The podium as a type of sleeping furniture has Japanese roots. Saving every inch of space in small houses, the inhabitants of this country have long slept on a raised platform, the lower part of which was used for storage. Time passed, life changed, but interest in such structures remained and overcame the borders of one country. Let's find out how to choose a podium for a mattress or build it yourself.
Types of podiums for the mattress
Among the variety of design options, there are 2 main groups:
- Traditional podiums, consisting of a wooden frame, decorated with decorative material. A mattress is placed on top of the structure.
- Modern designs that have niches and other details that perform additional functions. It can be boxes for linen or a whole bed, which conveniently rolls out along the rails.
Podiums that play the role of a bed, according to the degree of functionality, are:
- technical - hide communications, serve to store things;
- decorative - perform the tasks of zoning, focusing on the winning sides of the design of the room;
- mixed - such designs combine multifaceted functions. For example, the podium serves as the base for the workplace, and the bed is placed inside a wooden box.
Mattress on the podium instead of a bed: advantages
The podium installed instead of the usual bed makes the room original, unusual. Some models are suitable for spacious rooms. For example, a round elevation would only be appropriate in a large room. But other designs will harmoniously fit even into modest-sized bedrooms.
Many catwalk beds will be the best solution for small or one-room housing. In a studio apartment without partitions, such an elevation helps to zone the space.
The structures are equipped with steps, lighting, decor. The place under the bed takes on the function of an additional storage system, becoming an alternative to a chest of drawers. The options are very different - from the "folding floor" to drawers.
In the end part there are organic shelves for books and souvenirs.
Steps can also act as storage containers.
The positive effect of the podium bed on the interior:
- this design corrects the geometry of the room, harmonizes long narrow bedrooms;
- the layout of the room is changing, competent zoning is being done.
Podium bed in the bedroom
Before buying or making a podium bed, you should measure the area of \u200b\u200bthe room and imagine how the model will look in the interior.
At the bottom, you can arrange a backlight that creates the effect of airiness.
Marked with a curtain, this part of the apartment will be more chamber, intimate. Near the window, a podium with drawers located below is appropriate, which does not take up much space and is well lit. In this case, the traditional battery is replaced with a convector built into the floor.
The geometry of the podiums is diverse: rectangular, curvilinear with different heights. The type of elevation, design is influenced by the configuration of the room, the size of the bed, the need for adjacent functional areas or the division of areas. You need to think about whether you need storage space, additional space for work and leisure. The color scheme, design style and the planned total amount play their role.
Podium in the children's room
In designs for children and adults, there are no serious differences, except for sizes.
They use a similar frame made of timber or metal profiles with wood or fiberboard sheathing.
But the children's room performs many functions: the little owners play, do their homework, sleep. Here, a podium that does not interfere with games is more suitable, with a surface that serves as a place for a desk and other activities for the child.
Therefore, along with the classic version of the elevation, on which the children's mattress lies on top, a model with built-in beds that slide inside the podium is suitable. Children can easily use them themselves. And if they are not pushed all the way, they turn into seats. When equipping a room where two or three children live, this design will become an alternative to a 2-tier bed.
How to DIY
First you need to think about what functions the elevation will perform in a particular room, how many drawers and other elements are required. This is followed by measurements, marking, selection of materials. Taking into account the height of the ceiling, the height of the structure is determined. If it is higher than 35–40 cm, steps must be provided.
Roll-out boxes can be made manually, but it is easier to order according to the dimensions of the frame in furniture companies.
Classic podiums without "stuffing" are easier to equip: their manufacture resembles the construction of floors on logs. It is better to work with an assistant, although you can cope with this task yourself. It will take 1-3 days to make.
Elevation height and dimensions
The dimensions of a particular podium are determined by the chosen design of the structure and the features of the room where the bed will be installed. For models with drawers, a height of 35-40 cm is suitable. This is the optimal parameter for rooms with a standard ceiling height of 2700 mm. In some Khrushchev houses, the ceilings are lower or the height of the room has decreased due to the suspended structure. In these cases, the size of the podium is reduced to 20 cm, otherwise it will look unnatural, and the low ceiling will “press” on the bed.
The minimum values for the length and width of the podium depend on the dimensions of the mattress. In this case, an allowance of 5 mm on each side is added to its dimensions. This will keep the mattress from hanging off the dais. It is recommended to make miniature bumpers around the perimeter so that the bed does not “move out” from its place.
Standard mattress sizes:
- Length - 190, 195, 200 cm.
- Width: single - 80 cm, one and a half - 120 cm, double models - 140, 160, 180, 200 cm.
Thus, under a double mattress with dimensions of 180 × 200, a structure with dimensions of 190 × 210 cm is erected.
There are two more size options for the podium area:
- The elevation is made a little larger than the dimensions of the mattress, by 30-40 cm, so that there are unoccupied strips along the edges that can be decorated. So, for a mattress 160 × 200 cm, the size of the podium can be 200 × 230 cm.
