A bunk bed is needed not only by the younger generation: in a small apartment or compact country house it can solve the problem of adult sleeping places too. But almost exclusively children's bunk beds are on sale, and they are not cheap. Meanwhile bunk bed may well be made with your own hands from available materials a novice craftsman who has a very general understanding of carpentry. All you need is a small workshop in the garage, shed or on the balcony - it still won’t work to build a bed on the floor in the living room. In this article we will look at what and how it is possible to make if the question arises: where should he (she) sleep?
You can make a bunk bed for two children, or for adults and a child, from solid wood or MDF, see fig. In the latter case, children's sleeping area located at the top: this makes it easier to ensure the strength of the bed. However, it is also easier for a curious offspring to spy on mom and dad from there, so an option with an adult rookery at the top is also possible, see below.
If the bed is only for children, then the upper tier is often combined with playhouse(item 1 in the next figure) or the entire bed with a work area (item 2). Corner bunk beds of the “closed corner” type (item 3) are suitable mainly in studio apartments to highlight a children’s area, because There is practically no savings in living space. But as for a sofa or sofa bed with an upper sleeping tier (item 4), it is clearly too much: making the staircase retractable is inconvenient for a child; the ladder is fixed in place - how do adults sit on the sofa? But for now we'll focus on beds that are just beds.
Known examples
Option search results self-made bunk beds in RuNet give, I must say, quite a positive result - as for children's beds. The user will find clear instructions, with drawings and material sheets, on how to make this very bed. However, taking a closer look, you can understand that these are not the simplest, cheapest and most reliable options.
For example, in Fig. drawings and diagram of the bed assembly, described in detail on the “Furniture Circle” website. It is quite suitable for its intended use. But let's take a closer look at the positions highlighted in red:
To assemble the bed (mattress pad, lounger, item 3), you need to make 12 mortise connections. Not to mention the fact that this is not so simple, a stock frame made of 50x50 timber with so many mortises will not be very strong. If your loved ones start a pillow fight on the bed, it may break. But it’s difficult to fix, because... the beds are integrally included in the power circuit of the bed. Therefore, the assembly of the product (item 5) is complicated: the beds are first made without platforms (tires), the bed is assembled with bolts, and only then the platforms are mounted. The bolt nuts are tightly closed; If they get loose, you won’t be able to tighten them up. But they can get loose, because... the stocks hang on bolts, creating significant concentrated loads on the tree. Conclusion: This bed will only allow its occupants to grow into adults if it is made from high-quality (and expensive) hardwood. Structurally and technologically unnecessarily complex.
An option for a bunk children's bed, which can be made from pine or spruce (see figure on the right), is also described in sufficient detail, even on several sites. The first thing that catches your eye is the high consumption of materials and labor for marking and sawing parts. The strength of a bunk bed made of soft wood can be ensured in a simpler way, see below.
Secondly, the wood for this bed is suitable, although soft, but of high quality, without knots, twists, cross-layers, i.e. not cheap either. The reason is the lamellar stocks, which is why the corners had to be additionally strengthened, because the lamellas in the main power circuit do not work. Knots and other wood defects, suddenly they end up in load-bearing parts, become centers of concentration (foci) of loads, and the bed will not last long. A mattress laid on slats is, of course, more comfortable, but both doctors and psychologists clearly say: it is not good for children to sleep on something that is too soft. A child's bed should be a little hard. Lastly, this bed requires a lot of hardware that is visible from the outside.
But don't worry: It's still possible to make a durable bunk bed from whatever wood you have on hand. Detailed video in 3 parts, how a man did and did, and still made a good bunk bed from knotty pine, see below:
Video: example of making a wooden bunk bed
Features of the power circuit
The authors of the above-mentioned constructions are by no means hacks or ignoramuses. They quite conscientiously approached the solution to the task facing them, knowing about the increased requirements for the strength of a bunk bed. Dropping onto the floor from a height of 0.5 or 2 m are completely different things. Surely they also know that a bunk bed can form a very rigid box. Compared to a massive structure, a box-shaped structure holds dynamic loads better, but worse long-term static loads.
