How to Make Small Loft Beds for Teenagers

Teenagers will have more floor space after the installation of a loft bed.

Build a loft bed for your teenager's room to give him some extra space. He can use the area underneath the bed as a lounge or study area. He can also place his dresser or a small bookcase in the area. Even if you are not skilled in wood working, you should be able to construct a loft bed without too much difficulty. If you have the skills, you can add a built-in desk to the lower portion of the bed.

Things You'll Need

• Twin sized mattress
• Plywood, 4 feet by 7 feet, 1 inch thick
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Circular or hand saw
• 3 pine 2 x 6's, 8 feet long
• 4 pine posts, 4 by 4 inches, 8 feet long
• 4 pine boards, 1 inch by 3 inches, 8 feet long
• 1 pine board, 1 inch by 12 inches, 8 feet long (optional)
• 1 pine board, 2 inches by 2 inches, 8 feet long
• Drill
• 12 drywall screws
• 4 lag screws

Instructions

1. Place the mattress on top of the plywood. Trace around the outside of the mattress on the plywood, one inch away from the mattress sides.

2. Cut the plywood with the saw along the traced outline. Cut two 2 by 6 boards so that they are the same length as the plywood. Place the two long boards on top of the plywood and measure the distance between them width-wise. Cut the remaining 2 by 6 board into two pieces that fit between the two long boards.

3. Position the four 2 by 6 boards into a rectangle. Connect the boards together by drilling a 3 inch drywall screw into each corner.

4. Place the plywood piece on top of the rectangle. Attach it to the rectangle by drilling drywall screws into the plywood every 2 feet or so.

5. Measure the height of the room from floor to ceiling. Cut each of the 4 by 4 posts so that they are one foot shorter than the ceiling height.

6. Draw a line 2 feet from the top of each post. The line is where you will position the bottom of the loft bed platform. Have someone help you line up two bottom corners of the platform with the line on two posts.

7. Drill a quarter inch hole through the 2 by 6 board on two sides of the platform and halfway through two of the 4 by 4 posts. Attach the platform to each post by lining up the holes and screwing in a lag screw on each side. Repeat with the other two corners of the platform and the remaining 4 by 4 posts.

8. Cut the 1 by 3.5 inch boards into eight pieces. Each piece should be wide enough to fit from post to post on the narrow, outer side of the bed.

9. Measure 1 foot up from the floor on two 4 by 4 posts one narrow side. Mark the measurement with a pencil, then measure 1 foot up from that measurement. Repeat, measuring and making marks until you reach the base of the platform. On the other side of the bed, measure up 3 feet from the ground and mark it on the two 4 by 4 posts.

10. Attach a 1 by 3 board to the two posts at each mark. Use 2 drywall screws on each side of the boards and drill into place. You are creating a ladder so that a teenager can easily climb into the bed. Attach another 1 by 3 board to the other side of the bed, at the marked points.

11. Cut the 1 by 12 inch board to fit between the two lower boards on the bed, if you want to add a desk. Lay the board on top of the boards that are 3 feet above the ground and attach with drywall screws.

12. Add a safety rail to bed by cutting the 2 by 2 board so that it fits between the two 4 by 4 posts on the top, long side of the bed. Drill the rail into place using 3 inch drywall screws.

Tips & Warnings

• You can leave the wood plain or paint if after you have assembled the loft bed.

• Make sure all the screws are in tightly before letting your teenager use the bed. Use a drill to ensure that the screws are in place.

• Do not use too thick a mattress on the loft bed or else the person who sleeps on it will be too close to the ceiling. Use a mattress than is 9 inches thick or less.

• To avoid the risk of injury, do not put more than 200 pounds on the loft bed.

References

• Ask the Builder: Build a Loft Bed