Making a podium bed with your own hands - step-by-step instructions

The term "podium" comes from ancient architecture. This word denoted rectangular platforms with steps that served as the foundation of temples, and elevations for patricians who came to watch the gladiator fights. In modern interiors, technical podiums are common, hiding communications. They are often found in bathrooms.

bed podium elevation — A podium is an elevation that can serve a variety of purposes.

Increasingly, elevation platforms are used to organize space for sleeping places. In this case, the bed can be located both at the top of the platform, and directly in the platform itself.

podium bed organization of space — The most popular are podium beds.

From this article you will find out what designs are, what are their advantages and disadvantages, how to make a podium under the bed with your own hands.

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What is a podium bed and what are its functions
Advantages and disadvantages
Varieties of podium bed designs
- How to make a retractable podium bed
Step-by-step description of making a podium bed with drawers and a berth upstairs
Examples of placing a podium bed in the interior
Video: how to make a do-it-yourself podium bed
505 photo ideas for decorating a podium bed

What is a podium bed and what are its functions

A podium bed is a sleeping place located either on a rectangular platform that rises above the floor level, or hiding in the platform itself. The height can be different, from a few millimeters to tens of centimeters. Low platforms have two functions:

Aesthetic.
Zoning.

podium bed low — The low podium zones the room and looks aesthetically pleasing.

In both cases, the visual perception of the interior space changes.

On taller catwalks, the following features can be added:

Storage. The platforms are equipped with hidden niches, drawers, built-in cabinets, shelves. The bed itself can "hide" in the playground.
"Disguise" communications.
Correction of flaws in the configuration of the room.

podium high bed — A high podium can serve many more functions.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros:

Zoning without loss of area.
A good option for organizing space in small rooms and studios with the placement of several functional areas in a limited space.
The podium bed organically fits into various interior styles: classic, Scandinavian, country, Provencal and others.

bed podium benefits — The podium has many benefits.

The disadvantage is the increased risk of injury. Even the lowest podium is an additional step to trip over. Consider the safety of the structure even at the design stage, especially if there are small children or elderly people in the family. Another drawback manifests itself when masking communications - the complication of access to wires and pipes.

podium bed — One of the design flaws is the high risk of injury.

Note! The podium is a visual and architectural accent. You should not make such structures in rooms with very low ceilings. Otherwise, the height of the room will seem even less.

podium bed low ceilings — Don't make a podium in a room with low ceilings.

Varieties of podium bed designs

The dimensions and configuration of the podium structures are limited only by the free space and the designer's imagination.

podium bed sizes — The characteristics of the podium depend on many factors.

Main varieties:

The mattress is laid over the podium.
The bed slides into the platform.

Below we will consider how to do both the first and second options with our own hands.

How to make a retractable podium bed

Learn to make a do-it-yourself podium with a pull-out bed step by step. First, draw a preliminary sketch. On the sketch, we mark the location of the niche for the bed, additional storage systems. Then we make a more detailed drawing. When calculating the height of the platform, it is worth considering not only the height of the bed frame, but also the height of the wheels, the thickness of the mattress and bed linen.

podium bed drawing — You will need to make a detailed drawing.

Algorithm of actions, step by step:

Step 1. Choose the material. Optimally - a beam or board from 40 mm for a box and MDF, plywood or OSB for cladding. It will be less hassle if the materials are cut to size right in the store. The board must be well dried and processed and free from visible defects - knots, cracks.

bed podium materials — The timber is a suitable material for the podium.

Step 2. We need a tool:

Hammer, hacksaw, jigsaw.
Drill, puncher.
Construction pencil (for sketching, drawing, marking).
Stapler.
Roulette, ruler, square, level.
Painting tool.
Emery (fine grain).

Additionally, we purchase helium castors for a pull-out bed (4 pieces), a slatted bottom for a mattress (a solid base impedes air circulation), self-tapping screws for wood, an anchor for mounting into a wall, a metal corner.

bed podium tools — Make sure you have all the tools you need in advance.

Step 3. We make a box from a bar or board. Before assembling, mark on the walls and floor the borders of the frame, along the width and height of the podium. Along the lines drawn, we attach the support bars, to which we attach other elements of the box, horizontal and vertical. It is better to strengthen the joints of the longitudinal bars with the transverse ones with a metal corner.

bed podium box — First you need to make a box.

Step 4. We cover the box with sheet material: MDF, OSB or plywood.

podium bed frame trim — The box must be sheathed with sheet material.

Step 5. We make a frame for a bed from a bar, a previously purchased lattice from lamellas, upholstery. We attach previously purchased helium-based wheels.

podium bed frame — A frame for a bed is made from a bar.

A few tips:

Felt gaskets in joints under maximum stress will prevent the structure from squeaking. Additional soundproofing of the inner part of the frame will prevent the appearance of a dull sound when walking on the podium.
An anti-fungal coating should be applied to the tree first.
When calculating the total height of the structure, do not forget to take into account the cross-section of the timber and the thickness of the sheathing.
Measure seven times ... and you don't have to redo it.

Step-by-step description of making a podium bed with drawers and a berth upstairs

Making a podium bed with boxes with your own hands is also easy.

Step 1. Material selection. In our example, a beam of 50x100 mm and sheet plywood.

podium bed making — The first things to do is to choose the material.

Step 2. Tool. See the list from the previous section. We will not need wheels, but we will need guides for the drawers (do not forget to take them into account when calculating the sizes).

Step 3. Making the frame. For convenience, you can make it from two halves, which will facilitate transportation. Or larger, if you do not plan to move it anywhere.

Step 4. Installation of boxes. After assembly, we attach the guides to the internal elements of the frame and to the retractable structures themselves.

bed podium installation of drawers — The crucial moment is the installation of bed boxes.

Step 5. Sheathing with plywood.

bed podium plywood sheathing — A necessary stage in the manufacture of a podium bed is plywood sheathing.

Step 6. Finishing, decoration. After assembling the podium, sand the outer surfaces with fine-grain sandpaper. Cover with a protective compound, stain.

bed podium grinding — The finished bed must be sanded and decorated.

Note! For decorative finishes, floor coverings are often used to "synchronize" the design of the podium with the floors.

bed podium decoration — Can be used for decorating flooring.

Examples of placing a podium bed in the interior

Examples of a podium for a bed with your own hands with a photo in the interior.

Podium bed with a niche, shelves and drawers in a wooden interior.

podium bed in a niche — A bed in a niche creates a sense of personal space.

Podium with lockers in the interior of the children's room.

podium bed with lockers — You can store a lot of children's items in the cupboards under the bed.

Podium with pull-out bed and seating area upstairs in the interior of the living room.

krovat-podium-svoimi-rukami in the nursery — Pull-out bed in the living room.

A podium bed is an attractive solution for organizing space in a small room or studio apartment. However, this option for saving square meters is definitely not suitable for rooms with low ceilings.