Woodworking Projects: Loft Bed

Determine Space

• When building a loft bed, look at the room where you will keep it. Decide whether you want to build the loft bed directly into the wall studs or as a freestanding unit. Look at the height of the ceiling. A child should be able to sit up in the loft bed without hitting the ceiling, but the base of the bed needs to be between 4 and 5 feet off the ground to create ample space under the bed for a desk or second bed. Plan not just for your child's current height, but for the maximum height she will reach during the years she will be using the bed. Make sure that the space available for the project accommodates the uses you envision, and adjust accordingly, if needed.

Choose the Mattress Size

• Usually, loft beds are an alternative to bunk beds for children. Since they are built for smaller people, loft bed plans usually are based on a twin-sized mattress. According to Black & Decker's "The Complete Guide to Built-Ins," twin beds are a standard 39 by 75 inches. If you choose a larger mattress, the frame for the loft bed should be at least 1 inch larger on all sides than the mattress, as recommended by the authors of "Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know."

Holding the Parts Together

• Building your own loft bed from wood requires the proper hardware to hold the parts together. Instead of using nails or screws for the bed, use heavy-duty bolts. The bolts with a nut on the other side, will hold the parts of the bed together better than screws or nails that only hold from one side. To support the base of the loft bed, build it like a ceiling. Hold up the joists under the bed with ceiling joist brackets, and reinforce the corners of the bed with L-brackets. These metal parts will strengthen the construction of the bed.

Finishing or Painting

• When building the loft bed, put all of the parts together, but before you secure the bed to wall studs, paint or finish the bed. Coating the bed with wood stain or paint before putting it up will make the application of the color coat easier since you can access all parts of the bed while it is still on the floor. Instead of a color coat, consider using a polyurethane varnish for durability.

Checking the Bed for Safety

• Before letting anyone sleep in the loft bed, test it. Check for loose bolts in the structure. Use a level and plumb to verify that all of the parts are level and the vertical supports are at a true 90-degree angle. Ensure that there is a safety rail on all sides of the bed not abutting a wall. It does not matter if the bed is for adults or children; the bed still needs a safety rail that is secured and does not wobble.

Added Extras

• Consider adding bookshelves, drawers or a built-in desk to the bottom half of the loft bed while you are constructing it. Bookshelves and drawers can be placed on the vertical supports for the loft bed for additional storage for the room. A built-in desk under the loft bed with drawers in the base of the desk creates a work or study space for a child or young adult. The desk and bed combination is especially useful in small rooms where economy of space is needed.