DIY Low Loft Beds for Kids

Bed

• Design the bed portion with your growing child in mind. While it may be tempting to make it small like a toddler bed, your child will soon surpass the length and it might be better to make it a standard twin size. The bed needs rails as it is raised and there will be access via a ladder. Determine a color scheme to paint the whole bed. If you plan on having more than one child, paint or stain it a gender-neutral color or be prepared to paint it a different color for each child that uses it.

Play Area

• While traditional loft beds have a desk underneath the bed, low loft beds have a play area. Make it a special place to hang out by hanging curtains designed for the space. Add a collection of throw pillows in prints your child can help you choose and make room for oversized stuffed toys. If you add a light that can clip to the side of the bed, the play area can double as a reading area.

Shelving

• Reserve one end of the bed for shelving. Customize the shelves according to what you want to store. For instance, books, toys and games are common items, but if your child collects a certain thing, they can be customized to suit the collection. Leave them one length or divide them into sectors to house one toy per cubby. You can also leave the shelves open to allow for access from both sides. This way your child can access books from the play area.

Other Ideas

• The other end of the bed can act as additional shelving, or you can build a small craft table into the side of the bed. Similar to the desk designs of taller loft beds, it can be added to protrude from the bed's side. Hang a chalkboard above the table and add storage for craft supplies. Soften the railing by adding a bolster pillow, which is a thin cylindrical pillow along the rail's length. Stencil designs on the bed's wood or use vinyl decals, which are removable.