The value of empty space in modern living spaces often exceeds the value of the material assets in those spaces. This leaves a certain imprint on the choice of furniture and the organization of the interior. A properly selected double bed with a lifting mechanism can solve several problems at once. Firstly, this is a sleeping place that has a pleasant view and is designed for two people. Secondly, you can store a lot of things in it thanks to the considerable amount of internal space.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the positive qualities of beds with a lifting mechanism, the following can be noted:
- Lack of drawers that limit the distance to the walls and have significantly less capacity and service life;
- The orthopedic frame is included in the design of the bed and does not need to be purchased separately;
- Convenient access to the contents of the internal space. The mattress rises smoothly using a special mechanism, without requiring significant effort;
- Significant savings in free space in the bedroom and apartment as a whole;
- The material used to manufacture such furniture solutions allows you to choose the best option in terms of price, appearance and functionality of the product;
- Relatively easy to care for. The design does not have areas that are inaccessible for cleaning.
There are also negative sides:
- The horizontal position of the bed frame, which doubles as a closet, contributes to the rapid accumulation of dust and debris. However, this can be easily eliminated by timely cleaning;
- A high-quality lifting mechanism is not cheap, and its budget counterparts have a significantly shorter service life. This point should be taken into account when choosing and, if you plan to frequently lift the structure with a mattress, focus on the quality of the mechanism;
- The area that bears the brunt of the sleeper's weight may sag over time. The likelihood of such a problem occurring depends on the weight of the user, the characteristics of the mattress and the orthopedic base;
- Double beds with a lifting mechanism in the vast majority of cases are large products with a high mass. The combination of these two factors imposes a number of restrictions on the movement of the bed, which cannot be accomplished alone without damaging the floor covering;
- The design of some beds makes cleaning the under-bed area extremely inconvenient or even impossible.
Bed with a lifting mechanism: what to look for
Furniture manufacturers equip not only double beds, but also single beds with a lifting mechanism, since the option is in demand among the buyer.
However, before purchasing such a model, it is worth considering a few more nuances:
- type of lifting mechanism (manual, spring or gas shock absorber);
- bed material (natural solid wood, chipboard, MDF);
- upholstery (fabric, eco-leather);
- feature of the base (solid, narrow or wide slats);
- dimensions.
Types of mechanisms and opening options
The mechanism for lifting a mattress largely depends on the type of bed. If this bed is stationary, it will most likely have a Victoria lift mechanism, for which gas shock absorbers or coil spring devices are used. For built-in beds, a folding hinge mechanism is used, the design of which may differ depending on the direction of folding.
Opening options are distinguished by the method of implementation and the direction of folding. Most often, beds are equipped with a manual lifting mechanism, but there are solutions with an electric drive and a remote control. Beds fold in two directions - horizontal and vertical; the latter option is more common. Let's take a closer look at each type of lifting mechanism.
Gas shock absorbers
Beds equipped with such devices are most convenient to use. The entire load when lifting the orthopedic unit with the mattress falls on the lifting mechanism, which allows you to open the bed without much effort.
The weight of the structure that gas shock absorbers can lift directly depends on the pressure in the pistons and can reach 100 kg. This allows you to easily cope with even massive models of mattresses and orthopedic frames. The disadvantage of shock absorbers is their high cost, which, on the other hand, is compensated by reliability, convenience and long service life.
Spring mechanism
Models with spiral springs have a more affordable price, and therefore are still in demand by consumers. Although, according to some observations, the demand for them is steadily falling. There are a number of reasons for this, the main one being the short service life of the mechanism.
To make springs, high-quality steel is required, which the manufacturer does not want to waste on cheap products. As a result, the service life of the spring is on average 3 to 5 years, after which it stretches and stops working. The service life does not depend on the number of lifts, because the spring is at its maximum stretch when the bed is folded. It is impossible to replace only a failed element of the mechanism; the entire assembly must be replaced.
Another disadvantage of spring blocks is their significantly lower lifting power compared to gas shock absorbers, which is also constantly decreasing. A child won’t open such a bed, and some women won’t either.
On hinges
The simplest and most affordable option. To gain access to the contents of the internal space, the mattress will have to be removed. In addition, you will have to get objects with one hand, and with the other you will need to hold the structure so that it does not fall on your head. You can, of course, ask someone to hold it or support it with something, and some designs provide for fixation. Nevertheless, such mechanisms are still popular, which is facilitated by simplicity, reliability, almost unlimited service life and, of course, cost.
