Making a Podium Bed with Your Own Hands

In the modern furniture market you can find a huge number of different beds. And if bunk beds no longer surprise anyone, then three-tier, pull-out, hanging and podium beds are still a novelty for many, and they are yet to be introduced. Perhaps someone has already chosen a new bed for purchase, and we will make a podium bed with our own hands. Before constructing it ourselves, let's understand its features, pros and cons.

What is this

A podium bed is a raised platform in the form of a step with a mattress placed on it. The main difference from a regular bed is that there is a fairly large amount of free space on the podium around the mattress. It can vary from 25 cm and more.

The sleeping area can be located directly on the podium, or be retractable, i.e. located in one of the podium niches. In the latter case, the elevation is used to organize a work or play space, a recreation area.

Functions

Since beds of this type are of mixed design, their functionality is quite extensive.

• Zoning of space. With the help of a podium, you can highlight one of the zones of the room. An elevated area is psychologically defined as something separate from everything else. By making a sleeping place on the podium, and also separating it with curtains, you can easily get a separate bedroom in a one-room apartment.
• Correction of proportions. Uneven floors can be corrected by choosing the right podium shape, a narrow room can be visually expanded with this trick, and a huge empty space can be given clear shapes.
• Space saving. This is achieved due to the fact that the podium bed combines several functions, increasing the useful space. You can install drawers for linen, shelves for books or other things in it.
• Disguise of communications. The podium is an excellent opportunity to hide the wires from video and audio equipment, lighting and other communications.

With so many functions it can perform, it seems like we have found the ideal. However, the podium bed also has its drawbacks.

Advantages and disadvantages

The undoubted advantage is multifunctionality and space saving. Another advantage is the simplicity of the seemingly complex design. It is not difficult to assemble, so having ordered a podium bed, you can assemble it without outside help, and also make it yourself. Hence, we have a relatively low cost of this furniture, especially if you make it yourself.

The disadvantages include the fact that the podium truncates the room in height. Therefore, installing such a bed in a low, small apartment would be impractical.

Types

Podium beds can be divided according to several criteria. First, let's divide them according to shape: the most common are round and rectangular designs. However, here everything depends on your imagination. You can make a podium triangular, polygonal or even intricate. But for this, it is necessary to make an appropriate frame, which adds complexity to the matter.

We can talk about such a criterion as the use of a podium. This refers to the location of the sleeping area. It can be located on top of the podium, and additional useful space is provided by the podium, which can be used as storage boxes. The second option is a pull-out sleeping area.

It is also worth mentioning the type of podium: monolithic and frame. The first is made of gypsum blocks, sand-cement mixture or foam concrete. Most often, this type is used for kitchens and bathrooms in private houses, since the structure is quite heavy and gives additional weight to the floor. Frame podiums are most often used for beds. The essence is in the construction of a metal or wooden profile, which is then sheathed with plywood.

Let's get started

The basis of the bed that we will make is also a frame podium. The work consists of several stages.

We've outlined a plan, now we can confidently get to work.

Preparatory stage

Any work requires preparation. And such a thing as making a podium bed with your own hands requires careful preparation. This stage includes:

• taking measurements;
• preparation of a design project;
• selection of material;
• base treatment;
• preparation of instruments.

First, you need to take measurements of the room. The dimensions of the podium are determined by the size of the room. We suggest making a rectangular podium across the entire width of the room. Determine the length yourself as far as the dimensions of the room allow. You also need to consider the dimensions of the mattress to determine how much free space will be left.

In accordance with the measurements received, we draw up a design project. It includes all stages of work, starting from the choice of material and ending with the design of the product.

Select the material. To make the frame, you will need strong wooden beams. Laminated chipboard or several sheets of plywood to cover the podium frame. You will also need several chipboards (chipboards) for the side walls of the bed.

The tools you will need are a tape measure, a pencil, a screwdriver, a drill, a hacksaw, a set of screwdrivers, screws, a hammer, a construction stapler, and a construction level.

