Bunk bed plans

This step by step diy article is about how to build a loft bed. Building a loft bed is a cheap solution for small rooms that don’t provide enough space for fitting two beds. Although there are many designs you could choose from, in this article we will show you all you have to know about making a classic bulk bed out of common materials. If you have worked with lumber before, the carpentry techniques should be familiar to you.

Buy quality lumber, made for building lumber, if you want to get a durable bed. Nevertheless, you could save some money if you purchase lumber with knots, which could even enhance the look of project, giving it a rustic appearance. Select the slats with great attention, checking if they are in a good condition (the lumber has to be straight and without chips, dents or cracks).

Always aligned the components before locking them together with screws. In addition, we recommend you to pre-drill the lumber, otherwise the wood might easily split. Add glue to the joints, if you want to enhance their bond. Smooth the cut edges with fine grit sandpaper and remove the residues using a vacuum cleaner. Make sure you take a look over the related plans to get an idea about what you can build for your home. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building a bunk bed

Materials

A – 5 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 69” long LEGS
B – 2 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 43″ long, 2 pieces – 76″ long 2xFRAME
C – 6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 76” long CLEATS
D – 32 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 40” long SLATS
E – 6 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 43” long, 3 pieces – 76″ long, 3 pieces – 53″ long RAILS
F – 1 piece of 1×2 lumber – 79” long, 2 pieces – 46″ long, 1 piece – 56″ long TRIMS
G – 4 piece of 2×2 lumber – 15 1/2” long STEPS

5 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
6 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 8 ft
6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 8 ft
25 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 8 ft
3 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 8 ft
mattress
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Pre-drill holes in the wooden components, before driving in the screws
Smooth the exposed edges, by using a router with a 1/4” bit

Time

One day

Building a bunk bed

Building the bed frames

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the bed frames. In order to get a professional result, we recommend you to build the frame out of 2×6 lumber and the cleats out of 2×4 lumber. Make sure the corners are right-angled and add waterproof glue to the joints. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the long components and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the perpendicular slats. Next, attach the 2×4 cleats to the frame by using 2 1/2″ screws. Leave no gaps between the components and add glue to create rigid joints.

Attaching the cleats

Continue the bed frame projects by attaching the 1×4 support slats to the cleats. Place the slats equally-spaced and secure them into place by using 1 1/4″ screws.

Building the frame of the bunk bed

Building the frame of the bunk beds is a straight forward process. In order to get the job done in a professional manner, we recommend you to attach the frames to the 2×2 legs, as described in the diagram. Drill pilot holes through the legs and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the frames. Make sure the legs are plumb and check if the frames are horizontal.

Fitting the guard rails

Attach the guard rails to the bed frame in order to get the job done in a professional manner. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the 1×4 slats and secure them to the legs using 1 1/4″ screws. Place the slats equally-spaced and leave no gaps between the components.

Fitting the steps

One of the last steps of the woodworking project is to attach the 2×2 steps to the structure. Cut the components at the right size, drill pocket holes at both ends, fit them into place and insert the screws into the legs. Make sure the corners are right-angled and smooth the exposed edges with sandpaper or a router.

Bunk bed plans

Last but not least, you need to take care of the final touches. Therefore, you need fill all the holes with a good filler and let the compound to dry out properly, before sanding the wooden surface with 120-grit sandpaper.

Thank you for reading our article about bunk bed plans and we recommend you to check out the rest of our home improvement projects. Don’t forget to LIKE and SHARE this projects to your friends, using the social media widgets, if you’ve found it useful.

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