Podium under the mattress for the bedroom and the nursery (30 photos, 6 patterns)

The podium, as a type of furniture for sleeping, has Japanese roots. Saving every inch of the space of small houses, the inhabitants of this country have long slept on a hill, the lower part of which was used to store things. 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 under the mattress or build it yourself.

Types of Catwalks 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 in which there are niches and other details that perform additional functions. It can be boxes of linen or a whole berth, which is conveniently rolled out along the guides.

Podiums that play the role of a bed, in terms of functionality are:

• technical - hide communications, serve for storage of things;
• decorative - perform the tasks of zoning, focusing on the winning sides of the design of the premises;
• mixed - such designs combine multifaceted functions. For example, the podium surface serves as the basis for the workplace, and the bed is placed inside a wooden box.

A mattress on the podium instead of a bed: advantages

A podium installed instead of the usual bed makes the room original and unusual. Some models are suitable for spacious rooms. For example, a circular elevation would be appropriate only in a large room. But other designs harmoniously fit even into modest-sized bedrooms.

Many podium 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.

Designs are equipped with steps, lighting, decor. The place under the bed takes on the function of an additional storage system, becoming an alternative to the chest of drawers. The options are very different - from the "folding floor" to the drawers.

In the end part there are organic shelves for books and souvenirs.

Steps can also serve as storage tanks.

The positive effect of the catwalk bed on the interior:

• this design corrects the geometry of the room, harmonizes long narrow bedrooms;
• the layout of the room changes, competent zoning is done.

Podium bed in the bedroom

Before buying or making a catwalk bed, you should measure the area of ​​the room and imagine how the model will look in the interior.

Below you can organize the backlight, creating the effect of airiness.

Designated by a curtain, this part of the apartment will be more intimate and intimate. Near the window, a podium with drawers located below is appropriate, not taking up much space and well lit. In this case, the traditional battery is replaced by a convector integrated in the floor.

The geometry of the catwalks is diverse: rectangular, curved with different heights. The type of elevation, design is influenced by the configuration of the room, the size of the berth, the need for adjacent functional areas or in the division of plots. You need to think about whether storage space, additional space for work and leisure are required. The color scheme, design style and the planned total amount play a 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 profile with a lining made of wood or fiberboard.

But the children's room has many functions: small owners play, do 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 of the child.

Therefore, along with the classic version of the elevation, on top of which a children's mattress lies, a model with built-in beds that slide into the podium is suitable. Children can easily use them themselves. And if they are not fully pushed in, 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 do it yourself

First you need to think about what functions the elevation in a particular room will perform, how many boxes and other elements are required. This is followed by measurements, marking, selection of materials. Given the height of the ceiling, the height of the structure is determined. If it is higher than 35–40 cm, steps must be provided.

Drawer boxes can be made manually, but it is easier to order according to the dimensions of the frame in furniture companies.

Classical podiums without a “filling” are easier to equip: their manufacture resembles the arrangement of floors on logs. It’s better to work with an assistant, although you can do this 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 best option for rooms with a standard ceiling height of 2700 mm. In some Khrushchevs, 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 “push” the bed.

The minimum 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 prevent the mattress from dangling from a raised platform. It is recommended to make miniature sides around the perimeter so that the bed does not "move out" of its place.

Standard mattress sizes:

• Length - 190, 195, 200 cm.
• Width: single - 80 cm, one and 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 being erected.

There are two other sizes for the podium area:

• The elevation is made a little more than the dimensions of the mattress, by 30-40 cm, so that at the edges there are unoccupied stripes 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 in the entire width of the room. This solution does not leave narrow areas on the sides that are inconvenient to use.

