The podium in the interior of apartments and private houses is becoming more and more common. Modern design finds a lot of functional and aesthetic applications for this structure, here are the main ones:
- zoning and adjusting the proportions of the room;
- a place to store a variety of things;
- a place to sleep and relax;
- place for receiving guests;
- a way to hide communications.
Podium in the interior of an apartment
Low ceiling heights are not a reason to refuse such a practical solution in your apartment. If there is a sofa or bed on the podium, you need to be able to stand up, nothing more. Also, the height of the ceilings is not important when creating a children's play area.
The design of the podium is determined based on its functional purpose and interior style. A wide selection of modern decorative materials allows you to harmoniously fit this element into any space. It is impossible to buy a ready-made podium - it is built on site according to specific requirements and tasks, so with its help a unique interior is created.
Podium in the bathroom
Podium in a studio apartment
For a studio apartment, the most acute problem is zoning, when in one room it is necessary to separate spaces for different types of activities. For example, the kitchen area raised to the podium will be separated from the living room. Such a podium should be low, so as not to reduce the height of the ceilings, and differ in the type and color of the floor covering. The design of the zones may also vary; the kitchen will suit a high-tech style, because smooth glossy surfaces are combined with modern appliances and are easy to clean, while the living room will suit a softer modern or art deco style.
When in the studio the place for receiving guests is located in the kitchen, the podium is useful for separating the working and sleeping areas. The podium will raise the office with a computer desk and bookshelves to another level, there will be a pull-out bed inside, and storage drawers in the steps. This is a practical solution for small apartments, where every meter of free space is valuable.
Podium in a studio apartment
Ideas for a small or narrow room
In a small room, using an elevation, you can divide the room into zones, without hiding excess space, but, on the contrary, adding it due to the resulting lower tier, in which you can store items.
The main advantage of installing a podium in a narrow, long room is the resulting free space. In addition to the usual drawers, you can hide a full-fledged roll-out bed in a niche. Thus, from an ordinary narrow room you will get a living room or workplace located on a platform, an open area in which you can move freely and a full-fledged sleeping place.
Podium for a one-room apartment
In a one-room apartment for a family with a child, a play area for the baby can be placed on the podium. Covered with soft carpet, with space for storing toys inside, the podium will become a magical corner. The design of the wall decor in combination with the covering of the podium will create a princess castle, a magical forest or an underwater kingdom inside the room. For a schoolchild, you can equip a study space on the podium, and inside there is a pull-out bed. Such designs can easily compensate for the lack of a children's room in the apartment.
If it is necessary to combine the functions of a bedroom and a living room in a one-room apartment, a podium can replace a bed and a sofa. Oriental design with an abundance of colorful pillows will be comfortable for receiving guests and for sleeping. The built-in drawer eliminates the need to buy a chest of drawers or a wardrobe.
When the sofa for entertaining guests is the hosts' sleeping place, it would be logical to highlight the workplace with a podium. If the shape of the room is elongated, it will be harmonious to divide it in half with a podium, then a built-in bed will fit inside. In a room close to a square, it is better to install a narrow podium, the width of the desk, but as high as the ceiling height allows, then a convenient storage system can be placed inside.
The need to make the bed in the morning in a one-room apartment is obvious. But until the family acquires a more spacious living space, a bed built into the podium will solve this problem.
Podium with a workplace in the living room interior
Ideas for placement and use
In a studio apartment
In studio apartments, designers especially often use multifunctional podiums, which simultaneously serve for storing things, for masking wires, and for zoning. Using podiums, the sleeping area is separated from the working or dining area. The kitchen area looks original on a low elevation. Smooth surfaces and glossy solid colors are welcome. The style is techno or minimalism. If the studio area is small, a work area with a table and shelves for books rises to a high podium. A pull-out bed is placed in the niche of the podium. Since the podium will be high, you will need to arrange a staircase. In its steps there are drawers where bedding, CDs, documents, and a first aid kit can be stored. If there is enough space, 2-3 podiums are arranged, which allows you to conveniently and beautifully highlight all functional areas.