But this is exactly what we need for a children’s bed! Children, they are light, but angry. A bed for children should keep dynamics better than static. This circumstance is often not taken into account by professional furniture designers, who overly strengthen (and make) children’s beds more expensive. Amateur furniture design programs, such as PRO100, also calculate children's beds using algorithms for adults. We will further figure out what can be achieved, taking into account the characteristics of a child, somewhere up to 15-16 years old, as a source of operational loads on the bed.
Note: What you definitely shouldn’t do with a bunk bed is make it half-hanging with the corners supported on the wall, see fig. on right. Difference between bearing capacity building structures, incl. wooden, and the furniture is so large that from the smallest dynamics either the bed will soon become loose or the wall will begin to crumble.
Making a bed
Basic structural element, providing the required performance qualities of a bunk bed - its bed. If we manage to construct a bed made of wood that can support an adult with 85-90 kg of live weight, suspended from the ceiling on ropes, then such a bed can either be included in any box-shaped power circuit or carry the load independently.
Bed
The layout of the bed for a bunk bed up to 2.1 m (7 feet) long and up to 0.9 m (3 feet) wide is shown in the figure:
With sides, it is self-sufficient in relation to both statics and dynamics of both children and adults and can simply be placed in a box-like frame, the task of which is only to ensure overall rigidity. Without sides, the frame with the platform and bottom is either rigidly mounted in a lightweight box, reinforcing it to the required extent, or placed in a pre-reinforced box. In any case, there are no fasteners visible from the outside. The platform and bottom are attached to the frame with 4x (16...25) self-tapping screws with a pitch of 70...150 mm. There must be hardware at the corners of the frame and at the junction of the beams with the ties; the rest are distributed evenly along the contour. Just in case: hardware, a hardware product is a threaded fastener.
Note: The bottom of the upper bed of a bunk bed is draped from below with any suitable upholstery fabric before installation on the frame.
Examples of bed designs
The optimal way to use this bed in a children's bunk bed is to tear off the sides from it and include them in the power circuit of the box. The frame itself is a flat box, it will withstand the dynamics of children, and small ones will not load it with much static.
How a children's bunk bed is constructed, in which these principles are implemented, is shown in the figure:
The frame is assembled using dowels and glue from any available tree, even from aspen or poplar. Together with support frames made of pine cranial bars 60x60 (items 7 and 8 in the figure), the necessary overall rigidity is ensured. The stocks are simply laid on the support frames. This approach gives a trace. advantages:
- Simple design made of rectangular parts;
- Any frame will fit wood materials, incl. plywood, MDF, chipboard;
- The frame is very durable and can withstand tipping over without damage;
- Freely removable beds provide more opportunities to control the sanitary condition of the bed and keep it clean;
- There are no visible fasteners, and hidden fasteners can be used inexpensively.
Note: if the frame parts are made of MDF or laminated chipboard, plastic dowels should be used, and wood glue should be used.
This bed is assembled, so to speak, in reverse order: children 4 and 6 are attached to the children. 1 with self-tapping screws from the inside, and then using parts. 2, 2a and 3 the frame is assembled on dowels. After this, the support frames (details 7 and 8) and the ladder are installed. The bed is ready, you can put down the bed and sleep. If there are no plans to separate this bed into two, then child. 1 is made of double length (2000 mm). Then a detachable dowel connection (inset on the left in the figure) is not needed, and the frame will become even stronger.
A small drawback of this bed is that the person sleeping on top needs to climb over the fence (detail 6 in the figure). It is impossible to make a split fence; it works in a power circuit. But make a half-width recess in the fence above the stairs. 6 is possible.
Note: det. 3 cannot be removed from the lower section; they also work in the power circuit.
Based on grandchildren
Another option for using a box bed in a children's bunk bed is to leave the sides in it and remove the headboard and footboard. The sides will provide the frame with adequate resistance to longitudinal torsion, and it is already stable to transverse torsion due to its small width.
