How to Build a Loft Bunk Bed

The loft bunk bed is one of the hallmarks of campus dorms. Two students sharing cramped floor space decide that the best way to add some room is to build upward with a loft bed. Here is one way to make that happen without having to worry about your roomie or you crashing through the upper bunk midway through the semester.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape
• Wood
• Wood screws
• Hammer
• Power drill
• Screwdriver

1. Measure the height and width of the area you plan to build on. This is key because you will need those measurements to know how much wood to buy.

2. Get some wood. You will need four "posts," at least three pieces of wood to span the long part across the bed, and eight to serve as support for the horizontal part. Also decide if you want to build a separate ladder or just add more wood to the horizontal part.

3. Drill starter holes in the top of two of your posts. They should be about 6 to 12 inches from the top of the post. Then drill more holes at the bottom at the same distance. Lay them flat on the floor.

4. Place one of your long pieces of wood between the two posts so it sits on top and over the starter holes. Screw the beam into place.

5. Attached four of the supper horizontal beams to the posts. Use your starter holes as guides. The upper beams should be just underneath your long beam on top. The bottom beams should be just below your other starter holes.

6. Drill holes in other two posts.

7. Get someone to help you raise your structure up. Quickly screw the other two posts into the horizontal beams extending from the top and bottom of the original posts.

8. Screw in the top vertical beam.

9. Take the four remaining short beams and drill them into the outside portions of the posts. This will give support.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel free to paint or stain the wood after it is done.
• Make sure to always check to make sure the beams are secure. You a hammer to knock at the screws. You may ned to add more.
• Some people build a seperate ladder for their bed. Consider this during construction.
• Your main support beams should be on the inside of your stucture.
• You may want to add a support beam across the middle of the bed to hold weight.