Description and characteristics of folding beds for children

A children's room with a folding bed looks spacious, since the sleeping place does not hide the useful space. The choice of such furniture solves the issue of quality rest and active pastime of the child in the daytime. The folding bed will harmoniously fit into any interior and, with the right approach to the choice, will last for many years.

Folding mechanism functionality

The folding bed is raised and lowered using special mechanisms. In the manufacture of the structure, 3 types of fasteners are used:

• Shock absorber (or gas lift). It does not create unnecessary noise, is durable, smoothly and without tension allows you to assemble and disassemble the sleeping place. This mechanism works by pressing gas on the piston and setting it in motion. The cost is slightly higher than other designs, however, a long operational period and ease of use justify this disadvantage. Modern models are operated at the push of a button, so the bed will quickly and easily fit into the niche and back.
• Hinges. Furniture is lifted by hand. This is a very reliable mechanism, but not every child and adult will like to make serious physical efforts every day, assembling and disassembling a sleeping place. There are no springs and shock absorbers, the structure is fixed with latches. Since lifting is not so easy, most often such beds are disassembled for a long time as stationary.
• Spring blocks. To install such a bed, it is necessary to accurately calculate the size and weight of the bed. Additional spring adjustment is also required. This option will be cheaper and will last long enough if you follow the operating rules.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros of folding beds:

• Substantial space savings. This is one of the main points that is taken into account when buying. Buyers may even turn a blind eye to some of the shortcomings if such a bed solves the problem of cluttering a small children's room.
• Aesthetic appeal. The furniture will perfectly fit into any interior.
• The same room can act as a bedroom and a hall (if the apartment is so small that it is impossible to provide the baby with a separate area for sleeping and resting).
• Multifunctionality. On the back of the bed, there are often lockers, shelves, mezzanines for storing wardrobe items, bed linen and other things.
• Simplification of the cleaning process. Now not a single speck of dust will go unnoticed, because nothing bothers the hostess.
• No need to make and unroll your bed every day.
• Wide price range, so everyone can choose the right option.
• Modern design.If you choose the right furniture set in which the bed is built, it can become a bright spot or an invisible fragment of the facade.

Unfortunately, folding furniture is not without its drawbacks:

• Difficulty finding a bed. It should fit into the interior as organically as possible.
• High price. Despite the wide range of prices, on the whole this “pleasure” is not cheap. This is due to the high cost of the lifting mechanism, and the latest technologies and developments require significant costs.
• Instability to significant loads and a small margin of safety. The exception is models with gas elements.
• Time-consuming process of assembling the structure.
• Quick wear when choosing inexpensive models. Some elements may stop functioning properly with constant use. Breakdowns require costly repairs.

Manufacturing material

The service life of the product (it can vary from 3 to 10 years) primarily depends on what material the frame, mattress and the mechanism are made of. The base is made of natural wood or chipboard, MDF. The last two options are inferior in quality and durability to wood, but are cheaper. In recent years, plastic facades have become increasingly popular, which look the most presentable.

The following factors influence the choice of material:

• the age of the child;
• body weight (the larger it is, the stronger and more durable the frame should be);
• health condition (for example, if a small person suffers from allergies, it is better to choose natural materials with a hypoallergenic coating).

Mattresses can have different fillers that differ in appearance, durability, comfort and environmental friendliness:

• Latex. It is distinguished by its firmness and elasticity.
• Foam rubber. It does not support a child's backrest well, therefore it is used as an additional layer as a base.
• Coconut coir. It is used in expensive orthopedic mattresses. Such products are the most natural, healthy and convenient.
• Holofiber. The material of artificial origin breathes well and retains its properties for a long time.

Dimensions (edit)

Standard single models have a width of 40-70 cm. If there is a double bed, this parameter can reach 2 m. For small rooms, in which the maximum functionality of furniture plays a major role, classic vertical models are suitable. Horizontal ones do not have such advantages. The choice of the size of the product is influenced by the weight, height and age of the child.

The dimensions of the bed are affected by the square of the children's bedroom. Furniture is installed against the wall not close to the side walls. That is, the user must move freely on both sides around the perimeter of the bed. If the boxes for things do not slide out well, and the sleeping place itself rises and falls, touching foreign objects, the dimensions were chosen incorrectly, and the installation was carried out incorrectly.

Varieties of folding beds for children

In furniture stores, there is a huge variety of baby beds with a folding mechanism. All of them are divided into two large groups according to the method of folding: vertical and horizontal. In the first case, the headboard is adjacent to the wall. Such models allow you to significantly save side space, but at the same time there is very little space for lockers on the bed.

