College Loft Bed

by Infinite Builds

8.3K14620

Intro: College Loft Bed

Spending most of my college years inside was not what I expected because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so I decided to renovate my room and add more space to chill and relax!

STEP 1: Sketch the Design

I design the bed on Fusion 360. I take measurement of the 2 adjacent walls, the height from floor to ceiling, and my height. I want to be able to sit fully upright on the top, so I have to take my sitting height into account. Some modifications are made to the physical design to increase structural strength and overall stability.

STEP 2: Build the Platform

I cut and join the 4 outer edges using half-lap joinery. Then, I insert and distribute evenly the 2x2s bars inside the frame. These bars act as supporters for the bed to lay on.

STEP 3: Attach the Legs

After building the platform, I raise it up and use some 2x4s as placeholders to lay the platform on top. I use some help from other people in this step to raise it up. My loft bed is not screwed in to the wall, so I use four legs to support four corners. I drill in 3 holes at every leg and screw it to the inner edge of each side of the platform.

STEP 4: Install Bottom Bracing

I use 2x4s and cut them to length of 3 edges. Then I screw them in to the lower-most of the legs. These are attached on the outside. The purpose is to brace and "lock" the bottom part of the legs together, increasing the lower stability of the structure.

STEP 5: Attach Flooring for Cushion

These are 3/4" melamine shelving that I cut into size and attach to the top of the platform to provide a smooth floor for bed cushion to lay on.

STEP 6: Build the Ladder

Ladder is made out of 2x3s. I measure and cut a fitted slot for the ladder to push-fit onto the side of the platform. I sand the steps up to 220 grits. They are fastened to both sides of the ladder.

STEP 7: Install the Ladder

I use a mallet to push fit the ladder's into the platform. Then I screw in both sides of the ladder using 6 screws.

STEP 8: Build and Install Railings

Railings are made out of 1x6 premium pine boards. The vertical parts of the railings are then fastened into the side of the platform.

STEP 9: Attach Diagonal Bracing

Diagonal bracings are 2x3s whitewood studs. I add diagonal bracing on the 3 closed sides of the structure to enhance the stability and rigidity.

STEP 10: Paint

I use the paint kit and a gallon of Ultra Pure White paint to paint the loft bed. I also push a plastic drop sheet under the structure to prevent paint from getting on the carpet.

STEP 11: Decorate

I decorate by adding a bean bag chair, a bookshelf, a plant, LED lighting, and a ukulele.

18 Comments

Norm1958 2 years ago

What a wonderful way to spend covid time and improve your comfort level.
When the world hands you lemons, make lemonade.

jessyratfink 2 years ago

Very well done! Thanks for sharing your build in such detail :D

aaahotdog 2 years ago

Very nice. Takes me back years ago to my loft. Aah yes, Jim Beam Lamp. beer bottle plant stand. I remember one guy taking a couple hundred empty soda cans filling them with sand and epoxying them shut. He epoxied them into a 4x4 can square(16 cans). He epoxied a second level to the level of cans, then a third. Basically building can bricks 4x4x3. The end of story is he build shelving out of it. Three 4x4x3 bricks on the left and three on the right. He used 2x12 planks for the shelves. That thing was rock solid too, bet it weighed a ton though. Took a couple weeks to build, I recall, but it was a big hit in the dorm. He claims he drank all of that soda over the summer. I think he had help from somebody.

Infinite Builds 2 years ago

Sounds like a pretty cool feat lol. I want to try epoxy one day.

warnick_ava 2 years ago

I want one now lol amazing build love the color choice to and the led lights just add it all together although i would have put the desk underneath it take save more space. athough i am short so most likley wouldnt work for you?

Infinite Builds 2 years ago

I have room to the left to put my desk, so I decided to leave the area under the bed as a space to relax and chill.

JoseD191 2 years ago

Hi there buddy! nice, simple design with lots of room for customization. I would just suggest to use some L-shaped steel supports and secure it to the wall. Just in case.

Infinite Builds 2 years ago

Thanks for the tip JoseD191, my landlord does not allow heavy screwing into the wall, so I can't do that unfortunately :(.

Wild-Bill 2 years ago

It is a great way to create more space. When I was in university, I had a basement hovel. Unlike your room it had at the most an 8 foot (2.4 metres) ceiling so the platform bed was much lower but the space provided a room to hang clothes and a dresser and a hammock chair. The landlord approved it and it remained there when I left. The opposing wall was mostly window that over looked a private back garden and a stellar view of Vancouver from what was called the Fairview Slopes. I remember that place with great fondness..

Infinite Builds 2 years ago

I could imagine it as a dream room lol. A hammock chair + a loft bed is a great combo for a great room!

betty_boop_in_TX 2 years ago

Impressive and detailed. I had a much simpler one back in the day- I bought it from someone who was graduating & sold it on when I moved out of the dorms. It had less support legs as it was designed to use the dorm provided dressers as part of the support. I ended up adding bracer beams at the floor to help keep it steady.

Infinite Builds 2 years ago

Oh I see, I've seen those loft beds before. Dresser could serve 2 purposes haha. Super minimalistic~!

wilwrk4tls 2 years ago

Very nice! I've got twins going to college in the spring and may help build them lofts.