Plywood for a bed under a mattress: slats or solid base, which is better

Making a bed yourself is a very labor-intensive process, during which you need to know the intricacies of choosing a truly durable material. But it’s not enough to build a strong frame: you also need to know how to choose a base for the bed. We will help you understand this issue in this article. We recommend that you do not ignore the sections below, as you risk missing important nuances.

Plywood sheet for bed base Source livemaster.ru

What is a bed base and its structure?

A bed base is a special type of structure, without which the existence of a sleeping place is impossible. The structure serves as a place for laying the mattress. Can be attached to the main frame or simply packaged separately.

All the details that are present in the design, and this is: the place for the mattress, the mattress itself and the frame itself, play one role - they provide comfortable support for the body of a sleeping person.

A lattice base made of boards is simple, not orthopedic. Source postroysamdom.ru

Dimensions

The length of the base should be 20 cm greater than a person’s height, the width of a single base should be at least 80 cm. These dimensions allow you to sit comfortably on the bed.

A bed with such dimensions does not take up additional space in the room.

The legs are made of high-strength metal, the most convenient length of the legs is 24-25 cm, the height of the base depends on them. The stability of the structure is ensured by the number of legs (there are up to 7 of them on the frame).

To strengthen the structure, a central frame runs through the middle.

The total height is 27-28 cm, it all depends on the manufacturer. The slatted mesh serves to properly distribute weight on the mattress and extend the life of the mattress.

Types of bases: orthopedic and solid

There is a lot of controversy about which base is best to choose for a homemade bed. Many believe that ideally it is orthopedic, as it will be beneficial. Others say that it will be solid and will last longer. Let's look at this in more detail.

Frame and base made of decorated durable plywood for a one-and-a-half bed Source fdforp.com

Leading manufacturers

European and Russian manufacturers are very popular on the orthopedic base market. Products from Chinese companies, as a rule, are much cheaper, but are much inferior in durability and workmanship.

ComCor produces transformation mechanisms for upholstered furniture, metal structures and orthopedic bases. The main production facilities are located in the city of Ivanteevka, Moscow region.

Facade furniture. Metal products plant located in the city of Glazov, Udmurt Republic. Specializes in the production of metal structures and mechanisms for transforming sofas and beds, as well as tables.

Lineflex is an Italian manufacturer of orthopedic bases and transformation mechanisms, positioning its products in the economic and medium price range;

Vegas is a manufacturer from Belarus (Minsk), producing a wide range of furniture, orthopedic mattresses and bases. The products are of high quality and moderate cost.

Ormatek is an international company with 7 production sites, mainly located in China. The quality of the product is satisfactory, the price is quite reasonable, and it has a wide range of sizes and materials.

The photo shows products from manufacturers of orthopedic bases of famous brands.

PHOTO: www.howmeb.com

PHOTO: matras.wiki

PHOTO: mblx.ru

Which bed base for a mattress is better to choose?

The bed frame can be anything, but if you have decided to make the base wooden and do not know what is better than plywood for the bed or slats, we suggest reading the details below, which will eliminate doubts.

Using durable plywood under a bed mattress Source s3.amazonaws.com

Flat plywood (solid)

Sheets of plywood, which will later be used to complete the bed, in addition to sanding, are additionally coated with decorative substances and impregnations that protect the surface from harmful external influences. Such a panel is placed on the bed after complete drying. It can be fixed or simply laid hermetically. Since a solid sheet is much heavier, it exhibits its orthopedic properties worse.

But flat bases continue to be in demand, as they are easy to manufacture and quite versatile, as they are suitable for beds of different sizes and can withstand any type of mattress.

Important! This type of base is ideal for people suffering from spinal diseases. In such cases, you need a strictly rigid surface without springing or moving.

The use of perforated solid plywood for a bed Source poisk-mastera.ru

Lamellar base

The design of individual lamellas is considered a novelty in the technology of manufacturing bedroom furniture. It is usually made from beech or birch, sometimes walnut is used. The lattice base can be purchased ready-made on a wooden or metal frame. There are even designs where the orthopedic base is attached to a lifting mechanism.

