How to Make a PVC Loft Bed

A loft bed helps to maximize the use of space in a small bedroom. This type of bed lifts the bed several feet off the ground and allows you to use the floor space beneath it. The extra floor room increases storage space and enlarges the play area in a child's room. Loft beds can be fairly expensive, but you can build one at home using PVC pipe for a fraction of the cost.

Things You'll Need

• Hacksaw
• PVC pipe, 2 inches by 10 feet, 13 lengths
• 90-degree elbows, 2-inch, 16
• Tee joints, 2-inch, 26
• PVC crosses, 2-inch, 8
• Sheet of plywood, 37 1/2 by 72

Instructions

Cut PVC Pipe

1. Cut 2-inch PVC pipe with a hacksaw to the following sizes for the base of the bed: four pieces, 19 3/8 inches (A); four pieces 9 3/8 inches (B); two pieces 17 1/2 inches (C); and one piece 33 ½ inches (D).

2. Cut 2-inch PVC pipe to the following sizes for the mattress platform: four pieces 12 1/2 inches (E); four pieces, 9 3/8 inches (B); two pieces, 17 1/2 inches (C); two pieces, 19 1/2 inches (G); four pieces 4 3/8 inches (H); four pieces, 4 1/2 inches (I); six pieces, 41 3/4 inches (J); and four pieces, 41 1/4 inches (K).

3. Cut 2-inch PVC pipe to the following sizes for the ladder: eight pieces, 8 1/8 inches (M); and three pieces, 17 1/2 inches (C).

4. Cut 2-inch PVC pipe to the following sizes for the railing: eight pieces, 19 7/8 inches (M); eight pieces, 9 7/8 inches(N); two pieces, 18 inches (O); four pieces, 34 inches (P); and 16 pieces, 11 5/8 inches (Q).

Base

1. Place a 2-inch, 90-degree elbow on both ends of (A). Turn one elbow facing upward and insert (B) into the other elbow. Place a 2-inch tee joint on the other end of (B) and insert (C). Place a tee on the other end of (C) and insert (B). All tees should face upward. Repeat to make a second side.

2. Place an elbow on (A) and place a tee on the opposite end. Insert (D) into the tee and place a tee on the opposite end. Insert (A) into the tee and place an elbow on the other end. This is the back of the base.

3. Join the sides and the back of the base by sliding the elbows on the back over the ends of the sides.

Mattress Platform

1. Place an elbow on the end of (B) and place a 2-inch PVC cross on the opposite end. Insert (C) into the cross and place a cross on the other end. Insert (B) into the cross and place an elbow on the other end. Repeat to make a second side.

2. Insert (H) into a tee. Insert (E), and place a cross on the other end and insert (I). Place a tee on the end of (I) and insert (G).

3. Place a tee on the opposite end of (G) and insert (I). Place a cross on the other end of (I). Insert (E) and place a tee on the other end of (E). Insert (H). This is the back. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make the front.

4. Slide (K) into each tee on the back of the platform and insert the opposite end into the corresponding tee on the front of the platform.

5. Slide the elbows on the ends of the side pieces over the ends of the front and back.

Top and Middle Railing

1. Place an elbow on (N) and a tee on the opposite end. Insert (O) and place a tee on the opposite end. Insert (N) and place an elbow on the opposite end. This is the left side.

2. Place a tee on the end of (M) and insert (P). Place a tee on the other end of (P) and insert (M). This is the front of the top railing. Repeat to make the back.

3. Place an elbow on both ends of (N). One elbow should face downward. Repeat to make a second piece. These are the right side pieces.

4. Slide the elbows on the right-side pieces over the ends of the front and back of the top railing. Slide the elbows on the left-side piece over the opposite ends of the front and back pieces. Repeat to build the middle railing. Substitute crosses for the tees in the middle railing.

5. Assemble the railing by placing (Q) into each tee on the top railing and inserting the opposite ends of (Q) into the corresponding crosses on the middle railing.

Ladder

1. Place a tee on (M) and insert (M) into the other side of the tee. Repeat until you have assembled four (M) pieces and three tees.

2. Repeat to make the other side of the ladder.

3. Place (C) into the first tee on both sides. Repeat to insert (C) into each tee.

Bed Frame

1. Place (J) in the elbows turned upward on the base and insert the other ends in the crosses on the front of the mattress platform. Place (J) in the tees on the left and back side of the base and into the corresponding crosses on the end of the mattress platform.

2. Place the bottom pieces of the ladder into the tees on the right side of the base and insert the opposite ends into the crosses on the mattress platform.

3. Place (Q) into each cross on the top of the mattress platform and insert the opposite ends into the corresponding crosses on the middle railing.

4. Place a 37 ½-by-72-inch sheet of plywood over the slats on the mattress platform to support the mattress.

References

• Rehorst: PVC Cutting List
• Rehorst: Assembly Drawings