One-legged bunk bed

Bunk beds are surprisingly expensive if you get a sturdy one, and the cheap ones feel pretty flimsy. This one is very easy to build from off-the-shelf lumber, and is rock-solid. Well, at least as solid as your house. This bed was made for my two small boys, but it's strong enough for anyone... as the second picture attests. Try doing that with a regular bunk bed! (actually, don't. It's not very comfortable. Lie on it instead).

Note: this bed worked so well I made two more, this time supported with a combination bookshelf/ladder.

Step 1: Materials

Four 2" x 4" x 10' construction lumber
Four 2" x 4" x 8' construction lumber
Two 4" x 3/4" x 10' finished knotty pine
One 6" x 3/4" x 10' finished knotty pine
One 8" x 3/4" x 10' finished knotty pine
Two 8' x 4' sheets of just about anything - plywood, mdf, particle board, whatever - the mattress sits on it so it could also be slats if you like. I used 1/2" plywood, because I had a project in mind for the offcuts.
3" deck screws
1 1/2" drywall screws
Eight 6" long 1/4" lag screws with washers
Ten 3" 1/4" bolts with nuts and washers
Two 6" 1/4" bolts with nuts and washers
Polyurethane
Wood filler
Sandpaper
You should be able to pick this up for about $150, less if you have some materials lying around.

Comments

[sredmon]

Pretty nice design. I like it.

[AngryRedhead]

Wow.

[seamster]

I like it. Very nice and tidy.

[makendo]

Thanks seamster. Certainly no one seems to notice it is home made, much less that it's missing three legs...

[jeff-o]

Nice work. In a few years my kids will graduate to bunk beds (or loft beds) and this design would fit well in their rooms!

[makendo]

Thanks jeff-o. I have to build 2 more myself as my kids all get their own rooms, and these will probably be lofts.

[keiou]

Nice! :)

[makendo]

Thanks keiou.

[sensoryhouse]

YES!!

[SWV1787]

It looks really nice but it is kinda a pain to make beds with one or two edges pushed against the wall...

[dbull]

My kids never make their beds no matter how we arrange them! This is a sweet design and seems faster to assemble than having 4 legs. Great Job!

[makendo]

Many thanks dbull. Yep, easy to make and the design is pretty forgiving.

[makendo]

Thanks. So that's why my boys hate making their beds...
I think your point is true of bunk beds in general rather than this one in particular; you can leave as big a gap as you like between the mattress and the wall for the bedding.

[JAGGIE]

The problem is the wall, not the bunk. You have to kneel on the bed to put the sheets and blankets on the wall side and it's very awkward. It's also awkward on the railing side but not as much. Maybe someone will invent a sheet or device to make this easier no matter the size of the bed against the wall. We used to have bunk beds for the kids, and they just slept in cheap sleeping bags that got washed every week. Spreading them out flat "made the bed"!