Diy podium bed

In cramped rooms, space saving always comes to the fore. A podium with a pull-out bed will allow you to place both a sleeping and a workplace on two to four square meters, freeing up space for other areas.

bed podium
For owners of a small apartment, some unusual design solutions are a good way to optimize the space.

Pros, cons of podium bed

A podium bed has many advantages:

  • high functionality - during the day the bed is hidden in the podium, freeing up considerable space in the bedroom;
  • the podium bed looks stylish, original, brings a zest to the interior;
  • if there is a podium, storage, recreation, and work areas are easily combined (in such a "multifunctional" block, a computer table, a wardrobe, a sleeping place are placed);
  • convenient zoning of the room - the podium visually separates the sleeping area, this will be the best option for studios, “odnushki” apartments;
  • it will be possible to store a lot of things in a high podium - the berth is then placed on top.
bed podium photo
This design significantly saves square meters.

But the design also has significant drawbacks:

  • the item is difficult to make with your own hands - solid skills in the manufacture and assembly of furniture are required;
  • ordering a product from professionals will be expensive - the product is voluminous, it will take a lot of material, you need a strong frame, a reliable roll-out mechanism;
  • the podium is not suitable for every room - when planning it, it is important to take into account the area of ​​the room, its configuration, the height of the ceilings, the peculiarities of the location of doors, windows, niches, columns;
  • free space is required to roll out the bed;
  • rest on a roll-out shelf, located almost in the middle of the bedroom, seems to many people psychologically uncomfortable.
bed podium ideas
During the daytime, the bed can be hidden under the catwalk and free up most of the living room or bedroom.

Tip: in cramped rooms with low ceilings, narrow bed models with a podium no higher than 50 cm are installed.

bed podium ideas photo
At the same time, it will be possible to combine the recreation area, guest and storage area.

Drawings, dimensions, diagrams and projects (+ sketches)

When calculating the size of the future structure, it is taken into account how many people will sleep on it, their height, weight, and the availability of free space in the room. For a children's or teenage bed, the size of the structure is 70 by 160 cm, for an adult - 80 by 190 cm, for two - 150 by 200 cm, the "royal" version - 220 by 240 cm. For especially "obese" tenants, weighing from 150 kg., the frame will require additional strengthening.

bed podium scheme
The podium visually and practically separates the sleeping area, which is especially important for one-room apartments and studios.

Podium beds are made in different designs. Luxurious upholstery, multiple draperies, suitable for a classic style, rough raw boards - for a rustic style. The platform, decorated with shiny metal elements, is suitable for high-tech, low, decorated with small cushions for Japanese. In a minimalistic, modern interior, the bed hides in the podium, like all storage places - there is nothing else in the room.

Varieties of such beds

Podium beds differ in:

  • frame material - wood or metal;
  • shape - rectangular, square, semicircular, asymmetric;
  • dimensions - average width - 80-120 cm, length - 185-220 cm;
  • height - usually 40-75 cm;
  • functionality - the presence of additional storage sections, folding tabletops, etc.
bed podium photo ideas
For people who are creative, creative and welcoming everything new and unusual in design, this is a great opportunity to add flavor to the familiar interior.

Tip: a well-chosen podium bed will save on other furniture - a wardrobe, a bedside table, a table, a chest of drawers.

bed podium design
The main thing is to take care of the reliability of the retractable mechanism and the strength of the frame, since regular everyday use requires greater wear resistance.

Types of structures

According to their design features, podiums with a bed are distinguished:

  • strictly functional - their base allows you to hide the defects of the designed space, communication. Usually has several storage boxes;
  • decorative - decorate the room, create the necessary accent, zone the space;
  • combined options - combine both types.
bed podium options
In order to roll out the bed, there must be a free space.

The following types of structures are also distinguished:

  • with a monolithic podium - the "box" itself is made in one piece, it is strong, durable, looks solid, has a lot of weight, suitable for installation in a private house;
  • with a frame base - a traditional frame construction. Here the bed is placed on top of the podium. Such a bed decorates the interior, it is lower than other models, usually does not have storage systems, but is complemented by bedside shelves, a luxurious headboard;
  • combined (multifunctional) - in such a structure there is a spacious storage system, many shelves, drawers, niches, which allows you to replace a whole chest of drawers or wardrobe. The storage compartments are masked and run from multiple sides. The platform here is high, voluminous - steps are made for it;
  • retractable - functional, practical, this is the best option for cramped rooms. The sleeping place is hiding in the podium, it is put forward on rollers. A work, play area or another full-fledged bed is placed on top;
  • mobile - is a platform with storage systems. At night they put a mattress and bedding on it, during the day they clean it, using the space for other purposes;
  • balcony type - located in the space of the insulated balcony, loggia. It is smaller than a room bed, has storage systems;
  • round - it looks impressive, luxurious, but is suitable only for a spacious square-shaped room. The bed will become the "semantic center" of the room, it is usually placed in the center, in a niche or in the corner, complemented by a soft headboard, several shelves;
  • with built-in lighting - an original podium design idea that creates the effect of a bed "floating" in the air. An LED strip is mounted along the cover of the platform, under its steps, and multiple storage sections are placed inside.

