In the modern pace of life, practical and compact furniture is becoming increasingly popular.
A children's room with folding beds will have more free space during the daytime. Therefore, this is the best furniture option for a small room.
The essence of this device is that, thanks to special mechanisms, the bed is brought into a horizontal position when necessary.
If you need to free up space in the room, the folding model folds vertically or horizontally, thereby expanding the area for games or relaxation.
The most common model of this furniture is a bed built into a closet. When assembled, the product completely replicates the facade of the cabinet, and when brought into a horizontal position, it turns into a full-fledged sleeping place.
This model is especially relevant for families with several children, since two standard beds located in one medium-sized room take up almost all the free space. And if immediately after sleep there is an opportunity to hide it, then there is much more free space.
All interior design advantages
Podium bed
Podium in a children's room has a number of positive effects:
- Makes your home a little more open - thanks to the hidden bed. This provides unoccupied space for games, home exercise or entertaining little guests.
- Allows you to define clear functional areas - even a closed bed helps create a learning and play area. This approach is necessary to accommodate all the things children need in a minimal space.
- It is practical - in a compact space there are more points for storing things. The home will remain tidy and there will be no scattered toys. It is easy to hide communications on the bottom side of the product: heating radiators, etc.
The podium-bed in the nursery gives it unusualness and becomes the “highlight” of the interior. The baby has his own space in which he will never be bored.
Working area from above
If there are two children in the room
The number of zones in this case is multiplied by two. The only exceptions are places for games and sports. There are two ways to zone the space of one room in which two children live:
- doubling,
- separation.
When doubling zones, the beds are placed side by side or the correct bunk bed is selected (more on this later). Purchase one long work table or a corner option with two places to work. The wardrobe, as well as a rack for toys and stationery, are shared by two - each child gets his own place. In compact apartments, this is a common option for placing two children in one room.
If children have a large age difference or they jealously guard their space and toys, it is worth taking the path of separating zones. To do this, the room is divided into two parts according to each child. The beds are located against different walls; work tables are selected according to the height of children and are placed separately in the illuminated part of the room; storage areas are also delimited and, if necessary, highlighted with color or design.
You can also highlight the location by color when doubling zones. To do this, order furniture fronts in two different colors or finishes, or install handles of different designs on doors and drawers. Such attention is pleasant for children, despite the fact that they can easily remember where whose closet is.
Types of podium beds
Retail chains offer a wide variety of designs, sliding and roll-out types. They are equipped with various mechanisms and have secondary functionality. The main purpose of a podium in a children's room is to free up space by carefully placing all the necessary things.
Podium bed with drawers underneath
The sleeping area in the structure is located at the top; the unoccupied lower space is intended to serve as storage. The variety is produced in two versions:
- Tall - resembles a two-story structure; to access the elevation, steps are formed in which additional drawers can be placed. Below is a study area, bookcase or wardrobe.
- Low - the sleeping place is located at the height of a small chest of drawers. Shelves and cabinets with hinged doors are placed in random order.
A high crib-podium (more than a meter in height) is suitable for babies after 3 years.
The photo shows an option with drawers located below
Pull-out bed-podium
This option may vary in volume:
- For half the room - it takes up most of the space. When closed, it has clear zoning: the upper part is given over to study and games, the lower part is for meeting guests or free movement.
- Equal to the sleeping compartment - absorbs less space. The structure becomes part of a shelving unit or wardrobe.
Any of these options involves a secret bed, hidden from view during the day.
Pull-out bed type
Podium for two
In a children's room with a podium for several children, the basic principle is adhered to. On top there is a play or study area, under which two beds with a pull-out mechanism are hidden. This project is convenient for small-sized apartments, with a small space that does not allow you to equip a full-fledged place for relaxation and games.
Design
The design of double beds for children can be very different. Along with the classic two-story structures with a retractable lower tier, there are other solutions.
For example, today a sliding bed for two children, built into a wardrobe, is becoming increasingly popular. This solution allows you to “kill” not even two, but three “birds with one stone”: organizing comfortable sleeping places, combining the functions of various furnishings and saving a lot of scarce space!