In a one-room apartment
The specificity of a one-room apartment lies in the need to create conditions for sleeping, working and receiving guests in one room. The problem is solved by a high platform, decorated in oriental style. It will replace both the sofa for guests and the bed for the owners. Characteristic features of this design:
A small round podium will beautifully divide a long, narrow room in half. Another option is to install the elevation close to a narrow wall, but not near a window. The room will become much more comfortable. For square rooms, narrow and high podiums are suitable, inside of which there are storage spaces. A built-in bed will also be convenient, as you won’t have to carefully make it every morning and before guests arrive.
In the living room
If families with small children meet in the living room, the guest area is raised onto a platform, and the play area is set up on the floor. This solution is convenient for both kids and their parents. A similar option will please those who like to dance. It looks organic on the podium in the living room:
The upper level with a sofa or table becomes an ideal space for relaxation and quiet communication. If the podium serves as a kind of stand for a plasma panel and speakers, then all the wires and adapters are perfectly hidden in its cavities. Thanks to this, technical details will not spoil the impression, and the interior will appear before guests in all its glory. When creating a podium in the living room, they take into account that it is it that will focus attention, so they think through every detail, including the color of the finish or drapery.
In the nursery
The design of a room for children is created taking into account their age needs. The closest attention is paid to security issues. It is desirable that every element of the interior contributes to the development of children, and that the atmosphere as a whole is as comfortable as possible. For twins, a podium is set up, at the top of which there are places for studying, and inside there are two beds. You can arrange a play corner on a low podium. Places for toys will be drawers “hidden” inside. For older children, the podium can serve as a large table with bookshelves. An interesting design solution for a boy over 5 years old is a high two-tier podium. On the first tier there is a dressing room with clothes, and on top there is a bed with sides. With this design of a children's room, there is a lot of free space for outdoor games.
In the bedroom
Many people, even in childhood, formed the image of a bed worthy of princesses and queens. She always stands on a raised platform, and in order to go to bed, you need to climb the steps of the podium. A luxurious canopy hiding the spacious bed adds mystery. Thanks to the podium, the daily bedtime ceremony takes on an aura of solemnity and importance. A makeup table with a mirror looks great on a wall-mounted podium. It would be a good idea to choose a mirror that follows the shape of the podium. Of course, the use of such a voluminous and complex structure as a podium should be more than just a tribute to fashion. It should be dictated by the urgent need to improve the living space for yourself and your loved ones.
In the bathroom
A classic design option is a bathtub built into a podium with steps. It looks beautiful and solemn, but requires measures to ensure safety. The anti-slip coating will help you feel more confident. The technical podium in the bathroom is designed to hide the pipes. To have access to key communication nodes, the podium is equipped with doors. In private houses, risers can be placed not in the bathroom, but in other rooms. The bath itself is often installed in the center, which creates difficulties with drainage. Raising the bathtub onto a platform helps eliminate this problem and ensure proper drainage. In order for the podium, in parallel with its technical function, to additionally zone the space, tiles of different shades are used. The walls and floor are finished in light colors, and the podium is laid out with darker tiles. Multi-level lighting will make the interior richer and more comfortable, and will draw even more attention to such an original item.
In the kitchen-dining room
Whether it is worth using a podium in the kitchen-dining room directly depends on its layout. A large space needs to be zoned. A bar counter with a pair of chairs is installed on the podium. Considering the serious load, it is advisable to choose a monolithic podium for the kitchen (and bathroom). In a medium-sized room, the dining area is elevated, separating it from the working area.
To better indicate the boundaries between functional areas, contrasting colors are used. A bold idea - a high-tech kitchen in black and white.