How to make a podium for a bed with your own hands

You can make drawings and diagrams, choose sizes, create projects and sketches of a podium bed with your own hands. To make a structure, they choose materials, tools, assemble the frame, sheathe it, make a roll-out bed-shelf. For a standard room with an area of ​​at least 15 sq. m., ceiling height 2.5-2.9 meters, podium height is 45-55 cm. The sleeping place in the described model is rolled out on castors.

bed podium drawing
It is advisable to double-check the results obtained several times in order to avoid annoying misunderstandings.

Tip: for beginners, it is better to start making a typical quadrangular podium, guided by instructions from the Internet.

bed podium drawing photo
If you want the bed to be able to slide into the podium with the linens in it, do not forget to reserve the height of the bed.

Choice of materials

The material for the manufacture of the frame is usually a bar with a section of 40 by 40 mm. or 40 by 60 mm., with a total length of about 25 meters. It is important that the product is purchased dry, there are no falling out knots, large irregularities. For cladding, wide boards made of natural wood are bought (oak, pine, walnut, ash, larch, etc.), less often - chipboard, MDF, plywood.

wood planks
As a rule, a board or timber with a thickness of at least 40 mm is used.

The thickness of the material of the upper part is from 19 mm, the length is at least 250 cm, the total width is 200 cm. For the side parts, boards are also needed, measuring 2500 x 600 x 22 mm. The number of materials required for the cladding is multiplied by two. To decorate the surface of the structure, the same coating is used that is laid on the floor of the room - laminate, parquet board, carpet, linoleum.

laminate packaging
In the process of measurements, use the famous proverb "Measure seven times - cut once."

Additionally, they buy PVA glue, furniture wheels (rollers), varnish for wood, dowels, screws, fabric and foam rubber for the mattress.

Required tools

Of the tools for work, you will need an electric jigsaw, an electric saw or a hacksaw, a perforator, a screwdriver, a milling and grinding machine, a screwdriver, a metal tape measure, a pencil, a ruler, a brush, a roller.

instruments
In order to make a pull-out bed step by step, make sure you have all the necessary tools in advance.

Advice: if all the necessary tools are not at home, they are asked from friends or rented.

Assembling the frame of the podium

Assembling the frame begins with the installation of the support structure in the room, mounted along the wall. Marking is performed on the floor, a frame from a bar is laid along the contour, having previously dismantled the plinth in order to install the frame close to the wall.

podium frame
The first and most important step in assembling a pull-out podium bed is the fabrication of the frame.

After that, vertical supports-supports from a bar are installed on the frame - the distance between them depends on the expected load. The height of the supports depends on the thickness of the platform. Next, horizontal beams are mounted. The entire frame is fixed to the wall with dowels.

How to sheathe the frame of the podium

The frame is most often sheathed with MDF boards - they are cheaper than chipboard or natural wood, the finished structure looks quite presentable. The material is sawn into the necessary pieces, in accordance with the drawings, carefully screwed onto the frame with self-tapping screws.

frame sheathing
To prevent the podium from creaking, the edges of the transverse boards can be pasted over with felt.

We make a pull-out bed for a podium

The bed hiding in the podium is a drawer on wheels - it is created separately. First, the marking is performed, after the base, cover, sides are cut out with a jigsaw, all cuts are ground. The sides are mounted to the podium floor, the flooring is attached from above, along the edges - stiffening ribs from a bar.

do-it-yourself podium bed
If the size of the room allows for additional storage on the podium, then several drawers can be added.

Next, a lattice is assembled from slats, on which the mattress will lie. The structure is varnished, dried, set on legs. To the frame, with the help of a screwdriver, the facade of the crib is attached, the wheels are screwed. For high podiums, steps are made. The upper surface is polished, painted, decorated with carpet, laminate, natural veneer.

Advice: a mattress must be purchased for the bed. It is also permissible to make it yourself from foam rubber and dense fabric.

bed under the podium photo
To equip a retractable structure, you must purchase gel-based wheels in advance at a furniture store.

Making a pull-out bed at home will not be difficult. For the interior of a small apartment with a cramped bedroom, this is the best solution. Ready-made step-by-step instructions are found on the Internet, in magazines dedicated to interior design.

Video: scheme and installation of a podium with a pull-out bed

50 podium bed designs in the interior

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