Creative Guest: Kids Loft Bed Plans by The Design Confidential

I can't even tell you all how excited I am to be here with you all today!  Not just because this blog is...well...kind of like the Oprah Show for Bloggers...but also because when I was trying to decide what kind of Build It! Plan I might share with you all today, I stumbled across the most amazing inspiration picture just asking to be HACKED! and so I did, and now my little guy has the most amazing little boy room ever..his very first big boy room!

Now, I am going to assume most of you have kiddos...or will have kiddos...or your kiddos have grown and have their own kiddos..either way I know this will excite you because the project I will share with you retails for more than $1300 when you add up all of the extras.  Can I tell you how much I spent on this from start to finish?  $118 TOTAL including an entire gallon of Martha Stewart Paint (we all know that isn't the cheapest...)  That's right, barely over $100 with screws, bolts, wood, paint, EVERYTHING!  Even sandpaper...

I suppose I should introduce myself first..we should be on first name basis since we will be building together!  It's a sweaty workout and not to be partaken of by strangers...if you know what I mean!


I'm Rayan, the author of The Design Confidential (formerly the Frugal Designer) and I have been designing and drawing furniture plans for more years than I care to share...I went to school to learn architecture and design, and spent most of my time nurturing my slight obsession (ok major) with furniture (and accessories).  I suppose I learned a thing or 2 about design and landscaping along the way, as well. 

My site shares the DIY Secrets Retailers and Design Pros don't want you to know...Furniture, Accessories, Design and Landscaping are HACKED!  We spend our time hanging out and breaking down all things fabulous and attempting to recreate them for less and perhaps while we are at it, we improve upon them!

I hope you will visit me and build, decorate, craft, paint, plant, and redesign your life with me (and talk about it along the way)!  It's time to take matters into your own hands and stop paying retail prices...unless of course those prices are dirt cheap and quality isn't an issue, in which case it is probably just better to buy...

Let's get started...and be sure to check the dozens of other plans I have on my site as well as my huge library of tutorials from around the web, my DIY Collective.  It contains everything from fun food projects to fashion and of course...furniture and even outdoor structures.



This is what we are working on today.  I built my prototype (IRL big boy bunk fort) in 3 days (actually only 4 or 5 hours a day MAX) including the shopping, cutting, and painting which I did prior to assembling, given the nature of this project, and how tricky it would be to paint it fully built, upstairs, in my little guy's room.


Isn't she a beauty?  Or he...I'm not picky...call it what you will...

 

This picture is an actual photo of my little guy Blake's very first Big Boy Room!

Activity Table and Storage Cubby Desk plans can be found on my site!  I consider myself lucky I was able to snap a photo of his room without it being torn apart from stem to stern like it normally is...my child is pretty much a feral child..what can I say

The inspiration bed can be purchased with a curtain for underneath, that would also be very easy to hack...just sayin...



Qty 8 - 5/16" Carriage Bolts at 7" length
Qty 8 - Washers
Qty 8 - Nuts
Qty 8 - Nuts with rounded covers
3" Screws
2" Screws
1 1/4" Screws
Wood Filler 
Sandpaper
Finishing Supplies

Wood:
2 - 4x4 @ 10' Fence Posts - untreated
3 - 2x6 @ 8'
5 - 2x4 @ 10'
1 - 2x4 @ 6'
5 - 1x4 @ 10'



Tape
Measure
Square
Sander -   if you are using Pine and staining you will need a Variable Random Orbital Sander, otherwise any automatic sander will work even the cheaper ones!
Saw
Drill



4 - 4x4 @ 54" (Legs)
2 - 2x6 @ 76" (Front and Back Rails)
2 - 1x4 @ 76" (Cleats)
2 - 2x6 @ 43" (Side Rails)
2 - 2x4 @ 76" (Upper Back Rails)
4 - 2x4 @ 43" (Upper Side Rails)
1 - 2x4 @ 23 1/2" (Front Guard Rail)
2 - 2x4 @ 57" (Front Upper Rails)
11 - 1x4 @ 40" (Slats)
2 - 2x4 @ 60" (Ladder Rails)
4 - 2x4 @ 14" (Ladder Rungs)



**Always Pre-Drill and Counter Sink for the most
professional appearance. Check for Square after EACH step and before anything permanent occurs, this project is ALL ABOUT SQUARE.  Adhere to
all safety standards and
guidelines.

**I recommend finishing your boards and posts prior to assembling and simply touching up later.  This will make for easier painting and will keep you from having to paint this wherever this piece will actually live (bedroom) since you will have to assemble it in the area it will be placed (at 45 or more inches wide this will not fit through a doorway after it's assembled).

** I also recommend using Wood Filler to fill in any knots or uneven areas on your boards prior to painting if you are NOT going for a rustic look.  Please also consider giving each post and board slightly rounded edges as you sand, for added comfort for your kiddos.

**I have left out the use of Wood Glue for this project so that you have absolutely no problems taking this apart at any point should you have to move the bed.


  Cut the Legs to size and attach the Cleat to the Front and Back Rails using 2" Screws.

To attach the Rails to the Legs you will arrange the 4 pieces as shown in the diagram below, making sure to leave 1 1/2" on either side of the Rails to allow for the Side Rails later, and clamp together making sure everything is completely square before you proceed.  Once square and aligned as needed, you will use a 7/16" Drill Bit and drill through all 3 pieces on each side, creating 2 holes on either side for the bolts.

Fasten with your Carriage Bolts and tighten.


  Attach the Side Rails to the Front and Back Rails then fasten the Upper Back Rails to the Back Legs.  Use 3" Screws



  Attach the Front Vertical Guard Rail, use 2" Screws.  Then fasten the Front Upper Rails to it and the Front left or right Leg.  Use 3" Screws to attach to the Leg.



  Attach the Upper Side Rails on the side opposite where you choose to put the ladder, in my example this would be the left side.  Use 3" Screws.


  Lay your Slats approximately 4" apart.  Be sure the 2 on the outside edges are flush in both corners.  Screw down using 1 1/4" Screws.



  Attach the remaining 2 upper Side Rails to the Back Rails and then either use a Pocket hole System (Kreg Jig) to create pocket holes and fasten to the front leg.  If you don't own a Kreg Jig you can also countersink and predrill at an angle from the outside edge into the leg.  Use 3" Screws




Create the Ladder.  I give approximate dimensions for the height below, but the important aspect to focus on is the angle you will cut the top and bottom.  The top of the ladder rails will be at a 75°angle and the bottom of the rails will be a 15°angle where the boards will rest on the ground. 



Attach the rungs at approximately 8" apart (this will depend on the age of your kiddo, the smaller and younger, the closer together these should be, you need to consider how easy it will be for them to climb down) and parallel to the ground.  Use 3" Screws to fasten the rungs to the rails and to fasten the rails to the Leg and Front Guard Rail.  I suggest cutting away the point you will create at the very top, when you cut the 75°angle, for added safety.  This will also give your ladder a bit of a hand grip up top.




  If you didn't pre-finish and paint as I did, you can now paint and finish as desired.  Be sure to put something durable (a decent amount of sheen to it) on this piece, and several layers of a Polyurethane, you know how hard the kiddos are on their furniture.

Head over to my site to see the dozens of other plans I have done and the numerous other projects I have posted for you to try out... crafts, landscaping plans, decor, and accessories! 

If you enjoyed this set of plans...subscribe to my feed to get the most up to date happenings on my blog!  Hope to see you soon, I just love to meet new people...Xx Rayan - The Design Confidential