Review of popular models of transforming beds, design nuances

At the end of the 19th century, the first transformable bed appeared, which was invented by the American doctor William Murphy. A transformable bed is designed to free up square meters during the day and provide comfortable places to sleep at night. Today, a bedroom with a transformable bed is often found in small apartments. The product can hide not only a sleeping place, but also other furniture items ─ a table, a cabinet, shelves, and folding doors can serve to zone the room.

Positive and negative sides

When arranging a living space, it is not always possible to find the optimal option for arranging furniture structures. To achieve the desired result, many people spend a lot of time on repairs. Transforming beds, due to their functionality, greatly facilitate this task. In addition, they have found application not only in everyday life, but also in medical institutions. Like any other furniture designs, transformable furniture has both advantages and disadvantages. Strengths include:

1. Saving free space - the built-in model adequately fulfills its task. During the day, the assembled appearance of the bed resembles a closet, and at night it turns into a comfortable surface for sleeping;
2. Variety - furniture manufacturers have developed all sorts of styles of bedroom designs, from classic to modern, with all kinds of decorative elements. The facade consists of mirror surfaces that help to visually increase the area in small rooms;
3. A variety of mechanisms - devices for transforming beds provide different possibilities for transforming furniture;
4. Adjustment – ​​often the length of a transforming bed for children can be adjusted. This makes it possible to use the product for a long time as the child grows up;
5. The presence of a fence - a transformable bed for teenagers and small children is equipped with sides for protection;
6. Wide range of dimensions – bed sizes can be not only standard. They can be ordered according to individual projects, focusing on the area of ​​the room;
7. Availability of a built-in mattress - all models are produced with mattresses, so there is no need to buy one. The most commonly used is an orthopedic mattress model;
8. Availability of a changing table - most children's modular beds are equipped with changing tables. This significantly saves square meters and there is no need to purchase additional furniture, which saves money.

Like any other furniture, transformers have minor drawbacks. These include:

1. High price - the cost of the product consists of high-quality lifting mechanisms, frame and upholstery material, as well as the type of mattress;
2. Wear – with regular use, transformation mechanisms quickly fail;
3. A bed with a transformation mechanism may fold unexpectedly. This rarely happens if structural elements are worn out;
4. The drawers that are often included in a child's bed are mounted on wheels. This sometimes leads to damage to the floor covering;
5. Mattresses on children's convertible beds are not adjustable. Therefore, as the child grows up, they need to be replaced.

Flaws

Thanks to reviews of transformable beds, we can highlight the main disadvantages of such furniture. Buyers comment negatively on the cost of the product. A family with an average income can afford such a design, but it will take some time to save up the required amount before purchasing. When buying a bed, you need to pay attention only to expensive options, since only they are 100% high quality and reliable. Such furniture can only be installed on a solid wall. This introduces some restrictions. The fact is that other walls will not be able to withstand the load. If a purchased transforming bed for a small apartment turns into a table or a closet, then inconvenience will arise. They are associated with the fact that you will constantly have to fold and unfold furniture. If after a hard day at work you want to finally relax in bed, you will have to devote some time to transforming it. If the furniture “turns” into a sofa, then this type of problem will not arise.

Kinds

A transformable bed can be considered one of the most popular design solutions. Today there is a wide range of such furniture on the market. When choosing products, consumers ask themselves, which model is better? It all depends on the personal preferences of consumers. The most common models:

• Vertical – the design is a double wardrobe-bed-transformer. The headboard is mounted on the wall, and the main bed rises and hides in the closet;
• Horizontal - this design is intended for a single bed, which is attached to the wall with its side. On the rest of the wall you can hang pictures or bookcases;
• Roll-out is the simplest and most popular model. The lower built-in bed slides into the upper part of the sleeping structure. A roll-out bed can have the dimensions of both an adult bed with a transformable base and a child’s bed, starting from the age of 8;
• Lifting bed - a pneumatic mechanism allows you to easily remove the teenage transforming bed into a closet or wall;
• A folding ottoman is a transformable bed. When folded, the ottoman is an ordinary piece of furniture. Inside the structure there is a couch with supports and a mattress;
• With a transformable headboard - the product is suitable not only for domestic use, but also as a transformable bed for bedridden patients. By lifting part of the product, a comfortable place for patients is obtained. Convenient model for medical procedures, reading books or watching TV;
• Children's bed-table model for schoolchildren is a design that uses high-quality fittings. The product consists of two items. They change depending on the time of day. During the day, the bed is raised and the desk is lowered. Before bed, the opposite happens;
• With a pendulum - the design is configured for longitudinal or transverse motion sickness. Experts recommend using transforming beds with a pendulum, which resembles rocking a child in your arms. The length of the pendulum provides a wide amplitude of oscillation;
• For childbirth - there are horizontal and vertical models of transforming beds for childbirth. Horizontal Rakhmanov beds have been used in maternity wards for more than 30 years, and vertical transformable beds have appeared in medical institutions recently. They are developments and also the pride of Russian scientists;
• Round – as the child grows up, the round configuration of the product turns into an oval transformable bed. The furniture reliably protects the child from injury and becomes a full-fledged sleeping place, sofa or work desk. Some transforming beds also have a pendulum installed. This bed is designed for children from 0 to 5 years old;
• Two-tier – model designed for two children. The design has one mechanism, with the help of which the product takes on a different design look, and the extension ladder serves as a support for the entire structure. The product is the best option for children over 3 years old;
• 9 in 1 bed – the design of a 9 in 1 transformable bed consists of several elements that, with the help of mechanisms, turn into a set of a sofa, a table and drawers or a wardrobe.