The sides remaining on the frame will allow you to further improve the bed without significantly complicating it. How exactly - see. general form, dimensions and drawings in Fig.:
For greater rigidity, the frame is assembled using tongue-and-groove joints. An extra tie was added to the frame, which made it possible to reduce the thickness of the frame by half, to 30 mm, and instead of more expensive timber use a board-thirty spread out lengthwise. Moreover, the bed turns out to be even excessively rigid, and it has become possible to make the bed collapsible without tools. The stock and backrests are connected with steel locks (item 10 in the figure); these are sold in furniture stores specifically for this purpose. When the children grow up, the bed can be hidden in a closet for the grandchildren or sold on occasion.
Note: the sides are connected to the frame with oak dowels 30x8 with a pitch of 120...150 mm per assembly adhesive on wood. All other carpentry joints are also glued.
Or maybe a corner?
As mentioned above, a bunk bed with a “closed corner” layout saves virtually no space in the room. In small-sized housing with corner bunk beds, an “open corner” bed combined with a bedside table and a children’s utility corner may be useful. Optimal sizes children's bunk bed "closed corner" with utility unit for little ones, see fig. on right.
And for big ones too
In the same small apartment or, preferably, in a small country house, a bunk bed with an adult sleeping place on top may be convenient. The simplest option– bed on a welded frame made of steel pipes.
The general view and dimensions of a steel welded bunk bed are given in the figure:
The frame is designed for a standard stock with armored mesh. IN makeshift bed for a dacha (this kind of design, of course, will not go into a house, even in a loft), you can refuse to install platforms in locks, weld support frames from a 40x25 angle, fasten them to the backs with bolts, and make the beds described above.
In a small apartment, a multifunctional sleeping area with an adult bed on top will be more convenient. In this case, an adult bed can be made designed mainly for static loads, from a single sheet of laminated chipboard. The children's sleeping place(s) at night are equipped at the bottom, from where nothing can be seen upward.
Drawings and material list of a multifunctional two-tier sleeping block (you can’t just call it a bed anymore) are given in the figure:
The upper adult bed is rectangular, this is necessary for its strength. The area next to it with a beveled corner serves bedside table. The little one can pile up toys there if he climbs up during the day to isolate himself. Downstairs, adults can sit, have lunch, work at the table, and children can play. In the same place, below, it is possible to equip 1-2 children's night sleeping places with the help of removable soft sides - any of the lower tables or a shelf between them turns into a sofa by installing a foam block covered furniture fabric. In general, this multi-functionality will be useful for a bachelor, a young family, in a cramped apartment, or in a country house.
Is it just a tree?
Beds made of MDF or laminated chipboard certainly look more elegant than simple wooden ones. Especially the two-tier ones (see photo below), the high backs of which are difficult to disguise in the interior. However, MDF and laminated chipboard require special care in work and some special tools (a jigsaw, manual frezer on wood) - if you scratch the coating, the scratch will remain.
Secondly, the ratio of the strength characteristics of MDF and laminated chipboard for compression, bending, torsion and shear is completely different from that of wood. In addition, MDF and laminated chipboard are practically homogeneous: distinguish directions in them by fiber, by layer, etc. impossible. Therefore, it is impossible to fasten parts made of MDF and laminated chipboard with carpentry joints: a tenon or tooth will break under a small load. MDF and Laminated chipboard furniture screws - confirmations. Dowel connections are used if it is impossible to connect with confirmations, for example, for connections that must be hidden. There should be as few dowels in products made from MDF or laminated chipboard, and always only plastic ones.
Saving living space is an urgent issue in small apartments. Good decision is a bunk bed made of wood.
It saves the necessary space and gives the room comfort. If you add drawers to it, the functionality will increase many times over. A well-made bed will last children until they grow up. After this, you can save it for your grandchildren or sell it at a profit. There is always a demand for such furniture.
Constructions
Most choose the classic version of a wooden bed, when the beds are located one above the other and connected by a ladder.
For children
A bunk bed allows you to accommodate two children in one room. Thanks to it, there is enough space for games and activities.
Practical model options:
- corner - sleeping places are located to each other at an angle of 90 degrees;
- attic type - designed for one child who can sleep upstairs and study at the desk downstairs;
- retractable tier - the lower bed extends, increasing the area;
- staircase made of boxes– the floors are connected by steps that extend and serve as drawers for storing small items.
