Bed lifting mechanism: types, installation

Purpose

Thanks to the lifting mechanism, you can free up a significant part of the room area. This can be done in several ways - either the entire bed goes into a vertical position and is retracted into a niche in the wall, or only the sleeping area is raised to provide access to the storage area.

The first option is the best solution to the problem of lack of free space in one-room apartments and studio apartments. Thus, the sofa is transformed into another element of furniture/interior while in a vertical position.

The second option is often used in two-room rooms, saving bedroom space. Perhaps, with the installation of a transformable bed, the problem of storing bed linen or personal belongings will be eliminated. A transforming sofa, which provides storage space, will cope with this task perfectly.

The space inside the bed can be divided into several compartments so that the bed functions as a full-fledged wardrobe.

The transformer bed lifting mechanism provides additional features:

Storing things. The base of the bed fits tightly to the lid of the box and does not allow dust to enter.
Since the bed fits tightly to the floor, dirt does not penetrate under it, which means the process of cleaning the room is easier.
The transformation process is quite simple and the better the lifting mechanism, the easier it is to lift the top cover, regardless of the weight of the structure and the mattress.

Materials and tools for work

To assemble a bed with a lifting mechanism, you will need the following tools:

A circular saw if you need to cut parts along the length. It is difficult, sometimes simply impossible, to make an accurate straight cut with a jigsaw or a hand hacksaw.
Drill or screwdriver with a set of drills and bits.
Furniture stapler.
Fasteners and hardware: angles, self-tapping screws, couplers, confirmats and furniture bolts with nuts and washers.
Screwdrivers, hexagons.
Tape measure, long ruler, rule or other object for drawing straight lines.
Pencil or marker.

Depending on the design of the bed, purchase:

Wooden blocks for the mattress frame.
Laminated chipboard or planed boards for the base.
Chipboard or furniture panels for backs.
Plywood for the bottom.
Lifting mechanism.
Thick fabric for upholstery.
Furniture edge for chipboard ends.
Legs, if provided by the design.

Other elements provided by the design may also be needed.

Cutting chipboard into pieces of the required size can be ordered at large building materials stores, and the edges are glued there as well. The same services are provided by furniture workshops that exist in every city. Sometimes finished parts of suitable sizes are sold individually.

Types of lifting mechanisms

The modern market is overflowing with various offers and design solutions that relate to transformable beds. In our assortment you will find products that are represented by three types of lifting mechanisms. They differ from each other both in terms of cost and technical characteristics. Let's look at them in more detail.

Manual mechanism

The simplest and cheapest mechanism, which was in great demand back in the early 90s. Naturally, now people prefer to use other mechanisms, but for budget products this design is perfect. The manual lift is characterized as a durable product that rarely breaks.

The principle of operation of the manual mechanism is the use of physical force, since it does not contain any devices that would compensate for the weight of the bed. Today, it is not customary to install such products on children's beds, due to the risk of injury.

Modern lifts are designed to install a spring or gas lift.

Spring mechanism

This design consists of a manual lift and a special spring, which acts as a compensator, which can significantly reduce the effort. The device is characterized by low cost, so it can be used for both budget products and expensive ones. The disadvantage of a spring lift is that the springs stretch and need to be replaced. On average, the service life is 3-5 years.

Gas lifts

The most expensive lifting product is a gas elevator. The gas bed lifting mechanism allows you to 100% compensate for the load from the movement of the lifting part of the bed. This means that children and people with disabilities can handle the transformation of the bed, which is equipped with gas shock absorbers. If you do not violate the operating rules, the gas lift can last a very long time. The fact is that the driving force of the shock absorber is compressed gas and any deformation of the product can cause its failure.

It is impossible to repair/disassemble a gas lift without special equipment. Any violation of the integrity of the cylinder can lead to structural failure.

Manufacturing stages

Assemble the base frame to which the lifting mechanism, supports for the base of the mattress, headboard and lower back will be attached. Next, a folding base is made and the lifting mechanism is attached. After adjustment, the structural parts are finished.

Andrey Peregubsky

Furniture handyman

Ask a Question

If you have doubts about the correctness of the calculations, then you should start assembling with the lifting base of the mattress and, based on the resulting result, mark and assemble the bed frame.