For podiums that exceed the mattress in size, 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:

• A beam for a frame with a section of 50 × 50 mm. From it will be made frame and uprights. So that the structure does not bend under weight, the support logs, as well as the vertical racks supporting them, are placed in 40 cm increments.
• Moisture-resistant plywood, MDF or OSB with a thickness of at least 15 mm for lining. Plywood is the most budget option. It is not recommended to use chipboard: if moisture gets in, the plate will swell, and the entire casing, and behind it the frame, can "lead".
• Plywood 10-12 mm thick for boxes.
• Waterproofing 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, almost inevitable when the tree dries. In addition, to get a kind of resonator from the elevation, amplifying all the sounds from the neighbors from below, is not pleasant enough.

The role of waterproofing is performed by a plastic film, from noise sound insulation based on cork has proven itself well. Dimensions - by area of ​​the podium with a small margin.

• Fasteners: dowel-nails, anchors, wood screws, metal corners.
• Accessories: roller guides, handles for boxes.
• Hard putty on wood and fine sandpaper for sealing joints and holes for fasteners.
• Finishing material. Most often, the podiums are painted, but it can be finished with carpet, laminate, linoleum and even ceramic tiles.

Instruments

Tool List:

• Roulette, pencil, construction level, square.
• Screwdriver.
• Hacksaw, electric jigsaw.
• Hammer or hammer drill.
• Chisel.
• Construction stapler.

Mounting and cladding of the frame

Preparatory work:

• The room is cleaned of furniture.
• If carpet or linoleum is laid on the floor, then it is removed.
• Lines bordering the future podium are drawn on the floor and walls. It is convenient to use the laser level.
• The floor surface under the future elevation is closed with plastic wrap.
• As a sound insulation, the best option is a cork substrate.

Assemble the frame, based on the developed drawing. It is necessary to take into account such moments:

• The bars forming the upper and lower contour of the frame are joined at right angles using the “half-tree” connection. To do this, 50 mm (its width) is marked at the end of the beam, cut 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 to the frame.

• For mounting vertical racks use metal corners. Additionally, vertical bars can be fixed with wooden pins, inserting them into pre-drilled holes in the ends of the racks and the bars of the upper and lower trim.

The horizontal and vertical bars of the frame adjacent to the walls are attached to them with anchors or dowels, nails. This will provide additional strength to the podium.

To prevent cracking of wood, it is recommended that before screwing in the screws, make holes for them using a thin drill.

• Plywood fragments are screwed to the uprights, dividing the interior of the podium into compartments. Drawer guides are attached to them.
• Elements of the material selected for cladding are cut and screwed into place. At the joints, leave a technological gap of about 2 mm. In its absence, plywood or MDF, changing their geometry under the influence of temperature, warp.

The elements of the flooring are cut so that after fastening they cover the ends of the side sheathing. This point must be taken into account when marking.

The photo shows the process of making the simplest podium bed from wooden boards.

Fabrication and installation of drawers

Recommended dimensions of the boxes:

• Length - up to 60 cm. It will be inconvenient to get things out of too deep a box.
• Width depends on the overall design of the structure. But it should be 2.5 cm less than the intended recess box. This clearance is necessary for mounting the roller guides.

Boxes are assembled from four planks and a bottom. For planks use MDF, OSB or plywood 12 mm thick. They are joined end-to-end. If you have the time and the necessary equipment, you can use a stud connection.

The bottom is cut out of the plywood thinner and nailed so that the ends of the planks are closed. Another, more time-consuming option: the bottom of the plywood is inserted into the groove 3-4 mm deep at a distance of 1.5 cm from the bottom edge of the slats. It is done before assembly using a milling cutter.

At the final stage, the necessary fittings are fastened, the second parts of the guides. Boxes are inserted into place and completely adjusted.

Grind and paint the boxes before they are assembled: it is much easier.

The steps for making a podium with drawers are shown in the video.

Finish finish

At the end of the assembly, putty on wood is coated with all the gaps and defects of the skin. After drying, the surface is ground with fine sandpaper.

Different materials are used to decorate the podium: the surface can be painted, veneered, carpeted, laminate, draped with a cloth.

Design ribs are recommended to be protected with decorative plastic or wooden corners. Otherwise, during operation, they will constantly be touched, and the finishing material may peel off.