Whatever wooden furniture you choose, it is important to take care of safety. It is better that the bunk bed is placed against the wall, and all sides of the top have a secure fence. If a child under 3 years old sleeps on the lower floor, a fence will also not hurt. Children often turn over in their sleep, so partitions will protect them from falls. When the baby grows up, the fence from the bottom can be removed.
For adults
The difference between the adult model and the children's model is only in size. For children, a length of 160–170 cm is suitable; for older people, it is better to make a bed 190–200 cm. The width depends on the preferences of the individual and free space. In order not to spend money on an additional mattress order custom sizes, it's better to choose standard option– 70–90 cm.
Usually a do-it-yourself bunk bed is made from chipboard for country house with limited living space. It allows you to accommodate overnight guests. IN one-room apartments such furniture will be ideal solution if the family has added a child. He will be able to sleep on the top tier, and his parents on the bottom. In this case, the first floor should be designed for two.
An attic option made of timber will also save space. Downstairs you can arrange a full workplace and sleep under the ceiling. If the housewife does not like people to sit on her bed, and the area of the apartment allows for either a sofa or a bed, you can install a two-tier model. The upper part will be a bed, and the lower part will be made in the form of a regular sofa.
The stores have quite wide choose classic models, but they are not always suitable for a particular apartment. If you make a wooden bed yourself, you can solve several problems at once.
Materials for production
To create a bunk bed, you need to select the material. It is not necessary to look for a solid array. Yes, they can be made from it beautiful models, which last a very long time, but they require special skills. The solid wood must be very good, only durable types of wood are suitable, they are usually expensive.
The following materials are used as a basis:
- Chipboard or laminated chipboard is used only for some parts of the bed, such as backs, drawers, panels. You need to choose only safe slabs of class E1 or E0.5;
- edged or planed board. The material must be selected with special care. Damp wood can lead, it will change shape, warp;
- MDF. MDF is considered a modern analogue of boards. The boards are available in raw and laminated form. The edges of the finished bed are treated with a special tape;
- furniture board. Pieces of wood glued together whole board. A person with carpentry skills should work with it.
The process of creating a bed requires tools that are used when working with wood and metal. You will also need measuring instruments, pencil.
Bed ladders
Making a two-level bed also involves a ladder. IN classic version The usual three-stage design is sufficient, but this is not necessary. It all depends on the chosen model. There are those where the ladder is replaced by ropes. The option with a slide looks very interesting, but you should not do it if the free space of the apartment does not allow it.
Ladders can be mounted vertically. They fit tightly to the frame and do not take up space. There are also inclined options, which are easier to climb. Ladder fastenings must be closed.
The classic staircase consists of steps and railings. It is these that the child will be able to hold on to while climbing to the top tier.
Create a drawing
In order to know how much material, fasteners, and accessories will be used, you need to decide on the model of the bed. If a person can create a drawing of a children's bunk bed made of wood with his own hands, then it is enough to sketch it on a piece of paper. It can also be done in a special program for PC.
There are a few things to consider. Between the tiers you need to leave such a distance so that an adult can climb onto the lower bed without touching his head on the upper bunk, of course, if the height of the room allows it.
There should be enough distance between the second floor and the ceiling for the child to feel calm. Warm air accumulates at the top, so lack of space can negatively affect healthy, full sleep.
The sleeping area must be designed taking into account standard mattresses. Then you can order them in any store.
Without having the skills to create drawings, you can choose a ready-made diagram.
The principle of assembling a wooden bed
To make a bunk bed that will become a favorite place for children to play and relax, you need to properly prepare the materials and process the details. Furniture makers in factories have access to a variety of equipment that makes the task much easier, but a good owner will also have the right tools.
Preparatory operations:
- the boards need to be smoothed, leveled, and adjusted to the required size;
- It is better to fasten parts using several methods at once, including glue and self-tapping screws;
- the side racks must be very strong, since the main load will be carried on them;
- if there are curves on the parts, they should first be drawn on a paper template and then transferred to the wood;
- It is better to cut out with an electric jigsaw;
- after all the parts are made, they are tried on;
- The dowels that will hold the structure together require special care.