Frame

The base is made of wood or chipboard. For installation, provide legs or support on side parts.

Manufacturing procedure:

Prepare the sides of the base, attach legs or gaskets to them.
On the inside, stops are installed for the movable base of the mattress. The stops are made in the form of jumpers or longitudinal linings on the sidewall.
The side panels are connected to the headboard and lower backrest. For fastening, furniture corners, self-tapping screws or confirmats (Euroscrews) are used.
Turn the resulting frame over and screw on the plywood bottom. It is not advisable to use fiberboard; over time, the edges will collapse and the bottom will be squeezed out.

The final finishing of the sidewalls is best done after adjusting the lifting mechanism.

Lifting base

The lifting base can be purchased assembled or made independently from wood; planed timber with a section of 50x50 mm and a board 25x100 mm, plywood are used.

It is important to take into account that the lifting part of the structure must be 1 cm narrower and shorter than the base box, so that it falls into place when lowered without friction on the sidewalls.

Operating procedure:

The beam is sawed off to the required length: two longitudinal and two transverse.
The parts are connected into a single structure using furniture corners and self-tapping screws.
The top is fastened with plywood or cross boards.

Check the correctness of manufacture by attaching the lifting base to the lower frame.

Installation of the mechanism

The lifting mechanism takes on heavy loads when lifting the mattress, so it is important to choose the right installation location and fastening method.

Single and one-and-a-half-size mattresses can be raised to the headboard. Wide, double models are better along the sidewall, this reduces the load.

Due to the heavy load, the mechanism cannot be installed on self-tapping screws. Be sure to drill a through hole in the longitudinal bar and mount the lift with a bolt, washer and nut. The base of the mattress is secured in the same way.

To hide the head of the bolt, you can use an additional strip mounted parallel to the end one.

Another option is to hide the bolt with sheathing so that it does not turn when the nut is unscrewed; they use furniture bolts with a boss on the rod that fits into the through hole.

The installation diagram of the mechanism is necessarily indicated in the instructions, and the dimensions of the indents for drilling holes are also given there.

Before screwing the lifting mechanism, it is advisable to experiment with unfolding the part, making sure that the mattress will be raised to the desired height. At the same time, make sure that there is enough space left for the slight rise of the mattress, which is necessary to unlock the locking mechanism.

Performance characteristics

In order for the product to serve for many years and not make any noise, you should take a responsible approach to choosing a lifting mechanism. It should be based on the dimensions of the structure and its weight. The width is determined by the number of beds:

1.2 - 1.8 m - double.
0.9 - 1 m. - single.
0.6 - 0.8 m. - children's.

The weight and height of a mattress directly depends on its thickness. Some models provide for adjusting the height of the mattress by moving the slats. Also, the weight of the mattress is affected by its filling.

These parameters directly affect the choice of lifting mechanism and the power of the power elements. In addition, lifting mechanisms are classified according to the method of transformation. If we are talking about a wardrobe bed, then the transformation occurs from a horizontal to a vertical position, and vice versa. There are two design solutions:

It takes a lot of effort to lift the base of a bed with a mattress. It is necessary to install powerful mechanisms with gas lifts.
If the bed rises from the side, then a spring block can be used.

There are transformable beds in which only the sleeping area is raised. The lifting mechanism can be presented in two options:

It rises at an angle to one of the sides according to the principle of a book.
The berth rises horizontally, moving to the side. Stops at a certain height.

Lamels

The lamella base improves the orthopedic properties of the mattress

The lifting base is most often made of birch slats. When loaded, they spring a little and enhance the orthopedic effect of the mattress. The slats can be wide or narrow. Narrow ones are suitable for any type of mattress. Wide - for springless models or mattresses with a Bonnell or TFC spring block. It is better to place the S1000 block on a base with narrow slats and small gaps between them so that the narrow springs do not remain unsupported. Solid bases are more common in bed boxes than in beds. It is more durable, can withstand up to 300 kg per bed, but is less orthopedic.

