Podium bed in the interior: placement features and review of the most trending solutions

Bed on an unusual podium made of logs

Podiums in apartments are a fairly popular interior solution, gaining a growing audience of fans every year. Some strive to give their home a stylish and original look, others, through this idea, try to solve the pressing issue of lack of space. But is this method really so effective in the second case?

Country style design of a modern home with wooden false beams and a podium under the bed in the bedroom

Stylish minimalist bedroom with a bed on a low podium

Cozy interior with a podium made of deliberately roughly processed wood

Spacious drawers are practical and convenient at the same time

Multifunctional unit containing a desk, storage cabinets, sleeping area and electric radiator

If you are thinking about installing a podium bed in a room, objectively estimate the area of ​​the room and think about whether you are ready to cut it in half. After all, no matter how beautifully “knowledgeable specialists” sing about the advantages of such structures, it is obvious that they are suitable only for fairly spacious rooms, but not for small areas. This is because the podium bed is both the podium itself, which will take up a significant part of the space, and a mattress or bed on top of it. As a design solution, this option is undoubtedly original and interesting, but as a way to save space in small spaces, it is very doubtful. Yes, you should also consider the height of the room.

For low ceilings, the maximum height of the podium should be 20 cm, otherwise it will “eat” your room vertically.

Podium in the apartment: options

Let's consider several common options for placing a podium, depending on the size of the living space and the purpose of the room.

Podium in a studio apartment: zoning and optimization

The most typical solution for giving the studio individuality and clear zoning of space is a raised floor in the kitchen work area. This achieves several goals: hiding pipes, separating the kitchen from the dining room. The zoning effect can be enhanced by using floor tiles in the kitchen, which have an advantage in terms of sanitation and protect the space under the podium from flooding and the development of fungus.

Another method of zoning a studio is also possible. Erecting a podium in the living area of ​​the studio, near the window, provides much more advantages. On the podium you can arrange a work area or a relaxation area, and hide roll-out beds under it. Thus, in the studio you can place two full-sized beds or a large double bed, which otherwise would not fit in a small area.

Few people think of raising the floor in the part of the hallway where the wardrobe is installed. Meanwhile, this allows you to optimize its space. Deep drawers at the bottom of the wardrobe are certainly more convenient than mezzanines. This technique is interesting for any small “two-room” and “one-room” apartments.

Optimization of a small living space

Arranging a decorative podium in a small apartment is not optimal - it is wiser to use the podium not only as an expressive design element. You can use the space underneath for pull-out furniture or as a storage area, for example, for out-of-season or oversized items. Thus, by raising the floor in any area, if the ceiling height allows, you can get an additional storage system - an alternative to a bulky closet.

A podium can transform an apartment, and in a children’s room the options for its use are simply limitless - this is the upper deck of a ship for boys, a stage (with a microphone!) for girls, and a secluded bedroom hidden behind a light curtain.

Large apartment: you can afford a lot

When the podium is built in a spacious apartment, where there is no shortage of space, it can play a purely decorative role. A podium can be used to highlight a significant area in the apartment - an island kitchen, for example, or a well-equipped workplace. In the bedroom, a podium will emphasize the importance of a luxurious bed, and the “pedestal” can be round in shape, just like the bed itself. Sometimes this structure is mounted in the center of the room - it all depends on the design.

Soft podium

Among the unusual, but increasingly popular solutions is a soft podium, quite spacious and, as a rule, including storage systems. It is often used as a sleeping place for late guests, then bed linen is stored in the drawers. At other times, it is a spacious sofa on which you can sit at ease, watch TV, or read. If there are children in the house, this will be their favorite place to play.

Product dimensions

The width of the standard model of bedroom furniture ranges from 39 to 70 cm; for double beds it reaches two meters or more. Traditionally, products are characterized by the following dimensions:

• single bed - 80 × 180, 90 × 200 cm;
• one and a half - 120 × 180, 140 × 200 cm;
• double - 160 × 190, 180 × 200 cm.

Classic vertical models of standard size are suitable for small apartments, where assembled functionality is no less important. Horizontal ones are often designed in the form of chests of drawers, which are less functional. The size is selected based on the user’s weight (the wider the bed, the greater the load capacity) and height.

The parameters may be affected by the square of the room. The bed should be placed against the wall, not against the side walls. The owner should walk freely on both sides, linen drawers should slide out easily, and the furniture itself should rise and fall without touching foreign objects.

A bed with a lifting mechanism does not hide the space in the apartment; it allows you to create a functional work area. Thanks to the design features of modern models, you can rationally organize space.

Additional drawers, compartments for linen, and storage systems will be a pleasant bonus. When choosing, it is important to consider the durability of the mechanism, the quality of the product itself and the permissible load capacity.

How to do it yourself?

Some useful tips:

Decide on the design of the podium. The monolithic design option is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming to create. For a metal frame, experience with welding tools is required. Therefore, the best option is wood. Create a sketch of the future design. Carefully describing all sizes and proportions. Use dowels and self-tapping screws to secure the structure. When positioning the flooring on which the mattress will be placed, it is necessary to add allowances of 5 cm on each side. OSB and plywood materials are used to cover the frame. As decoration, you can use a variety of materials, such as laminate, parquet, linoleum, carpet

It is important to remember that the material must match the color scheme of the flooring.