After the bed is assembled, it is disassembled to be finally connected using glue and screws. If flaws are identified, they are corrected. There is no need to rush into assembly, since the bed must be securely fastened and stable.
Step-by-step production
It is better for an inexperienced craftsman to start by creating a classic bunk bed. First, the base is made, and you need to act strictly according to the scheme. A rectangular box is created. To do this, boards are attached to the drawers; the angle should be 90 degrees. Supports in the form of bars are attached to the end parts with self-tapping screws. The crossbars on which the mattress will rest are placed in the created box.
To create the back you will need three boards. They need to be assembled with the racks of the structure using dowels and grooves. It is better that the connection elements are round, since the holes for them can be made with a drill of the appropriate diameter.
Note! Wood glue should be used only after preliminary fitting, when the dowels fit all the holes in the posts and boards.
The footboard is made in the same way as the backrest, the only difference is in the number of crossbars. The base of the second floor will rest on the top of the backrest and headboard, so it is important that they are level.
The upper tier is created according to the model of the lower one. It is secured with dowels. The structure should be reinforced with end boards. You can proceed to installing the stairs. The simplest option is when crossbars are attached to two posts. For drawers It's easier to use plywood. You need to screw special wheels to them that will guide their movement. Drawers are ideal for storing bedding, toys and other things.
If the material has not been pre-treated, the finished bed is coated with paint and varnish. It is better to use aqueous solutions, which are safer for health.
Retractable design
For a children's room, a pull-out bed is considered the safest; you can't fall too far from it. Partitions on two-story structures It’s not for nothing that they were invented, but sometimes children get up in their sleep and this can result in serious injury.
The advantage of a pull-out bed is that daytime The lower part retracts, thereby freeing up space for games. Children will not fight for space as the beds are not connected to each other. They are used separately.
You can make such a bed yourself from chipboard. The base is made of a solid board 18 mm thick. The shield is attached to the sides. The lower tier will slide out using four wheels.
A pull-out bed is a great space saver; it’s easy to make, but it doesn’t allow for storage. bed dress in drawers.
Loft bed
Many parents are faced with the problem when the child does not want to sleep on his own. They just haven't yet created a decent shelter for him in the form of an attic bed. The design is so attractive that the child will happily exchange his parents' bed for the opportunity to sleep under the ceiling.
The main value of such a two-tier design is to save space. The bed is made on high posts, so the place to sleep is near the ceiling. Under the sunbed there is a work area with a table and chair. The only thing you should take care of is good artificial lighting, since the bed will provide shade.
It is better to make a side staircase in the form of steps. In a simple design, these can be ordinary wooden crossbars. With some effort, you can make steps in the form of drawers that are comfortable to walk on, sit on, and store a lot of things you need for studying in them.
The height from the floor to the second tier should be at least 120 cm. Although this depends on the person for whom the workplace is being created.
The loft bed can stand not only on stands, but also be attached to the wall or ceiling. The design depends on the selected drawing. If it was created from good wood, it is enough to open it with transparent varnish. A tree pattern always looks great in any room.
Handmade items are increasingly gaining popularity. Including furniture. This will take some time, so you will have to be patient. But there are also many advantages to creating the necessary things with your own hands.
Surely you have already met various ideas for creating sofas or other garden furniture from pallets. Interesting solution for use in different directions. But today we will talk about how to create furniture for your home.
In particular, how to make a bunk bed with your own hands.
Why is it better to make a bed rather than buy it? There are many answers. Let's start with the fact that when creating, you choose the material yourself, and you know exactly its characteristics: strength, reliability. Upon completion of the project, you will be sure that this creation will last for a long time, and will not crumble upon first use.
Creativity plays an important role in preparing for work.
There are times when a buyer cannot find what he needs in a store. This is especially true for furniture: the size doesn’t fit, you don’t like the design, it looks sloppy, and many other reasons. There are two ways out of this situation: register individual order or make everything with my own hands. By choosing the second option, you will not have to explain to the contractor what exactly you want and pay a huge amount of money to complete the order.
You can realize all ideas exactly down to the details.
