Podium bed: 470 photos (drawings with dimensions). DIY projects.

bed podium photo

The podium bed is gaining popularity as a good solution for the interior. Many people prefer to make a podium bed with their own hands rather than buying or ordering from specialists. The podium helps to save space, allowing you to organize it more competently. In our article you will find projects of varying complexity. Some are quite accessible to beginners, while others require some experience in carpentry. Things are stored in drawers built into the podium without taking up the area of ​​the room. The article offers drawings of a podium bed with dimensions , photographs of projects that you can do with your own hands. We have selected several options for a podium bed : with a pull-out bed and with a mattress on top of the platform, for a small room and for a bedroom. All you have to do is browse the galleries, select the project you are interested in and go to the source website for more detailed information.

Podium in the apartment: options

Let's consider several common options for placing a podium, depending on the size of the living space and the purpose of the room.

Podium in a studio apartment: zoning and optimization

The most typical solution for giving the studio individuality and clear zoning of space is a raised floor in the kitchen work area. This achieves several goals: hiding pipes, separating the kitchen from the dining room. The zoning effect can be enhanced by using floor tiles in the kitchen, which have an advantage in terms of sanitation and protect the space under the podium from flooding and the development of fungus.

Another method of zoning a studio is also possible. Erecting a podium in the living area of ​​the studio, near the window, provides much more advantages. On the podium you can arrange a work area or a relaxation area, and hide roll-out beds under it. Thus, in the studio you can place two full-sized beds or a large double bed, which otherwise would not fit in a small area.

Few people think of raising the floor in the part of the hallway where the wardrobe is installed. Meanwhile, this allows you to optimize its space. Deep drawers at the bottom of the wardrobe are certainly more convenient than mezzanines. This technique is interesting for any small “two-room” and “one-room” apartments.

Optimization of a small living space

Arranging a decorative podium in a small apartment is not optimal - it is wiser to use the podium not only as an expressive design element. You can use the space underneath for pull-out furniture or as a storage area, for example, for out-of-season or oversized items. Thus, by raising the floor in any area, if the ceiling height allows, you can get an additional storage system - an alternative to a bulky closet.

A podium can transform an apartment, and in a children’s room the options for its use are simply limitless - this is the upper deck of a ship for boys, a stage (with a microphone!) for girls, and a secluded bedroom hidden behind a light curtain.

Large apartment: you can afford a lot

When the podium is built in a spacious apartment, where there is no shortage of space, it can play a purely decorative role. A podium can be used to highlight a significant area in the apartment - an island kitchen, for example, or a well-equipped workplace. In the bedroom, a podium will emphasize the importance of a luxurious bed, and the “pedestal” can be round in shape, just like the bed itself. Sometimes this structure is mounted in the center of the room - it all depends on the design.

Soft podium

Among the unusual, but increasingly popular solutions is a soft podium, quite spacious and, as a rule, including storage systems. It is often used as a sleeping place for late guests, then bed linen is stored in the drawers. At other times, it is a spacious sofa on which you can sit at ease, watch TV, or read. If there are children in the house, this will be their favorite place to play.

How to choose

The idea of ​​a podium with two vertical roll-out beds will really appeal to large families with two or more children, because in this case there are no problems with organizing study, play and sleeping spaces. In addition, if guests with children appear in the house, the upper part of the podium can easily be turned into a third bed, which can accommodate up to two people, and when the beds are rolled inward, both guests and the little owners of the house have enough free space to play .

A simple frame podium with an orthopedic mattress on top is the ideal “budget option” for those who need a large double bed, but also want to save space and money. Since such a podium is very simple to manufacture, anyone can assemble it using available materials, and the structure can be strengthened with additional crossbars and strong metal corners.

In order not to bother with the sheathing, you can apply two layers of good paint on top of the plywood, matching it to the color of the main interior in the room.

A durable frame podium with a horizontal roll-out bed is ideal for those who, living in a one-room apartment, want to save the surrounding space as much as possible and not purchase additional pieces of furniture for storing bedding and belongings. The horizontal roll-out bed can be partially pulled out during the daytime, using it as a comfortable sofa, and the durable structure made of beams and metal allows you to place any workplace at the top, and will not sag under the weight of furniture and the human body.

A monumental monolithic podium filled with concrete is good for people who have a lot of weight, both literally and figuratively. If you build it at home, such a bed will not sag and will not break under the weight of a person’s heavy weight. It will last a long time and this will help save money. Also, this design looks great in the interiors of large houses, especially if the podium has a non-standard circle or semicircle shape. Finishing made of leather or leatherette, in this case, is the most preferable, as it especially emphasizes the solidity and stability of the structure.