For more detailed instructions on how to make a podium bed with your own hands, see the following video.

Posting rules

Despite its dimensions, the sleeping place on the podium is a great space saver. The installation options are chosen by the future user, based on the designers’ recommendations regarding the location of the furniture. The podium can be placed in the middle of the room, near the wall or in a small niche. This furniture is found not only in the master bedroom or studio apartment, it is often used in children's rooms and on balconies.

Accommodation requirements:

• Zoning must be done carefully. If you plan to use the bed on a permanent basis, choose the most suitable place in the room for its placement.
• Furniture should be installed away from heating radiators so as not to impede air circulation.
• Dimensions are selected individually. The podium is always created to order, taking into account the parameters of the room in which the structure is planned to be installed.
• If utility lines run under the bed in the podium, you will have to install a hatch. Otherwise, the lid is made of a solid slab.
• You can refuse the accompanying furniture. In a small house it is impossible to install a bed, a wardrobe and a bedside table at the same time. The functions of the listed types of furniture will be taken over by the podium.
• If the drawers are pulled out, there should be enough free space in front of them.

A functional bed on a podium will be an ideal solution for rooms with a non-standard layout. Refusal to use furniture sets will “unload” such premises. You can also install raised bunk beds in children's rooms. Kids will use the built-in drawers to store toys, clothes and bedding.

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Photos of built-in beds in the interior of rooms

Photos of examples of using a bed in the wall in different rooms.

To the living room

In the hall, a bedroom built into a closet or shelving is an excellent solution for rational use of usable space.

In the bedroom

Due to the huge number of varieties and different characteristics of furniture, it is especially effective to place a built-in model for adults inside the bedroom and significantly save every square meter during the day.

To the nursery

For a small nursery for a schoolchild, a boy or a girl, a multifunctional bed built into a closet or set with an add-on, shelves, drawers and a workplace is perfect. In a room for two, a two-story wall structure would be appropriate, which can also be equipped with a desk or a two-seater model with a second pull-out level under the first.

Cabinet

A bed in an office is probably not the most popular use for convertible furniture in living spaces, but it is quite common in very spacious homes. Sometimes, when working for a long time, it is more convenient to spend the night in the office than to come to the bedroom, risking waking up the family.

The bed is integrated into the closet, which fits perfectly into the overall picture of the room. This could be part of a bookcase or an imitation surface for a painting or panel.

In offices, horizontal models of transformable beds are often used. They are compact, designed for sleeping space, require less usable space and can fit seamlessly into home office furniture solutions.

But in some cases, installing a vertical folding bed is justified. Here is an example of using a vertical bed built into a built-in wardrobe with smooth fronts.

To the balcony

For a loggia, this option looks quite interesting and practical. When assembled, the structure can be a closet or other storage system, and when disassembled it can become an excellent sleeping place for a good rest.

Auxiliary room

In private homes or large apartments, the folding bed can also be integrated into a closet located in a utility room - hallway, hallway, space near the stairs and even in the laundry room. This option for arranging a bed is suitable for occasional use by late guests.

Indeed, very often homeowners do not have the opportunity to allocate a separate room for receiving guests, because it is obvious that most of the time the room will not be used.

Small apartment: do you really need a podium?

Is it possible to make a podium in a small apartment? Installing flooring with a modest area requires a balanced approach.

Khrushchev apartments have low ceilings and small rooms. Because of this, a limitation is imposed not only on the area of ​​the podium, but also on its height. To prevent the room from seeming even smaller and the ceilings lower, it should be low.

In small apartments it is better to make the podium low

If a low podium does not solve the problems with arranging a sleeping area and the multifunctional use of the flooring itself, then it is better to abandon the idea. This also applies to rooms in which there is an excess of furniture.

Even a small apartment can look very modern with a multifunctional interior. In this case, pieces of furniture combine several functions, move, change position and purpose.

Drawers and shelves for books at the ends will be a good way out. To save space, cabinets and drawers can be located not only under the podium panel, but also on the sides.

Storage boxes are a great space saver

The presence of a sloping ceiling is not in itself a contraindication to installing a podium.

Should I order it or make it myself?

Models with a podium will definitely attract the attention of everyone entering the room

Therefore, it is important to make all the design reliably, highly durable and beautiful.

You can make a simple traditional podium without retractable or opening structures with your own hands if you have tools, high-quality materials and minimal experience in performing this type of work. In this case, the required amount of material must be clearly calculated, drawings must be made and calculations made.

Having no experience in work, it is better to trust the specialists

If there are neither appropriate qualifications for such work, nor sufficient free time, the work can be entrusted to professionals. This also applies to complex systems with opening doors, pull-out drawers and roll-out mechanisms.

What types of podium beds are there?

