How to Make Princess Castle Loft Beds

Stack two 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-60-inch boards on top of each other. Screw them together with 2 1/2-inch wood screws. Space the screws every 12 inches. Repeat to make four posts.

Set two of these assembled posts parallel to each other on the working surface. Set a 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-36-inch board across the two posts, about 6 inches down from the end that will be the top of the posts. Adjust the spacing of the posts so that their exterior sides are even with the ends of this board, which is a support board.

Screw four 2 1/2-inch wood screws down through the support board and into each post. Repeat with another support board that is 2 feet from the same end of the posts. Repeat this entire process with two additional posts and two additional support boards to complete the two ends of the loft bed.

Stand the two ends up with assistants holding each loft bed end and the support boards facing one another. Position a 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-83-inch board across the two bed ends, level with the top support board on each bed end. Screw the long board into each bed end by using four 2 1/2-inch wood screws. Drill two holes through the long board and into each support board end. Set 2 1/2-inch wood screws in the holes and tighten them securely. Repeat with another 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-83-inch board on the other side of the bed.

Attach another 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-83-inch board above each long board, as high as can be installed, to serve as guard rails. Eliminate these boards if the child does not require guard rails. Eliminate the front turret panel as well if eliminating the front guard rail.

Arrange two 1/2-by-8-by-36-inch plywood boards and two 1/2-by-8-by-83-inch plywood boards on the working surface. Cut a castle pattern into one side of each board. Do this by cutting out 4-by-4-inch squares every 4 inches from one side of the board to make a turret pattern.

Attach the smaller turret boards to the ends of the bed frame and the larger turret boards to the long side boards by screwing 1-inch wood screws through the turret boards every 12 inches.