Installing a podium in a loggia connected to the room will fit perfectly into the living space of creative people who especially like Japanese style. If you remove the window sill block, insulate the former loggia and build a podium adjacent to the window, the effect of an oriental note in the interior will be amazing. The additional heating system can be hidden under the same podium, and the room can be decorated with wallpaper with an oriental pattern. To complete the picture, you can place several handmade colored rugs, pillows and red lamps in the room.

How to do it yourself?

Some useful tips:

Decide on the design of the podium. The monolithic design option is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming to create. For a metal frame, experience with welding tools is required. Therefore, the best option is wood. Create a sketch of the future design. Carefully describing all sizes and proportions. Use dowels and self-tapping screws to secure the structure. When positioning the flooring on which the mattress will be placed, it is necessary to add allowances of 5 cm on each side. OSB and plywood materials are used to cover the frame. As decoration, you can use a variety of materials, such as laminate, parquet, linoleum, carpet

It is important to remember that the material must match the color scheme of the flooring.

For more detailed instructions on how to make a podium bed with your own hands, see the following video.

How to build?

Not only professionals in the field of furniture assembly can design a podium bed with their own hands. For example, a simple traditional podium on a frame made of wooden beams is easy to make even for a person who is not a professional in this matter. A frame podium with an improved design filled with drawers or a roll-out bed is much more difficult to make: first of all, you will need to draw a drawing in which the dimensions of the future product and its elements will be thought out in detail and with maximum clarity.

General recommendations for making any podium yourself:

1. You should immediately think about the strength and reliability of the frame so that it can withstand the weight of the human body and pieces of furniture. The frame timber must be dry, not wet, to avoid its “shrinkage” and creaking.
2. When drawing up a drawing, you should take into account the thickness of the sheathing (for example, plywood) and the finishing (most often laminate is used as it).
3. It is also necessary to take into account the gap between the mattress of the future bed and the podium, if the bed is a roll-out one.

Here's how to build the simplest, but durable and reliable frame podium with drawers in an ordinary apartment. Materials for work and accessories that will be needed:

• plywood sheet 20 mm thick;
• plywood sheet 10 mm thick;
• bars 50x5 mm;
• bars 30x40 mm;
• fasteners - dowels (nails), anchors, self-tapping screws, angles for fastening 50 and 40 mm. Count the number of corners based on the size of the podium.

The work flow is as follows:

• First, make an outline of the future design, take a pencil and draw an outline with it. Use a tape measure to measure the diagonals to take into account possible errors in the corners. If the error exceeds 5 mm, adjust the length of the podium on the fly before aligning the diagonals.
• For moisture insulation, lay plastic film on the floor. Cover the area of ​​the future podium with a cork backing and 10 mm thick plywood. Use dowels to nail the plywood to the floor. Leave a technical gap at the joints of approximately 3 mm.
• Measure and cut the frame beam 50x50 mm according to the dimensions indicated in the drawings. In order to get a preliminary general picture of the podium, the logs can be placed on supports. If the timber is not completely dry, all supports must be laid with a cork backing so that the wood does not subsequently creak after drying.

• After this, you can begin assembling and fastening the frame of the future podium. The joists are attached to the side walls using anchors, and only then the main part of the frame is assembled. Plywood 20 mm thick is laid and fastened onto the frame, while a small technological gap is left between its sheets. Boxes should be made according to the dimensions specified in the drawings - it all depends on technology and capabilities. If the height of the boxes is small, you can simply connect two bars using corners and attach them to a piece of plywood 10 mm thick.

For more information on how to build a podium bed with your own hands, see the video below.

The plywood is covered with a finishing finish in the form of a laminate. Now, finally, you can put a large orthopedic mattress on top, and the podium bed with drawers below is completely ready for use.

Posting rules

Despite its dimensions, the sleeping place on the podium is a great space saver. The installation options are chosen by the future user, based on the designers’ recommendations regarding the location of the furniture. The podium can be placed in the middle of the room, near the wall or in a small niche. This furniture is found not only in the master bedroom or studio apartment, it is often used in children's rooms and on balconies.

Accommodation requirements:

• Zoning must be done carefully. If you plan to use the bed on a permanent basis, choose the most suitable place in the room for its placement.
• Furniture should be installed away from heating radiators so as not to impede air circulation.
• Dimensions are selected individually. The podium is always created to order, taking into account the parameters of the room in which the structure is planned to be installed.
• If utility lines run under the bed in the podium, you will have to install a hatch. Otherwise, the lid is made of a solid slab.
• You can refuse the accompanying furniture. In a small house it is impossible to install a bed, a wardrobe and a bedside table at the same time. The functions of the listed types of furniture will be taken over by the podium.
• If the drawers are pulled out, there should be enough free space in front of them.

