I have a 16' x 21" wide 5/4 mahogany board that I want to use for raised panels in the headboard and footboard of a bed I plan to build. I want to utilize the board so as to minimize waste and save as much as I can for other projects. I'm still in the planning phase, but the design I have in mind will use two 18-24" high x 21" wide panels in the headboard and two 12" x 21" wide panels in the footboard. Cutting the panels this way will use about 6' of the board. If I cut the panels the same size so that the grain runs horizontal, I'll use about 8 feet of the board. Any problems I should be aware of due to expansion and contraction of panels this large? Should I run the grain vertically or horizontally? Thanks.

Kurt