Build Your Own Bunk Beds

You don’t have to be intimidated at the thought of building your own bunk bed. With a solid idea in mind, a good set of instructions, good materials and a helping hand, you will be well on your way to having your own hand-made bunk beds. Among the benefits of building your own are: saving money, getting exactly what you want or need, possibly recycling materials to build with, and that sense of pride you will surely have when you are able to admire your finished product. Some key points to keep in mind are as follows:

1. Choose your type of bed, Bunk beds come in a number of sizes and shapes, and your first step is to figure out which bed is right for you. That can depend on your skill level, the space you’re working with, and the amount of money you have to spend. Your options range from the familiar twin on top of twin bed, twin over full, twin over a futon or a desk, and the beds can be placed at differing angles with the bottom bed perpendicular to the top one, and even a loft bunk with the bed above a lofted space perfect for a desk or shelving.
2. Once you are sure about the type of bed that you are going to construct, you need to find a good set of directions. You’ll want to be sure that the instructions you end up using are easy to understand yet detailed, and are within your scope of experience. Any images in the instructions will only help you further in your construction. Familiarize yourself with any safety requirements such as support slats, guardrails and rail spacing that you will want to include on your bed. These are vital to ensuring that you bed is not only a comfortable, but also a safe place for you or your family to sleep. Search the Internet for the instructions that are right for you and your needs. You may also have luck searching your local library or hardware store for more books on building bunk beds.
3. Pick the right materials. Now that you know which bed to build and you have your instructions, you need to gather your building supplies. While you can construction your bed out of materials other than metal, wood is probably the easiest to work with. The wood your are going to need can be either fir, pine or spruce. Your instructions will tell you exactly which wood and how much you will need.
4. Before you begin, be sure to read over your instructions carefully and don’t begin unless you are sure you have all of your materials on hand. Begin by cutting your wood to size and gathering all of your tools and hardware so that it is within reach. Now is the tie to recruit a helping hand if you have someone available. Follow your instructions, keeping in mind any safety precautions when working with your tools.
5. When you are finished constructing your bed, you can also consider completing the bed with the right finish. Choose a darker stain or paint for a more modern look, or a lighter finish for a more natural look. Either way, be sure to give your work enough time to dry before you use the bed.

Aside from the many benefits of having a bunk bed such as saving space, you can now stand back and enjoy your bed even more knowing you built it. While there are a few steps you’ll want to take to be sure that you are ready to build your own bunk bed, you might be surprised at how easy the task is, and how proud you’ll be when it is finished.