A functional bed on a podium will be an ideal solution for rooms with a non-standard layout. Refusal to use furniture sets will “unload” such premises. You can also install raised bunk beds in children's rooms. Kids will use the built-in drawers to store toys, clothes and bedding.

<

>

Accessories

Before choosing bed accessories, you need to decide what style of bedding your family prefers. These can be solid colors or patterned bedding. Bedspreads in solid colors can be elegant, simple and can add a trendy hotel style to the bedroom. Pastel shades can promote a relaxing and tranquil environment that is great for bedroom decor.

The right fabric of bedding and other accessories can complement the style of the bedroom. Fabrics with a sheen are a more popular choice than plain cotton or other matte fabrics. Fabrics with a sheen can brighten up a dark bedroom and create a more glamorous atmosphere. Accents and accessories can be added to the bed to make the room more beautiful than it already is. A pillow with a bright, original accent, chosen to match the bedding set, will create more coziness in the room than the softest and most beautiful bedspread.

Some users note that the podium bed serves as a bunk bed, only on the second floor there are computer desks and children’s closets. Many place on the podium not only a sleeping place, but also an entire sofa, thus making the room visually much larger.

If the one-room apartment is small, the optimal dimensions of the podium for it will be approximately the following: length 310 cm, width 170 cm, and height 50 cm. The main condition for placing the podium in “Khrushchev” and other small premises is that its height should not exceed 20 cm, so that later Psychologically, the “pressure” of the ceiling was not felt.

Small apartment: do you really need a podium?

Is it possible to make a podium in a small apartment? Installing flooring with a modest area requires a balanced approach.

Khrushchev apartments have low ceilings and small rooms. Because of this, a limitation is imposed not only on the area of ​​the podium, but also on its height. To prevent the room from seeming even smaller and the ceilings lower, it should be low.

In small apartments it is better to make the podium low

If a low podium does not solve the problems with arranging a sleeping area and the multifunctional use of the flooring itself, then it is better to abandon the idea. This also applies to rooms in which there is an excess of furniture.

Even a small apartment can look very modern with a multifunctional interior. In this case, pieces of furniture combine several functions, move, change position and purpose.

Drawers and shelves for books at the ends will be a good way out. To save space, cabinets and drawers can be located not only under the podium panel, but also on the sides.

Storage boxes are a great space saver

The presence of a sloping ceiling is not in itself a contraindication to installing a podium.

Should I order it or make it myself?

Models with a podium will definitely attract the attention of everyone entering the room

Therefore, it is important to make all the design reliably, highly durable and beautiful.

You can make a simple traditional podium without retractable or opening structures with your own hands if you have tools, high-quality materials and minimal experience in performing this type of work. In this case, the required amount of material must be clearly calculated, drawings must be made and calculations made.

Having no experience in work, it is better to trust the specialists

If there are neither appropriate qualifications for such work, nor sufficient free time, the work can be entrusted to professionals. This also applies to complex systems with opening doors, pull-out drawers and roll-out mechanisms.

Locations

The location of the bed lighting depends on many factors: design features, the interior of the bedroom and its parameters, and the personal wishes of the owners. Let us examine separately the lighting features of each part of the structure.

At the head

The head of the bed is most often equipped with lighting. Lighting fixtures that can be used here:

• Spotlights;
• LED bulbs;
• LED Strip Light.

The option of directing flows of white light from the headboard to the top looks beautiful and modern. If you want to add beauty and functionality to this part of the design, you can install mirrors or small shelves.

Often, instead of a headboard, a bedside niche is equipped with additional light. LED lighting is used for this.

From below

A bed equipped with lighting from below looks luxurious. To make the interior lighter and more modern, you can use a so-called “floating” bed on discreet legs, which is complemented by lighting from an LED strip attached around the perimeter.

In order to connect the backlight with your own hands, you will need to perform the following steps:

• first of all, it is necessary to secure the tape by putting a cap on each end;
• then you should put on the adapters and immediately attach the plugs to them;
• check the operation of the LED backlight;
• Now you can start fixing the backlight. This will require special fastenings that are screwed to the bed with self-tapping screws;
• Once the strip is fully attached, you can plug the strip into a pre-prepared extension cord and enjoy a beautifully illuminated bed.

If you have the skills to work with electrical wiring, you can do everything more carefully by installing hidden wiring with a specially designated switch for lighting.

Illuminated podium

The podium bed looks impressive and stylish. In addition, it helps to significantly save space. And if you add lighting to this furniture, then in the dark a “floating effect” will be created. This is also convenient, since at night the possibility of falling will be eliminated due to the lighting of the step.

In order to organize lighting in this part of the structure, two options are used:

• Spotlights;
• LED Strip Light.

Often, additional storage boxes are built into the podium. Here it is imperative to provide lighting that will help maintain order and create a comfortable environment for the user.

