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A wild kids' loft bed shaped like two peaked beach huts joined by a raised center floor, with siding, a shingled roof, and a ladder. A big, ambitious 2x4 build.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truss rafters Short-point; one end 45° off square. Overall 72". | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 70 1/2" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Truss legs One end 45° off square, long-point measurement. | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 35" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Floor joists | 8 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 39" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Floor supports | 6 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 20" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Side trim | 12 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 18" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Hut floors | 2 | 3/4" × 23" × 39" | 3/4 in plywood | ☐ |
| Cross braces | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 63" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| End siding | 22 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 31 3/8" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Side siding (29") | 8 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 29" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Side siding (18") | 20 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 18" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Roofing boards No gaps between roofing boards. | 40 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 30 1/4" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Center floor joists | 3 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 26" | 2x4 | ☐ |
| Center floor | 1 | 3/4" × 29" × 39" | 3/4 in plywood | ☐ |
| Center trim | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 25" | 2x6 | ☐ |
| Ladder rungs | 3 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 32" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Center top | 1 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 25" | 2x2 | ☐ |
| Back support | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 75" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 2x4, 8 ft Trusses, floor joists, supports, trim. | 20 each | ☐ |
| 1x3, 8 ft Cross braces, ladder rungs, back support. | 5 each | ☐ |
| 1x4, 8 ft Siding and roofing. | 30 each | ☐ |
| 2x6, 8 ft (or stud) Center trim. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 2x2 (25 in) Center top. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheet Hut floors and center floor. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Wood screws, 3 in | 1 box | ☐ |
| Wood screws, 2 in | 1 box | ☐ |
| Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2 in | 1 box | ☐ |
| Lag bolts, 4-1/2 in, with nuts and washers | 8 each | ☐ |
| Finish nails, 2 in | 1 box | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 1 bottle | ☐ |
| Paint or finish | 1 gallon | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$$$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Miter Saw, Pocket Hole Jig, Speed Square. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Wood screws, 3 in, Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2 in, Wood glue
Build four roof trusses exactly alike, using 2-1/2" pocket screws or countersunk 3" screws with glue. Make sure all four match exactly and are square — every panel from here references them, so a truss that's off shows up in the whole roofline.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Wood screws, 3 in
On the two outside trusses only, attach another 2x4 flush to the top of the legs, flush to the outside like the lower support. Only two of the four trusses get this.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Wood screws, 3 in, Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2 in
First check you can move a 26"-wide assembly through your doorway — if not, assemble in the final room. Build two hut frames by joining an end truss and an open truss into each. Build two identical huts.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, Plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheet, Wood screws, 2 in, Pocket-hole screws, 2-1/2 in
Use the pocket-hole jig to drill the side supports and attach them to the trusses; the window openings are at the top, so adjust their placement as you like. Add the plywood hut floors and the floor joists/supports beneath.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Jigsaw, Level. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, Wood screws, 2 in
Lay the cross braces over the sides of the bottom and mark them, then remove and cut the ends at an angle so they seat as shown. Make sure everything is very square before you screw them down — the braces lock the hut's geometry.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x4, 8 ft, Wood screws, 2 in, Finish nails, 2 in, Wood glue
If your doorway was tight, side in the final room — siding adds 3/4". Lay out the siding with ~1/4" gaps, screwing with 2" screws (removable) or 2" finish nails and glue (permanent), keeping everything square. This stiffens the huts a lot, but they're now top-heavy and tippy — be cautious. Then add the side siding, which you can nail for speed and easier hole concealment.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: 1x4, 8 ft, Finish nails, 2 in, Wood glue
The roof runs 30-1/4" wide — if that won't fit through your doorway, roof in the room. Start the roofing at the peak and work down. Unlike the siding, the roofing boards butt tight with no gaps. Both huts are now done.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 2x4, 8 ft, 2x6, 8 ft (or stud), Plywood, 3/4 in, 4x8 sheet, Wood screws, 3 in, Wood glue
Construct the center floor with 3" screws and glue, adjusting for square before screwing the plywood to the frame. Attach the 2x6 center trim to the sides, three screws per board, keeping the 2x6 flush to the bottom so there's a lip at the top to keep things inside.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set. Materials: Lag bolts, 4-1/2 in, with nuts and washers
With all pieces in the final room, attach the center platform to the two huts with the 4-1/2" lag bolts, washers, and nuts — predrill the holes, four bolts per side. These bolts hold the whole bed together; check them periodically and re-tighten as needed.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Random Orbit Sander. Materials: 1x3, 8 ft, 2x2 (25 in), Wood screws, 2 in, Wood glue, Paint or finish
Add the ladder rungs — this ties the two huts together at the base; bolt or screw them. Add the 2x2 center top to hold the huts in position up high (beef it up if you have a climber). Add the 1x3 back support, and if there's any wiggle, add back cross-bracing like the sides to take it out.
Sand and finish. Note the bed is 4 ft tall at center without a mattress — you fold the mattress, slide it through the opening, and let it unfold inside. Build and use carefully.