Platform Bed

Hey guys I found a plan off of the Workbench website for a platform bed. I am going to be building it for my house that we are renting while I am going to school. I like the natural look of the wood and on the plan they have it painted black. There is cedar paneling on the ceiling in my room.

The plans call for a sheet of birch ply and poplar wood.

What are your opinions on other wood? The widest piece in the project is 11 1/4”. I was thinking just using regular lumber and gluing it up into a panel, but then I thought about it warping with the change of weather. If I could find lumber to glue the panel it would be fine, but it would also have to be pretty close to the same grain pattern.

Since I was making something fancy like this I would like to make it out of maybe maple, cherry, or oak if I am going to stick with varnishing it. I am just worried about the panels warping.

Thanks for the help!