Build a Modern Loft Bed in Six Steps

Stacy Risenmay of Not Just a Housewife recently re-designed her son’s bedroom. For the new space, Stacy built a custom modern loft bed.

Find out how you can recreate this look in six simple steps!

Six Easy Steps to Build a DIY Modern Loft Bed for Teens

When I was planning this bedroom makeover I knew that my two boys, that are 16 and 10, would be sharing the space. They both love music and like the same colors, but I worried the age gap would be hard to address. My oldest wanted a modern, urban feel, and my 10-year-old wanted a fort for a bed. Most fort beds I have seen are rustic and sometimes resemble a cabin or treehouse. The question was: how do I mesh the fort idea with the modern feel my teenager was wanting? I came up with this modern loft bed and both my sons couldn’t be happier!

It was a fairly simple build.

 Materials

Cut List

Legs

2 x 4 boards

  • (2) 78 in. cuts for the legs
  • (2) 68 in. cuts for the legs

1 x 4 boards

  • (12) 79 in. cuts for the front and back pieces
  • (18) 41 in. cuts for the mattress slats and end pieces
  • (7) 20 in. cuts for the end pieces
  • (6) 33½ in. cuts for the front pieces next to window
  • (1) 30 in. cuts that connect the 20 in. end pieces
  • (2) 54 in. cuts for the ladder sides
  • (3) 18 in. cuts for the ladder rungs
  • (4) 2¾ in. cuts for the end pieces

2 x 2 boards

  • (2) 78 in. cuts for the legs
  • (2) 68 in. cuts for the legs
  • (2) 70 in. cuts for the side rails for slats

Outside Corner Pieces

  • (2) 11½ in. cuts for the window trim
  • (2) 10.375 in. cuts for the window trim

Step 1: Label the pieces

Because there were so many pieces, I labeled them with pencil as I cut them.

Step 2: Sand and Stain

After sanding all the pieces, I added one coat of Minwax Classic Black water-based stain.

Step 3: Build the rails

The 70-in. 2 x 2 boards were attached to two of the 79-in. boards using screws and wood glue. These will be the rails that the mattress slats will rest. I attached those two 79-in. boards and two 41-in. boards together using pocket holes.

Step 4: Build the legs

To create the legs, I attached 2 x 2 to 2 x 4’s making an L shape. I did this using screws and wood glue. I sunk the screws heads and puttied over them before staining.

Because there is an air vent on the wall, I made the back of this bed shorter, so it wouldn’t cover it. You can make this bed the same height in the front and back if you want.

Now that the base and the legs are assembled, it is time to join them together. I used six screws per leg.

Step 5: Assemble the bed

Now it is time to start adding the front pieces. Start with 79-in. pieces and then in the middle add the 33½-in. pieces to form an opening for the window. Then finish it off with more 79-in. pieces.

The right-side end will consist of all 41-in. boards but will not go as high as the front (unless you chose to make the front and back equal). The left side will go as high as the front (since it will be seen) but will be made up of 20-in. boards so that there is an opening to get on and off the bed. All these boards are attached with screws from the back side, so they are not seen.

The post Build a Modern Loft Bed in Six Steps appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

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