Criterias of choice

In order for the spring and gas bed lifting mechanism to serve for a long time, you should take a responsible approach to the choice of components and take into account the following factors:

Power. To choose the most optimal mechanism, you should calculate the required power of springs or gas lifts. Follow a simple rule - 1 kg of weight is equal to 10 N. You should not use overly powerful lifting structures, because on the contrary, they complicate the transformation process.
Safety. Perhaps the most important point. If the device is not equipped with additional locking devices that prevent the structure from folding inadvertently, serious injury may result. Especially if the structure will be used by a child.
Durability. Manual mechanisms are the most durable, since there is nothing to break. In this indicator, springs and gas lifts made from high-quality materials can be in no way inferior to manual devices.
The springs wear out. Over time, the spring may weaken so much that it simply jumps out of the fasteners. The springs should be replaced when they begin to stretch. The average service life is 5 years.
Gas lifts are a reliable lift. If you use it carefully, it can last for a very long time. Some manufacturers provide a 10-year warranty on their gas shock absorbers.
Price. Products from well-known brands are more expensive and for good reason. Over time, with intensive use, cheap elevators will begin to deteriorate and leak gas.

Also, when choosing a lifting mechanism, do not forget about:

The dimensions of the bed and the room in which it is located. In particular, the height of the ceilings is important.
For whom is the sleeping place equipped?
The position of the bed relative to other furniture.
How the bed will be transformed.

Single ottoman

To decorate the interior of a small studio apartment or a small one-room apartment, a single ottoman is perfect, inside which it is convenient to store bed linen and accessories for a comfortable sleep: pillows, blankets, bedspreads.

The advantages of such models include their lifting method: vertically or horizontally. The bed sizes are standard 80x190 cm, 90x190 cm, 80x200 cm, 90x200 cm, but the choice is yours.

How to install a lifting mechanism with your own hands

After purchasing the furniture, you will receive it unassembled. Assembly, most often, is paid additionally. But you can install the bed lifting mechanism with your own hands without much difficulty. Despite its bulkiness, this design is considered one of the lightest. It can be assembled using available tools, such as a screwdriver and open-end wrenches. Follow the following sequence to assemble the structure efficiently and safely:

First you need to assemble the base of the bed - the frame and the bed frame.
If provided, assemble the orthopedic base, which, as a rule, is supplied ready-made.
The lifting mechanism must be fixed in the side of the base. Strictly horizontal to the box.
Lay out the lift and place the orthopedic base on top so that the technological holes coincide (you need a second person who will hold the base while you fix the structure to the lift).

Bed lifting mechanism drawings:

Used frames

There are currently 3 types of frames common on the market:

The first is a frame consisting of two backs and two side panels. It is made from laminated chipboard.

The second option is more expensive than the first, since decorated backs and overlays are additionally screwed or glued to the frame.

And the third option is the most reliable. This frame is reinforced with a crossbar and additional legs are attached to it.

Style

Perhaps the most difficult thing is not to decide on the technical characteristics of the bed, but to choose a design. The stores offer a huge variety of models for every taste, and when making to order, craftsmen will realize any of your ideas. Wooden or iron, with inserts and carved legs, white or black - the eyes just run wild. Which one to choose? In order not to make a mistake, you need to adhere to the style of the entire room:

for the style of minimalism, oriental motifs and high-tech (if there is a large area), the optimal solution would be a bed on the podium;
Simple beds without unnecessary decorations will fit well into minimalism and modernism; leather upholstery is acceptable;
the classic interior and baroque style will be supported by a massive wooden structure with carved decorations;
eco-style or ethnic style is in harmony with beds made of natural materials: wicker, bamboo;
Metal beds look beautiful in Provence, country and retro interior design.

For those rooms where it is impossible to place a full bed due to limited space, it is advisable to install a transforming bed. During the day it rises and looks like a panel on the wall without cluttering up the space. It is decorated with paintings or panels, so if you don’t know about the secret bunk, you will never guess that it exists.

An alternative is a sofa bed: under the reclining base there is a very comfortable sofa that turns the bedroom into a living room. A brilliant idea for one-room apartments.

What is a gas lift for a bed?

Many bed models have a gas lift for the bed. This is a special mechanism that is used to lift surfaces attached to it. It greatly simplifies and facilitates the procedure of raising the bed. Two types of gas elevators are used. Automatic devices do not require human effort and control and friction, which are used relatively rarely.

Accessing the pallet is quite difficult as there is a lot of weight to lift. You can simplify this procedure by using a gas lift for the bed.