- One of the main benefits of making a loft bed is that it can help free up space on the floor by raising the bed up so that the space under it can be made usable. Of course, this requires a solid and sturdy base. Many loft beds can be purchased via kits which can be assembled. If you wish to make your own loft base, however, it is important to use strong and compact wood to ensure that the bed can support a great deal of weight. In addition, the four vertical legs should be supported with horizontal pieces placed in between the legs at each end. This will help balance and stabilize the bed, making the legs less likely to shift from side to side and keeping the top stable.
- There are two different ways to make the top of the bed. If you would like to use a box spring, then the top of the bed can simply be a wooden frame with edges that support the periphery of the box spring. While offering greater support, box springs push the mattress up, which can make it uncomfortably close to the ceiling. If you don't use a box spring, then the support for the mattress must come in the form of slats which should be laid across the top of the frame to provide support for the mattress in all areas. These slats can be made from thick plywood. Many home improvement stores will be able to cut sections of plywood to meet your own individual measurements.
- Once the bed is constructed, the last step is building a way to get up and down from the bed. While some people like to simply use the wooden support slats as a way to climb up to the bed, this can be dangerous and may put stress on the frame. A simple ladder can be constructed from two-by-fours as long as the rungs of the ladder are well supported. Apparatuses for creating additional support for the rungs are easily obtainable at hardware stores. Finally, additional shelves can be placed either underneath the mattress, or off the sides at the mattress level for additional storage and convenience.