Children's models

For any child, their own room is a space where they can enjoy play, relaxation or their own fantasies. In order to make this world more interesting for a child, you should think about purchasing a children's bed designed in the shape of your favorite cartoon characters.

A wide variety of car beds have been developed for boys that will help the child imagine himself in the role of a racer. The best option would be a bed equipped with lighting. It will be very interesting to sleep in a car with glowing headlights and dimensions.

Car beds have also been designed for girls in a more delicate pink or white design. Additional lighting can be installed in the following areas:

• headlights;
• street racing lower lighting;
• lower contour headlights, which are cilia.

These models are equipped with a remote control that allows you to adjust the lighting from a distance.

Children are often afraid of the dark, so a bed with additional lighting will be a great alternative to a night light. You can arrange additional lighting in the bedroom above the bed, which will make children's sleep more restful. To do this, you can use spotlights or LED strip.

What types of podium beds are there?

First of all, it should be mentioned that the podium bed is an independent segment of cabinet furniture. It is strikingly different from all other pieces of furniture. The product is based on a special frame (usually made of wooden logs), on the basis of which the podium is built. There are practically no typical podiums. The very essence of the product lies in its adaptation to a specific room, taking into account the designer’s suggestions and the customer’s wishes.

Podium beds are conventionally divided into two main types.

With a berth located directly on the podium. This option allows you to equip additional drawers and niches for storing things inside the frame.

With a sleeping place located inside the podium and retractable from under the frame at night. The hill itself (platform) is used as a place for children's games, arranging a study, or in some other way. An interesting option for apartments with limited space. This podium has a rather complex design.

Practical and effective examples of placement in the interior

There are several possible options for placing a podium bed in a small room. You should take into account the size of the room, ceiling height and other features

It is important that the design fits perfectly into the overall design and does not create the impression of bulkiness. As a general rule, it is recommended to use an installation location away from the center of the room

Depending on this, the overall impression may change, which should be taken into account when planning.

Most often, such a podium bed is equipped with shelves, drawers or voluminous niches, allowing you to avoid purchasing an additional wardrobe or chest of drawers.

In the bedroom

There are many possible options for placing a bed in a bedroom. Among the most common solutions are the following:

• In the center. This solution is allowed only in cases where the area of ​​the room is large. This allows you to visually expand the space even more. In small rooms, this option only clutters up the space.
• Equipment for a window sill under the podium. One of the beneficial solutions that allows you to place a bed under a large window. There are many different installation placement options.
• Installation of a bed on the second floor of the podium. This allows you to save free space for equipment in the work area or rest area.

In addition to the fact that a podium bed becomes an excellent decoration for any interior, due to proper placement it can zone the space and improve its ergonomics.

Note! Podium beds are distinguished by their universal use. They look great in a variety of interiors and styles.

The main thing is to choose the optimal combination.

Placement near a window

One of the most common options for small bedrooms or living rooms. Allows you to visually expand the space of the room due to the incoming natural light.

When constructing a bed on a podium next to a window opening, it is possible to significantly save usable space, and also by raising the bed, organize good natural lighting.

Features of placement in a small room

In small rooms with low ceilings, it is not recommended to install podium beds. If you still want to use this solution, you need to choose low podium designs. You can also integrate lighting into the lower part to create a weightless effect.

In a small and narrow room, a podium bed with wide drawers can be placed from wall to wall across the entire width of the room.

In the children's room

The design should be selected with special attention, since the safety of the child depends on it. You need to take care of the original installation design

It is also important to pay attention to the strength and reliability of all fasteners. The right choice will help you organize the space in your children's room as much as possible.

In the photo there is a children's room with a podium bed with two sleeping places.

Common mistakes at work

Let's look at the mistakes that beginners make when installing a structure:

• if the podium is located near a heating radiator, then it is necessary to provide ventilation holes inside it. They can be located on the partition between the stairs and the pull-out bed or in the vertical wall of the step. If it is possible to move the battery, then it is better to use it and hide the additional pipes in the frame of the structure;
• When installing a structure with a pull-out bed near a window, the risk that a child may fall out of the window increases. It should only be opened for slot ventilation. If possible, make a fence in front of the window from thin chrome pipes or kitchen rails. It is enough to secure 2-3 horizontal pipes at a height of up to 60 cm to protect family members;
• All side cuts and joints must be securely sealed and free of chips and snags.

Types of structures by organization

There are many models of raised decking with a bed. All of them are divided into three main types:

• Traditional.
• Improved.
• Retractable.

Creates more space

The choice of a specific type of structure should take into account:

• visual image;
• financial opportunities;
• room style;
• the need to install additional work and sleeping places;
• room parameters (ceiling height, area, regular or irregular shape, arches, ceiling beams).

