Elmer Jacobi
How To Build A Loft Bed – Design and comfort do not have to be compromised when living in a tiny space. Knowing how to build a loft bed is a great way to keep your bedroom as spacious as possible.
With a loft bed, the extra floor space available can be used to create a cozy sleeping area with ample storage for other furniture and knick-knacks [1]. Follow these step-by-step instructions to start your own DIY loft bed. Get materials for your loft bed frame that will house your preferred mattress size. Here are the following materials needed for a simple loft bunk bed [2]:
How To Build A Loft Bed – Step 2: Measure the Ceiling Height If the height of your ceiling is too low for a loft space or the height of your DIY loft bed isn’t measured correctly, you might end up installing the pieces in the wrong places.
Make sure you consider the size of the mattress that you intend to buy and the furniture that is going underneath the DIY loft bed. You can also add shelves, a desk or storage below the loft bed frame [3]. Using a drill, create pilot holes in the boards in which the nuts and screws will go. Insert the plywood on top of the loft bed frame using drywall screws.
Drill pilot holes into the bed frame and connect an 8 foot 4 x 4 inch post on each side using nuts. You can do this with optional clamping devices to keep the legs in place on the bed frame before you finalize your drill holes [5].
After firmly connecting the legs to the bed frame, attach the rails.
To secure the loft bed, connect the 2 x 2 inch boards across the legs using your drill and screws or lag bolts.
The step-by-step instructions above can be applied to a full-size loft bed with a few tweaks. Using the above directions, you’ll need to add an additional 15 inches to the width.
If you plan to cut your wood, choose clean boards, and work on a level surface. Wood is the most popular choice for loft beds, but metal frames are also an option.
Wood offers a vast array of colors, shapes, and sizes. Metal frames, on the other hand, provide a lightweight build and versatility. It’s crucial that your storage loft bed not only be durable and stylish but also comfortable. Whatever material you choose to use for your project, create loft bed plans that are compact and well-designed so there is no risk of toppling [8].
Loft beds for adults are currently trending since they can make a small home more spacious and accessible [9]. A home with a large ceiling is a perfect fit for a loft bed project with storage.
Place it anywhere in your home like beside a window, above a sitting area, next to your working desk or hang it from the ceiling with chains.
A child’s loft bed plans are slightly different from those of an adult’s. When building a loft bed for a child, consider their age, height, and daily activities. Bedrooms for children should be engaging, functional, and spacious, filled with happy colors.
Once nighttime comes, a slide provides a quick, easy, and safe way to get to the bathroom during the night. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a slide should not have a slope of more than 50 degrees and should have at least a 6-foot clearance at the bottom [12]. If you have a wooden bed, you can use extra lengths of 2×4’s to add height if needed. [7] Loft Design; Solutions for Creating a Livable Space, Katherine Stone, 2005. [8] Architectural Digest; 8 Loft Bed Ideas for Your Small Bedroom, Elizabeth Stamp, October 26, 2017. [9] HomeDit; Maximizing Space Since Their Clever Inception, Simona Ganea, February 18, 2016.
[10] Dwell; The Tiny Hollywood Home of Mad Men’s Vincent Kartheiser, Aaron Britt, October 21, 2013. [12] Hunker; How to Make a Slide for a Bunk Bed, Flora Richards-Gustafson.