To implement it, the floor is laid out with snow-white tiles, and the podium is laid out with black tiles. With a significant ceiling height, a pantry with household utensils that does not fit into the existing interior is moved to an elevated platform. Inside there are drawers for detergents. This solution will help maintain impeccable order in the kitchen and emphasize its individuality.
Podium in the living room interior
In a spacious living room, which is used only for its main purpose, a low podium in the television area will help hide the wires. Built-in light along the perimeter of the podium will create a cinematic atmosphere. If you equip this area with a curtain, the podium will become a stage for home theater productions.
Podium in the living room interior
When groups of adults and children often gather in the living room, the guest area - a sofa and a coffee table - can be raised onto a podium, and below can be equipped with a place for children to play outdoors, so it will be more convenient for parents to watch them. This design is also suitable for groups who love to dance.
Podium in the interior of the living room-bedroom
Having a piano in your home means dedicating a special place for it. The podium could be such a place. Arranging a curtain will help you concentrate during rehearsals and not interfere with other household activities, and will also allow you to give mini-concerts.
A narrow podium along the wall in the living room will replace the sofa and allow you to store many useful things. This design will fit into any design, you just need to choose the right fabric for pillowcases on thick foam pillows. By the way, they are not difficult to make yourself.
Multifunctional podium in the living room interior
Podium with sleeping and working space in the living room
Podium in the large living room
White podium in the living room Podium under the TV in the living room
Podium in the living room-kitchen Podium in the small living room
Podium in a white living room
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.
Podium for a children's room
For a children's room in which several children live, the podium will be an innovative solution to the problem of placing sleeping, play and study areas. A bunk bed can cause arguments over who sleeps on top and who sleeps below. Creating a podium with two pull-out beds on the bottom and two study spaces on top will solve the problem in a wide room.
High podium for a children's room
A similar option for a rectangular room is two podiums, each of which has a bed and a workplace. In this case, the bed can be placed at the top, and the podium can be equipped with a retractable table and storage drawers.
Podium with a pull-out bed and a workspace for a children's room
The design of a nursery should be dynamic and developing, as the inhabitants of this room grow quickly. When equipping a podium as a play area for a child, it is better to think in advance about how to convert it when the child goes to school. The color scheme of those elements that cannot be repainted should be chosen in neutral colors. So, for example, a teenage boy will say that the baby blue color his parents chose several years ago is not cool. With girls it’s easier in this regard; pink usually remains relevant from the cradle and at least until graduation.
Teenager's room with podium
Podium in the nursery with a pull-out bed
Podium in a nursery for two children
Podium in a teenager's room Comfortable podium in a nursery
Comfortable podium in a teenager's room
Bed on a podium in a teenager's room Podium in a teenager's room
Podium in the child's room
Podium in the interior of a nursery Podium-bed in the interior of a nursery Podium-bed in the interior
Materials
Tree
Wood flooring will always look trendy; in addition, it is an environmentally friendly and warm material, which is an undeniable advantage. Parquet or laminate can cover surfaces and smoothly transition from the lower level to the upper level. A covering made of boards, such as bleached or varnished wood, looks interesting; the podium area will stand out against the general background.
Carpet
Carpet creates a cozy atmosphere in the apartment. This finishing option will look good in the interior of a nursery and bedroom. Carpeting goes well with wood trim. A separate advantage for a children's room is increased safety.
Tile
It is more practical to finish monolithic structures with tiles; this option is suitable for the bathroom, kitchen and hallway. The surface is moisture-resistant, durable and easy to clean.
The photo shows a studio apartment. A monolithic elevation with tiled decoration divides the space of the apartment into a living room and a cooking area.
Soft
The entire surface of the podium can have a soft surface, for example upholstery made of foam rubber, padding polyester or similar materials. The surface has a pleasant tactile sensation and looks cozy. By adding several pillows to the podium, you can get a full-fledged place for a home theater or hosting a large group of friends in your apartment.
Bedrooms with a podium
A podium for a bedroom can be a cost-effective solution; you don’t have to buy a bed and bedside tables with it. If you place a tall mattress slightly smaller than the podium, the free space around the edges will act as a bedside table.
