Types, advantages and disadvantages of folding children's beds

If you are serious about furnishing your room with practical, yet stylish furniture, a folding bed is exactly what you need.

A folding bed with a lifting mechanism will be the right solution for arranging a children's room.

The strong and reliable design allows you to build the bed into a chest of drawers or, partially freeing up the room, into a cozy dressing table.

The horizontal wardrobe-bed looks like a chest of drawers.

At night it is a full-fledged sleeping place, and during the day it is a closet, a desk and plenty of space for your children to play and have fun.

A bed that can be stored in a closet will become an original and practical element of any interior.

If you do not have a large living space, then this solution is just for you.

This bed will be an excellent design solution for a small room.

Types of folding beds are divided into the following types:

• Vertical;

A vertical folding bed can be placed in a wardrobe or in a closet with hinged doors.

• Horizontal;

Horizontal folding beds are often used where more free space is needed when unfolded.

• Transformer;

During the day, a reliable table is placed in place of the bed, which at night disappears without difficulty, turning into a comfortable bed.

• Two-tier folding.

An indispensable thing for families with two or more children is a transformable bunk bed.

First of all, models differ in location, and only then in functionality.

Horizontal options are often transformed into tables or sofas, while vertical ones into cabinets and chests of drawers.

There are also improved models, such as a transforming wardrobe-sofa.

In the morning - living room, in the evening - bedroom. A bed built into a closet with a sofa is the best solution for small apartments.

Or a two-tier folding option.

A bunk bed built into a closet perfectly saves space and is almost invisible when folded.

Vertical models are more common and more affordable than their horizontal counterparts.

The vertical orientation of a folding bed is the most common and familiar.

You can easily build in additional niches or pencil cases for things.

The most important thing is convenience. And things were laid out, and children's toys were arranged.

The distribution of loads is accordingly completely different, but all models are easy to assemble and disassemble.

A folding bed can fit well into any interior.

What is

A folding bed is a full-fledged sleeping place, which, when assembled, is in a vertical position. Furniture is subject to constant movement, and therefore manufacturers use high-quality and reliable materials for its manufacture. The model is based on a frame made of high-strength plastic sheets with reinforced filler. The side walls are made of high-quality wooden base. The rigidity and strength of the connections is ensured by steel mounting brackets.

The bed is raised using special mechanisms. Three types of fasteners are used:

1. Gas lift or shock absorber. Long-lasting, silent mechanism that smoothly changes the position of the bed without stress. The action occurs due to gas pressure on the piston and causing it to move. The cost of the elevator is higher than the spring counterpart, but the shelf life and ease of use justify the price. Modern pieces of furniture have push-button controls for moving the structure into the box and back.
2. Loops. The option is designed for manually lifting the bed. A reliable, but physically difficult method, not everyone can do it. There are no shock absorbers or springs; they are secured with latches. Due to the severity of the change in position, the bed, as a rule, remains in a disassembled horizontal state for a long time.
3. Spring blocks. Installing such equipment requires calculating the weight and size of the bed. Additional adjustment of spring tension is required. The price is not high, the service life is long if the technical conditions are met.

A wooden bed is attached to the base of the structure. This is an environmentally friendly, reliable, but expensive material. It can be made from chipboard with a laminated coating. The box is where the raised bed is stored. The structure is rigidly fixed, attached to the floor and wall, and the overall safety of use depends on its stability.

Nylon straps are used to hold the mattress and bed linen upright. They are attached to the base of the structure, equipped with clasps, and securely secure sleeping accessories. When the bed is in a horizontal position, the straps unfasten and do not cause any inconvenience. To fix the free end of the furniture when resting, support legs are used, which are hidden in a vertical position in a box, niche or closet.

When assembling individual elements of a folding children's bed, the following types of fasteners will be used:

• hooks and clamps - metal plates that serve to secure the berth;
• corners - fasten frame parts at an angle of 90 degrees;
• eccentric couplers – connect parts of furniture;
• screws - used to fasten the strip, handle or decor of the product;
• screws, self-tapping screws - treated with an anti-corrosion compound and fasten parts of the furniture;
• nails - used for upholstery, fastening the back wall of a cabinet made of fiberboard.

The service life of the product directly depends on the materials of manufacture and the components of the mechanisms. According to the requirements of GOSTs, the warranty is 18 months from the date of purchase. The service life is estimated at 5-10 years.

The cost is set by the furniture manufacturer depending on the price of the raw materials. The market offers both budget models and expensive ones. The cost increases when using natural wood and durable lifting mechanisms.

Using folding bed diagrams, you can independently build a sleeping place with a folding mechanism, provided that you use reliable materials that can withstand constant loads. To do this, you need to determine the location of the structure: vertical or horizontal. Afterwards, you need to make working drawings of folding beds with your own hands or find ready-made options on the Internet and draw up a list of materials.

Folding beds come with mattresses (usually models with slats) and without them. In the latter case, you should choose an environmentally friendly product with a thickness of no more than 25 cm, exceeding the height of the child. The following varieties are available on the market:

• spring;
• orthopedic;
• springless.

