The nuances of making a podium bed with your own hands, typical mistakes

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Planning a sleeping area is the main task when creating an apartment. How to make a room functional and as useful as possible if there is not much free space? An original furniture design of a bed-podium, a successful solution to many emerging issues. The designers have done a great job - the variety of models presented allows you to create a comfortable, stylish and harmonious room.

Pros and cons of podium beds for a room

A raised bed has obvious advantages, but it is also important to be aware of the disadvantages, because such a solution is not suitable for every apartment.

A podium in a room is a fairly popular interior solution, gaining more and more fans every year.

Pros of the podium:

1. Suitable for a room of any size, as it can occupy half or a third of the total area of ​​the room.
2. The base of the podium can serve as storage space and can perfectly replace a closet or chest of drawers.
3. An excellent alternative to a double bed, which may not fit in every small bedroom.
4. You can independently choose the size of the elevation that will best fit into your room.

In addition, the podium in the bedroom looks modern, original and stylish, and is suitable for those who are looking for an unusual and functional solution for the apartment.

A podium under the bed can become spacious storage and eliminate the need to purchase additional furniture

A podium bed often becomes the only rational solution for a small room where there is simply nowhere to put extra furniture

Disadvantages of the podium:

1. It occupies almost the entire space of a small room, and therefore is not suitable for people who plan to use the bedroom not only as a sleeping area.
2. Often you have to build it yourself, and this requires carpentry skills.
3. Not suitable for those who live in a rented apartment.

There are not many downsides to the podium, and indeed this solution looks new, fresh and fits perfectly into a modern interior.

The height of the podium directly depends on the height of the ceiling

In a room with a low ceiling, you should not arrange a podium higher than 15–20 cm

Types of podium bed designs

To choose the best podium option for your home, pay attention to the types of designs.

Each version of the podium bed has individual characteristics that will allow everyone to choose the right model

Decorative

The least functional option, used for zoning rooms and highlighting sleeping space in the interior. Suitable for spacious bedrooms that can accommodate decorative elements without losing functionality. This design is often monolithic, but there are also frame options that are easier to assemble and disassemble.

The photo shows an eclectic bedroom interior, where the podium bed acts as a decorative element

Technical

The design is intended not only to highlight a sleeping area, but also to disguise communications and arrange places to store things. Such elevations can be multi-level, with steps, shelves, drawers, built-in shelving and even pull-out beds.

Using the podium you can easily hide various engineering communications

Combined

The option is a combination of technical and decorative designs. Here the elevation not only serves as an interior decoration, but is also a functional addition to the room. Often combined or technical podiums are installed in one-room apartments, where it is necessary to allocate a sleeping area and a relaxation area in the living room. The design is ideal for this purpose.

The high podium can be equipped with convenient pull-out sections that allow you to store a lot of things and objects

When choosing a design, rely on the size of the room and the purpose of the room. In a large bedroom, a decorative elevation is enough, and in a small one, a combined option is suitable.

Instructions for making a podium with a retractable base

Let's look at how to assemble the rarest type of podium bed with your own hands so that you can bring this idea to life at home.

Step No. 1 - creating a design diagram

First of all, we need to find a suitable design drawing, or make it ourselves. Even if you do not have enough experience, this will not be difficult, since the podium parameters are usually taken as standard:

• the width of the structure corresponds to the preferred parameters of the sleeping place (single, double, etc.), plus, a margin of approximately 20 centimeters or a little more must be added;
• the length of the structure will be the width of the room in which the podium will be installed, for example, it may be about 3 meters;
• the height of this structure will be at least 50 centimeters, since we need a sleeping place to fit under the podium and for it to move completely freely.

A suitable drawing of a sleeping place with a podium, designed to sleep two people

If you have a room with high ceilings, then the podium can be made even higher than we indicated, for example, 60 or even 70 centimeters, since in this case you can make not only a more comfortable sleeping place, but also incredibly spacious drawers.

Having indicated the parameters of our sleeping place, it will be necessary to transfer onto paper an imaginary diagram of our design, indicating the place where there will be:

• steps;
• boxes;
• doors;
• beds.

Having finished with the drawing, we move on to selecting the necessary materials.

Another drawing of a podium bed with pull-out blocks

Step No. 2 - what materials will we need to create the podium?