First of all, it should be mentioned that the podium bed is an independent segment of cabinet furniture. It is strikingly different from all other pieces of furniture. The product is based on a special frame (usually made of wooden logs), on the basis of which the podium is built. There are practically no typical podiums. The very essence of the product lies in its adaptation to a specific room, taking into account the designer’s suggestions and the customer’s wishes.

Podium beds are conventionally divided into two main types.

With a berth located directly on the podium. This option allows you to equip additional drawers and niches for storing things inside the frame.

With a sleeping place located inside the podium and retractable from under the frame at night. The hill itself (platform) is used as a place for children's games, arranging a study, or in some other way. An interesting option for apartments with limited space. This podium has a rather complex design.

Wardrobe bed ideas in different styles

This folding wall structure will look good in a variety of design styles, such as minimalism, hi-tech, loft or modern. For example, wood products will become a harmonious element of vintage Provence, rustic country or classic style.

Practical and effective examples of placement in the interior

There are several possible options for placing a podium bed in a small room. You should take into account the size of the room, ceiling height and other features

It is important that the design fits perfectly into the overall design and does not create the impression of bulkiness. As a general rule, it is recommended to use an installation location away from the center of the room

Depending on this, the overall impression may change, which should be taken into account when planning.

Most often, such a podium bed is equipped with shelves, drawers or voluminous niches, allowing you to avoid purchasing an additional wardrobe or chest of drawers.

In the bedroom

There are many possible options for placing a bed in a bedroom. Among the most common solutions are the following:

• In the center. This solution is allowed only in cases where the area of ​​the room is large. This allows you to visually expand the space even more. In small rooms, this option only clutters up the space.
• Equipment for a window sill under the podium. One of the beneficial solutions that allows you to place a bed under a large window. There are many different installation placement options.
• Installation of a bed on the second floor of the podium. This allows you to save free space for equipment in the work area or rest area.

In addition to the fact that a podium bed becomes an excellent decoration for any interior, due to proper placement it can zone the space and improve its ergonomics.

Note! Podium beds are distinguished by their universal use. They look great in a variety of interiors and styles.

The main thing is to choose the optimal combination.

Placement near a window

One of the most common options for small bedrooms or living rooms. Allows you to visually expand the space of the room due to the incoming natural light.

When constructing a bed on a podium next to a window opening, it is possible to significantly save usable space, and also by raising the bed, organize good natural lighting.

Features of placement in a small room

In small rooms with low ceilings, it is not recommended to install podium beds. If you still want to use this solution, you need to choose low podium designs. You can also integrate lighting into the lower part to create a weightless effect.

In a small and narrow room, a podium bed with wide drawers can be placed from wall to wall across the entire width of the room.

In the children's room

The design should be selected with special attention, since the safety of the child depends on it. You need to take care of the original installation design

It is also important to pay attention to the strength and reliability of all fasteners. The right choice will help you organize the space in your children's room as much as possible.

In the photo there is a children's room with a podium bed with two sleeping places.

What is special about podium beds and how to apply them in the interior

Bed on a high podium for an unusual stylish interior design

The main advantage is its special structure, which allows it to be used multifunctionally. Modern developers offer a wide selection with various mechanisms and functions, including pull-out beds. The main feature is the ability to save space and store items.

White furniture for a teenage girl's bedroom with a podium bed

The freed up space can be used at your discretion, this is especially appreciated in small apartments and small rooms. The selected podium bed for your apartment will become not only a place for comfortable rest and sleep, but also an original accent and highlight in the interior.

Built-in guest bed for small living room

Types of structures by organization

There are many models of raised decking with a bed. All of them are divided into three main types:

• Traditional.
• Improved.
• Retractable.

Creates more space

The choice of a specific type of structure should take into account:

• visual image;
• financial opportunities;
• room style;
• the need to install additional work and sleeping places;
• room parameters (ceiling height, area, regular or irregular shape, arches, ceiling beams).

There is no clear opinion about the podium bed even among designers. Many are confident in the advisability of such an organization only for very large premises. But not everything in this matter is clear. It is possible to install it even in a modest-sized apartment with a not very favorable layout.

Be sure to consider the style of the room

The frame version has a relatively simple organization. It uses metal, wood or a combination of several materials.

The average height of the podium in an ordinary apartment is from 0.25 to 0.55 m. If you need to organize storage systems, then the height should be about half a meter.

Often the podium has a rectangular shape. But this requirement is not considered mandatory. The round, semicircular shape also looks no less interesting.

It is basically rectangular in shape

The podium usually has a completely flat top floor. But perhaps even a wide mattress can be placed in the recess below the sides. This will make it possible to use the protruding planes as bedside tables and additional shelves.

Traditional podium

This type is the simplest to implement. It looks like a rigid frame made of wood with a covering of wear-resistant material and a mattress on top. The height of the flooring is usually about half a meter.

The casing is made from the following materials:

• linoleum;
• skin;
• wood;
• carpet, etc.

Traditional podium option

One of the easiest ways to decorate the outside of the podium is to paint it in several layers. The right shade will create a harmonious space in the room, where each element has its place.