The types also differ in fillers:

• with coconut coir - support posture;
• with natural latex – anti-allergenic, high cost;
• with polyurethane foam - are a budget analogue of latex.

The materials used in the manufacture of the bed should not harm the health of the child.

Gas elevator

Loops

Spring block

Lamels

Spring

PPU

With coconut

Springless mattress

Latex

Reliability and durability of lifting mechanisms

Our company is focused on the development and production of high-quality furniture. Therefore, each product undergoes thorough quality control, which produces the bed or returns it for revision. Particular attention is paid to lifting mechanisms and fittings, the service life of which is at least 15 years during daily use.

Advantages and disadvantages

To decide whether to purchase or order a children's folding bed, you need to understand its advantages and disadvantages. Furniture of this type has the following advantages:

• freeing up additional space in the children's room;
• the opportunity to fully clean the house;
• multifunctionality (beds on the reverse side are often equipped with shelves for storing things);
• wide range of prices;
• no need to remove bed linen due to the presence of fastening straps;
• modern design. The bed is part of the built-in furniture and, thanks to the right style, can be a bright spot or an inconspicuous extension of the closet;
• use of environmentally friendly materials for manufacturing;
• the ability to choose your own mattress.

The advantages of using a folding bed are the expansion of space, ease of cleaning, and teaching a teenage child to order.

Disadvantages include:

1. High price – the latest technologies and developments are not cheap.
2. Problems with selecting furniture - the bed must fit organically into the interior of the room.
3. Wear - cheap components may stop performing their functions, which will lead to the structure opening up on its own. Breakage of mechanisms will require their replacement and additional costs.
4. Small margin of load and strength.

Installation is carried out only by professionals and only if there are concrete or brick walls after preliminary preparation. In other cases, operation is not recommended. In addition, such a model cannot be rearranged. If you want to do all the work yourself, you can always find information on the Internet on how to make a folding bed and hang it yourself.

Facade of a bunk folding wardrobe bed

The lifting bunk bed has a complex design, which is based on a combination of technologies for the production of cabinet and upholstered furniture, thought out to the smallest detail. Facades are made of composites or solid wood of various types. The second option is more expensive, but the use of environmentally friendly solid wood will extend the life of the furniture.

Design of a bunk folding bed:

• Side walls made of solid wood, MDF or laminated chipboard with a width of 20 to 60 cm act as a pencil case for the bed when folded. They are rigidly attached to the wall and floor, as they serve as the basis for the installation of other furniture components.
• The upper and lower stock is attached to the side walls using a spring mechanism or gas shock absorbers.
• Extension or built-in stairs allow you to move between tiers of the bed. In cabinet mode, the steps act as shelving.

Additionally, the bed closet is equipped with various shelves. When folded, they can be used to store various things (books, household appliances, collectibles and decorative items). When the bed is unfolded, the shelves turn into supporting legs for the bed.

Wide variability in terms of decor allows customers to choose their own furniture configuration. Popular additional options include lighting, orthopedic mattresses or plasma television panels, but the use of such decorative and functional elements significantly increases the cost of the product.

Varieties

There are a variety of folding baby bed options to choose from. Design solutions, raw materials, modern designs can satisfy any idea. The main varieties are:

1. Children's folding horizontal bed. It is located along the wall and folds along the long side. The design is designed for one sleeping place. For such a bed, the height of the ceiling is not important. There is a lot of space left on top of the cabinet (construction box) for shelves with toys, books and small items.
2. Vertical folding children's bed is a classic model. Installation is possible in high rooms, built-in wardrobes or niches. The width of the bed is 45 cm, so when assembled it is an economical option in terms of space. The lifting vertical structure can be of various configurations: single, single and double.
3. Transformer. A product that can be converted into various types of furniture. The most common is a horizontal module with a table. The sleeping area folds into the cabinet cavity, leaving instead the surface of a table with shelves. In the evening, transformers for children easily turn over, creating a comfortable place to sleep. Options 3 in 1, if desired by the owner, can be with a bed, sofa and wardrobe.
4. Bunk folding children's bed for two children. It has a horizontal parallel arrangement of berths. This design occupies the entire mounting wall from floor to ceiling, and the free space can be reserved for a linen closet.
5. Bed-table. Multifunctional furniture that is more suitable for schoolchildren. The sleeping place can be transformed into a desk or computer desk. The design is safe to use. Depending on the type, the tabletop extends, rises or is located above the bed.

A wide variety of styles and purposes will allow the folding bed to fit organically into the interior of the room.

Horizontal

Vertical

Bunk

With a table

With a chest of drawers

Folding mechanism for transformable bunk beds

The transformable bunk bed moves into the closet using a lifting mechanism. For synchronous folding and unfolding, manufacturers recommend using a hinged connection of levels.