For parents who fear for the safety of a child on the upper tier, there are not only sides and protective screens, but also such an option as podium children's pull-out beds for two children, photos of which can be found in this article. Such designs provide the maximum degree of safety for both children.
Thus, today's furniture market is able to offer a lot of different solutions that provide comfort, free space and functionality of a children's room even when living in small city apartments.
Options for arranging a podium in the interior
There are several variations of the installation of the structure:
- Square type - suitable for private rooms, helps to divide the space into several free zones. This approach is used to install multiple cribs and create convenient storage points.
- Rectangular type - belongs to the traditional ones, it is convenient and practical. The structure is placed along the wall, adjacent to it at two or three points. In the latter case, the point is a chest of drawers or an additional closet.
- Corner - installed in close proximity to two vertical surfaces. If the bedroom is installed below, then the play space is on top. In the mirror version, retractable parts are created in the lower part.
Before purchasing a ready-made podium with pull-out beds for the nursery, you need to realistically assess the height of the ceilings, the location of the window and the total area of the room.
Podium for the play area
Pros and cons of a children's pull-out bed for twins, twins, the same age, twins
The birth of a baby is always a hassle; pleasant preparations also include arranging a children's sleeping place. When purchasing a retractable model, parents will appreciate a sufficient number of advantages:
- compact design;
- multifunctionality of use (it is used not only as a sleeping space, but also as a play or work space);
- additional storage compartments (built-in drawers, chests of drawers) help optimize the space of the room, saving free meters on the placement of additional cabinets;
- a variety of non-standard models will decorate any design.
The pull-out bed is suitable for both children and teenagers.
Among the negative aspects of operation, note:
- the height of the second tier is traumatic for children;
- the need to constantly fold and unfold is tiring. There are also risks of damage to the floor covering due to the wheels on the retractable part.
Ideas for a small or narrow room
In a small room, the elevation is intended for zonal division and preservation of space. The formed second tier helps to neatly lay out household items and clothes.
The advantages of designs in narrowed and long rooms include the formation of a sufficient amount of space unoccupied by things. Roll-out beds are hidden in a niche and additional shelves are installed. The room will form not only a full-fledged sleeping place, but also a work or guest area located on the platform.
How to divide a room for children of different sexes and different ages
Separate rooms become a necessity when one of the children reaches adolescence. If this is not possible, provide each child with an independent place in a shared nursery. Moreover, any space - a table, shelf or place in the closet - should belong only to this child. Teach each of your children to ask permission if they want to take something from a brother or sister.
When dividing a room between two children of different sexes, a visible delimiting division into zones will be required. Clearly separate sleeping areas, for example, with partitions, screens, curtains, or opaque materials.
It often happens that the age difference is large and children inevitably interfere with each other during the daytime. For example, the younger one is sleeping, and the older one needs to do his homework.
In this case, consider moving the senior's work area to another room. Surely there is the right space in the living room or kitchen. The child’s workplace can be connected to your home office, if such a room is provided.
Order or make it yourself
Forming a simple, traditional DIY podium, without secondary opening or retractable structures, requires certain tools, high quality materials and a little experience. Before work, you need to make calculations with sketches and buy the necessary attributes.
It’s easier to order an industrial product, especially if you don’t have qualifications or have a lot of free time. By entrusting the creation of furniture to professionals, you don’t have to worry about its quality and safety characteristics.
Complex systems with many shelves, roll-out mechanisms and doors are definitely better to purchase rather than do it yourself.
Finished drawing
Furniture as a nursery base for two children
When two children of opposite sexes live in a room, they will always find a way to be together. The parents' task is to give them the opportunity for at least relative privacy.
Because The children's area is usually small, making partitions is not an option. Zoning is done by the arrangement of furniture: beds, tables, cabinets. Therefore, let's start with the shape and design of furniture.