Improved version

This type of bed is similar to the previous one, but with added functionality. The podium has retractable storage chambers for things: for bed linen, clothes, etc.

The decorative and originality of the structure is combined with practicality of use. Storage systems in the form of drawers can be combined with open shelves for books, souvenirs, frequently used small items, and blankets. A system of entire segments with different appearances is welcome.

The option is supplemented with functionality

Retractable mechanism

A bed with a pull-out system is a comfortable sleeping place that can be pushed under the podium. The roll-out device allows you to use the resulting free podium for organizing a workplace or storing things.

In withdrawable systems, it is necessary to pay attention to the quietness of the drawout. To do this, the wheels must have a high-quality rubber coating that does not scratch the floor and makes it possible to move the bed out and in quietly

Plastic wheels are not suitable. If used frequently, they may leave marks on the floor. In addition, plastic has a short service life and quickly becomes unusable.

Pay attention to the quietness of the withdrawable mechanism

Design features

Beds with raised mattresses, which can be inserted into a closet, mounted on a wall or as a shelf, come in two types: vertical and horizontal.

Horizontals can be single or one and a half. They do not take up the entire height of the cabinet, and the upper shelves can be used for storing things. Such models are good for children and teenagers, as an option for guests.

Vertical folding beds can be any width, from 90 to 210 cm, but require high ceilings. Consider for yourself: a comfortable mattress length is 200-220 cm, more space on the frame, on the cabinet frame. In total, the ceiling height for a 200 cm mattress must be at least 220 cm, and for longer ones - even more.

Also note that a folding or lifting bed is attached to the wall. In this case, the load-bearing capacity of the wall must be sufficient to withstand significant loads that occur when lowering or raising the mattress. Such actions will have to be repeated often to ensure that the wall is reliable (partitions made of plasterboard, as well as walls made of aerated concrete, are not suitable).

The folding bed can be a single bed, a large single bed, or a double bed. The mattress can be foam or spring. Three types of mechanisms are used: springs, pneumatic lifts and remotely controlled electric drives.

Shapes and sizes

Products with a podium can have different shapes. This will allow them to fit into rooms of different sizes. The bed can be:

• rectangular;
• square;
• round;
• semicircular.

A square bed will look good in a long, elongated room. It will adjust the space and make the room more proportional. If we talk about a square, the size 160 by 180 can also be classified as a similar shape.

The round model is optimal for rooms with a large area, for example, for studio apartments

Such a bed will always become an accent that attracts the attention of everyone who enters the room.

The semicircular product is more compact and can be placed against the wall. Such models look very original, but are most often designed for one person. A double semicircular model will take up too much space.

Whatever shape the bed with a podium has, it will save on furniture. Purchasing such a bed will allow you to avoid buying a bookcase, wardrobe, chest of drawers for linen, or a shelving unit - depending on the configuration of the bed.

When choosing the shape and model of a bed, you should pay attention to some parameters

The material from which the product is made, namely its strength and environmental safety. Weight of the structure. Ideally, the bed should easily support the weight of 2 adults. Podium height. A person, standing at its highest point, should not rest his head on the ceiling (or on the second tier, if provided for by the design). The number of people who will sleep on the bed, as well as their ages. For a child or an elderly person, it is better to choose low models; for adults, the podium can be anything. The amount of free space available in the room. The shape of the bed depends on this

It is equally important to consider the place in which the product will be installed. It is not recommended to place wooden models close to a radiator or near a window if it is not insulated enough. If the bed is equipped with niches, the podium should not be higher than 0.4 m. If the height of the podium is more than 0.4 m, then you need to climb onto the bed using steps.

Positive and negative sides

Like any other piece of furniture, a folding bed has its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of furniture include:

1. Saving useful space is the main task of a built-in bed. When assembled, the piece of furniture looks like a wardrobe, and at night it turns into a comfortable bed;
2. Variety of Patterns: Furniture designers have come up with different styles and types of similar patterns. It's easy to find an option in a classic vintage style or in a high-tech style. The outside surface of the product is sometimes decorated with mirrors, which visually increase the volume of the room. This is very good for small rooms;
3. Functionality of the product - at the base of a bunk bed, special partitions serve as supports, which turn into shelves when the bed is raised;
4. With a built-in bed, you can change the interior of the room by disassembling and assembling the bed.

Along with the advantages, the product has several disadvantages:

1. The high cost is explained by the installation of expensive lifting mechanisms in the furniture structure. The price of a bed consists of several factors: the material of the product’s construction, upholstery, mattress, installed lifting mechanisms;
2. The need for daily bed transformation;
3. Unreliable lifting mechanism in low-quality models. Some owners of such furniture fear that the bed will collapse at the most inopportune moment - when a person is sleeping;
4. Unlike stationary furniture, you cannot sit on folding furniture at any time. To rest it needs to be disassembled.

Types of structures

Depending on the design features, podiums also come in several types. This is determined by the purpose of the design and the principle of organization.

