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. Screwing things together wrong, re-cutting pieces of wood, and many trips to Home Depot. (so glad it’s only 3 miles away) My tip for you….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 
If anyone is interested in getting adventurous, I got the plans for the Playhouse Loft with Stairs at Ana-White’s website!! I actually adjusted to make it fit her full size bed. (which added 15 inches to the width) That did add extra calculating for me….the wood amounts and spacing, etc.
**SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS OF EXACTLY WHAT I DID TO MAKE IT FOR A FULL-SIZE MATTRESS**
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!
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 1/2 …I
made that 52 1/2 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 3/4 instead of 21 3/4 (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 1/4) 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
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What a great job. You can do carpenter work on the side. It is beautiful. Voting opens tomorrow.
You got my vote.
Wow ! Great job neighbor !! You got my vote
Great Job, I wanted to build this for my sons. They are grown now. Maybe for my grandchildren.
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!
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
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
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.
What a great job you did! I’m going to do one similar for my son.
Thank you so much! My daughter LOVES it very much!
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?
I’m also considering this one for full size… any insight you have would be appreciated!
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!
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!
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
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.
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!
Hi Sherri,
I found your post while reading through comments on the loft playhouse bed plans on Ana White’s website. I saw that you built it for your 7 yr old daughter and was wondering whether you added any height to the bed. I’m wanting to build a twin-size for my 4 yr old, but she is quite tall and the 45.5 inches inside the playhouse would only give her a few inches of head room, which I’m sure she would outgrow quicky.
Anyway, just wondering if you added height and if not, is your daughter bothered by having to crouch/duck inside the playhouse?
Thanks!!
Hi my name is sara, we are looking at this bed to build for my daughters room also in a full. I had a few questions for you? How did you guys get it into the house after building it? Also was it hard to figure out the measurements to convert it from a twin to a full? Thank you so much looking forward to hearing from you.
LOVE the bed! I have been looking at plans for a couple of days and would love to do this one. DD has a full size bed. Would you please share your plans with me with the full size dimensions? Thank you!
This is amazing! My two year old was looking at the website with me and goes “Wow! Can I have that mommy?” Could you possibly send me the plans for the full size bed? I would love to make this for her to use for years.
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