An excellent way to make most of a small room is to add a loft to an existing bed. Not only will this increase floor area but will also create a cool look for your bed. Sure, you can go and buy a loft bed in the market but if you want your loft to be just the way you want it, you can just go and build it yourself. Follow the steps below if you wish to add a loft either to your own or to your kid’s bed:


Step 1. Before you prepare your materials, see to it that you pick wood that is of the same kind and quality as the one your existing bed is made of. You should also make some measurements to find out what dimensions your construction wood should have. Basically, you will need four 8 ft. long construction woods (4x4s), a 4×8 sheet of ¾” plywood, and three pieces of 2x6x8s lumber.

Step 2. To build a bed box that would fit a 38”x76” twin mattress, cut two 2×6 lumbers to 78 inches and another two to 37 inches. Once the frame of the box is finished, it should measure 40”x78”, just enough to accommodate the mattress. Attach all four boards together using drywall screws.

Step 3. Take the plywood and cut it to the measure of the bed box. The plywood should serve as the base of the bed. Connect the plywood to the frame by placing drywall screws around the perimeter at two feet intervals.

Step 4. Take the 4x4s and make them into posts that will hold your loft bed. Attach them to all four corners of your existing bed using drywall screws. With the help of a two or three friends, lift the bed box and position it on top of the four 4×4 posts. Drill holes through the four corners of the bed box and through the 4x4s. Using lag bolts attach the posts to the box. Do this on all four corners of the bed.

Step 5. Your new loft bed should be securely in place now but to further strengthen the foundations, you may want to attach three to four 2x4s from one post to the other. This will serve as a ladder and support for the bed at the same time.

Step 6. If you wish to make a separate make-shift ladder, measure the distance from the loft to the ground floor and cut out two 2x6s that will serve as the ladder posts. Loft ladders usually have four rungs, so cut four 2x6s to 2 feet each. Attach the rungs to the ladder posts using two deck screws on each side.

Step 7. Once your new loft bed is finished, it is up to you whether you’re going to add more embellishments to it or not. Some homeowners add desks or dressers under the bed for their kid’s use. However you wish to accomplish that, be assured that there are endless possibilities.