Pendulum

Lifting

Horizontal

With transformable headboard

Vertical

Roll-out

Folding ottoman

Bed-table Generic

Round

Bunk

9 in 1

Characteristics of the transformable cabinet-table

One of the most useful inventions for work rooms and offices is a cabinet-table. It is absolutely invisible and fits literally into all interiors, because most often it is a miniature but extremely functional attribute.

Such models are usually installed against the wall.

The wall, like the room itself, becomes rich and designer-designed. In addition, this makes it easier to use, because most often the cabinet-table is used as a place for paperwork and a computer.

Main characteristics:

1. Most often it is made from laminated chipboard (chipboard) and MDF (fine wood fraction), which determines their design quality, as well as proven reliability and strength.
2. A wardrobe-table is a universal furniture for a person who spends a lot of time at his desk.
3. It can provide hidden and secure storage of important documents, things, or become a shelf for a laptop.

Taking into account the fact that there is often not enough free space in our apartments, a wardrobe-table can be a solution to this problem for the living room and personal office. During the day it can be used as a workplace, and at night it can serve as storage cells.

Additional features

The transformable furniture design has a second name - “smart furniture”, which has a whole arsenal of additional functions:

• Adult beds can be transformed not only into wardrobes or sofas, but also into a table, a chair, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe with a desk, a closed shelf, as well as other additional elements. One such element is a drawer with a lifting device for bedding. An electrical transformable system can be installed;
• Metal transformable beds are produced for boarding schools where elderly people live, or for hospitals. Using lifting mechanisms, the height of the berth, the tilt of the headboard, backrest, and leg sections can be adjusted. Such models are often controlled remotely. Additional elements are installed on medical beds:

1. Stands, grip handles for independently pulling up the patient;
2. Toilet compartment;
3. Braking devices at the rear of the structure;
4. Side guards.

• Transformable cribs are additionally equipped with changing tables and a chest of drawers where you can store children's things. The designs are complemented with lamps or canopies. For the little ones, the cribs are equipped with a special pendulum mechanism. Automatic rocking mode makes baby care easier.

Tools

To make a transforming bed you will need the following materials :

• 
  MDF 2 cm thick;

• plywood 1 cm thick;
• fittings and guides;
• PVC edge for trimming;
• lifting mechanism;
• self-tapping screws;
• glue;
• safety belt;
• magnetic buttons.

Tools that will be useful:

• meter;
• pencil;
• sandpaper;
• drill and drill bits;
• screwdriver;
• circular saw;
• perforator;
• anchor bolts;
• metal corners.

Transformation mechanisms

Modern furniture manufacturers have presented a wide range of transformation mechanisms for beds. When choosing a bed, you need to familiarize yourself with its characteristics, which depend on many factors.

The most important thing is the type of mechanisms that are installed on the transforming bed (videos can be found on the Internet). You need to understand that the main element in the adult design of the product is the lifting device. It should easily lift several tens of kilograms of the structure and turn the bed into a closet or wall. The main options for lifting mechanisms include:

• Manual - this device is a cheap and physically expensive mechanism. Lifting of the product is carried out entirely manually. The device does not have additional springs and shock absorbers;
• Spring - carbon steel wire is used to make coiled springs. The service life can reach 70 years. The disadvantage of this mechanism is its noisy operation, since over time the springs stretch and make an unpleasant sound. Therefore, they require periodic replacement;
• Gas lift - the device is one of the most convenient, but at the same time the most complex mechanisms. The operation of the module involves piston devices filled with compressed air. There is no need to make an effort, the mechanism will do everything itself. Gas lift is the most expensive device.

Some mechanisms are equipped with an electric drive or remote control. The latter is often used in transformable beds with a pendulum.

Let's look at several models in the photo of transformable beds with various transformation mechanisms:

• Sofa bed Disco. Consists of two frames, air springs, lamellas and assembly fittings. They are single beds. The top tier has a reinforced side. Assembled size: 760*2120*905 mm. Unfolded size: 1450*2120*905 mm. Bed size: 800 (900)*2000mm;
• Bunk bed-wardrobe Hip-Hop. Consists of bed frames, mattress straps, fastening fittings, elastic slats, gas lift. Mechanism dimensions: 1900*900*100 mm. Unfolded: 1280*2050*1030 mm;
• Bed-wardrobe-sofa Foxtrot. It consists of a bed frame, a transformation mechanism, retaining belts, gas springs, a push up opening mechanism, fastening fittings, and slats for the bed. Product dimensions: 2000*(900*1200, 900*1400, 900*1600)*200 mm;
• The transformable bed from the Italian factory DRS Traverso Collection with a lifting mechanism is made entirely of natural material. The beech frame has an orthopedic function. The transformation mechanism is available in two models: single and double. The second version of the elite design provides drawers for seasonal items. Special straps are provided to secure the mattress.

