Originally Posted by Bill

I'm thinking that trying to make the steps fold into the storage cabinet may make things harder than they have to be. Why not make it fold up flat onto the bed? I whomped up a quick sketch of another idea.

Basically, you build a conventional ladder, with three rungs. The bottom end rests on the floor; the top end is hinged, so it can swing over on top of the mattress (or under it - your choice).

Now make two flat stair treads, attached to each other on their sides with swing arms. Put hooks on the back of each, to hook over the rungs in the ladder. When you take them off the ladder, the treads fold down flat.

This diagram needs some tweaking, of course, but to me it is a quick idea that shouldn't be too hard to build.

Comments?

Bill