How to Make Your Twin Bed Into a Bunk Bed Without Wood

Measure the floor footprint and surrounding wall space you can allow for a loft bed. Take into account any overhead light fixtures, windows, door framing and heating vents as you lay out dimensions.

Design the loft bed for construction with 2-inch PVC pipe or 1 1/2 inch stainless steel pipe. Draw each section of the bed on graph paper, allowing room for a child to sit up in bed on the top bunk. Create the bed layout with computer software, as one option, that will include a ladder, mattress platform, bar to prevent falling out of the bed, and a bookcase or desk on the lower level.

Make cuts with a hacksaw when cutting PVC pipes or use a jigsaw with metal cutting blade for metal pipes. Cut all pipe framing for the longest pieces first, so you will waste less pipe. Pre-drill holes needed for screws or metal brackets you will attach to metal pipes that will hold the mattress platform.

Connect sections with elbow fittings or four-way tee fittings. Thread metal piping together to form the basic platform and mattress platform. Secure all screws or brackets to hold components for an all-metal bed. Dry fit PVC pipe sections before gluing them. Tap them together for the dry fitting with a rubber mallet, and use the rubber mallet to separate sections again to apply glue.

Install curtains to close over the bottom bed for more privacy. Gather sheer curtains over a rod that you attach with Velcro in order to take them down for washing at any time.