If you are planning to learn how to build a bunk bed for you or even for your own child, I say, this kind of beds are good options as a space saver.
I've built one myself for my kid's room and with the kiddie design I've put in, my children are simply loving as they can also have their sense of style added giving it their own stamp of personality even if one bed is atop another.
Bunk Bed Rail Guard
Learning how to build a bunk bed entails more work and planning than say, building furniture. However, with meticulous planning and commitment to get the job done, building a this kind of bed is certainly doable as long as you know how to follow easy instruction from a ready made plans.
I've learned many things while I was building a building. Things, which I'm about to share with you in this article.
SAFETY
Safety is a prime concern for me as a parent. You know hoe growing children are. One is often enough to make you dizzy with their flurry of activities. Put two of them in the same room, and it's bound to be some kind of a circus.
That's why I made sure I built a very sturdy bed for both of them. I chose a hard wood for this purpose as it provides more stability to the structure.
Also, more attention should be given in building the ladder as well as the guard rails of the the top bunk. And personally, I have my younger kid stay on the lower bunk as I just think that any kid below 4 should not be allowed to sleep on the upper bunk for safety reasons.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
You can build a bunk bed just by using some basic hand tools like saw and drill. As for the materials, the type of wood you are going to use is completely up to you. You just have to make sure that it is sturdy enough.
Based on experience, you're going to need 4 4x4 for the posts, and 4 2x4 but then again, wood usage is dependent on the design of the bunk bed. I've used more wood than necessary as I've installed some built in panels and small cabinet for the bunk bed.
DESIGNS AND FEATURES
The first time I've let my kids on my plans to build a bunk bed, they're completely against the idea, especially my eldest. However, letting them see the design of the bunk bed I'm planning to build for them, they were eager to have the bunk bed done.
They completely love the panels and cabinets I've installed in their own space of the bed.
It was an extra effort I have to put in but having a bed plan beforehand made everything easier and faster for me. Personally, I've always been using plans for each woodworking project I'm building and building a bunk bed for my kids is no exception.
A good plan makes it easier for me to execute as it has the necessary step-by-step instruction so I don't have to overlook some things. Of course, having pictures thrown in definitely made the instruction easier to follow.