Design features
Beds with raised mattresses, which can be inserted into a closet, mounted on a wall or as a shelf, come in two types: vertical and horizontal.
Horizontals can be single or one and a half. They do not take up the entire height of the cabinet, and the upper shelves can be used for storing things. Such models are good for children and teenagers, as an option for guests.
Vertical folding beds can be any width, from 90 to 210 cm, but require high ceilings. Consider for yourself: a comfortable mattress length is 200-220 cm, more space on the frame, on the cabinet frame. In total, the ceiling height for a 200 cm mattress must be at least 220 cm, and for longer ones - even more.
Also note that a folding or lifting bed is attached to the wall. In this case, the load-bearing capacity of the wall must be sufficient to withstand significant loads that occur when lowering or raising the mattress. Such actions will have to be repeated often to ensure that the wall is reliable (partitions made of plasterboard, as well as walls made of aerated concrete, are not suitable).
The folding bed can be a single bed, a large single bed, or a double bed. The mattress can be foam or spring. Three types of mechanisms are used: springs, pneumatic lifts and remotely controlled electric drives.
Bed options (frame shape)
The main components of a bed are the frame, base and mattress. The mattress can be ordered separately or you can use the one left over from the previous bed. The base is what the mattress rests on and with which it is lifted through an appropriate mechanism. Well, the frame is actually a large box for useful things, on which the base and mattress are located. So, what do you need to know about these elements when choosing a double bed with a lifting mechanism?
Frame
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the dimensions of the bed. This factor is especially important if the bed is taken under an existing mattress or there are spatial restrictions. There are standard sizes for both beds and mattresses. Double options can be 1600, 1400 and 1200 millimeters wide. The length in most cases is 2 meters, specimens 1900 mm are much less common. If a length of more than two meters is required, such a bed will have to be ordered individually, as well as the mattress. This also applies to non-standard solutions, for example, round, oval, heart-shaped or other objects.
The three most common types of frames are:
- The first type is characterized by the presence of two backs and two side panels (tsars). In a budget version, the entire frame is made of laminated chipboard (LDSP). Connections are made using furniture corners or eccentric couplers (minifix);
- The more expensive option differs in that it has a rough frame (similar to the one described above). Decorative backrests and drawer linings are attached to it, in turn. Externally, such beds look much more impressive, which largely depends on the material of the decorative elements. The support, as in the first case, is on the backrests;
- The most reliable frame is the option reinforced with an additional cross member made of laminated chipboard, which is located in the middle of the structure and serves as a support. In addition, the design of such frames has legs, which also bear part of the load.
One detail that any of the above types of bed frames have is its lowest part, in other words, the bottom. This element is sometimes subject to considerable stress, because some owners put a lot of different things inside the bed. Nevertheless, in most cases it is made of fiberboard, which is not at all highly durable, and is used due to its relatively low weight. A more expensive, but equally lightweight and more durable option is plywood.
Base
As mentioned above, on this element rests the mattress and, of course, the owner himself. On cheap beds, the base can be made of chipboard. Despite the relatively high strength of this material, it bends over time. This is because a double bed with a lifting mechanism always has the base in one position as it is screwed to the lifting mechanism. That is, if it could be turned over, then the deflection would not take on such noticeable forms.
Good beds use a different type of base. As a rule, it consists of a metal frame filled with slats. The frame is made of a square pipe or angle and includes several sections. Their number depends on the sleeping places, but there are deviations both up and down.
The space between the sections is filled with slats, which provides air access to the bottom of the mattress, preventing the appearance of dampness. The lamellas are arranged with a certain frequency, usually there are at least 30 of them. In addition, they are slightly curved and installed in such a way that the curve is directed towards the mattress. This provides a better orthopedic effect, preventing sagging of the most loaded parts of the base. The slats themselves are made in most cases from hardwood: beech, ash. But there are also plastic products.
Ottoman bed
Quite a convenient and at the same time compact furniture solution. Its main purpose is to save useful space in small rooms. Externally, the ottoman is a frame made of laminate or wood, equipped with a lifting mechanism. The main distinguishing feature from a regular bed is the presence of a side backrest on which you can lean your elbows. The corner design is also quite common.
Base
Budget beds use a base made of chipboard; this material is considered quite durable, but can bend over time.
A higher quality base is made of metal - a frame made from a square pipe or from a corner, divided into sections.
Appearance and decor
The appearance of the bed is determined by the material used to make the external elements, shape and configuration.