Decorative

This type of podium is designed to separate functional areas

Decorative design attracts attention and creates a fashionable accent in the room

Technical

In addition to an interesting design and unusualness, a bed with a podium can serve a very practical role. The main task of such an organization is to hide communication lines. Additionally, the space can be used to store things.

Very convenient and practical

Combined

With this type, the bed is rolled out during sleep and pushed under the flooring the rest of the time. This saves a lot of space. Other types: with a folding mattress or the presence of convenient drawers.

Advantages of a podium bed

A podium in a bedroom, nursery, living room or studio apartment is a controversial solution that does not apply to every layout.

The advantages of the organization include:

• ease of installation, which can be done even with your own hands, but with professional skills;
• warm and comfortable sleeping place;
• visually the design expands the space and saves area;
• using free space under the flooring;
• organization of space zoning;
• updating the design with an unusual accent in the design.

This bed saves space

Advice The greatest effect and variety of options have podium beds, organized in spacious rooms with high ceilings.

Folding bed: types

The desire to sleep on a good bed is understandable and logical - only comfortable sleep allows you to quickly recover. But it is not always possible to install a normal bed. Our apartments are not only not very large, but there are often not enough rooms.

This means you need to make the room multifunctional (combine a living room or office with a bedroom) or accommodate two or more children in one room. So we need to look for a solution. One of them is a folding bed or a folding bed. There are different types, so you can find a solution for every occasion.

Bed built into wardrobe

The bed size for the folding bed built into the closet can be any size from a single bed to a double bed (Euro). There can be two separate beds. The main thing is that there is a place where you can install and secure cabinet furniture (do not forget about the need for rigid and reliable fastening).

There are several ways to make this piece of furniture attractive. After all, a bed built into a closet should look attractive not only when open, but also when folded. The first way: the bed is hidden in the closet, behind the doors. According to the type of execution, doors can be regular hinged or with compartments. Neither is perfect.

The bed, built into a closet with a hinged door when lowered, is almost half covered. Not everyone likes it, and it’s not very accessible.

The second option is a bed built into the closet. Here the situation is better: the headboard in the closet is only 30-40 cm, which practically does not interfere. But there is another drawback: adjacent sections of the cabinet are blocked by a sliding door. That is, while the bed is open, the closet cannot be used.

Only three-door wardrobes are free from this drawback. Three doors sliding on three rails. All of them can be “oriented” in one of the parts. The other two appear to be open. In the case of a built-in folding bed, this is only possible for narrow models. After all, the width of neighboring areas should be slightly wider. That is, the wardrobe itself should be slightly longer than three times the width of the bed.

With a bed width of 120 cm, this is 380 cm and no less. Such a wardrobe cannot be installed anywhere, but if the bed is even wider... The doors are pulled apart and block access to the wardrobe

The third option is the most common. The headboard is crafted to resemble the adjacent wardrobes. The problem here is the legs. They are difficult to hide. Sometimes they stick out like a bee's antennae, which is unsightly.

Some companies make these legs in the form of canopies protruding from the cabinet. Some are ready to put up with such a disadvantage, while for others it is absolutely not suitable.

There is also an option with shelf legs. It is much nicer, but also more expensive, since it has additional mechanisms and stops.

Folding bed

This type of upholstered furniture is in great demand. The main requirement is ease of use of the product. Folding beds in the interior of a small room help create the image of a bedroom combined with a living room or children's room.

The strength of such products is their ability to simultaneously create comfort and save space. Furniture can be folded and disassembled, relieving the interior of congestion. The type of folding bed can be vertical or horizontal. A folding bed provides space for other activities.

In appearance, the folding design is completely different. In stores you can see both budget options and quite expensive things. If for various reasons you still can’t buy furniture, it’s not difficult to do it yourself.

you just need to properly prepare the necessary material and equipment. For installation, the walls must be reliable and durable, made of material that can withstand heavy loads. It cannot be used as a base for installing cots, plasterboard walls or partitions, or light wood walls.

Hidden

The most effective and affordable method of solving the shortage of square meters is the use of a hidden structure inside the apartment. Modern standard beds occupy almost the entire area of ​​the room. For this reason, there is nowhere to place more furniture and simply nowhere for everyday hanging out. A hidden bed solves this problem.

The sleeping place is very quickly hidden in a special niche in the wall. In addition, when assembled, it practically does not differ from the surface of the entire wall or cabinet. The outer side of hidden furniture is matched to the tone and quality of the surrounding material. The wall of the cabinet next to the bed will not be any different, but will look like a single whole.

Designers have developed many practical ideas for creating hidden furniture. For example, when he gets up, the bed turns into a shallow closet with shelves. Or an option when a large mirror is attached to the bottom of the product from the outside, which in a vertical position increases the space of the room.

You can apply a drawing or attach an original image to the surface of the furniture. They will serve as part of the interior decor of the room.

Transformer

A transformable bed that folds into a wall or a closet includes two types of furniture: a functional closet and a comfortable sleeping place. When assembled, the bed does not interfere with anyone and is invisible. If necessary, the structure lowers and opens the bed for sleeping, where you can relax. Also, storage boxes are often added to the design of the bed.