There is no clear opinion about the podium bed even among designers. Many are confident in the advisability of such an organization only for very large premises. But not everything in this matter is clear. It is possible to install it even in a modest-sized apartment with a not very favorable layout.

Be sure to consider the style of the room

The frame version has a relatively simple organization. It uses metal, wood or a combination of several materials.

The average height of the podium in an ordinary apartment is from 0.25 to 0.55 m. If you need to organize storage systems, then the height should be about half a meter.

Often the podium has a rectangular shape. But this requirement is not considered mandatory. The round, semicircular shape also looks no less interesting.

It is basically rectangular in shape

The podium usually has a completely flat top floor. But perhaps even a wide mattress can be placed in the recess below the sides. This will make it possible to use the protruding planes as bedside tables and additional shelves.

Traditional podium

This type is the simplest to implement. It looks like a rigid frame made of wood with a covering of wear-resistant material and a mattress on top. The height of the flooring is usually about half a meter.

The casing is made from the following materials:

• linoleum;
• skin;
• wood;
• carpet, etc.

Traditional podium option

One of the easiest ways to decorate the outside of the podium is to paint it in several layers. The right shade will create a harmonious space in the room, where each element has its place.

Improved version

This type of bed is similar to the previous one, but with added functionality. The podium has retractable storage chambers for things: for bed linen, clothes, etc.

The decorative and originality of the structure is combined with practicality of use. Storage systems in the form of drawers can be combined with open shelves for books, souvenirs, frequently used small items, and blankets. A system of entire segments with different appearances is welcome.

The option is supplemented with functionality

Retractable mechanism

A bed with a pull-out system is a comfortable sleeping place that can be pushed under the podium. The roll-out device allows you to use the resulting free podium for organizing a workplace or storing things.

In withdrawable systems, it is necessary to pay attention to the quietness of the drawout. To do this, the wheels must have a high-quality rubber coating that does not scratch the floor and makes it possible to move the bed out and in quietly

Plastic wheels are not suitable. If used frequently, they may leave marks on the floor. In addition, plastic has a short service life and quickly becomes unusable.

Pay attention to the quietness of the withdrawable mechanism

Varieties

Pull-out bed on wheels - on the podium itself there is a work area, shelves with books or a small closet, and the bed will be roll-out, built into the side. In such a bed, silent rubber wheels that do not scratch the floor are important. Cheaper plastic wheels, when moving the bed repeatedly, will very soon create marks on the floor that will be virtually impossible to remove. In addition, plastic wheels often break, so for softer contact with the floor and silent movement of the bed, wheels made of high quality rubber are best suited.

The bed, located on the podium itself, can look different, depending on the preferences of the owner and the available interior solutions. There are different types of structures:

• Bed on a high podium. A high monolithic podium is made of wood poured with concrete, and the surface of the elevation is pre-leveled with a screed. The covering is either the same as in the room as a whole, or it may look different: differ in color, in the quality of the material, in order to somehow highlight the sleeping area in the surrounding space.

• Frame podiums are lightweight and have simple assembly technology; they are much easier to manufacture and install yourself. The frame base is made of wood or metal, or two materials are combined with each other. Inside it you can place pull-out or folding drawers for linen and other things. Any frame base filled with drawers will be a salvation for a person who has a lot of things, but does not want to acquire a large amount of furniture in the form of large chests of drawers or wardrobes: everything can be conveniently and compactly placed in the built-in drawers.

• Also, among the varieties of podium structures, they sometimes distinguish traditional (most often, it is just a wooden frame covered with carpet, linoleum or chipboard) and improved (all types of more complex frame structures with fillings in the form of compartments belong specifically to this).

• For families with small children living in dormitories or communal apartments, a small podium with a roll-out bed is ideal. Parents can comfortably sit upstairs, and children will happily fall asleep on a roll-out bed, which can simply be rolled under the podium during the day, thereby freeing up space for games. The presence in the podium, in addition to the bed, of a large drawer 1 m long helps to maintain order in the room, because at least some of the children's toys and small things can be put away in the drawer.

The very idea of ​​a podium with roll-out parts is very popular with children: now they can collect toys and go to bed in the form of an entertaining game.

Shapes and sizes

Products with a podium can have different shapes. This will allow them to fit into rooms of different sizes. The bed can be:

• rectangular;
• square;
• round;
• semicircular.

A square bed will look good in a long, elongated room. It will adjust the space and make the room more proportional. If we talk about a square, the size 160 by 180 can also be classified as a similar shape.

The round model is optimal for rooms with a large area, for example, for studio apartments

Such a bed will always become an accent that attracts the attention of everyone who enters the room.