To build the frame, you will need to use the following materials:

• timber 5 by 5 centimeters, from which the “skeleton” of the future podium is built;
• self-tapping screws, the length of which is from 7 to 10 millimeters;
• metal corners;
• for cladding, oriented strand boards are used, the thickness of each of which is at least 9 millimeters;
• furniture facades are also purchased to equip retractable elements with them;
• fittings for sliding parts must also be prepared;
• intermediate logs made of wood to provide additional rigidity to the structure.

Materials for the bed must be chosen of high quality so that even with intensive use they can withstand the load

The tools we will need are:

• jigsaw;
• screwdriver;
• pencil;
• tape measure.

Prices for popular models of jigsaws

Jigsaw

Prepare some tools, we will need them

So, you can proceed to the next step.

Step No. 3 - installation of the frame

The podium we have planned will consist of three main segments:

• pull-out bed box;
• boxes for storing various kitsch;
• stairs.

Assembled stage bed frame

1. To begin with, in the place where the pull-out bed will be located, it is necessary to mount a wooden frame of the structure. It will first be necessary to transfer the markings to the walls, as well as remove the plinth fixed at their base, otherwise the bed posts will not be able to fit as tightly as possible to the wall.

Installation of side supports of the podium

2. The placement of the supports is carried out approximately in increments of 40-45 centimeters. If an increased load is planned on the bed, then the desired indicator can be reduced.

First, the frame of the future “skeleton” of the bed is formed

3. The guides are connected to the walls through vertical posts, the distance between which coincides with the pitch of the supports. Between these racks, beams are laid that unite the structure.

The supports are installed in increments of 40 centimeters

Step No. 4 - assembling the pull-out bed

Now let's create a pull-out bed by cutting out its sides and base from:

• wooden shields;
• or MDF.

You can determine the height of the sides yourself, let them be what you want, however, to prevent the mattress from fidgeting back and forth, it is better to make a structure whose sides will have a height of at least 15 millimeters.

Drawing of retractable part

The parameters of the flooring on which the mattress will subsequently be placed must be calculated according to:

• the size of the mattress placed on it;
• adding margin, about 5 or maybe a little more centimeters on each side.

From the beams you will also need to assemble a frame for the lower segment created for laying the mattress. In those places where the wooden parts will be joined to each other, it will be necessary to lay some kind of material that insulates sound waves. This is necessary so that when using the bed, the bars that rub against each other do not make too loud a creaking noise.

Using lamellas we create a bed for a mattress

The support crossbars are fixed in the central position of the frame. These details are then directly linked to:

• lamellas, thin and flexible in structure;
• or wooden slats, simple and more rigid.

It is these details that essentially form the area on which you will later rest.

It is now necessary to attach the sidewalls to the mattress base we have created. Afterwards, the front facade of the structure is installed and secured, which will simultaneously act as a segment of the podium when the bed is folded, that is, retracted.

Drawing of the retractable panel

Please note: the height of the front part of the bed facade should not exceed the amount of space that remains between the outermost point of the podium and the flooring. It should also be taken into account that rollers will be installed in the lower part of the bed, with the help of which the bed will move out of the podium.

Step No. 5 – sew up the frame

After the frame and bed for the bed with a mattress cover have been installed, it is time to cover the frame. To carry it out, you need to stock up on some sheet material, preferably very durable. Well suited for these purposes:

• oriented strand boards;
• thick plywood.

Prices for sheet plywood

Plywood sheets

Mattress covering technique

Plywood will cost you less money, however, OSB boards will have a structure that is more suitable to become part of a piece of furniture that will be constantly used, since they are more uniform and specifically designed for such purposes.

According to the drawing we created earlier, it will be necessary to cut out pieces of oriented strand board and screw them to the frame using fasteners convenient for you (best self-tapping screws).

Please note: during cladding, try to leave a distance of approximately 3 millimeters between the screwed slabs, so that the surface of the slabs does not deform under the influence of adjacent slabs.

OSB is the best material for a bed base

Even before our podium is completely sheathed, we will need to make drawers and install them inside the structure. In addition, in general, before stitching, it would be wise to treat the wooden parts of the frame with solutions that:

• protect the tree from damage by pests;
• will prevent the development of fungus.

The covering of the podium should be carried out as carefully as possible

Step No. 6 – finishing

As a finishing material used for finishing, you can use the same flooring as for the floor, that is:

• parquet;
• linoleum;
• tiles;
• laminate.

If you choose a different type of material, then it will be necessary to combine it with the flooring, since otherwise the podium will stand out from the decor of the room purely externally. In addition, at the covering stage you will also need to think about what exactly you will equip the steps with so that they do not slip.

