Tiny House Loft with Bedroom, Guest Bed, Storage and Shelving

Plans for a tiny house loft with lower bedroom, storage drawers, and hidden sofa that converts to a guest bed.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to share this article!

I think what I love most about this loft area in the tiny house is that it is so simple and does not feel cluttered or complicated – yet it does so many things!

It’s a couch. A ladder. A shelving display wall. It’s a real guest bed. And a bedroom encloure. It’s also a queen bed. And a dresser. And a shoe storage system. There’s hidden storage. And of course, it’s a loft.

We put a ton of thought into each board in this loft bed system – did you notice that the wall framing becomes shelving? That the bed support system is a dresser? That the loft floor is only 1-1/2″ thick where you need headroom? It’s a tiny house – you can’t afford to waste space or materials (that take up space and cost weight).

Hope you enjoy the plans following (if this is the homepage click READ MORE below), and if you do build, please share, would love to see how this system works out for you.

Happy Building!

Ana

PS – The stain on the upstairs floor is Rustoleum Early American with Triple Thick poly on top. Best staining combo ever invented.

PSS – Love this? Pin for later!

incredible diy loft area with tons of functionality - sofa pulls out to guest bed, framing is storage, hidden storage, double sleeping loft, and more — incredible diy loft area with tons of functionality – sofa pulls out to guest bed, framing is storage, hidden storage, double sleeping loft, and more

Shopping List:

2 – 4X4 @ 6 FEET LONG
14 – 2X4 @ 8 FEET LONG
1 – 2X8 @ 8 FEET LONG
2 – 2X8 @ 10 FEET LONG
3 – 1X6 @ 8 FEET LONG
2X6 TONGUE AND GROOVE FOR UPSTAIRS LOFT OF OTHER FLOORING
1 SHEET OF 1/4″ PLYWOOD FOR DRAWER BOTTOMS/SHOE STORAGE BACKS
1 SHEET OF BEADBOARD, PANELING OR 1X6 T&G FOR BACK OF WALL
1 SHEET OF 3/4″ PLYWOOD FOR DRAWER/DOOR FACES
2-1/2″ POCKET HOLE SCREWS
2-3/4″ SELF TAPPING WOOD SCREWS (SPAX OR SIMILAR)
5″ LAG SCREWS FOR ATTACHING 4X4 TO WALL (JUST NEED A FEW)
1-1/4″ NAILS FOR ATTACHING SLATS TO FRAMING AND WALL MATERIAL BACKING
3 – 24″ BOTTOM SIDE MOUNT DRAWER SLIDES (WHITE)
4 SETS OF HINGES IF HINGES ARE NOT SELF CLOSING MAY NEED CLASPS OR HASPS
6 KNOBS OR HANDLES
BLACK PIPE FOR LADDER AND RAILING

Dimensions:

Dimensions shown above. Can be modified to fit different spaces.

Cut List:

WALL

1 – 4×4 @ 52″
1 – 4×4 @ 71″
4 – 2×4 @ 53″
2 – 2X4 @ 13″ – LADDER SUPPORTS
1 – 2X4 @ 8″ – LADDER SUPPORT
1 – 1/4″ PLYWOOD OR PANELING @ 45-3/4″ X 60″
1 – 3/4″ PLYWOOD @ 52-3/4″ X 12-3/4″ (HIDDEN STORAGE DOOR)

QUEEN BED

2 – 2×4 @ 80″
4 – 2×4 @ 16-1/2″
1 – 2X8 @ 80″
4 – 2X8 @ 58-1/2″

QUEEN BED DRAWERS (CUT TO FIT)

6 – 1×6 @ 24″
4 – 1×6 @ 22″
2 – 1×6 @ 22-1/2″
2 – 1/4″ plywood @ 24″ x 23-1/2″
1 – 1/4″ plywood @ 24″ x 24″
2 – 3/4″ plywood or 1x8s ripped to fit 7″ x 24-1/4″
1 – 3/4″ plywood or 1x8s ripped to fit 7″ x 24-3/4″
2 – 3/4″ plywood 16-1/4″ x 24-1/4″
1 – 3/4″ plywood 16-1/4″ x 24-3/4″
Bed slats are total of 80″ long

WALL CLEATS 1 – 2×4 @ 76″

1 – 2X4 @ 80″
1 – 2X4 @ LENGTH OF ROOM (OURS WAS 94-1/2″)

LOFT FLOOR FRAMING

1 – 2X4 @ 60″
4 – 2X4 @ 82″
2X6 TONGUE AND GROOVE FOR FLOORING/CEILING

Step 1:

Build the main wall system. The best way to attach into the 4×4 posts is with a Kreg Jig, hiding pocket holes on underside.

Step 2 Instructions:

Next, build the 2×4 bed support. We made ours using the self tapping wood screws (2-3/4″ length but similar lengths would work just fine). Make sure this area is very square. Then attach the two pieces to the walls in the room and together using the 2-3/4″ screws. You will need longer lag screws to attach 4x4s to the wall.

Step 3 Instructions:

Use a level to attach wall cleats to studs in the wall using the 2-3/4″ screws.

Step 5 Instructions:

The only thing I would change on this loft bed system is the ladder. There are two things I did not like about how we did ours – 1. Iron pipe only comes threaded in certain lengths. So we had to cut iron pipe and weld to fitting to get the widths to work out just right. 2. With the span in our pipes, the pipes will sag when heavier people climb the ladder. So I suggest and improvement to my original design by adding 2×4 blocking inside the framing, spaced to fit your iron pipe fittings. This will solve the two issues we have.

Step 6 Instructions:

I decided to use the 2x8s to support the mattress because it creates a nice sized cavity for drawers. 2×4 or 2×6 framing would have been fine too if you are not doing the drawers. If doing drawers take extra care to make sure the boards are attached square so you don’t have a cockeyed drawer that doesn’t slide right.

Step 7 Instructions:

We used leftover 1×6 tongue and groove from the wall paneling to cover the back of the “wall” but any material will do – beadboard, paneling, plywood – your choice. It’s nice that this area is less than a full sheet of plywood. Just cut and attach with nails and glue.

Step 8 Instructions:

We used 2×6 tongue and groove for the upstairs loft. You could probably get away with 1x material, but not sure if I would recommend it with the span over the doorway being so close to 36″. Another option is 3/4″ plywood, then top with 3/4″ hardwood flooring running the opposite direction.

Step 9 Instructions:

Drawers should always be built to fit openings and drawer slides. The picture shows the perfect situation. For the shoe tilt out drawers I just used 1x3s to box out an area, and scrap 1/4″ plywood on the back, all attached to the door (see next step).

Step 10 Instructions:

Attach drawer faces and doors. There should be an 1/8″ gap on all sides of the doors/drawers when installed properly.

Step 11:

For the bed slats, I used a full length board (front edge painted) for the first slat, then burned up any 3/4″ material for the remaining slats, splicing joints over the 2×8 framing.