There are models of beds in which, when raised, the bottom turns into a sealed system. Here the shelves can be folded and the hanger holders can be pulled out. After folding, the items on the hanger are neatly placed in a niche under the mattress.

A built-in convertible bed is a good solution to take advantage of the free space in apartments with a small living space. Having decided on the choice of this type of furniture, before purchasing it, you should carefully study the types of transformable furniture products from various manufacturers.

Construction and materials

By design, podiums are divided into monolithic and frame.

Monolithic podiums in an apartment, as a rule, consist of a layer of concrete 10-15 cm high. Standard interfloor ceilings are not designed for such additional load, therefore such podiums are prohibited for independent construction. It may be possible to coordinate the redevelopment with a lighter construction of a monolithic podium - made of foam concrete or gypsum blocks.

Typically, a frame structure is erected to raise the floor level. The frame is made of wooden blocks or metal profiles. Logs should be provided every 40 cm. For flooring, plywood with a thickness of 20 mm is usually used.

If the interior space of the podium is not intended to be used in any way, it should be filled with sound-absorbing material, for example, polyurethane foam - otherwise the empty cavity will amplify all the sounds in the apartment, and they will disturb the neighbors below. In the case when drawers are built into the podium, or a bed is pushed under it, the resonance effect will not appear so strongly.

The finishing covering of the podium can be as varied as a regular floor covering:

• parquet,
• laminate,
• tile,
• wooden floor slats,
• linoleum,
• carpet covering.

The soft podium is upholstered with foam rubber and any textile suitable for the design - from cotton to brocade and velvet.

Often the finishing of the podium differs from the floor covering of the apartment in order to further emphasize the isolation of this area.

For a podium higher than 15 cm, steps will be required; it is important to provide them with an anti-slip pad. Built-in lighting of the steps will make them safer and create a sublime holiday atmosphere

Sometimes the edge of the podium is limited by low railings.

Podium in the apartment

Advantages

Like any other furniture, the podium bed has many advantages over its analogues:

• Dividing one room into functional zones. Thanks to such furniture, it is quite possible to make, for example, a work area and a bedroom out of one room. The podium highlights the sleeping area as a separate area and helps to visually divide the space.
• High functionality. A bed with drawers can combine several functions at the same time, being both a comfortable sleeping place and an area for storing things. Often, such furniture has pull-out chests of drawers and even entire closets where you can store bed linen, clothes or mattresses. In addition, the podium bed is a creative design solution, adding originality to the room and saving space.
• Orthopedic function. As a rule, a podium bed is a rather rigid sleeping place, which has a positive effect on maintaining correct posture and spinal health.
• Natural materials. Typically, environmentally friendly materials, such as wood, are used to create such furniture.

Advantages of the model

Built-in high bed with drawer steps and mirrored wardrobe

Thanks to the design solution, the interior of the apartment can change beyond recognition if such a model is installed. The advantages include the following points.

1. Separate zoning
   . A home divided into conventional zones will look more interesting and unusual due to the open space that is formed due to the absence of boundary contours. An installed podium bed will highlight visual restrictions in the interior in a natural way.
2. A practical approach
   . The installed product will not only add newness to the interior of the apartment, but will also help to carry out several functions at the same time, such as storing objects, a retractable base, and the podium can hide various communications (pipes, electrical sockets). In addition, building a podium is not difficult; it is enough to have ready-made structural parts and connecting them together will not be difficult.
3. Square footage
   . Another advantage of the installation, which allows you to significantly save space for receiving guests or playing for a child. The use of the podium in the design of a children's room, as well as living and sleeping areas, will be especially relevant.
4. Visual effect
   . A room in which a pull-out bed is installed takes on a sophisticated look and a certain mood.

Embedding a bed into a podium is a great way to hide it in the living room interior

Styles

The functional and aesthetic components of the product are very important. But the combination of the bed with the rest of the interior items and its style are no less important. You need to choose a model that will fit well into the environment and become a harmonious part of it.

The classic style presupposes a strict, but not devoid of decorative elements, appearance of the bed. An excellent solution would be to choose expensive fabric for upholstery. You can cover both the frame and the head of the bed. The number of decorations should not be large, but a certain amount - tassels on the bedspread, exquisite drawer handles, etc. - is acceptable. Most often, however, niches, drawers and shelves in classic models are disguised.

It is better to choose children's models in soothing colors. The single folding model can be equipped with a lifting mechanism and can be converted into a double bed when unfolded. You should choose natural materials for both the podium and the mattress. The latter must be rigid, orthopedic - to form correct posture. Modern manufacturers offer a lot of environmentally friendly solutions.

Design of beds that retract into the wall

A murphy bed can easily become the focal point of a room. To create a similar effect, it is advisable to use bright colors and spectacular decorative elements. For example, cabinet doors can be decorated with carvings, paintings, photo prints and mirrors, which in turn will further increase the area of ​​the room, or decorated with glass inserts with polished patterns applied.