Finish the podium with laminate

Prices for different types of laminate

Wood laminate

It is most convenient to use for covering the podium:

• laminate;
• carpet

The laminate is fixed to the podium using construction adhesive, for example, liquid nails. Provided that boxes for storing bedding are built inside the structure, the laminate is pricked onto the lids that hide them separately from the rest of the covering.

It will be possible to border the steps and edges of the protruding segments of the podium with a special construction profile, as well as corners made of PVC

As for the carpet laid on the podium, it would be best to choose its tone so that it coincides with the general theme of the room furnishings.

Step No. 7 – equipping the podium

At this stage, the pull-out bed needs to be equipped with a mattress, and the drawers should be filled with sleeping accessories and bed linen. Of course, to begin with, the structure is first thoroughly vacuumed, then washed. If necessary, the drawers can also be lined on the inside with some fabric or the same carpet to make them suitable for storing linen.

We fill the finished podium with the necessary accessories

Types of structures

Technical and combined podiums are divided by type. For example, they can accommodate a pull-out bed, drawers, shelves, steps and other details that affect not only the appearance, but also the functionality of the structure.

Huge possibilities for organizing a spacious storage system are provided by a frame podium equipped with numerous drawers and niches

Retractable

The pull-out version is a structure with a bed hidden inside. In this case, the sleeping place can be easily disguised in the living room. In turn, on the podium there can be a sofa, armchairs or a computer desk. A pull-out bed is a labor-intensive, but very functional option for a one-room apartment in a Khrushchev-era building.

A podium with a pull-out bed fits perfectly into a narrow room

Traditional

The traditional option means a design without various additions and elements, which is a simple geometric elevation on which the bed stands. The traditional solution is suitable for bedrooms in a minimalist style, spacious and modern. This option is not suitable for a small room, as it has a minimum of functions.

Installing a podium with a bed is one of the popular ways of zoning a studio apartment

With steps

A design with steps would be a good option for a children's room. In the steps you can place boxes in which the child can place his toys. The steps are suitable for combined structures located in a common room, for example, in the living room of a one-room apartment.

The photo shows the interior of a children's room with a bed on the podium

The podium can be of any height and imitate a niche, for example, in this case steps will become a necessity, not a whim.

Model options according to room style

In order for the sleeping place on the podium to fit organically into the interior, it is necessary to take into account its style and compliance with the design of the room. Today, elevations stylishly fit into a variety of interior styles - from classic to modern. The most fashionable trends are art deco, minimalism, and loft.

The podium with built-in lighting has an incredibly impressive look, adding mystery to the interior.

Art Deco

A unique style flow in which the geometry of forms is harmoniously combined with the smoothness of lines. A podium for an Art Deco bedroom can have rounded shapes, lighting, and an unusual rich color, for example, mahogany or ebony. This decor option will not suit too small rooms, because art deco loves space. Built-in drawers and other visible structures will disrupt the harmony of art deco, and therefore only a traditional design without additional elements will fit into this style.

In the photo there is a podium bed with drawers in a girl’s bedroom, made in the art deco style

Don't forget about bedding in purple, black, dark pink or burgundy, because art deco is always about rich, bold colors that are combined with black and gold.

Modern

The concept of a bedroom with a podium under the bed fits organically into a laconic modern style. Any elevation option will do, but functional models with drawers, shelves, and pull-out elements look the most stylish.

The photo shows the interior of a modern bedroom with a high bed in a Scandinavian style

For the design, choose light shades of wood, which are most harmonious in the aesthetics of a light, modern style.

Loft

A raised bed is perfect for the trendy loft style concept. Typically, a podium made of cast concrete is chosen for a loft, which is most organic to urban aesthetics. Steps, drawers - all this does not fit into the standard idea of ​​a loft. Only a geometrically correct pedestal, and on it a bed with dark linens.

The photo shows an example of decorating a loft-style bedroom with a bed on a concrete podium

Above the bed you can place pendant lamps in the loft style, which will further emphasize the aesthetics of the style.

If you don’t know which style to choose, then choose modern; it is universally suitable for any apartment, regardless of its size.

Types and methods of fastening

Making a canopy for an adult bed in an apartment is much more convenient than choosing a ready-made model suitable for the size of the room. Based on the location of attachment, the following types are distinguished:

Ceiling canopies. In this case, the structure holders are attached to the ceiling. Depending on the shape and size, they can be attached to hooks, pins, corners, or directly nailed to the ceiling with dowels.