And, of course, one of the main advantages self-creation furniture is satisfaction with the result own work. It's nice to know that you made the thing yourself.
By making furniture with your own hands, you benefit from:
- Price;
- Quality;
- Design
- Accuracy in measurements.
The only downside is that the process will take longer than purchasing.
So, if you decide make a bunk bed with your own hands - let's get started!
Choosing design and construction
There are many varieties of two-tier models - as much as your imagination allows. Let's look at the most popular ones.
- Traditional
The easiest to make. Consists of two tiers ( sleeping places ) and stairs. Suitable for a nursery with enough space.
This bed does not contain elements of other furniture and significantly saves space.
- With a sofa
The sofa on the first tier diversifies both aesthetically and functionally. This model will save more space in room , because you won't need an additional sofa. It can be used as a bed or simply as a place to relax. Well suited for placement in the living room.
To make this model you will additionally need a sofa. It will be built into the structure.
- With drawers
In this model, drawers or shelves are attached to the stairs leading to the second floor, used instead of cabinets. In this case, it will take up a little more space in room than the traditional one.
You can save space by using linen closets or toy closets.
- "Attic"
This option significantly saves space in room. Sleeping area located on the second tier, the lower one is intended for working area. Usually it includes a work table, various shelves and racks. This design is usually chosen for older children (teenagers, students). Basically, such a bed is a single bed, but if desired, two people can be accommodated on the second tier. You can build it in a corner with two sleeping places On the second floor. An important condition When designing this model, strength is important.
The height of the ceilings should be taken into account, since the lower tier must be quite high.
- Three-bedroom bunk
There are various proposals to convert a bunk bed into a triple bed. If child still small, besides the apartment one-room , you can do it with double bed on the first tier. If this product is for baby – you can place both places at the top.
The bed option will depend on the design you choose.
- Transformer
Such models are very popular as they save a lot of space. It consists of a table, cabinets and sleeping place . A table or a mattress can be retractable.
If you don’t have enough free space in your room and your child is already going to school, you should think about this type of product.
Preparation
We have figured out which models are the most popular and comfortable, now we will decide what is needed in order to start building a bunk bed.
First of all necessary draw a drawing. The most convenient option will take ready-made diagrams on the Internet, and, focusing on them, create your own project.
You will need to take measurements of the part of the room where the product will be located and determine the size of the structure.
The following data is used in the drawing:
- Product height;
- Length;
- Width;
- Distance from the upper and lower tier;
- Length and width of the stairs;
- The space between stair steps;
- Height of the upper tier;
- Width of supporting beams;
- Locker sizes.
If you are planning lockers, be careful about the distance you need to place them.
Photo ready-made options will help you clearly determine how to make a drawing correctly.
Materials
When choosing materials, consider your skills and the range of available tools. Chipboard or solid pine are excellent for work. Let's prepare the tools we need for the job.
You can use sheets of plywood for the base under the mattress.
Depending on whether you will cut the material yourself or entrust it to professionals, we select the set of necessary tools. The best option will cut the boards according to measurements using professional tools in furniture workshop. Then all you have to do is connect all the parts.
We need instruments and devices for measuring and fixing. You can't do your work without a simple pencil.
For this you will need: a screwdriver, screws, glue, level, drill, hammer, Sander for processing the finished product, blank material cut to size.
Making two-tier furniture is not difficult if you prepare everything necessary tools and recall existing construction skills.
Let's get started
So, all preparations are completed, you can start making a bunk bed with your own hands.
Now let's move on to creating the back.
Make the second tier in the same way.
Using self-tapping screws and the method of connecting parts “under the countersunk”, attach the ladder to one of the racks.
If necessary, guards can be secured to the top bunk.
If the design involves the presence of drawers, then the ladder should be attached from the outside to the supporting structure rack . Now attach the drawers to the stairs according to the drawing.
Decoration
It’s worth thinking about decor before production begins, as it can affect the project. Experienced craftsmen can make furniture in the shape of a house, car, or boat. You can attach “branches” instead of stairs, along which “young Mowgli” will climb to the second floor.
U experienced craftsman the bed looks like it came out of the pages of a fairy tale book.