You need to buy the material according to the measurements you get. In this case, you will not have any extra elements or shortages of material. Initial processing is not required, since wooden beams and chipboards are sold ready-made. Processing will occur during the work as the material is sawed and fastened.

We make a frame

After the preparatory stage, we begin work. Everything starts with the base. And our work begins with constructing the podium, which will become the basis for the bed and drawers.

We start with the placement of the podium. To do this, draw the height of the beams to be fixed on the walls in accordance with the measurements, and then check the marks with a building level so that the resulting podium is level. Then we take the prepared wooden beams and fix them to the floor and walls with anchors horizontally. Then we need to attach the beams vertically to them, additionally attaching them to the wall. The distance between the joists should be no more than 40 cm for the strength of the structure. We also attach wooden beams to the vertical beams from above, duplicating the bottom layer. We get a kind of box. This is the frame of the podium. Now we need to determine the location of the mattress on it.

Depending on the location of the mattress, attach three bars to the base of the podium to fix the slats. One should go exactly in the middle of the intended mattress, the other two along the right and left edges. Then nail the slats to special bars - this will be our sleeping place. It is also necessary to attach several boards to the base along the perimeter of the mattress to secure the mattress. Along the edge of the frame, we attach a plywood or laminated chipboard plate to the wall and the base (depending on the rest of the material for the bed), which will make up the future headboard.

Now you can move on to making and attaching additional parts.

We add details

In our case, the additional details are drawers. This is a very practical and easy-to-use option. You can also make drawers with hinged doors or shelves. However, we recommend using drawers.

After taking measurements, you can order a finished product and just insert it into the frame. But we suggest making the boxes yourself. In addition, it will not take much time and effort. It should be noted that the width of the box should be 2.5 cm less than the box in which it will be located. In accordance with this, we begin to make the boxes. We will need a sheet of plywood for the bottom, 3 laminated chipboards for the side walls. We fasten these parts with glue. We take another chipboard and attach a handle to it, after that we attach this board to the rest of the box. The box is ready.

Using the above-described scheme, make the remaining boxes, the number of which is provided for by the existing niches.

To install the drawers, you will need several guides. They consist of two parts: the first (two guides) is attached on both sides of the drawer, and the second (also 2 guides) is attached to the frame. This is done using screws, which are usually included with the guides, and a screwdriver.

The final stage

The final stage involves the assembly of all structural parts, its final installation and cladding.

In fact, we only have the frame ready. Now we need to do the finishing. For this purpose, it is better to use plywood sheets. Take plywood sheets cut to length or cut them according to the measurements taken. Glue the cut with a plastic edge. Heat-activated glue is applied to one side. To secure this edge, you need to heat it up and press it tightly against the plywood cut (this can be done with an old iron). Now we attach the processed plywood sheets to the frame with screws. This way, it is necessary to cover the entire podium (for the walls of the bed, we have already secured chipboards around the perimeter of the mattress; you can also use plywood for the walls). Cover the joint of the podium with the floor with a baseboard.

The top of the frame is covered. We repeat these actions in relation to the sides of the frame. Now it remains to place the boxes in the corresponding niches, and put the mattress in the place allocated for it.

Decorating

The podium bed is ready. We have made the frame and main parts, assembled and finished it. Now there is an opportunity to fantasize and decorate the resulting product.

Decor that is not provided in advance in the plan can be done with fabric, carpet, LED strip, etc. So, the podium can be covered with carpet, securing it with baseboards; decorate the headboard with fabric; glue LED strip along the perimeter of the podium or drawers or drape it with fabric. Anyone can use such simple decorating techniques, they vary in all directions and techniques that you own. You can use paper or threads, paints, varnish and other materials to achieve the desired look of the bed.

Things are different with more complex decor. This could be built-in LED lighting or music equipment, podium finishing with figured marble beams, etc. Planning is necessary for such innovations. They must be reflected in the design project, as they require additional transformations of the structure. With careful planning, you can implement any idea that comes to mind.

Video: DIY Bed with Drawers

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