Wall canopies . Attached to the wall - with dowels, hooks, brackets, screws.

Four poster bed. The design is built into the bed as a single product.

The most economical and easy to manufacture are the following types of bed canopies, which you can make yourself without outside help.

Canopy made from cornices

These are curtains hung above the bed on curtain rods fixed to the ceiling.

1. Two cornices can be fixed to the ceiling parallel to a line directed from the headboard. In this option, the design closes the space on the right and left.
2. Canopy with the letter “P”. It will require three cornices. If the headboard is located against the wall, the third cornice is fixed on the foot side. When the bed is located in the center of the room, the third cornice is attached above the head of the bed.
3. In the case of a central location of the bed in the bedroom, you can make a canopy from four cornices. Then the fabric is draped on all sides, which gives greater freedom of imagination.

The design of the canopy, in each of the options, can be played with the type and color of fabrics, the cut of the curtain, and the method of draping. Curtain rods provide the opportunity to play with color, fabric density, and length differences, which can be used by hanging fabrics in two layers.

Tiara-shaped canopy

This version of the canopy has a cornice in the form of a semicircular frame. Such curtain rods are attached to the ceiling or wall above the bed. They are made from any material that can bend - in order to give the structure a semicircular shape. It can be plywood, wood, plastic, metal. The main thing is that the structure holds its shape well and is securely attached. To do this, use corners, dowels, and screws.

The canopy fabric is hung so that it falls in streams around the bed and creates a delicate romantic atmosphere. When choosing materials, you can find a solution that will give the room an atmosphere of aristocratic luxury.

Ring-shaped canopy

A cornice in the form of a ring is made from metal or wood. The structure is fixed above the bed in the center, or in the middle above the head of the bed, most often on a hook. An original design can be created using strips of fabric.

The artistic design of the canopy will depend on their size, color, material, and method of draping. By changing it, you can periodically change the general mood of the interior of the room.

Currently reading: Bedroom design 12 sq. meters. Photos of modern interiors and layouts

Selection of materials for making podium beds

Most elevations are frame structures made of wood, chipboard, MDF and similar materials. Obviously, plastic is not suitable for this purpose, since the structure must support the weight of at least two adults.

Part of the podium can be used as a bedside table

Cast concrete

An option that is suitable for a private house, but not for an apartment. Choose cast concrete as a base if you are sure that you are doing a renovation that will last forever, because it is not so easy to disassemble such a structure if you get tired of the interior design.

Sleeping bed on a white concrete podium in a room with wooden trim

Natural wood

Durable and reliable material that is universally suitable for both apartments and homes. Any type of design can be realized from wood: decorative, technical and combined.

In the photo there is a bed on a podium made of roughly processed timber

Frame

Before you start creating such furniture, you need to carefully consider the sketch. A podium bed in an interior always attracts a lot of attention, so any miscalculations will only spoil the interior. Immediately determine the dimensions of the elevation, where the main niche will be located, where the laundry drawers are, you also need to consider whether steps to the podium will be used, how they will be placed.

The frame is usually made of wooden beams, the section size can vary from 20 to 50 mm, here you need to focus on the expected load. If there is only a bedside table with a TV on a raised platform, you can take a beam for the joists that is not thick. In the case when you plan to install a wardrobe on a podium, or make a dressing room, it is worth choosing more powerful logs.

Pine timber is used for the frame. This material is the most convenient. It is easy to process and does not deform during use. Thanks to the small number of knots, the wood can withstand high loads.

It is best to use MDF as cladding; this material is the most reliable. You can also use thick plywood. You should not sheathe chipboard, especially if the podium is placed on the balcony. Chipboard is afraid of high humidity and can become deformed; such a board can only be used with very strict savings.

It is recommended to make sound insulation. To do this, you should use polystyrene foam.

The final finishing can be done with the same flooring as the rest of the room. The following materials are excellent for the podium:

• linoleum;
• laminate;
• carpet;
• parquet.

When choosing a topcoat, you should pay attention not only to appearance, you need to remember that materials require different care. For example, carpet requires regular and thorough cleaning.

Accommodation options

Elevations are placed in the middle of the room, in a niche, in a bay window, or throughout the entire area of ​​the room if the room is very small.

In a narrow room, a podium bed can be placed across the entire width of the room from wall to wall

Near the window

A universal option for rooms of any size with a window. Today it is fashionable to make a bed in the entire room under the window. This technique is suitable for apartments with a small bedroom where it is not possible to place a double bed. Typically, such beds, which occupy most of the room's area, contain storage space for things, such as bed linen and home textiles.