DRS Traverso Collection

Disco

Hip-hop

Foxtrot

How to choose a transforming bed - rules, what to look for

Sleeping area

The first thing you should look at is the sleeping area. It consists of a base and a mattress. To begin with, choose a base; this element can be of two types.

• Solid base. Made from plywood. Quite durable. The disadvantages include a weak orthopedic effect, as well as poor ventilation of the mattress.
• Lamels. This base consists of slats or planks on which the mattress rests. The slats are slightly curved upward, which gives them an excellent orthopedic effect. The mattress is well ventilated. The disadvantage is the high cost.

If the bed will be used by children or teenagers, it is better to choose a base made of slats.

Choosing a mattress is also not very difficult. The main rule is that for young people we select more rigid modifications; adults and elderly people will feel more comfortable in a soft sleeping place. According to the level of hardness, mattresses are divided into the following types, taking into account the user’s body weight.

• F1 - up to 60 kilograms.
• F2 - from 60 to 110 kilograms.
• F3 - over 110 kilograms

A universal solution is to use an independent spring block. This mattress is suitable for almost all people.

Manufacturing materials

When choosing a frame, you should take into account the material from which it is made. Typically beds are made from the following materials.

• Solid wood. The best wood for furniture is birch or oak; sometimes beds are made from pine or other similar types of wood.
• Metal. Beds are rarely made entirely from this material; usually they are bunk furniture; sometimes there are other types of transformers. You should not buy metal furniture for kids.
• MDF. In many ways similar to wood, but a cheaper material.

Knowing what types of materials can be used for the frame, it is much easier to choose the right bed.

Which models are more reliable?

The transforming bed operates a lifting mechanism. The service life depends on the reliability and quality of the device. To find out which transformation mechanism is the best, you must first select a furniture design based on the following points:

• Is there a place to store bed linen?
• Is the sleeping place comfortable?
• Decide on the dimensions of the bed. A compact product should not interfere with free space or reduce space in the room.

Modern furniture manufacturers have introduced to the market designs with three types of lifting mechanisms:

• Spring;
• Gas lift;
• Manual lift.

If we consider the first two mechanisms, then gas lift definitely has more working cycles. And preference should be given to models with a gas shock absorber rather than with an air filler. Nitrogen gas does not form corrosion in the pipes of the lifting device; the operation of the mechanism is designed for 90 thousand cycles.

The spring mechanism is designed for 20 thousand cycles. This is due to the quality of the springs, since they tend to stretch and their elasticity weakens over time. Models with a manual mechanism are cheap, but during transformation they require maximum effort. Experts recommend choosing a model with a gas shock absorber and a vertical lifting mechanism. It folds up quickly in the morning and folds down before bed in a matter of seconds, effortlessly.

Transformable furniture allows the owners of the room not to cover the product with a bedspread, since existing belts hold the mattress and bed linen.

The optimal model is considered to be a product in which the mechanism has additional amplifiers and blockers. They will be able to protect those present from injury in the event of accidental collapse of the structure.

Modern manufacturers focus on the needs of people, so all furniture designs are functional, practical, reliable, and comfortable.

Design features of compact hidden furniture

The design contains hidden elements, they include:

• sofa and bed frames;
• two backs;
• pencil case;
• mattress;
• legs;
• fastening devices.

The furniture set has the unique ability to transform a bedroom into a living room or office in a short time.
It has its own characteristics and varieties. There are 2 types of location in relation to the wall:

1. Horizontal, in which the lifting mechanism places it in the cabinet with its side facing the wall.
2. Vertical, where the headboard will touch the wall.

Photo

Recommendations for use

Old small-sized apartments, housing of a new format, which has entered the Internet and television under the name of smart apartments, require maximum rationality in the approach to planning. A modern studio apartment, located on an area of ​​up to 20 sq.m., has full-fledged functional areas, where not only color is carefully chosen. The symbiosis of the living room with kitchen and bedroom is perfectly embodied by transforming multifunctional furniture.

The wardrobe bed is often decorated with a print and a mirror. In small apartments and studios, a chest of drawers is installed. There are many options for children's rooms: from cribs with changing tables, equipped with convenient drawers, to bunk beds for schoolchildren.

If you need to work in the office at night, compact transformable poufs or benches are placed there. A busy executive can sleep right at his workplace by simply turning over his desk, under the cover of which a soft mattress and pillow are hidden during the day.

A folding bed or one located in a closet will provide mobility to the interior of an adult bedroom. The roll-out model for children is convenient and saves usable space. A cool solution for a teenager’s room is a transformable bed, which becomes a convenient workplace for preparing for school, or for a young seamstress – a cutting table.