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There are two types of lifting mechanisms:

• The Italian spring system can withstand loads from 50 to 120 kg. After pressing, the springs stretch, compensating for the weight of the folding bed. The coil spring unit is suitable for horizontal and vertical folding systems. It is reliable and durable.
• The German gas shock absorber system is capable of withstanding 20 thousand movement cycles, which is equal to approximately 50 years of daily operation. A silent and smooth gas shock absorber is the key to impeccable service. The power of the gas lift is calculated taking into account the dimensions of the bed. If we are talking about a bunk children's bed, equipment with a power of 1400N or 1600N for each bed will be sufficient.

The gas shock absorber mechanism should be 400-600N more powerful for beds that fold vertically, so it is more profitable to use it in bunk structures that fold horizontally. A box spring bunk bed built into a closet will last longer because there are fewer parts in the mechanical system that can fail due to friction.

Popular design

The niche and facade of the described device must be combined with the design of the room and correspond to the design available in the room. Furniture for a children's room with a folding bed can be quickly and easily hidden during the daytime. For this use:

• a niche in the wall;
• wardrobe (in this case, a children's folding bed for two takes up all its space);
• a podium on the floor, which hides the sleeping place and originally solves the issue of level zoning of the room;
• dresser.

The depth of the niches for storing beds is about 45 cm, but the size depends on the parameters of the sleeping places, which correspond to the age of the child. Nuances of choice:

1. For children under 3 years old, models measuring 119 x 64 cm are selected.
2. Up to 5 years – 141 x 71 cm, 160 x 70 cm.
3. Schoolchildren 7-13 years old - 70 x 180 cm or 91 x 201 cm.
4. Teenagers – 180 x 90 cm, 190 x 90 cm.

The height of the cabinet for a vertical folding bed will correspond to its length, horizontal – to its width, and vice versa. The size of the podium should be slightly larger than the sleeping area. When purchasing a product in a store, you should choose it taking into account the existing decoration in the room.

Making a folding bed with your own hands is not easy. It's better to invite a master. If the design is made to order, the expert will offer decent design options.

Cost of a vertical bed

With mattress 80 * 190 (from 38,000 rubles) 80 * 200 (from 40,000 rubles)

With mattress 90 * 190 (from 40,000 rubles) 90 * 200 (from 41,000 rubles)

With mattress 120 * 190 (from 53,000 rubles) 120 * 200 (from 54,000 rubles)

With mattress 140 * 190 (from 59,000 rubles) 140 * 200 (from 61,000 rubles)

With mattress 160 * 190 (from 64,000 rubles) 160 * 200 (from 66,000 rubles)

It is possible to produce non-standard sizes!!!

Additional payment for (Egger) chipboard +12% to the base cost.

Characteristics of the base cost

• ♦ Housing made of laminated chipboard thickness (16mm) * (25mm)
• ♦ Lifting mechanism made in Italy
• ♦ Frame with orthopedic base
• ♦ Straps for fixing the mattress with linen
• ♦ Retaining clip made by Hettich
• ♦ Mattress “independent spring block”

Criterias of choice

When purchasing a folding product in a store, you need to pay attention to its environmental safety, reliability and decor. The direct user of this item will be the child, and his health is the main priority when choosing. The criteria that you need to pay attention to are presented in the table.

Indicators	Requirements, recommendations
Accessories, transformation mechanism, fastenings	Must be made of steel
The mechanism responsible for changing the position of the bed	Smooth, without noticeable jerks or significant effort. Can be used by a child
Locking mechanism when folded	Must have a guarantee that the product will not open spontaneously when folded
Fastening straps to hold the mattress and bed linen	It is desirable that they be sufficiently rigid and long
Material of construction	Solid wood recommended
Chipboard bed	Ensure that raw materials comply with accepted sanitary and environmental standards
Decorative finishing	Undamaged, no scratches, chips or cracks on the surface

When placing a bet on a specific manufacturer, you should carefully study the reviews about it. The external impression does not always correspond to technological and environmental requirements. It is imperative to check the availability of a product quality certificate.

Children's furniture with a folding bed is designed to increase the space of the room. Also, when using it, the issues of comfortable rest and active spending of time by the child are effectively resolved. Design solutions allow you to harmoniously complement the interior of the room.

How a bunk wardrobe bed is transformed

The transformation mechanism is easy to operate, so the 2 in 1 bunk wardrobe bed is used by both adults and children. The mattress and bedding are securely attached to the base. Special straps are used for this. There is no need to remove the mattress when folding.

The folding process consists of the following steps:

• The lower berth is switched to sleep mode. To do this, you need to pull the warp, which is carefully installed on the legs converted from shelves.
• The upper berth is lowered.
• Handrails and fences are raised to protect against falls from the second tier.
• An extension ladder is being installed.

It takes a couple of minutes to transform the furniture. Even a small child can cope with such a task. The fastening mechanisms should be carefully checked before using the folding bed. The extension ladder must rest on the floor. The mattress is secured with straps and guards. It should not slide on the surface of the base.

A bed built into a closet is a universal solution for arranging a small apartment or studio designed in a minimalist style. Single bunks are often used as spare sleeping space for guests. Spacious double models are suitable for spouses, and bunk structures are an ideal solution for children aged 6 to 18 years.

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