I’m on a mission to cane everything in my house 😉

Links to Decor

Make sure to share your builds with us on social media and use #shanty2chic so we can share them too!

Happy Building!

4.50 from 2 votes

DIY Cane Bed

Learn how to build this DIY Cane Bed with free plans and a how-to video by Shanty2Chic! This is a super easy build that only requires five basic tools, which makes it great for beginners! Click here for the FREE printable plans!
Note: I ripped all of the round edges off of the 2x boards. The width of the boards is noted on the cut list. This is an optional step but if you choose not to rip the round edges off, adjust the plans accordingly.

Supply List

  • 4 2x8x8 Framing Studs
  • 8 2x4x8 Framing Studs
  • 2 2x2x8 Framing Studs
  • 1 1/4" Pocket Hole Screws
  • 2 1/2" Pocket Hole Screws
  • 1 1/4" Wood Screws
  • 2 1/2" Wood Screws
  • 18"x84" Cane Webbing
  • Wood Glue

Instructions

  • Cut List 1
  • Cut List 2
  • Cut the headboard pieces to size. Drill 1 1/4" pocket holes in both ends of the horizontal boards. Attach the horizontal boards to the headboard posts with 2 1/2" pocket hole screws and wood glue. The headboard rail (blue) should be flush with the back of the headboard posts, pocket holes should face forward. The pocket holes on the horizontal boards (pink) should face down.
  • Cut the footbaord pieces to size and drill 1 1/2" pocket holes in both ends of the horizontal (pink boards) and at both ends of the foot rail (blue board). Attach the boards to the footboard side posts with 2 1/2" pocket holes should face the back on the foot rail and down on the horizontal boards. The front of the foot rail should be flush with the front of the side posts and horizontal pieces.
  • Cut the cane frame pieces to size. Drill 3/4" pocket holes in each end of the front fame pieces. Attach the side frame pieces to the front frame pieces to the front frame pieces with 1 1/4" brad nails and wood glue. Build three sets of the cane frame.
  • Drill 3/4" pocket holes in both ends of the horizontal frame pieces and attach them to the side frame pieces with 1 1/4" pocket hole screws and wood glue. Now is a good time to cut the cane webbing to size. Don't attach the webbing yet.
  • Space the cane frames out evenly and attach them to the headboard with 1 1/4" pocket hole screws, through the side frame pieces and into the horizontal headboard pieces. The front of the cane frames should be flush with the front of the headboard.
  • Lay the can webbing pieces on the back of the cane frames. Cut the 1/4" trim pieces to size and lay them at the top and bottom of the cane. Attach the trim to the cane and cane frames with 3/4" staples and wood glue.
  • Cut the side rails to size and drill 1 1/2" pocket holes in both ends. Refer to the cut list for the proper placement of the pocket holes. Attach the side rails to the headboard and footboard with 2 1/2" pocket hole screws. The top of the side rails should be flush with the top of the footboard and level with the top of the back rail.
  • Cut the cleat pieces to size and drill 1 1/2" pocket holes at each end of the cleats. Attach the cleats to the head rail and foot rails with 2 1/2" pocket hole screws. Add a few more 2 1/2" wood screws along the length of the cleats.
  • Space the slats out evenly and attach them to the cleats with 1 1/4" wood screws.
  • Add a finish and you're all done!
    Make sure to share your builds with us on social media and use #shanty2chic so we can share them too!
    Happy Building!
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10 Comments

  1. I love this plan! Do you happen to have measurements for a King sized bed? I love how you guys walk us through the whole process…makes it a little less intimidating for a relatively novice woodworker! Thanks for sharing…keep the projects coming!

  2. This is just what I’ve been looking for! I would love measurements for a twin bed! Or even just calculations so I can figure it out!

  3. Awesome this is exactly I am after but can’t find it online.. thanks to you I am gonna try building it.. where can I download the plan for the king bed. Which wood do you recommend. I intend to stain and seal the wood and not paint it.

  4. 5 stars
    This is exactly what I have been looking for! Could I please have plans for a queen size bed? Thank you in advance.

  5. Looks like y’all left out most of “Cut List 2” out of the supply list 🙂

    Can’t wait to make this bed!