In addition, a niche in the wall of a folding model can be decorated with wallpaper with a colorful and original print, soft panels, lighting, natural finishing materials or their imitation.

Podium materials

If we talk about beds with monolithic foundations, then for their manufacture you need:

• wooden boards - formwork is made from them, it is better to choose the least knotty material - pine, spruce, larch;
• concrete - it is poured inside the formwork;
• the frame, it is also made from wooden beams or laminated chipboard, some craftsmen manage to make an excellent frame from pallets - literally, from improvised means, pallets are used instead of timber;
• the bed itself - mattress and other components.

In the area where the bed is planned to be installed, formwork is placed and concrete is poured there. Flooring is laid on top of the finished base. Next, the frame is installed, after which the bed is placed on the frame. This is a very strong and durable, but, unfortunately, absolutely not mobile and extremely massive structure.

In a pull-out bed, in addition to the traditional frame, rollers are used, with the help of which the mattress is rolled out from the podium. The mattress in this model is thinner and folds. The easiest way to assemble a podium is from chipboard, laminated chipboard, ready-made wooden blocks and furniture panels. When assembling, you should take into account the weight that the frame must support. The maximum permissible weight for the frame is from 450 to 700 kg per square meter. m.

No. 3. Bed material

High-quality bed material is the key to the durability of the product. There may be several options:

solid wood is the most preferred material. Such beds have maximum durability and strength, they are environmentally friendly and safe. The most durable frames will be those made of oak, ash and beech, but you can find a good option in a more affordable category;

The metal also shows record durability, has a high service life and is durable. Welded and forged beds are made from metal. The second option, naturally, looks more sophisticated and elegant and today, by the way, is at the peak of popularity;

a bed made of MDF will cost less, but in many ways it is inferior to wood and metal. Such products look good and do not cause harm to health, but their service life before the first breakdown is somewhat lower than that of their wooden counterparts

In terms of price/quality ratio, this is the most attractive option on the market, which is why such beds are very popular;

beds made of fiberboard and chipboard are the cheapest, do not last long, quickly begin to creak, and then completely fall apart. Buying a bed made of chipboard is a necessary measure when the budget is very limited, but even in this case it is necessary to look at safety certificates and pay attention to the level of formaldehyde emissions (in residential premises you can use products of levels E0 and E1).

MDF, chipboard and fiberboard can be laminated and repeat the pattern of any type of wood or stone, they can be painted or veneered, so in appearance such beds look very attractive. Manufacturers often use fabric, leather and eco-leather upholstery

Make sure that the fabric is dense and wear-resistant.

Today it is fashionable to use wooden pallets all the time.

They are used to make not only country furniture and cozy sofas with tables for summer areas of cafes. Several of these drawers can serve as an excellent base for a bed in a city apartment. Such a solution will fit, however, not into any interior.

Color solutions

When choosing the shade of furniture, two factors should be taken into account: the bed should fit harmoniously into the interior of the bedroom/children's room, and the color should have a beneficial effect on the psyche.

Pull-out transformable bed

If it is difficult to find a bed of the desired shade, choose furniture in neutral colors. An excellent option is products in white/beige or light wood. To avoid the hassle of choosing paints, designers recommend purchasing furniture in a tone close to the main color of the room. As an option: for a light green room, choose a light green bed. It is believed that pink and lavender shades are more suitable for women's bedrooms. Brown and blue will organically fit into a man’s room.

Pull-out bed made of MDF

To create comfort, the room is decorated in a calm color palette (silver, greenish, yellow, green). The bed can be chosen in a wenge shade (if desired, contrast). To make the atmosphere look calmer, select furniture from Karelian birch, bleached oak, and pine.

Pull-out bed for a teenager

No. 11. What else to consider when choosing a bed?

In pursuit of a large, spacious bed, do not forget that space in the bedroom is limited, and in addition to the bed, it is often necessary to place a wardrobe or chest of drawers, and leave a free passage to the sleeping area and the window.

On sale you can find beds of very original design. For example, in the form of a boat, a nest, there are even swing beds, but when trying to add variety to your home interior, do not forget that the bed, first of all, should be comfortable.

As for bed manufacturers, you can pay attention to Dream Line (beds made of solid ash and beech), Olimp, Horizont, Fratelli Barri (expensive designer Italian beds), as well as more affordable products from SMK, Vasko, Triya and Lonax. Finally, we note that it is better to buy a bed, like a mattress, only after a personal inspection and short testing: an uncomfortable product will reveal itself almost immediately

Finally, we note that it is better to buy a bed, like a mattress, only after a personal inspection and short testing: an uncomfortable product will give itself away almost immediately.

The article was written for the site remstroiblog.ru.

Types of mechanisms

Furniture production does not stop and is constantly developing. Popular models become obsolete over time and are replaced by new ones that are also gaining wide popularity. Beds built into walls and wardrobes have not lost their position for many years and remain in demand. They earned their fame thanks to special mechanisms that allow them to be lifted vertically without much effort.

