How to Loft a Bunk Bed
Bunk beds are a good arrangement in a room two people share, or in a larger room occupied by one person who expects guests. For a person who does not frequently share space, the result of a bunk bed is wasted room. Turning your bunk bed into a loft bed is slightly more complex than removing the bottom bunk, since many frames rely on that bottom bunk for stability. Stabilizing the frame with braces is an easy process with wooden bed frames, though metal bed frames take specialized skills and equipment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hex wrench
- Screwdriver
- Jig saw
- Sandpaper
- Futon bunk bed frame
- Wooden plank, 1 in by 6 in by 30 in
- Wooden plank, 1 by 6 by 80 inches
- Power drill with screwdriver bits
- Wood screws, 1 ½ inches long
- Paint
- Paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Sand all faces of all five planks.
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2
Paint all faces of your planks to match your bed frame. Consider a complementary color if you can't match the color exactly,
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3
Assemble the bunk bed according to the instructions that came with the set, skipping any steps for installing the bottom bunk frame.
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4
Set the long plank along the side of the frame that will rest against the wall. Set it parallel to and halfway between the ground and mattress platform, so that each end rests on the support legs. Screw it to the support legs with two wood screws per leg.
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5
Set one 30-inch plank diagonally, one end each on the mattress platform and one leg on the same side as the 80-inch plank. Screw it in place with two wood screws.
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6
Set a second 30-inch plank diagonally, connecting the mattress platform and the opposite leg on the same side as the first. Screw it in place with two wood screws.
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7
Brace the end with the two remaining planks, one per end. Set each diagonally, attached to one leg and the mattress platform. Screw in place with two wood screws.
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8
Cut off any corners protruding above the level of the mattress platform
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9
Add touch-up paint to any point that got scratched or dinged during construction.
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Tips & Warnings
Test the frame for stability by shaking it with your off hand. If it wobbles more than an inch or so, add more braces or reinforce by screwing it to one or more wall studs.