Orthopedic slats for a double bed Source fastbox.su

The production of such lamellas is carried out using several unchanged standards. These include:

thickness - 6-8 mm;
width - 63 mm;
fastening in increments of 70-80 mm.

As for the length of each plank, it should be slightly less than the width of the inside of the bed frame. It is also considered a significant advantage that a bed with a collapsible base is easy to transport, move, and, if necessary, restore. Also, such furniture is easier to disassemble and assemble.

Advantages of making furniture from laminated chipboard yourself

To produce interior items, you need not only experience working with materials and their processing, but also time, effort, and a certain set of tools. Why, given the availability of a wide range of beds of different qualities and configurations on the market, do many people start making furniture with their own hands?

Making furniture yourself

There are several reasons:

self-assembly of the bed allows you to significantly save the family budget;
in this case there is confidence in the quality of the materials and fittings used;
the most important thing is that you have the opportunity to bring to life your own ideas about the convenience and aesthetics of this piece of furniture, make a product of such shape and size that allows you to fit it perfectly into the interior, decorate the bed to your liking, arrange the required number of storage spaces and niches that allow you to increase it functionality.

Among other things, a person who assembles furniture with his own hands increases his self-esteem and increases the respect of others. In addition, the production of the bed is not particularly complicated. Not many details are needed. The main thing is to make a competent drawing, prepare high-quality materials and accessories, and also be patient.

Table. Depending on their size, beds are classified as follows.

Bed type	Width, m
Single	0,80…1,2
One and a half	1,2…1,4
Double	1,4…1,8
Family	1,8…2,2

Important! It is recommended to order cutting of chipboard sheets from specialized companies that are equipped with the necessary equipment. At home, as a rule, such wood processing is accompanied by the appearance of chips at the ends of the slabs. However, you should be aware that many large stores specializing in the sale of building materials can only offer cutting of sheets into rectangular segments and installation of edges. Often you have to turn to other companies for cutting curved elements and milling.

Classification of slatted bed bases

Having decided that the slatted design for the bed is best suited, it is advisable to disassemble its existing types. There are only two of them: with and without a stiffness regulator.

Double bed with slatted orthopedic base Source proraboff.rf

In the first case, the capabilities of the bed expand. The design is able to change the level of rigidity in each specific zone to enhance the level of comfort during sleep. The change in basis occurs at several points:

head and shoulder areas;
middle back, pelvis;
hips, knees, feet.

Also, at the stage of choosing a frame, we recommend deciding what structure the mattress will have. If you purchase a slatted base in a store, be sure to tell the consultant which mattress you prefer.

If the bed is for children: how to decide on the choice

For such cases, a number of individual features apply. After all, for the correct formation of a child’s spine, he needs healthy sleep, and only an orthopedic surface can provide him with this, no matter what position the child is in.

For example, a slatted base in combination with an orthopedic mattress must be chosen correctly; the distances between the slats and the thickness of each of them must be observed. Also pay attention to the following nuances:

The location of the lamellas on the frame should have an average distance of +- 80 mm. If it is wider, then some of the design features of the mattress will simply fall inward and the structure will gradually collapse. If the distance between the slats turns out to be too narrow, then the orthopedic properties of the structure will not manifest themselves correctly.
The optimal width of the lamellas is 63 mm. If they are laid over the entire area of the bed frame, then these parameters are sufficient for the base to serve as a reliable support for a long time.
The edges and shape of the elements must be perfectly even and smooth. After all, when using the mattress, it will inevitably create friction with the lattice, and uneven ends will lead to damage to the fabric that contains the mattress. You can put on a mattress cover; this will only delay the process of damage to the fabric shell of the mattress, but not for long.

Important! For a children's bed, mattresses of a springless type or those consisting of natural latex can be chosen. These cannot be laid on a lamella base; therefore, you will have to limit yourself to a flat one.