The modern furniture market is expanding daily. Any modifications of transformable furniture are becoming popular today: a bed built into a wardrobe with a lifting mechanism, a sofa bed, etc. Such solutions will be ideal for owners of small living space, where every centimeter of the apartment is important. Many people choose a sofa as a sleeping place, but this is not always convenient, because sleeping on an orthopedic mattress in a bed is much more comfortable. A sleeping place - a wardrobe is an excellent way to save space and have a comfortable rest.
The most popular option is a bed that transforms into a compact closet. This is a lifting structure with a spring mechanism built into it. When disassembled, the mechanism is a full-fledged sleeping place, and when assembled, it looks like a closet and takes up a minimum of space and does not overload the interior. Depending on the purpose, such furniture is divided into:
- one and a half for one person;
- double beds;
- children's models.
Also, depending on the location of the bed relative to the wall, several types of models are distinguished. The table shows the types of furniture with different types of mechanisms and their features.
| Bed type | Peculiarity | What beds is it used for? |
| horizontal | The contact between the sleeping area – the wardrobe and the wall occurs on the side of the bed. | Equally convenient for use with both small single beds and large double beds. |
| vertical | The bed touches the wall at the head | Ideal for use in double beds.
In single models it can replace one wardrobe door, while the second can be used for its intended purpose. |
A popular solution for a vertical lifting mechanism is to attach a large mirror to the back of the bed. So, when assembled, the furniture will act as a large mirror on the closet, indispensable in the interior of any woman.
There are also roll-out models. They are used in apartments with high ceilings, where it is possible to build a podium under the bed without damaging the usable space. In such designs, a workplace can be located on the podium, or a wardrobe or dressing room can be placed on it, and the bed can simply be rolled out of it when necessary.
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Advantages and disadvantages of a folding bed
Despite the fact that this type of furniture is the optimal solution for small apartments, they have their own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of folding furniture are:
- saving apartment space. This is the main purpose of purchasing this type of furniture, which models such as a bed built into a wardrobe also cope with perfectly. During the day, this furniture looks like a regular wardrobe or a sliding wardrobe, practically not taking up any square footage of the home, and at night it transforms into a full-fledged comfortable place.
- Designers have developed many varieties of such beds in various styles. There are retro models for the Victorian style, modern solutions for the hi-tech, loft or minimalist styles. Depending on the fittings (legs, which later become shelves of the wardrobe or the bottom of the bed with a large mirror), you can create a unique design that is ideal for your interior. By the way, mirrors in the interior visually increase the space, and are an important element of the decor of rooms with a small square footage.
- The multifunctionality of the bed allows it to be used as a wardrobe shelf for accessories during the day, for example. To do this, create the legs of the bed in the form of functional shelves, and decorate its lower part as a mezzanine.
Despite such significant advantages of a transforming bed, there are also negative aspects to such furniture. These include:
- Expensive. A bed with a lifting mechanism is a fairly expensive type of furniture. The cost price is affected by the configuration, materials, and mechanisms used. The latter is a key factor in pricing. Even choosing the most budget mechanism, the cost of the finished product will be several times higher than the price of a classic bed model.
- Every day it is necessary to assemble, make and disassemble the bed-wardrobe. Of course, you don't have to do this, but then what is the point of such an expensive purchase.
- Psychological discomfort. Many potential consumers are afraid that the mechanism will work and bring the bed into a folded state during sleep or rest. The probability of such an incident is quite small, but to avoid this, it is better to give preference to proven manufacturers and high-quality folding mechanisms.
A bed that transforms into a wardrobe can be made with your own hands, but you should shell out a considerable amount of money for fittings, basic materials and components. It is also important to have furniture-making skills, since the scheme for creating it is quite complex and not suitable for a novice furniture maker.
Which material to choose
Various materials are used to create folding furniture. The most popular are:
- Chipboard as a base and frame;
- Natural wood for the sides;
- Metal corners help to extend the service life of transformable furniture.
The lifting mechanism is the main element of a transformable bed
A standard bed with one sleeping place and an orthopedic mattress weighs about 35 kilograms on average. Simply lifting it to the wall and transforming it into a closet, without any devices, is a rather complex and problematic process. For this, transformers use special mechanisms that facilitate the process of lifting furniture and allow even a small and fragile girl to perform these actions. The following elements can be used for this:
- Separate springs;
- Gas lift;
- Gas spring blocks.
The spring type of lifting is the most cost-effective and at the same time problematic. Unlike springs, gas systems rise smoothly and do not require the use of great force, and do not require constant adjustment.
The bed suspension system is also an important nuance. The absence of play, smooth movement of the bed and the noiselessness of the process are provided by ball bearings. This element is not a mandatory part and is installed at the request of the customer or buyer.
How to choose the right bed front
The frame of a transforming bed is most often made of MDF or laminated chipboard, imitating natural wood. Natural wood in lifting beds is used as one of the elements, since it significantly increases the weight of the structure, thus, it is important to use reinforced lifting mechanisms. The use of natural wood for the manufacture of the frame or facade of furniture significantly increases its cost, since wood is an expensive material that requires the use of expensive mechanical elements and fittings. Agree, a bed - a closet made of natural wood with cheap fittings looks awkward and strange.
Plastic facades, as well as mirror and combined ones, are widely used today. This finishing material can be used in any modern interior. Particular attention should be paid to the mirror facade. Mirrors visually increase the space, making it voluminous and lighter. You can also decorate it with matte or colored patterns, photo printing or sandblasting.
The choice of this type of facade should be in accordance with the overall interior of the room for a harmonious combination.
Key points when buying a transformable bed
When choosing this type of furniture for yourself, you should pay attention to the following points and characteristics:
- the strength of the frame is the key to long-term use;
- a reliable lifting mechanism will ensure safety and ease of control. You should not give preference to the cheapest and most unknown models;
- functionality – when choosing a bed-wardrobe for the living room, you should give preference to models stylized as a mezzanine or a bookshelf;
- harmonious combination of the folding furniture facade with the interior of the entire room.
A transformable bed is a practical solution for a room with a small area. However, its choice should be approached carefully, giving preference to proven manufacturers and reliable mechanisms.
