Loft Construction
Looking for more space in a cramped dorm room? Try building a loft for your bed. A lofted bed allows you to slide a desk or bureau underneath. This subsequently opens up floor space for futons, coffee tables, dance floors, or even games of twister, if that's still your thing.
A loft works best in a room with 10 foot high ceilings or taller. However, the plans can be modified to squeeze into a shorter basement room. These plans are for an 80" tall loft. In order to sit upright in your bed, you will need 2.5'-3' of additional space above the loft. Before purchasing the lumber and beginning to build, measure the size of your mattress to ensure that it will fit onto the loft properly. Most twin beds are 39" x 75".
Contents
Materials
All of the required materials can be purchased at a Home Depot or Lowes store. Make sure to have the lumber cut down to the desired size for free at the store. If you would rather perform the cuts yourself, a cheap Black & Decker handheld jigsaw can be bought for about $30. This performs the task but is slower and much more tiring than having them cut by the lumber saws at the store.
See the materials list for a complete listing of what you will need.
Construction
Begin construction by building the four pairs of 80" 2" x 6" 's into the loft legs. Be sure that each leg is square, and that the bottom ends of the pair of 2" x 6" 's are perfectly aligned. Remember that your loft will rest on these legs, and the STABILITY OF YOUR BED is very much dependent on your care in constructing the legs. Attach the boards with wood glue and 2" wood screws. A Ryobi handheld drill can be purchased for $30 and has enough power to adequately drill into the wood.
Continue by building the loft platform. Lay out the 2" x 6" 's in the rectangular pattern, and connect them using wood glue and the 2" wood screws. Lay the plywood on top of this frame and screw it down with the 1 5/8" screws. If any of the boards are warped, hold them in alignment with the edge of the plywood when screwing in. This will help with a strong connection to the legs.
Next, flip the frame over, exposing the underside of the plywood. Run the 2" x 4" across the center of the underside of the platform. Have the 2" side (as opposed to the 4" side) lying against the plywood. Hold the 2" x 4" against the plywood while screwing through the side 2" x 6" 's into the 2" x 4" using 2" screws. Flip the platform back over and put two 1 5/8" screws through the plywood and into the 2" x 4".
Attaching the platform and the legs is trickier, and is much easier with the help of a second person. Turn the platform up on one of its long sides. Slide one of the legs into position on the platform. The top of the platform should be 8" below the top of the leg (The extra leg height will hold the mattress in place). Glue and screw in the leg using 2" screws. Use one or two screws for each 2" x 6", but make sure that the screws are off-center. You will need space for the carriage bolts. Also, make sure that the leg is perfectly square to the frame. Unsquare legs equal a wobbly bed that falls while you are getting with that special someone who is a little heftier than looks after ten beers.
After screwing on the first leg, drill 1/4" diameter hole through each leg board and the platform frame. These will be the carriage bolt holes. Complete attaching the leg to the platform by tightening down the carriage bolt with a nut and washer. Make sure the bolt head is on the outside, and the washer and nut are under the plywood. This will prevent accidental injuries later in the year.
Repeat these steps for the other three legs. Check the length of each leg from bottom to platform before attaching each one to the platform. This will guarantee you a level sleeping space.
Flip the loft up onto its four legs. Lift up each corner so that each leg stands straight up and down. You have now finished the most difficult part of the loft construction. All that remains is to attach the steps and the cross-piece supports.
Choose which side of the loft will be against a wall. On this side you will attach the long diagonal supports. Measure the base of this side to ensure that it is the same width as the top. Then attach each long 1" x 4" diagonally with wood glue and 1 5/8" wood screws. Use wood glue where the two boards cross.
Now determine which end of the loft will have your steps. Once again check the width at the base and top of the legs. Attach the the steps at widths that are comfortable for you in scaling the loft.
Finally, attach the cross pieces at the opposite end from your steps. Check the leg widths, and attach the boards with 1 5/8" screws and wood glue. Throw your mattress on top and you have yourself a lofted bed!
Materials List
- Lumber
- White Pine
- 2" x 6": 8 @ 80"; 2 @ 76"; 2 @ 40"
- 2" x 4": 1 @ 37"
- 1" x 4": 2 @ 99"; 2 @ 49"; 3 @ 43"
- Plywood
- 3/4" x 76" x 40"
- White Pine
- 8 Carriage Bolts (1/4" diameter x 3 1/2")
- 8 Nuts
- 8 Washers
- 2" Wood Screws
- 1 5/8" Wood Screws
- Wood Glue
- Tools
- Wrench
- Drill
- Philips Head Drill Bit
- 1/4" Drill Bit
- Hand-Held Jig Saw (optional)
Estimated Cost (minus tools): $90
Loft Diagrams
Looking to add to your loft and improve your room? Build some shelves onto your loft: Loft Shelves.
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