The lifting device is an important design element of a convertible bed. Thanks to these modules, the entire structure, which weighs several tens of kilograms, can be easily lifted and turned into a vertical fragment of a wardrobe or wall. Several lifting devices are common:

• Manual method;
• Spring mechanism;
• Gas elevator.

The first option is the cheapest, but also the most capricious, requiring periodic adjustments and some effort when lifting furniture. The mechanism does not contain additional springs and shock absorbers; lifting is carried out entirely manually.

The second method is less labor intensive. The spring version already has special shock absorbers in the form of coil springs, which allow you to lift the net without much effort.

The coil springs are made of durable carbon steel wire. The service life of such mechanisms reaches 70 years, and this is with daily transformation of furniture. The only drawback of the device is the appearance of noise during operation. Springs can stretch over time and need to be replaced.

The third option is the most convenient and complex. The operation of the module is based on the action of piston devices filled with compressed air. When changing the position of the folding bed, the lifting mechanism smoothly changes the position of the furniture. In this case, you don’t need to make any special efforts; the device will do everything itself. Gas lift is by far the most expensive of all types of devices.

There are device models equipped with an electric drive with remote control. This is a great way to transform furniture for people with disabilities or those who appreciate all things technological.

What you need to pay attention to when choosing a podium bed

When choosing a podium bed in a small bedroom, there are many subtleties to consider. Possible interior solutions and style design of the room depend on this.

Thanks to the construction of a frame podium, it is possible to organize a spacious storage system.

It is recommended to pay attention to the following nuances:

Material. You should choose environmentally friendly materials for the construction. A common solution is natural wood or wood panels. The latter option is lighter, so it allows you to create a compact and reliable design. If necessary, it can be disassembled. Modular installations made of steel are used less often, since steel cools, which is bad at low or too high air temperatures. Weight. The design should be compact and lightweight. At the same time, it must withstand the weight of at least two adults. There are special assembly requirements. Consideration should be given to how to assemble the structure with maximum efficiency. Height

It is important to choose the correct elevation height. When a person stands on the podium, he should not rest his head on the ceiling

Otherwise, it is better to abandon the installation, choosing a more practical and comfortable solution for everyday use. Niches. If you plan to build in drawers and other retractable structures, the lower part should remain at least forty centimeters in height. Steps. If the height of the podium exceeds forty centimeters, it is better to additionally install steps for convenience.

Considering these simple subtleties, you can easily choose the appropriate option for decorating any room. This will significantly save space and use it for other purposes.

Manufacturing materials

The warranty period for such beds varies from 3 to 10 years. This directly depends on the material of manufacture, the reliability of the mechanism and the overall quality of the product. Most often, models are sold without a mattress, so they are purchased separately. The following factors influence the choice:

1. Owner's age. Ideal support and comfort are personalized for each age category.
2. Weight. If the owner weighs more than 90 kg, then he needs to choose an option with greater rigidity.
3. Lifestyle. Professional athletes need a firm mattress. For sedentary people, this factor is not so important.
4. Health. Often a physical condition requires a specific orthotic design that minimizes discomfort.

Mattresses differ not only in the degree of hardness, but also in the type of filler. The option that retracts into the wall most often consists of the following material:

1. Foam rubber. Used as an additional layer - as a base. It is impossible to provide perfect back support.
2. Coconut fiber. Natural filler, optimal for orthopedic mattresses. One of the most expensive goods.
3. Latex. Stretchy and elastic option. Suitable for products with increased rigidity and load capacity.
4. Olofiber. Artificial raw materials with good consumer qualities. Breathable material that remains functional for many years.

Foam rubber

Coconut fiber

Latex

Olofiber

The basis of the furniture is chipboard, natural wood. The frame of transforming beds is also equipped with metal elements. Laminated chipboard or MDF are inferior in quality to natural wood. Plastic facades are becoming increasingly popular due to their appearance and budget cost. For the inside of the product, it is better to choose a functional solution. After harvesting the bed, there should be no empty walls.

An original solution is a seamless mirror or a full-size cabinet with shelves. When choosing, pay attention to the following criteria:

• frame strength;
• warranty period of the mechanism;
• sphere;
• quality of the mattress, if any;
• functionality;
• type of mechanism;
• style of room decoration.

The last factor plays an important role. In an expensive interior, a plastic bed will look out of place. The chromatic range, texture, and quality of the material are reflected in the aesthetic aspect.

Wood

MDF

Chipboard

Frame materials

Podiums can be made of cast concrete or a wooden frame lined with sheet material. In the first case, concrete is poured into a pre-installed frame, which follows the shape of the future podium. After the concrete has hardened, its surface is leveled with a screed, then the floor covering is laid. This could be tiles, parquet, laminate, carpet, linoleum, etc.

The concrete podium is very durable and reliable, it does not lose moisture, does not rot and can withstand heavy loads.

The podium based on a wooden (metal frame) is very light, practically does not load the floors and is suitable for apartments in urban high-rise buildings. The front platform of the podium is made of flexible plywood, metal profiles, MDF panels, PVC plinths. The finishing of the podium can be done using various materials: carpet, laminate, parquet, linoleum, cork, ceramic tile.