- In narrow bedrooms, it makes sense to mount an elevation across the entire width of the room. This solution does not leave narrow areas on the sides that are inconvenient to use.
For podiums that are larger than the mattress, with a height of more than 30 cm, an additional step is recommended. Otherwise, you will have to lift your legs when moving from the room to the sleeping area, which is inconvenient and fraught with injuries.
materials
After choosing the size, a careful design drawing is made. It is on it that the amount of material is determined. To build a podium you will need:
- Beam for the frame with a section of 50 × 50 mm. The frame and vertical racks will be made from it. To prevent the structure from bending under weight, the support logs, as well as the vertical posts supporting them, are placed in increments of 40 cm.
- Moisture resistant plywood, MDF or OSB with a thickness of at least 15 mm for sheathing. Plywood is the most budget option. It is not recommended to use chipboard: if moisture gets in, the plate will swell, and the entire sheathing, and behind it the frame, can “lead”.
- Plywood 10–12 mm thick for boxes.
- Waterproof and sound absorbing material. It is not necessary to use it, but it is better to play it safe and protect the podium from moisture from below. Soundproofing will help to avoid creaking, which is almost inevitable when wood dries. In addition, getting a kind of resonator from the elevation that amplifies all the sounds from the neighbors below is not pleasant enough.
The role of waterproofing is performed by a polyethylene film; soundproofing based on cork has proven itself well against noise. Dimensions - according to the area of \u200b\u200bthe podium with a small margin.
- Fasteners: dowel-nails, anchors, wood screws, metal corners.
- Accessories: roller guides, drawer handles.
- Wood putty and fine sandpaper for sealing joints and holes for fasteners.
- Finishing material. Most often, podiums are painted, but it is possible to finish with carpet, laminate, linoleum and even ceramic tiles.
Tools
List of tools:
- Roulette, pencil, building level, square.
- Screwdriver.
- Hacksaw, electric jigsaw.
- Hammer drill or impact drill.
- Chisel.
- Construction stapler.
Installation and sheathing of the frame
Preparatory work:
- The room is cleared of furniture.
- If carpet or linoleum is laid on the floor, then it is removed.
- Lines are drawn on the floor and walls that limit the future podium. Easy to use laser level.
- The floor surface under the future elevation is covered with plastic wrap.
- As soundproofing, the best option is a cork substrate.
Assemble the frame, based on the developed drawing. It is necessary to take into account such points:
- The bars that form the upper and lower contours of the frame are joined at a right angle using a half-tree connection. To do this, mark 50 mm (its width) at the end of the beam, cut it to the middle, and then cut off the sawn off half with a chisel. Such fastening will ensure the strength of the connection and will not interfere with the skin material to fit snugly against the frame.
- For fastening vertical racks use metal corners. Additionally, you can fix the vertical bars with wooden dowels by inserting them into pre-drilled holes in the ends of the racks and the bars of the upper and lower trim.
Horizontal and vertical bars of the frame adjacent to the walls are attached to them with anchors or dowel-nails. This will provide additional strength to the podium.
To prevent cracking of the wood, it is recommended to make holes for them using a thin drill before screwing in the screws.
- Fragments of plywood are screwed to the vertical posts, dividing the internal space of the podium into compartments. Drawer guides are attached to them.
- Elements of the material selected for sheathing are cut and screwed into place. At the docking points, a technological gap of about 2 mm should be left. In its absence, plywood or MDF, changing its geometry under the influence of temperature, will warp.
The flooring elements are cut in such a way that, after fastening, they cover the ends of the side skin. This point must be taken into account when marking.
The photo shows the process of making a simple podium bed from wooden boards.
Production and installation of drawers
Recommended box sizes:
- Length - up to 60 cm. It will be inconvenient to get things out of a box that is too deep.
- The width depends on the overall design of the structure. But it should be 2.5 cm less than the recess intended for the drawer. Such a gap is necessary for mounting roller guides.
The boxes are assembled from four slats and a bottom. For planks use MDF, OSB or plywood 12 mm thick. They are joined end to end. If you have time and the necessary equipment, you can use a spiked connection.
The bottom is cut out of thinner plywood and nailed so that the ends of the planks are closed. Another, more time-consuming option: the plywood bottom is inserted into a groove 3-4 mm deep at a distance of 1.5 cm from the bottom edge of the planks. It is done before assembly using a milling cutter.
At the final stage, the necessary fittings are attached, the second parts of the guides. The boxes are inserted into place and adjusted finally.
Grind and paint the boxes before they are assembled: this is much easier.
The stages of making a podium with boxes are shown in the video.
Finishing
At the end of the assembly, all gaps and defects in the skin are covered with putty on wood. After it dries, the surface is polished with fine sandpaper.
Different materials are used to decorate the podium: the surface can be painted, finished with veneer, carpet, laminate, draped with fabric.
It is recommended to protect the structure ribs with decorative plastic or wooden corners. Otherwise, during operation, they will constantly be touched, and the finishing material may peel off.