The horizontal version is the most compact and convenient for a child's room and is used most often. When unfolded, the sleeping place is located along the wall. An indisputable advantage is the ability to provide for many shelves, cabinets and other storage places above the bed. However, folded furniture takes up a lot of space. If the wall is short, it is best to opt for a vertical structure.

Other popular types of folding beds:

• Transformer. Such a product can be modified and transformed into various pieces of furniture. The most commonly used is a horizontal module above the table. The bed folds into a wardrobe niche, leaving space outside with shelves and a worktop. In the modern market, there are popular 3-in-1 models that can be with a sofa, bed and wardrobe.
• Bunk children's folding bed for two kids. Sleeping places are located horizontally, parallel to each other. It is a very large structure that occupies the entire wall from floor to ceiling. Free space can be allocated for a locker or mezzanine for bed linen.
• Bed-table. More suitable for school children. The sleeping place is transformed into a writing or computer table. The table top can be pulled out, raised and installed above the bed.

One bedroom

This is a classic version of a bed for one small person. By the way the folding mechanism is laid out, such furniture can be any: both horizontal and vertical. The final choice depends on the dimensions of the living space for the child, the design of the room, the desire of the parents to place more storage spaces and simply the personal preferences of the owners.

For many years, the most popular model has been a wardrobe bed with a horizontal lift. It is simple to use, practical and fits easily into any decor.

Multi-level bed for two children

Such furniture can be of various types and versions. Consider the most popular and convenient options today:

• With horizontal raising of two berths one above the other. If you arrange the transformers in this way, you can save significant space in the children's bedroom. When the furniture is unfolded, it is no different from the usual bunk bed for two kids. When required, you can hide the upper tier, and the lower one will serve as a sofa for small tenants for the daytime. Also, the option is often used when one of the berths reclines, and the second is standard, stationary. This idea resembles the arrangement of sleeping space in a train carriage. However, it is still recommended to provide both folding beds, as much more space will be saved.
• Vertical lift models placed along the wall. This option is suitable for more spacious rooms than the previous one. Disassembled beds for two babies take up a lot of space.The design assumes that the disassembled berths located next to each other form a full double bed. Children (especially teenagers) will love this option as they can organize their own space and separate from their siblings. Such a mechanism is very easy to fold and unfold, so the child can do everything himself.

What to consider when choosing a folding bed for a child

When buying a bed for a single toddler or several children, you should pay attention to the following points:

• Environmental friendliness and safety. The health of the little person should be a priority. The design and the presence of the decor of the crib fade into the background.
• Manufacturing material. For children, it is recommended to buy products made from natural wood. It is durable, wear-resistant, attractive and environmentally friendly. If the choice fell on a chipboard product, it is important to make sure that it complies with sanitary and environmental standards.
• Fittings and fasteners. These parts must be made of solid steel.
• Tilt mechanism type. It should focus on a silent design with smooth movements without sudden jerks. The child does not have to make great efforts to lower or fold his own bed.
• Mechanism that fixes the furniture when folded. The product should not spontaneously open, which means that the most reliable elements are needed.
• Sturdy straps to hold the mattress and bedding in place. It is necessary to dwell on rigid and sufficiently long components.
• Surface condition and finishing materials. There should be no chips, cracks, scratches or other mechanical damage on the facades.
• Manufacturer rating. It is better to pre-check reviews and recommendations on the Internet. Aesthetically pleasing external facades can hide an unreliable “filling”. As a result, the mechanism will quickly fail, and you will have to pay a large sum for repairs and replacement of components with better and more durable ones.
• Availability of quality certificates and other accompanying documents. If the seller cannot provide them on demand, it is not worth even considering such products.

Top manufacturers

Furniture manufacturing firms that produce quality products and are popular with consumers:

• Hoff. Katja is considered to be one of the best models with a lifting mechanism. This is a bed with an orthopedic base and spacious linen boxes in the space under the mattress.
• Toris. The manufacturer sells furniture made from natural, environmentally friendly materials. The company gives a long-term guarantee for its furniture.
• Ryton. The main principles of the company are environmental friendliness, manufacturability and safety. All products of this manufacturer are hypoallergenic, which means they can be safely purchased in a room for children of any age category.
• Ormatek. The company occupies a leading position in the folding sleeping furniture market. It produces eco-friendly safe folding beds made from natural and synthetic materials. All models are distinguished by maximum comfort, while the manufacturer also offers budget options.
• Askona. The manufacturer sells quality products with reliable mechanisms that can withstand constant use. The furniture has a solid base and ample storage space.

Folding beds for two children or one child have gained immense popularity as they save space and create extra comfort.On the modern market, there are many models of sleeping places for every taste and wallet, so everyone can choose the ideal option for their baby. The main thing is to take into account before buying some of the features that you may encounter later.

Video: folding bed for a children's room

50 design options for folding beds in the nursery