The semicircular product is more compact and can be placed against the wall. Such models look very original, but are most often designed for one person. A double semicircular model will take up too much space.

Whatever shape the bed with a podium has, it will save on furniture. Purchasing such a bed will allow you to avoid buying a bookcase, wardrobe, chest of drawers for linen, or a shelving unit - depending on the configuration of the bed.

When choosing the shape and model of a bed, you should pay attention to some parameters

The material from which the product is made, namely its strength and environmental safety. Weight of the structure. Ideally, the bed should easily support the weight of 2 adults. Podium height. A person, standing at its highest point, should not rest his head on the ceiling (or on the second tier, if provided for by the design). The number of people who will sleep on the bed, as well as their ages. For a child or an elderly person, it is better to choose low models; for adults, the podium can be anything. The amount of free space available in the room. The shape of the bed depends on this

It is equally important to consider the place in which the product will be installed. It is not recommended to place wooden models close to a radiator or near a window if it is not insulated enough. If the bed is equipped with niches, the podium should not be higher than 0.4 m. If the height of the podium is more than 0.4 m, then you need to climb onto the bed using steps.

Preparation and installation options

At the preparatory stage, the size of the bed and the location for placing the LED strips and power supply are calculated. To do this, you will have to remove the mattress, find the optimal place to mount the LED strip so that its light is directed downward, and measure the length of all the segments that will be located around the perimeter of the structure. Then you need to select the type of light-emitting chips:

• SMD 3528 IP20 with a brightness of 420 lm, costing about 60 rubles/m;
• RGBW-SMD 5060 IP33 with a brightness of 2000 lm, costing about 200 rubles/m + RGBW controller;
• or some other intermediate option.

After this, you need to purchase an LED strip and a profile of the same length. Why the cost of a profile? Firstly, the LED strip will stick well to the clean and smooth surface of the profile, and secondly, it will serve as a radiator, since it is not recommended to operate fairly powerful LED strips without an additional heat sink. Often the supporting part of modern double beds is made of fibreboard (MDF) or wood, which have extremely low thermal conductivity. But even if the bed frame is made of steel, it is not advisable to glue LED segments to it. Only inside the aluminum profile will the LED strip be reliably protected from any mechanical impact, such as:

• vacuum cleaner tubes during cleaning;
• children's curious hands;
• teeth and paws of domestic animals.

You can use a cheaper option - a plastic cable channel. It costs an order of magnitude less and is sold in every hardware store. But it will no longer be possible to create very bright, let alone RGB, lighting for the bed. Plastic will not be able to dissipate heat from emitting crystals for a long time and effectively, which will lead to their degradation within the first year of operation. For installation in a cable channel, LED strip without silicone coating type SMD 3528 with an element density of 30, 60 or 120 pcs/m of any glow color is suitable.

At the last stage of preparatory work you need:

• cut the LED strip and profile into pieces of the required length;
• degrease the inner surface of the profile for reliable adhesion to the LED segments;
• prepare connecting wires and, if desired, a switch.

Types of structures

Depending on the design features, podiums also come in several types. This is determined by the purpose of the design and the principle of organization.

Decorative

This type of podium is designed to separate functional areas

Decorative design attracts attention and creates a fashionable accent in the room

Technical

In addition to an interesting design and unusualness, a bed with a podium can serve a very practical role. The main task of such an organization is to hide communication lines. Additionally, the space can be used to store things.

Very convenient and practical

Combined

With this type, the bed is rolled out during sleep and pushed under the flooring the rest of the time. This saves a lot of space. Other types: with a folding mattress or the presence of convenient drawers.

Advantages of a podium bed

A podium in a bedroom, nursery, living room or studio apartment is a controversial solution that does not apply to every layout.

The advantages of the organization include:

• ease of installation, which can be done even with your own hands, but with professional skills;
• warm and comfortable sleeping place;
• visually the design expands the space and saves area;
• using free space under the flooring;
• organization of space zoning;
• updating the design with an unusual accent in the design.

This bed saves space

Advice The greatest effect and variety of options have podium beds, organized in spacious rooms with high ceilings.

Construction and materials

By design, podiums are divided into monolithic and frame.

Monolithic podiums in an apartment, as a rule, consist of a layer of concrete 10-15 cm high. Standard interfloor ceilings are not designed for such additional load, therefore such podiums are prohibited for independent construction. It may be possible to coordinate the redevelopment with a lighter construction of a monolithic podium - made of foam concrete or gypsum blocks.

Typically, a frame structure is erected to raise the floor level. The frame is made of wooden blocks or metal profiles. Logs should be provided every 40 cm. For flooring, plywood with a thickness of 20 mm is usually used.

