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Loft Beds and Bunk Beds - Buying Ready Made Vs. Building Your Own

By: Patrick Oakley

There are a number of good reasons why you might decide to build a bunk bed or left bed rather then buying one. The most usual reason, of course, is cost. While there are plenty of very good bunk beds available on the market today, they tend to be extremely expensive. However, you can get a good sturdy bunk bed for under $150 is you buy second hand. I would really advise you not to buy one new for that price though, as you get what you pay for and the very cheap bunk beds are cheap because they are low quality. Second hand beds, on the other hand, can be an excellent investment.

On the other hand, if you would prefer not to buy a prebuilt bunk bed, it's not as hard as you might think it would be to build one for yourself. While you'll have trouble finding a cheap bunk bed new, it is easy to get hold of a bunk bed kit. Not only are they easy to find and cheap, but they are also easy to put together, and you can either buy the materials to make them yourself, or get a kit which comes with them.

Firstly, as I've said already, they are easy to build. Not effortless, of course, but they require very little in the way of woodworking skill. You can use standard tools that you have around the house, such as a hammer and screwdriver, without needing to buy anything exotic. If you only bought the plans and instructions, then you'll need to get wood as well. This shouldn't be a problem as you can use off the shelf lumber. The plans to construct them, moreover, are always easy to understand- after all, a bunk bed is not a complicated device.

Obviously, if you want something slightly unusual, then constructing it yourself is the only way to ensure that your specifications are met. As the old saying goes, if you want it done right, do it yourself. You can never be completely certain of the quality of something that you buy, but you can if you make it on your own.

The second most popular reason, after the lower price, for building your own bed is that it's something fun for the whole family. A construction project, such as putting together a bunk bed, is an excellent activity to which both adults and children can contribute to. Of course, if you think your kids might not be interested, or you just don't want them involved, you can always build it yourself. Perhaps give it to them as a surprise gift. I know they'll be proud to be able to say to their friends, when asked where the bed came from, that "my dad built it for me". Or even more so, "I built it- with my dads help"!

Another reason, which I've already said something about, is that only when you build something yourself can you be sure it works as you intend it to. Whatever you're looking for in a bed, you know that when you put it together yourself you can make it exactly what you want it to be. When you buy it, you have no such guarantee. Be careful not to change the designs too much, though, as you could end up reducing the structural stability. This is really not something you want to do, especially where your children's safety is potentially concerned. On the other hand, even keeping to the plans for construction exactly, there is a lot more opportunity to alter the designs with the use of pain, stencils, stickers, or whatever else you want to use. This is especially useful if you need to match some other furniture, or just not clash with your carpets. Think about it.

There are a lot of plans available for you to choose from, so it shouldn't be too hard for you to find an appropriate one for you. The range available does not just cover the different types of bed itself, but also all sorts of accessories and alterations. For example, you could get one with some storage space, such as drawers underneath it, or in the case of a loft bed even a full closet! There are hundreds of variations, so just pick whichever you like the most, and then figure out what changes you want to make to it.

In the end, there are some situations where buying a bunk bed actually is the best solution. Obviously, if money is not an issue, then sure, go for it. On the other hand, it might be worth just buying a cheap bed as a short term solution, especially if you need it quickly, or will only be using it for a short time. A lower quality bed is not a good idea in the long run, as it will only break eventually, but for right now it could be worth it.

As you've seen, building a bunk bed has a number of advantages that go beyond mere cost efficiency. Putting together a bed can be a fun activity for the whole family, and serve to forge a deeper connection between parents and children. You can change the design of the bed as much as you wish, altering the color and design, and select for a huge variety of kits and plans available to start with.

Article Source: http://www.content-corral.com

Author Patrick Oakley is a professional carpenter with expertise in designing furniture to make efficient use of space. To this end, has recently begun providing bunk beds and loft beds over the internet.



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