We're going to build a loft bed using an Ana White plan. We'd like to stain the wood dark but need to use a wood that is going to stand up to the wear and tear of a teenager....but is still affordable. Any suggestions?
Any suggestions on the best type of stain? Do I need to do a clear coat over the top of it?
i would just use plywood. as far as stain, i wouldn't really be concerned about the best kind. any of them will do.
I have seen some very good teak furniture recently. It is strong enough to be used as outdoor furniture, so hopefully that would be strong enough to cope with a teenager.
The teak furniture that I saw was sourced from old railways and buildings so it had a heap of character, and was very robust and solid. Check this out:
The teak furniture that I saw was sourced from old railways and buildings so it had a heap of character, and was very robust and solid. Check this out:

We ended up using red oak for the bed itself, white pine for the bookcases and poplar (if I remember right) for the pieces that would take the most abuse. Since we chose to put a honey colored wood floor in, we ended up painting the bed and other furniture bright white. What I'm still mulling over is how to give the paint longer life. Right now it's easy to chip but it's only been a few days since I painted it (1 layer zinser, 4 top coats).