A podium near the window of the room allows you to significantly save space and organize good natural lighting

In a niche

A niche can be organized artificially using partitions and a frame podium. In this case, it will be possible to separate the sleeping area from the work and rest area. This option is suitable for bedrooms in living rooms, which is often found in one-room apartments, as well as for children’s rooms, to make the room as comfortable and interesting as possible for the child.

A niche or recess in the wall is an ideal place to place a podium bed

In the bay window

Older houses often have bay windows, which can be used to create a raised sleeping area. A sleeping area surrounded by large windows is not only beautiful, but also cozy. The result is a romantic setting that is ideal for a young couple.

You can organize a comfortable sleeping place in the bay window, separating it with a light partition from the rest of the room

If you are interested in photos of a room with a bed on an elevated platform, then see the selection below, which presents the best photographs of real interiors with the idea embodied. Please note that the idea can be brought to life with your own hands if you have basic carpentry skills. The podium will become a real decoration for the bedroom, and will also make the interior of your apartment truly unique and modern.

The most common mistakes that happen when creating podium beds

Of course, furniture makers who have solid experience in creating podiums make mistakes much less often than newcomers to the profession, but they also have to deal with errors, which can then make themselves felt directly during the operation of our product.

When creating a podium, it is important to take into account various nuances

That is why we decided to supplement our article with important information regarding what nuances need to be taken into account when independently constructing a podium for a bed in your apartment or house. Let's look at them in the list below.

Error 1. If you decide to place your podium bed next to the battery, then it is necessary to provide and make ventilation holes inside the box in advance. They can be located directly on the partition between:

• a bed that extends outward from the frame;
• podium staircase.

Or you can make ventilation at the vertical ends of the steps.

However, of course, if you have the opportunity to move the radiator somewhere, or arrange the bed in another place, it is better to do so, since in this way you will minimize the negative consequences of drying out the frame and covering material.

Try to place the podium away from the battery

If this point is ignored, then your bed may fail after a fairly short period of use, as its parts will simply dry out. The timber will be the first to deteriorate, since wood is the most sensitive to changes in the air-water balance of the room.

It's best to do this:

• move the battery to another point in the room;
• so that it is not completely cold in the corner where the bed is, add additional pipes under the podium.

Under the podium you can hide not only things, but also pipes

Mistake 2. Do not place the podium bed near the window, especially if you have a small child or a beloved cat or dog. The fact is that a bed of this type seriously reduces the distance between the floor and the window sill, and an overly active baby can simply fall out of it, ending all your good intentions regarding creating a comfortable place to relax in a disaster.

You have several options:

• or initially do not install the bed near the window, but come up with a different location for it;
• or open the window exclusively for slot-type ventilation, so that the child cannot reach the handle, or so that the cat cannot fall out of the window you previously opened;
• or make a special fence.

Make sure that a child or animal does not reach the window

Mistake 3. It is very important to carefully process all corners, end sides, joints and other points of the structure where any snags, chips or chips may form.

Carefully sand all uneven surfaces

Prices for popular models of eccentric sanders

Random orbital sander

That is why you need to do the following:

• even before the structure is built, carefully polish all the parts, except, perhaps, the beams, which will go into the frame if there is no contact with them;
• repeat the sanding procedure after the structure is assembled; for greater effect, you can use a sander and a mini-plane to remove sharp corners;
• carefully putty all the cracks, chips, holes, damage, leveling them with the surface of the podium, and then sand again everything that you have repaired.

Accuracy during creation is the key to safety

In this way, you will not only increase the safety of the structure, but also give it a truly pleasant appearance and make it only more durable.

Mistake 4. There is no need to plan an overly sophisticated design, especially if you have not yet gained enough experience to assemble it yourself, while avoiding mistakes that could later result in damage to your health and well-being.

Podium bed

A bed with a podium is a simple design, don’t overthink it. If you don't add a few extra drawers, it won't make it any less convenient, and it will still be an incredible pleasure to use. After all, you will not only make optimal use of the free space of the room, but also get the opportunity to hide all communications and unnecessary things inside one of the most stylish sleeping structures invented by man today.

Podium - a stylish solution for a comfortable life

A bed made from pallets is an excellent opportunity to get high-quality furniture without major expenses. You just need to prepare the tools, buy a few pallets and set aside some free time for work. Find detailed assembly instructions in a special article.

Photos of examples of the interior of a room with a podium bed