For my little princess…..may you have sweet dreams in your castle for many, many nights.
I decided 2 weeks ago that my daughter and I were going to start a BIG project. A BIG, FUN building project…..just the two of us…a 7 year old and a mom! A beautiful Loft Bed with Storage Stairs! We have finished and are so happy to introduce our masterpiece.
It took us a week to complete and cost us approx. $350. It was a blast, exhausting, wonderful, frustrating and I am SO proud of taking it on!!
I only had a couple of issues along the way. Really all just from my inexperience though. My biggest tip for you would be to buy the biggest bucket of Wood filler they have. I underestimated how much I was going to need filling the pocket screw holes. I can’t believe I actually know what a pocket screw is now….and how to use that tool 🙂
I got these plans for the Playhouse Loft with Stairs at Ana-White’s website. Then I adjusted to make it fit her full size bed. , which added 15 inches to the width. (SEE BELOW for my changes). That did add extra calculating for me….the wood amounts and spacing, etc.
Ana-White is a very inspiring! There is just no telling what else I may take on. I’m thinking the farmhouse bed for me and hubby!
**SEE THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR DETAILS OF EXACTLY WHAT I DID TO MAKE THE LOFT BED FOR A FULL-SIZE MATTRESS**
Below are a few more construction pictures 🙂 Me, in all my glory 🙂
I MADE THESE CHANGES TO ANA’S LOFT BED PLANS TO FIT A FULL SIZE MATTRESS. Print out the FULL directions and make the changes on the plans before starting your cuts.
Disclaimer: These are not professionally planned changes…remember, I’m just a Mom. LOL! But everything worked out great doing these changes.
1. I added 15 inches to the 3 end sides. So, where Ana has 37 ½ …I
made that 52 ½ for both ends (including railings). I had to re-figure the
spacing of the railing slats myself because the 3 inches in-between each
didn’t work anymore. I think it ended up being between 2.75 inches or so. I
just laid them all out and measured until I got them about right and marked
them with a pencil. Total “newbie”ism there 🙂 On the Inside stair wall
and railing….I made that 36 ¾ instead of 21 ¾ (and did the same
refiguring of the slats in the railing).
2. I also chose not to cut a window in the “Side without the ladder”
because that is against a wall.
3. I did have to change the stairs too. Since I added 15 inches, what is
in the plans would have left more space at the entrance to the stairs. I
got it as close I could to reach the edge of the wall as she did…3 inches
shy. I have 4 steps instead of the 3 Ana has on her plans. I used her same
cleat measurements though for of them. Just added one more for the 4th
step.
Here’s how my steps measure:
~The top step is 36 inches high (instead of 29 ¼) and it is not a storage
step. I screwed this one down fully.
~2nd step is 27″ high
~3rd step is 18″ high
~4th step is 9″ high
Maribel
My girls and I are so in love with your bed. It looks amazing! One of my girl’s also have a full size bed, can you kindly send me dimensions for the full bed? We don’t have much space in her room and I know she would be super excited over this bed. Thank you so much!
Shana
Been wanting to build this for my little boy for months and you make me want to do it that much more! YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB!! YOU ARE MY HERO! I feel if you can do it maybe i can do it too lol i just learned what a pocket hole jig is.
Dawn Lovald
Could you please give me the dimensions of the full size one. As so I can measure twice and cut once?> lol. Thank you so very much. Dawn
nicole pitts
I love it! could you tell the changes you made to make it full size? I want to make this for my girls full size bed!
Emily
This is amazing and I’m anxious for my husband to build one for our four year old! It is BEAUTIFUL! I’m impressed with you carpenter skills! Thanks for sharing how you made this and for giving me an estimated cost. I couldn’t find an estimated cost on Ana’s site, so thanks!
Niki
I’m also considering this one for full size… any insight you have would be appreciated!
Lana
Hi, just found your blog through Ana’s website when I was looking at the loft bed plans. Your daughters bed looks fantastic! My husband and I are thinking of taking on this project for my daughter, but we are wanting to do the bed in a full size. Was it very hard changing the plans from twin to full?
JK
What a great job you did! I’m going to do one similar for my son.
Sherri
Thank you so much! My daughter LOVES it very much!
Luanne
Hi! I LOVE your bed! Great job. We want to make one for our daughter using her full sized mattress as well. Did you change the size of the stairs to account for the added width of the bed? My husband and I are having a debate about the new cuts with the added width and having a hard time coming up with the new calculations.. Thanks for posting your adventure! I can’t wait to get started.
christy b
do you think you could fit another full inside the bottom instead of using it as a play house. I have the perfect nook for a full over full
Amanda Faulkner
I’ve got a new blog and this was featured today! I’d love if you stopped by and grabbed a button!
todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com
kerry davis
Wow! I love it – I’ve recently found Ana White’s site and drool over it daily. I want to make this for my kids – in a full size, too! Was it much harder figuring out the difference? I am a total newbie at this whole carpentry stuff!
Theresa
Great Job, I wanted to build this for my sons. They are grown now. Maybe for my grandchildren.
Kevin (rudy's Dad)
Wow ! Great job neighbor !! You got my vote
Russ
You got my vote.
Russ
What a great job. You can do carpenter work on the side. It is beautiful. Voting opens tomorrow.