White furniture
Because The interests of different sexes and especially different ages differ greatly; it is better to make furniture in a neutral color. And here is a trap - furniture cannot be made in ordinary wood colors. The nursery will still have a lot of bright, saturated colors, and they won’t go with the natural wood browns and yellows. This is why most children's rooms look terrible.
I discussed in detail the importance of white furniture in children's rooms in previous thematic materials. Be sure to check out:
- Children's room for a boy
- For two boys
- Children's room for girls
- For two girls
And in general, the most important material I strongly advise you to read: How to combine colors in the interior.
In order not to complicate things, the only color left for the furniture is completely neutral - white . White goes perfectly with any, even bright colors, it is in fashion, it looks stylish. It is also advisable to choose the color of the laminate flooring with low saturation (i.e., without obvious shifting into shades). Cool example of a nursery for two children, 13 square meters with white furniture:
You can add brightness with wallpaper, accessories and toys. But because children of different sexes, the topic should be neutral, and preferably long-lasting.
Neutral themes from children's cartoons or a superhero theme work well. Interesting design in antique or Scandinavian style, a kind of children's Provence. The latter will be relevant until adulthood.
Important:
If your two children, in addition to gender, also differ in age, the design of the nursery should be made for the older one.
When a child is small, he sees a fairy tale in everything and does not experience any discomfort from ordinary design. But in adolescence, being in an overly childish room is bad. This can cause problems during an already difficult period of personal development. Read more in the material about the design of rooms for teenagers. Photo example of a nursery for two, where one teenager is 17.8 sq. m..
Or more stylish options:
Layout and Zoning of furniture
The design of a room for two children begins with the relative arrangement of beds. 4 options:
- Bunk bed
- Diagonal axis of symmetry in the room
- Perpendicular placement
- Parallel and in a row
Let us explain with real photos (don’t look at the design), they are located according to the points:
The options are arranged from most preferred to least preferred. A bunk bed is really a very cool find - it takes up half the space and provides sufficient isolation for the sleeping areas. They can be made to order, but there are also decent ready-made options. Don't forget to provide separate lighting for each tier.
How to determine who is on top and who is on bottom? This is an interesting topic of resolving this type of dispute between two children. If there is no obvious solution, then invite the children to decide for themselves. If they can’t, leave it to chance. Toss a coin or otherwise randomize the decision. This way you will deprive your children of a reason to be offended.
Beds at different levels do not have to be exactly one above the other, they can also be perpendicular:
It is advisable to place the table closer to the window and further from the gaming area. The table must have separate lighting. In general, children should have the opportunity to select lighting for the current activity - many zones of light are needed.
The parallel and row arrangement does not sufficiently zone the room. If the room is rectangular and elongated and for some reason you do not want a bunk bed, then place shelving between the two beds. The older children become, the more personal space they will need. Two beds should not be in direct line of sight to each other.
If there is a boy in the room, the girl will also be a hooligan. Children will run around, fall, and interact with furniture in unobvious ways. It would be a good idea to think about safety - this topic was discussed in the article about the design of a children's room.
What is important to know when installing a podium
There are several requirements:
- the concrete structure is durable, but it is purchased only for a private house and placed on the ground floor;
- to increase the safety of the podium, it cannot be placed in the central part of the room or a passageway;
- if the bed must hide communications behind itself, then free access to them must be provided;
- You should not get carried away with massive products and install them on a wooden base - weighted versions can cause damage to partitions;
- You can’t save on material - the service life depends on the strength;
- when choosing a place, select an area where a regular bed looks logical;
- When purchasing, you must not forget that children grow quickly and the size of the podium is selected for the future - a durable structure is difficult to disassemble.
If the ceilings in the apartment are low, the height of the product is calculated so that the owner can stand on it at full height. Do not forget about sound insulation - moving along the top part can provoke a booming sound.
Assembly diagram
Material of manufacture
The material from which children's beds for two children are made is of great importance. Furniture must be durable, reliable and safe, so the following are often used:
- Solid wood. Beech, pine, birch, and oak are used. The structures are environmentally safe and highly durable. The presence of elements from other materials is acceptable, but there should not be many of them.