If the interior space of the podium is not intended to be used in any way, it should be filled with sound-absorbing material, for example, polyurethane foam - otherwise the empty cavity will amplify all the sounds in the apartment, and they will disturb the neighbors below. In the case when drawers are built into the podium, or a bed is pushed under it, the resonance effect will not appear so strongly.

The finishing covering of the podium can be as varied as a regular floor covering:

• parquet,
• laminate,
• tile,
• wooden floor slats,
• linoleum,
• carpet covering.

The soft podium is upholstered with foam rubber and any textile suitable for the design - from cotton to brocade and velvet.

Often the finishing of the podium differs from the floor covering of the apartment in order to further emphasize the isolation of this area.

For a podium higher than 15 cm, steps will be required; it is important to provide them with an anti-slip pad. Built-in lighting of the steps will make them safer and create a sublime holiday atmosphere

Sometimes the edge of the podium is limited by low railings.

Podium in the apartment

Bed lighting with LED strip

An LED strip is a board with LEDs placed on it. It also has its pros and cons. The advantages include the following:

• easy installation due to the adhesive layer;
• ease of use, compactness;
• the price is lower than for duralight.

Flaws:

• low moisture resistance;
• lack of protection from mechanical damage.

Most often, LED strip is used to illuminate the bed. Now let's look at the installation methods step by step.

Advantages

Like any other furniture, the podium bed has many advantages over its analogues:

• Dividing one room into functional zones. Thanks to such furniture, it is quite possible to make, for example, a work area and a bedroom out of one room. The podium highlights the sleeping area as a separate area and helps to visually divide the space.
• High functionality. A bed with drawers can combine several functions at the same time, being both a comfortable sleeping place and an area for storing things. Often, such furniture has pull-out chests of drawers and even entire closets where you can store bed linen, clothes or mattresses. In addition, the podium bed is a creative design solution, adding originality to the room and saving space.
• Orthopedic function. As a rule, a podium bed is a rather rigid sleeping place, which has a positive effect on maintaining correct posture and spinal health.
• Natural materials. Typically, environmentally friendly materials, such as wood, are used to create such furniture.

Schematic diagram

The electrical circuit of an illuminated bed is extremely simple and consists of only 2 key elements: a power supply and an LED strip. If RGB or RGBW tape is used, then the circuit is supplemented with an RGB or RGBW controller. Below is a lighting diagram using a multi-color LED strip.

Styles

The functional and aesthetic components of the product are very important. But the combination of the bed with the rest of the interior items and its style are no less important. You need to choose a model that will fit well into the environment and become a harmonious part of it.

The classic style presupposes a strict, but not devoid of decorative elements, appearance of the bed. An excellent solution would be to choose expensive fabric for upholstery. You can cover both the frame and the head of the bed. The number of decorations should not be large, but a certain amount - tassels on the bedspread, exquisite drawer handles, etc. - is acceptable. Most often, however, niches, drawers and shelves in classic models are disguised.

It is better to choose children's models in soothing colors. The single folding model can be equipped with a lifting mechanism and can be converted into a double bed when unfolded. You should choose natural materials for both the podium and the mattress. The latter must be rigid, orthopedic - to form correct posture. Modern manufacturers offer a lot of environmentally friendly solutions.

The nuances of working with duralight

In view of the technical features of such a lighting device, several points should be noted that should be taken into account when making lighting from a light cord:

1. if you are joining several pieces for a bed, make sure they have the same characteristics;
2. connectors are selected according to the shape and number of contacts of the connected cords;
3. The connection points must be dry without visible damage to the insulation;
4. before turning it on, unwind it and check its functionality, but you can assemble and mount the backlight from duralight only in the switched off state;
5. the cord has a special hermetic sheath, which you must keep intact, but if you damage the silicone during the installation process, this place is sealed with insulation;
6. If you want the cord to not only light up, but also enter the blinking mode, install the controller along with the adapter.

Podium materials

If we talk about beds with monolithic foundations, then for their manufacture you need:

• wooden boards - formwork is made from them, it is better to choose the least knotty material - pine, spruce, larch;
• concrete - it is poured inside the formwork;
• the frame, it is also made from wooden beams or laminated chipboard, some craftsmen manage to make an excellent frame from pallets - literally, from improvised means, pallets are used instead of timber;
• the bed itself - mattress and other components.

In the area where the bed is planned to be installed, formwork is placed and concrete is poured there. Flooring is laid on top of the finished base. Next, the frame is installed, after which the bed is placed on the frame. This is a very strong and durable, but, unfortunately, absolutely not mobile and extremely massive structure.

In a pull-out bed, in addition to the traditional frame, rollers are used, with the help of which the mattress is rolled out from the podium. The mattress in this model is thinner and folds. The easiest way to assemble a podium is from chipboard, laminated chipboard, ready-made wooden blocks and furniture panels. When assembling, you should take into account the weight that the frame must support. The maximum permissible weight for the frame is from 450 to 700 kg per square meter. m.