Materials used for manufacturing and finishing:
- The most inexpensive options are made from laminated chipboard that imitates wood or, which is much less common, stone;
- If you look in ascending order, the next most presentable option is also a frame made of chipboard, but with decorative overlays. These linings are most often upholstered with leatherette in white or another color, which gives the bed a completely different look. Any material can be used as upholstery: with or without a pattern, plain or colored. Leather upholstery made from natural materials is somewhat less common, as it costs much more, and is not much superior to leatherette in practicality and appearance;
- Wooden beds. As you can easily guess from the name, solid wood of valuable species such as oak, ash or beech is used here. There are products made entirely of wood, as well as those with only wooden overlays, and the frame itself is still made of the same laminated chipboard.
In addition to the materials described above, there are also rarer ones, the use of which is purely individual. We are talking about forged metal structures, products made of glass, plastic, natural or artificial stone.
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 side parts;
- Metal corners allow you to extend the service life of transformable furniture.
Saving apartment space.
The spring type of lifting is the most cost-effective and at the same time problematic.
Form and equipment
The standard and most common shape of double beds with a lifting mechanism is rectangular. But this does not prevent you from diversifying the appearance, for example, with a relief design on the backs and side elements. Also, in addition to the classic rectangular shapes, there are round options with a soft headboard.
As additional equipment, the beds can be equipped with built-in wardrobes or bedside tables. These accessories serve as lamp stands or as shelves for storing various small items.
Ottoman
There is another type of bed - an ottoman. It is made of wood and laminate with a built-in lifting mechanism. The difference between it and a regular bed is the available side backrest.
The main task of such a bed is to save free space.
Requirements to consider
Important points to pay attention to before choosing a double bed with a lifting mechanism:
- The bed components should not emit sharp sounds during operation, namely creaks or grinding sounds;
- The base of the bed should be level, without sagging or bending. Except in cases specifically provided by the manufacturer;
- The storage space closes tightly and does not have extra holes through which dust and other debris can get in;
- The materials used to make the mattress and other components of the bed do not cause allergic reactions;
- The product is convenient to use, easy to open, equipped with a handle or strap for lifting the base with the mattress.
If you have already bought a bed, in order for it to serve properly for the entire required period, you need to adhere to some rules:
- Do not store food products, strong-smelling liquids, caustic or toxic substances in the box;
- There is no need to allow children to play inside the box, for example, “hide and seek”.
Some pets have a habit of chewing or scratching the outer frame covering. To keep the bed looking attractive longer, prevent access to the product from such pests.
Upholstery
As a rule, lift-up beds are made with a high and soft headboard, or made of solid wood. Corner beds are usually made with a soft headboard. There are many materials for upholstery, depending on cost and personal preference. Genuine leather combined with a solid oak frame belongs to the luxury furniture category. A white leather bed with a soft headboard looks especially expensive, but it is also not practical. The fittings for such furniture are also not cheap. In the photo below you can see beds from the luxury category.
The upholstery of the headboard and frame made of eco-leather looks no worse than leather. It is soft and warm to the touch, but costs several times less. A leather bed made of this artificial material in combination with solid wood trim gives an impression no worse than luxury, especially if the wardrobe in the bedroom and other furniture are selected in combination with it, as in the photo below. The white eco-leather lifting bed is not afraid of wet cleaning, unlike natural leather.
In addition, the material for the headboard is often velor, artificial suede, arpatek, and other textiles. Luxury beds with a soft headboard made of natural suede look very expensive and stylish, below is an example photo. The fittings must be appropriate. Soft leather furniture made of natural suede and a wardrobe with mirrors or glossy fronts go well together. This design will help create the right atmosphere in a luxury apartment.
Leather furniture for sleeping, as well as eco-leather, is not suitable for children due to its impracticality, especially if it is white.
If the living room is combined with a bedroom, corner beds made of eco-leather with oak trim elements would be a good option for placement. During the day, they look like luxury sofas, without giving away a sleeping place. A leather bed and oak furniture will add solidity to any bedroom.
With soft headboard
With wooden headboard
Leather
Velours
Eco leather
Photo
Rating TOP 7 best beds for daily sleep! Reviews, manufacturers, review
Making the right choice is always difficult. Especially when it comes to choosing a bed. It plays an important role in our lives, because thanks to it we can relax after a hard day at work and, having gained more strength, go to it again.
Modern beds are equipped with a useful lifting mechanism. With its help, the user saves space in his small room due to the possibility of additional storage of things in drawers under the bed.
Rating TOP 7 best beds for daily sleep! Reviews, manufacturers, reviews will help you find out more information about the right choice of bed, which will not make you regret after just a few days of use.