A common option is to add a Swiss wall, athletic rings or rope. Beds with a slope in the form of a slide have earned great popularity.
You can implement any design depending on the imagination and skill of the master.
If you have built a classic model of a bunk bed, and only thought about the design later, then use any textiles for decoration: pillows, hanging decorations. attach the rope.
There are plenty of options that creative people will find it without difficulty.
In general, making a bunk bed with your own hands is not so difficult, moreover, it is profitable and beautiful.
We wish you success in your creativity!
VIDEO: Instructions for assembling a bunk bed.
50 photo ideas for do-it-yourself double beds:
A children's room with a bunk bed is convenient. There are several advantages. Firstly, it saves space. And it’s not even always the case small area although this is a common problem. After all, even in a spacious room, it is advisable to leave as much free space as possible for outdoor games and toys. Secondly, you can organize the space in a more orderly manner: make drawers at the bottom, attach or add a cabinet to the side. Thirdly, the kids like this environment. And for both girls and boys. Moreover, you can build a children’s bed with your own hands in a couple of days.
Constructions
There are many varieties of children's bunk beds. And it's not about the size, but about the designs. Let's start with the principles of construction:
- The basis of the structure is a frame made of timber, to which all other parts are attached: sides, railings. The bars must be higher than the level of the upper lounger by the height of the back or sides. To ensure safety, the height should be at least 40 cm from the top edge of the mattress.
The design is based on four vertical beams, to which all other parts are already attached
- They make two identical beds with thick posts and a strong frame. One is placed on top of the other and connected using dowels or pins. If the height of the legs and backrest is not enough, and the mattress of the upper tier is too low, the racks are further increased, not forgetting to strengthen the joints.
- A workplace is arranged below, and a sleeping place above. Such 2-tier beds are also called “loft”. This option is for those whose children compete with each other. And two sleeping places on different floors will cause constant conflicts. Two such “kits” solve the problem. Read about the types of attic beds and how to make them yourself.
A two-story loft bed is an excellent solution for small room or rival children
- Corner arrangement of beds. When the bedrooms are not located one above the other, but against two adjacent walls. Then below there is also the opportunity to organize a workplace or play space ().
- The sleeping places are located along one wall, but not above each other, but shifted. This option makes it possible to use the available space more efficiently - fill it from wall to wall.
- Roll-out or pull-out two-story children's beds. This is a transformable furniture option. During the day, the lower berth is hidden under the upper one. With this construction, the height of the bed may be small. This is a solution for those who are afraid that children may fall from the second floor or stairs.
The choice of designs is great, but that's not all. Stairs add further variety. They can be ordinary, like on a wall bars, or in the form of steps or boxes stacked on top of each other. The most economical option is conventional: they require little material and take up little space. But you can put things in a ladder of drawers, like in a chest of drawers, which is also practical. And such steps are even more reliable: you can attach high railings to them to make them even safer.
Stairs made of rungs or steps can be located in front - along the long side of the beds. At the same time, they are sometimes made in the center, sometimes on the right or left. Another option is stairs from the end. They are also made vertical, and then they take up almost no space, and sometimes at an angle. It’s easier to climb on these, but it’s not always possible to place them: the space doesn’t allow it, and it’s easy to get caught on the protruding legs.
What materials are they made from?
For the frame, they mainly use wooden beads or make it from boards. Here are the options below. All other elements can be made from boards. This material is natural, but working with it is not easy and takes a long time: every detail requires careful processing, and there are many of them, since the boards are usually not wide, otherwise such a bed will look rough. If you have any skills, it's worth a try. If not, better use other materials.
A do-it-yourself bunk bed can be built faster if the parts are cut out of sheet material: Chipboard, or . It is better to take chipboard; the same can be found in plywood. It can also be painted: if you take birch furniture plywood. She looks good. It is only important to saw off evenly so that there are no chips along the edge.
Chipboard edges can be treated with special tapes. They are self-adhesive; they are glued through a rag using a regular iron. Only these materials have an unpleasant feature: their production uses a binder that releases formaldehyde into the air. Since the substance is harmful, its quantity is monitored and regulated. For the manufacture of children's furniture, fiberboard and plywood with emission class E1 are allowed. In terms of the amount of substance released, it is no more harmful than wood.