- Metal. Lightweight cribs are characterized by an original design, often painted black, and look stylish. Iron is often used in tandem with wooden elements.
- MDF. The base of the structure is made of boards or timber, other parts are made of MDF. The edges of the furniture are treated with special self-adhesive tapes. It is important that there are no nicks, chips or irregularities along the edges.
- Chipboard. High-quality laminated material is resistant to mechanical damage. When choosing children's furniture, you must check the quality certificate. Not all particleboard products are safe for children.
The best option would be a small-sized and compact bed for two children, made of wood. Natural material does not emit toxic substances. The structures are very durable, can withstand heavy loads, and have a smooth surface. The upholstery can be made of textiles.
laminated chipboard
Metal
Solid wood
MDF
How to assemble a podium bed yourself
Manufacturing the structure requires following step-by-step steps:
- Sketch - measure the volume of the room, choose the shape of the product and select materials. The drawing is created after checking the received measurements.
- Marking is done on the floor, it includes both the main contour and vertical supports with crossbars for secondary shelves. If the structure must be adjacent to the wall, then the plinth is removed from this part.
- Assembly - the podium itself, the pull-out bed and shelves are assembled separately. Fastening is carried out along the contour of the beam using 16 mm self-tapping screws.
- Install vertical supports - the length should be equal to the height of the product minus double the thickness of the beam. Fastening is carried out with metal corners; if the bed is in contact with the wall, then it is additionally fixed with dowels.
- Installation - cross beams and top trim are attached to the supports. If the size of the structure is large, then the longitudinal ones are secured again. The joints are reinforced with vertical supports.
- The boards are secured between the supporting parts (in the area where the shelves are installed) - the finished section resembles two wooden sidewalls with guides attached to them. If the box is on casters, then guides are not needed.
- The frame is covered with chipboard or plywood, the slabs are attached to the beams.
Assembly is completed by painting, sanding and varnishing. Before installing the structure, the floor is covered with carpet.
Experts recommend paying attention to finished products for the children's room. Some companies carry out preliminary measurements of the premises and create podiums exactly according to the obtained parameters. This approach allows you to get maximum free space, improve its appearance, and get rid of the feeling of clutter.
Methods for zoning a children's room
Designers have long come up with many tricks for zoning rooms. You don't even have to “reinvent the wheel.”
Mobile partitions
Mobile partitions are the simplest tool for zoning. For example, folding screens. They can be removed during the day, and put back in at night or for classes.
Such partitions also differ from stationary structures in that they are visually lighter. This means they look less bulky in small rooms.
Plasterboard structures
From plasterboard you can create structures of any complexity and configuration: from lightweight interior walls to elegant semi-arches or low racks.
Plasterboard structures, unlike mobile partitions, cannot be folded or removed. But they have another advantage: you can build a whole storage system for things inside. And use the surface of low partitions instead of a table or shelf.
Cabinets and shelving
Now there are a lot of furniture options suitable for dividing a room. Of course, these are not bulky wardrobes in the ceiling. But racks with shelves for books and cute little things look lighter and immediately give the nursery a certain style and mood.
Pay attention to modular designs. Especially those that have access from two sides. They can easily replace a closet, chest of drawers or pencil case. And in modern interiors they can be played out in an interesting way with the help of decorative lighting.
Curtains
Thick curtains are usually built into the ceiling instead of a partition. More precisely, the cornice is mounted into a plasterboard structure. But this also has its advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage is that the curtains are easy to close and open as needed. They can always be removed for washing or replaced with new ones if children want to refresh the interior.
Disadvantage: textiles attract dust, get dirty easily and are a fire hazard. This is not the best option for small children. So first weigh the pros and cons.
Visual zoning
Visual techniques include zoning with materials, colors and textures. This also includes podiums and ceiling structures.
But in the case of dividing a children's room for children of different sexes, it is better to use such tricks as an addition, and not as a basis. Light and color alone can change the perception of a room, but not create two private corners.
But with the help of a podium and lighting, you can perfectly highlight a play or work area.