Bedroom with podium
The design of a round podium, a round bed and a canopy will create an oriental fairy tale from the bedroom. Forged elements, transparent flowing fabrics and colored glass lamps in the Moroccan or Tiffany style will bring special magic to the design of the room.
Podium bed in the bedroom
If a young family without children has a spacious bedroom, a pylon can be installed on a podium located opposite the bed. The husband will eagerly run home from work, and pole dancing will help his wife save on visiting a fitness club without compromising her figure. When offspring appear, such a podium can simply be converted into a home theater, and the metal pipe will go to the nursery to play firemen.
Cozy bedroom with a podium Bedroom with a podium
Bedroom with a high podium
Minimalist bedroom with podium
Bright bedroom with podium
Gray and white bedroom with podium
White bedroom with podium
White-beige bedroom with a podium White-brown bedroom with a podium Living-bedroom with a podium Living-bedroom with a podium Living-bedroom with a high podium White bedroom with a high podium Bedroom with a screen with a high podium Bedroom with a screen with a podium
Bedroom with wardrobe and podium
Bedroom-office with podium
With your own hands
You can assemble a podium bed with your own hands, even without experience in such work. Taking into account the height of the ceiling and the area of the room, calculate the optimal height of the podium and its overall dimensions. The weight load on the floor should be within 600 kg per square meter. m. A drawing is created indicating all structural elements, including each box. Step-by-step instructions for creating a bed with overall dimensions of 2 m (width), 1.5 m (depth), 0.5 m (height) contain the following steps:
This is just one option among hundreds of others that are more difficult to assemble on your own. To get the best result, only high-quality materials are selected and all calculations are performed with maximum accuracy.
What is important to know when installing a podium
- To keep the podium safe, it should not be installed in walk-through areas or in the center of the room.
- A concrete podium is the most durable, but due to its heavy weight it can damage the floors. Suitable only for the first floors of private houses.
- A massive podium on a wooden frame may also be too heavy for the floors; this should be calculated in advance.
- When a podium is installed to hide communications, it is important to have access to them.
- When choosing a place for a podium with a pull-out bed, you need to choose one where a regular bed would look logical.
- The podium is a durable structure; when installing it in a nursery, you should take into account the fact that children grow quickly.
- You should not skimp on the quality of materials for the podium. The durable design will last a long time and will replace some other types of furniture.
- In apartments with low ceilings, you need to calculate the height of the podium so that you can stand up to your full height.
- If the shape of the podium is curved, the frame should be the same.
- Don't forget about sound insulation, which will reduce the booming sound when walking along the catwalk.
Podium with a seating area in the living room interior
Podium in the bedroom with a large mirrored wardrobe
Podium in the bedroom interior
Design
Monolithic podiums
Monolithic structures are planned at the apartment renovation stage and represent a strong, heavy concrete base. The structure exerts a large load, so it is worth considering the possibilities of floors. However, this type is much stronger than frame and moisture resistant, which is good for the bathroom.
In the photo on the left is a monolithic podium, on the right is a frame structure.
Frame
The frame type is easier to assemble, more functional due to the resulting free space, and is also cheaper than the first option. However, this design does not have increased strength and additional reinforcement will be required to place heavy objects on it. The structure is made of bars and plywood, or rough boards.
Classification
- functional;
- technical;
- decorative;
- complementary.
Advantages and functions of elevated beds
Podium beds are functional, practical, they retain heat well in winter and coolness in summer, which makes sleep sound and pleasant. Among the main functions:
- zoning of space;
- correcting the proportions of the room;
- careful storage of things;
- room decoration.
When visually changing the space, podium beds that are not rectangular or square, but round and oval, show themselves perfectly. This piece of furniture does not waste the space of the apartment, but, on the contrary, allows you to restore complete order in a limited private area and subsequently easily maintain it.