Drawings with dimensions
Regarding how big or small to make the bed when children are still small. In principle, you can immediately install a full-size bed. It just seems like it will take a long time for them to grow up. In fact, before you know it, “children’s” sizes will become small. And here the problem arises: where to put old bed. Naturally, it’s a shame to throw it away, but used furniture doesn’t sell very well. Therefore, recommendations: make a bed right away standard size: 1*2m or so.
Frame drawing for a bunk bed
Drawing of a double-decker bed frame and necessary materials
Corner bed drawing
Stairs to bunk beds
DIY bunk bed: photo report
To save space in small room It was decided to make a bed on the second floor, and equip a workstation for a computer on the first floor. If necessary, by adding a jumper in front and making a shield under the mattress, you can also make a sleeping place on the first tier.
A drawing was developed and materials were calculated. It was decided to make the frame from spliced boards. This is both cheaper and more reliable: a guarantee that the pillars will not twist when drying. Therefore, boards were purchased, as well as small-section timber for strapping. The width of the bed is made to match the size of the existing mattress
The following materials were needed:
- for the workplace - a furniture board with a thickness of 18 mm and dimensions of 600 * 2000 mm;
- pine boards 90*45*3000 m - 16 pcs;
- pine beam 45*45*3000 m - 8 pcs;
- for the base under the mattress 2 sheets of plywood 9 mm thick, dimensions 1525 * 1525 mm;
- corners, screws, bolts.
The board was purchased already planed and sanded: the farm does not yet have equipment for processing it. Let's start right away with making the pillars:
- We cut it to size - the height of the pillars is 185 cm. A total of 10 identical ones are needed: in the corners and one pillar on the second side of the stairs.
- We fasten them in two: we lay one on top of the other evenly. At the same time, make sure that the annual rings are directed towards different sides. This way, most likely, the pillars will remain level. We drill a hole at the top and bottom for the bolts and tighten the boards, placing washers under the head and nut. So that all this “beauty” does not spoil appearance, use a large-diameter drill to make indentations so that the nut and head are recessed. Then they can be closed with furniture plugs or covered with wood putty.
- We begin assembling the frame. At a height of 145 cm, the first row of timber is the base for the mattress, at a height of 75 cm, the second row is the frame for the desktop. Under the timber we make a groove in one board half its width. We insert the bars into the resulting recesses and screw them into the end with self-tapping screws. Then we attach the corners to them, and then at the corners there are other pieces of strapping.
- We apply timber of the required length (145 cm) to the corners and fasten it with self-tapping screws. We attach the corners to the ends of the beam.
- We take two more posts and attach the corners of the side rails to them at the same height. Now the structure stands on its own. All that remains is to attach a long beam to the top trim.
- At the top of the frame, another beam is screwed in length. This is a stiffening rib for plywood. You can make crossbars from short sections, but then to support them it is better to make support strips and nail the ribs to them. When nailing, you need to make sure that they are all in the same plane. Plywood is laid on top of the frame and nailed to the frame with small nails.
- A stand is installed that will serve as a support for the steps of the stairs. It can be made from one beam, which rests on top harness and one 185 cm long.
- If desired, steps can be embedded. If you have a jigsaw, this is not difficult. You can also plant them in the corners. It is less aesthetically pleasing, but reliable and simple.
- In order to save money, we did not buy furniture panels, but made the tabletop from boards. If you also come to this decision, it is also advisable to place a support beam under the outer edge of the boards, otherwise the board will sag under load (put your elbows on the table).
- Remained Finishing work: stuff the railings, cover the nails with wood putty. After drying, sand and coat with paint or varnish.
The option is simple. To implement it, you only needed a screwdriver, a wood saw and fasteners. This assembly option is for those who are unfamiliar with carpentry and find it difficult to make cuts and grooves. If you really don’t like the protruding fastener, you can close it decorative overlays: thin planks can be placed on glue. They will hide all the imperfections of the assembly.
For another option for assembling a homemade bunk bed, see the video.
