Building a DIY Loft Bed with a Desk is a great way to save space in a small room. By raising the bed up off the floor, you can free up valuable floor space that can be used for other DIY furniture or storage. Adding a desk to the mix allows you to create a functional and stylish bedroom that is perfect for both sleeping and studying.

Having a loft bed with a desk can offer many advantages. First, it can provide you with a place to study or work on projects. This can be especially beneficial if you live in a small space and do not have a dedicated desk area.

Second, a loft bed with a desk can give you extra storage space for books, papers, or other materials. This can help to keep your room more organized and tidy.

Finally, a loft bed with a desk can be a great place to set up a computer, laptop, or other electronics. This can provide you with a quiet, private space to work or play games. Ultimately, deciding whether to include a desk underneath your loft bed is up to you. However, if you are looking for a way to optimize your space and make your room more functional, having a desk under your loft bed may be the perfect solution.

Are Queen-Sized Loft Beds Good for Adults

Yes, loft beds can be a good choice for adults and kids. However, it is important to ensure that the bed is sturdy, that it can support the weight, and that there is enough headroom to avoid injury. If you have some woodworking skills and decide to build a loft bed project, you have the option to make it as tall as you want to give you more headroom. 

You also might be interested in a DIY Bunk Bed and DIY Toddler Bed.

Download Printable Plans in PDF

Queen Size Loft Bed with Desk PDF

$18.97

This PDF download includes Cut Diagrams, a List of Supplies, and 3D illustrations with detailed steps to build the project. Measurements are imperial and not metric. Does NOT include SketchUp/CAD files.

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DIY Queen Size Loft Bed with a Desk

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Note: Lumber dimensions are listed as nominal size.  See lumber sizes for actual dimensions vs nominal.

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Dimensions

Step 1 – Cut Frame Boards for the Tabletop

Once you finish assembling the loft bed (separate set of plans for the loft bed), next, you need to build a frame out of 2x4s for the desk. This will keep the table top nice and sturdy and prevent the shelves from sagging.

When building the frame, it’s very important to use straight 2×4 boards. I recommend spending a little bit more time selecting straight boards at your hardware store than trying to fix them later.

You will need to use the Kreg Jig tool to attach the desk frame to the loft bed. Kreg Jig is a very useful tool in woodworking. It’s easy to use, and it makes wood joints very strong.

Take a 2×4 board and cut one piece to 76 1/2″ in length and another piece to 60 1/2″ in length. Then drill two pocket holes on both ends of the board using Kreg Jig. Make sure to use correct Kreg Jig settings when drilling pocket holes in 2x4s.

Step 2 – Attach Frame Boards to the Queen Loft Bed

To attach the frame, first mark all four legs with a pencil to know exactly where to attach the boards. Measure and mark 29 1/4″ from the ground up to the top of the desk frame. (The 3D illustration has the top of the loft bed dimmed for easier visibility).

Attach the back frame board to the rear legs using 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws. Try to position the boards so the pocket holes will be less visible. For example, if the loft bed is standing against the wall, maybe you could flip the boards and have the pocket holes facing the wall. When I use pocket holes, I always think about the best place to position the holes.

Next, attach the left side frame board using 2 1/2″ pocket hole screws. Make sure the top of the board is aligned with the 29 1/4″ mark.

Step 3 – Cut Pieces for the Right Panel of the DIY Loft Bed

Take 2×4 and cut two rail pieces to 65″ in length. Then take 1×4 and cut 8 picket pieces to 25 1/4″ in length.

This panel will need to be installed on the right side of the loft bed. First, attach the top rail board with 2 1/2″ wood screws at 29 1/4 measuring from the ground to match the rest of the frame boards. Then attach the bottom rail board to 7 1/2″ from the ground.

Step 4 – Nail the Picket Boards to the Panel

Since these picket boards do not support any weight and are for decoration only, you could use a nail gun with 1 1/4″ brad nails to attach them. Measure 4″ from the leg and nail the first picket board. Then nail the rest of the pickets 3 1/2″ apart.

Step 5 – Cut and Install the Rest of the Frame Boards

Take 2×4 and cut one piece to 25″ in length, two pieces to 62″ and one piece to 50″ in length. Then drill pocket holes on each end of the 50″ and 62″ boards.

First, attach the shortest piece (25″) to the backside of the ladder. This board must be at the same elevation as the rest of the frame boards (29 1/4″).

Next, attach the rest of the frame boards using the dimensions provided in the picture.

Step 6 – Build the Lower Shelf Frame for the DIY Loft Bed

Take 3/4″ plywood and, using a table saw, cut two pieces to 9″ x 59″ and two pieces to 9″ x 25 1/4″. Then drill three pocket holes on each end of the longer pieces. See picture. Make sure to change the settings on your Kreg Jig for 3/4″ wood thickness.

Now attach these boards together with wood glue and 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws. Make sure to clamp the boards before driving in the screws to prevent the pieces from shifting and misaligning.

Step 7 – Insert and Attach the Inside Shelf Boards 

Using 3/4″ plywood, cut two pieces to 9″ x 23 3/4″. These two boards are going to be vertical dividers inside the shelf. Next, cut one piece to 9″ x 31″ for the horizontal center shelf.

Attach the vertical pieces with 1 5/8″ wood screws from the top and bottom. See picture. Then take the horizontal piece and drill three pocket holes on each end. Now attach this board to the vertical dividers. Make sure to flip the board, so that pocket holes are on the bottom. You could install this shelf board at any elevation you want.

Step 8 – Install the Lower Shelf Under the Frame

Slide in the shelf on the left side of the loft bed under the 2×4 frame boards. Then take 1 5/8 wood screws and attach the shelf to the frame. Drive in the screws under the top shelf piece. You could also use a nail gun to nail a few brad nails on the sides of the shelf to prevent it from swaying.

Step 9 – Cut Boards for the Upper Shelf for the Loft Bed

The upper shelf is also made from 3/4″ plywood and connected together with pocket hole screws.

Cut one backboard to 12″ x 79″, two 9″ x 79″ pieces for the top and bottom, two 9″ x 13 1/2″ pieces for the ends, and two 8 1/4″ x 12″ pieces for the middle dividers.

Now drill the pocket holes on the longer boards as shown in the picture.

Step 10 – Assemble the Upper Shelf

Place the backboard on your workbench, then attach the bottom and top pieces using wood glue and 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws. Then attach the end pieces. Once you slide in the middle dividers, drive in the 1 5/8″ screws from the top and bottom of the shelf.

Step 11 – Attach the Upper Shelf to the Loft Bed

Slide the upper shelf under the mattress support board and attach it with 1 5/8″ wood screws. You could also drive in some screws through the backboard into the rear legs of the loft bed.

Step 12 – Cut the Tabletop Pieces for the Desk

The last two pieces that need to be cut are the tabletop boards. Using a table saw, cut one piece to 28 1/2″ x 65″, then cut the other piece to 17 1/2″ x 51 1/2″.

The larger piece will need to have two corners notched around the post. See the picture for exact measurements. You could use a skill saw to cut these notches or any kind of hand saw.

Step 13 – Secure the Tabletop to the Frame

Once the tabletop pieces are cut, slide them onto the frame and drive in the screws. Finally, you are done with the DIY queen-size loft bed with a desk.

Frequently Asked Questions