How to Build a Full Size Loft Bed

A full-size loft bed is a good furniture solution. It offers more storage space than the more traditional twin loft bed without needing extra sag support, like a queen or king size loft would. It's ideal for older children living at home or adults sharing a cramped living space. You can complete a full-size loft bed in an afternoon.

Things You'll Need

• Plywood sheet, 1/2 inch by 75 inches by 54 inches
• 2 beams, 2 inches by 4 inches by 75 inches
• 2 beams, 2 inches by 4 inches by 51 inches
• 4 posts, 6 inches by 6 inches by 60 inches
• 2 planks, 1 inch by 12 inches by 72 inches
• 4 planks, 1 inch by 12 inches by 54 inches
• Box of 3-inch wood screws
• Box of 1-inch nails
• Hammer or nail gun
• Power drill
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Sand all faces of your lumber. You don't have to get it polished smooth, but sand enough to eliminate the chance of getting splinters.

2. Set the four beams in a rectangle with the 51-inch beams inside the 75-inch beams, all four beams lying on the 2-inch wide edge. Screw them together with two wood screws at each joint.

3. Lay the plywood sheet on top of the frame. Nail it in position with one nail per corner and three evenly spaced nails along each edge.

4. Set one post in the angle formed by two beams of your frame. Screw it to the plywood sheet with three wood screws driven through the plywood and into the end of the beam. Position the screws on the diagonal of the post, evenly spaced.

5. Reinforce the post by driving two screws through the face of the 51-inch beam and into the side of the post. Further reinforce by driving two screws through the face of the 75-inch beam and into the other side of the post.

6. Repeat steps four and five with the remaining posts, setting one in each of the three open corners of the frame.

7. Connect the posts on one 75-inch side by attaching a 72-inch plank to them 40 inches above the floor. Connect using two wood screws per post.

8. Attach the second 72-inch plank directly opposite the first, again connecting with two wood screws per post.

9. Connect the posts on one 54-inch side by attaching a 51-inch plank to them 28 inches above the floor. This should set the plank so its top touches the bottom of the 72-inch planks. Screw in place with two wood screws per post.

10. Attach the second 54-inch plank directly opposite the first, again connecting with two wood screws per post.

11. Repeat Steps 9 and 10 to connect the posts on the other 54-inch side.

12. Move your frame into position in the bedroom. Slide the full-size mattress onto the loft platform.

References

• Gene Brick, Furniture Hobbyist, Hillsboro, OR
• "Step-by-Step Basic Carpentry"; Ben Allen; 1997
• BetterSleep.org: Mattress Sizes