No. 3. Bed material

High-quality bed material is the key to the durability of the product. There may be several options:

solid wood is the most preferred material. Such beds have maximum durability and strength, they are environmentally friendly and safe. The most durable frames will be those made of oak, ash and beech, but you can find a good option in a more affordable category;

The metal also shows record durability, has a high service life and is durable. Welded and forged beds are made from metal. The second option, naturally, looks more sophisticated and elegant and today, by the way, is at the peak of popularity;

a bed made of MDF will cost less, but in many ways it is inferior to wood and metal. Such products look good and do not cause harm to health, but their service life before the first breakdown is somewhat lower than that of their wooden counterparts

In terms of price/quality ratio, this is the most attractive option on the market, which is why such beds are very popular;

beds made of fiberboard and chipboard are the cheapest, do not last long, quickly begin to creak, and then completely fall apart. Buying a bed made of chipboard is a necessary measure when the budget is very limited, but even in this case it is necessary to look at safety certificates and pay attention to the level of formaldehyde emissions (in residential premises you can use products of levels E0 and E1).

MDF, chipboard and fiberboard can be laminated and repeat the pattern of any type of wood or stone, they can be painted or veneered, so in appearance such beds look very attractive. Manufacturers often use fabric, leather and eco-leather upholstery

Make sure that the fabric is dense and wear-resistant.

Today it is fashionable to use wooden pallets all the time.

They are used to make not only country furniture and cozy sofas with tables for summer areas of cafes. Several of these drawers can serve as an excellent base for a bed in a city apartment. Such a solution will fit, however, not into any interior.

No. 11. What else to consider when choosing a bed?

In pursuit of a large, spacious bed, do not forget that space in the bedroom is limited, and in addition to the bed, it is often necessary to place a wardrobe or chest of drawers, and leave a free passage to the sleeping area and the window.

On sale you can find beds of very original design. For example, in the form of a boat, a nest, there are even swing beds, but when trying to add variety to your home interior, do not forget that the bed, first of all, should be comfortable.

As for bed manufacturers, you can pay attention to Dream Line (beds made of solid ash and beech), Olimp, Horizont, Fratelli Barri (expensive designer Italian beds), as well as more affordable products from SMK, Vasko, Triya and Lonax. Finally, we note that it is better to buy a bed, like a mattress, only after a personal inspection and short testing: an uncomfortable product will reveal itself almost immediately

Finally, we note that it is better to buy a bed, like a mattress, only after a personal inspection and short testing: an uncomfortable product will give itself away almost immediately.

The article was written for the site remstroiblog.ru.

What you need to pay attention to when choosing a podium bed

When choosing a podium bed in a small bedroom, there are many subtleties to consider. Possible interior solutions and style design of the room depend on this.

Thanks to the construction of a frame podium, it is possible to organize a spacious storage system.

It is recommended to pay attention to the following nuances:

Material. You should choose environmentally friendly materials for the construction. A common solution is natural wood or wood panels. The latter option is lighter, so it allows you to create a compact and reliable design. If necessary, it can be disassembled. Modular installations made of steel are used less often, since steel cools, which is bad at low or too high air temperatures. Weight. The design should be compact and lightweight. At the same time, it must withstand the weight of at least two adults. There are special assembly requirements. Consideration should be given to how to assemble the structure with maximum efficiency. Height

It is important to choose the correct elevation height. When a person stands on the podium, he should not rest his head on the ceiling

Otherwise, it is better to abandon the installation, choosing a more practical and comfortable solution for everyday use. Niches. If you plan to build in drawers and other retractable structures, the lower part should remain at least forty centimeters in height. Steps. If the height of the podium exceeds forty centimeters, it is better to additionally install steps for convenience.

Considering these simple subtleties, you can easily choose the appropriate option for decorating any room. This will significantly save space and use it for other purposes.

Frame materials

Podiums can be made of cast concrete or a wooden frame lined with sheet material. In the first case, concrete is poured into a pre-installed frame, which follows the shape of the future podium. After the concrete has hardened, its surface is leveled with a screed, then the floor covering is laid. This could be tiles, parquet, laminate, carpet, linoleum, etc.

The concrete podium is very durable and reliable, it does not lose moisture, does not rot and can withstand heavy loads.

The podium based on a wooden (metal frame) is very light, practically does not load the floors and is suitable for apartments in urban high-rise buildings. The front platform of the podium is made of flexible plywood, metal profiles, MDF panels, PVC plinths. The finishing of the podium can be done using various materials: carpet, laminate, parquet, linoleum, cork, ceramic tile.