Bed-Podium In the Interior: 205+ (Photo) Designs for Rooms

Advantages of a podium bed

The beginning of such an organization of a sleeping place was laid by Japanese traditions, which received a new interpretation. The designs of the models that are presented are varied. They differ in the size of structures, types, and materials.

A podium in a bedroom, nursery, living room or studio apartment is a controversial solution that does not apply to every layout.

The advantages of the organization include:

ease of installation, which can be done even with your own hands, but with professional skills;
warm and comfortable sleeping place;
visually the design expands the space and saves area;
using free space under the flooring;
organization of space zoning;
updating the design with an unusual accent in the design.

This bed saves space

Advice The greatest effect and variety of options have podium beds, organized in spacious rooms with high ceilings.

Mattress on a podium instead of a bed: advantages

A podium installed instead of the usual bed makes the room original and unusual. Some models are suitable for spacious rooms. For example, a round dais will only be appropriate in a large room. But other designs will harmoniously fit even into modest-sized bedrooms.

Many podium beds will be the best solution for small-sized or one-room housing. In a studio apartment without partitions, such an elevation helps to zone the space.

The structures are equipped with steps, lighting, and decor. The space under the bed takes on the function of an additional storage system, becoming an alternative to a chest of drawers. The options are very different - from “folding floor” to drawers.

At the end there are organic shelves for books and souvenirs.

Steps can also serve as storage containers.

Positive influence of a podium bed on the interior:

this design corrects the geometry of the room and harmonizes long narrow bedrooms;
The layout of the room changes, proper zoning is done.

Types of structures by organization

There are many models of raised decking with a bed. All of them are divided into three main types:

Traditional.
Improved.
Retractable.

Creates more space

The choice of a specific type of structure should take into account:

visual image;
financial opportunities;
room style;
the need to install additional work and sleeping places;
room parameters (ceiling height, area, regular or irregular shape, arches, ceiling beams).

There is no clear opinion about the podium bed even among designers. Many are confident in the advisability of such an organization only for very large premises. But not everything in this matter is clear. It is possible to install it even in a modest-sized apartment with a not very favorable layout.

Be sure to consider the style of the room

The frame version has a relatively simple organization. It uses metal, wood or a combination of several materials.

The average height of the podium in an ordinary apartment is from 0.25 to 0.55 m. If you need to organize storage systems, then the height should be about half a meter.

Often the podium has a rectangular shape. But this requirement is not considered mandatory. The round, semicircular shape also looks no less interesting.

It is basically rectangular in shape

The podium usually has a completely flat top floor . But perhaps even a wide mattress can be placed in the recess below the sides. This will make it possible to use the protruding planes as bedside tables and additional shelves.

Traditional podium

This type is the simplest to implement. It looks like a rigid frame made of wood with a covering of wear-resistant material and a mattress on top. The height of the flooring is usually about half a meter.

The casing is made from the following materials:

linoleum;
skin;
wood;
carpet, etc.

Traditional podium option

One of the easiest ways to decorate the outside of the podium is to paint it in several layers. The right shade will create a harmonious space in the room, where each element has its place.

Improved version

This type of bed is similar to the previous one, but with added functionality. The podium has retractable storage chambers for things: for bed linen, clothes, etc.

The decorative and originality of the structure is combined with practicality of use. Storage systems in the form of drawers can be combined with open shelves for books, souvenirs, frequently used small items, and blankets. A system of entire segments with different appearances is welcome.

The option is supplemented with functionality

Retractable mechanism

A bed with a pull-out system is a comfortable sleeping place that can be pushed under the podium. The roll-out device allows you to use the resulting free podium for organizing a workplace or storing things.

In withdrawable systems, it is necessary to pay attention to the quietness of the drawout. To do this, the wheels must have a high-quality rubber coating that does not scratch the floor and makes it possible to move the bed out and in quietly.

Plastic wheels are not suitable. If used frequently, they may leave marks on the floor. In addition, plastic has a short service life and quickly becomes unusable.

Pay attention to the quietness of the withdrawable mechanism

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A much more common and harmless idea is with a mattress on top of the podium. Here, from the technical part, you have to think almost only whether it will be convenient for you to tuck a sheet under a mattress lying on the floor and whether you will maintain sufficient cleanliness so that the edges of the loose sheet do not lie in dust and do not get dirty with not-so-clean slippers. But these are questions, rather, of choosing between a bed and a mattress on the floor in general.

By the way, with built-in lighting, your sleeping place will look like a floating island.

We saw the bed on the podium in apartments on Tishinka, in Kyiv and in a Moscow apartment from INT2architecture, which we already wrote about in this article. By the way, note that in the Kyiv apartment we could find a podium in each residential area. In the bedroom, the podium is also relevant because it is organized in a niche and simply the absence of a door would look a little unfinished - the podium makes the picture of the apartment more logical.

Types of structures

Depending on the design features, podiums also come in several types. This is determined by the purpose of the design and the principle of organization.

Decorative

This type of podium is designed to separate functional areas. Decorative design attracts attention and creates a fashionable accent in the room.

Technical

In addition to an interesting design and unusualness, a bed with a podium can serve a very practical role. The main task of such an organization is to hide communication lines. Additionally, the space can be used to store things.

Very convenient and practical

Combined

With this type, the bed is rolled out during sleep and pushed under the flooring the rest of the time. This saves a lot of space. Other types: with a folding mattress or the presence of convenient drawers.

Material: what to pay attention to?

The material affects not only the appearance of the structure, but also its strength. Cast concrete as a frame is considered the most reliable and solid.

This type of bed is sometimes chosen by very heavy people.

The material must be durable and reliable

The concrete structure, due to its high strength, can support any human weight. At the same time, the mattress placed on top creates the necessary comfort and convenience. But most often preference is given to natural wood or metal.

The advantages of using concrete are its resistance to moisture and can withstand even significant loads. A wooden frame, like a metal one, is lightweight. The facade part is usually made of plywood.

To emphasize the originality of the composition, the bed can be made in an unusual shape. For example, in the form of a semicircle .

The selection of finishes is limited by the style of the room and financial capabilities. Natural wood treated with stain looks very impressive. Originality and comfort are combined in the finishing with carpet or fur.

Round podium: an unusual solution

A podium in the shape of a circle is a current design technique. But is it always possible to implement it? The round bed in this case has a diameter of up to 250 cm. Plus, there is room for passage.

Does your apartment allow you to install such parameters? If the room is large, it can be mounted in the center.

If the area is medium, then the bed will have to be installed near one of the walls. And if the room is too small, the bed may not even fit at all.

Round bed for small apartments

Bedrooms with a podium

A podium for a bedroom can be a cost-effective solution; you don’t have to buy a bed and bedside tables with it. If you place a tall mattress slightly smaller than the podium, the free space around the edges will act as a bedside table.

Bedroom with podium

The design of a round podium, a round bed and a canopy will create an oriental fairy tale from the bedroom. Forged elements, transparent flowing fabrics and colored glass lamps in the Moroccan or Tiffany style will bring special magic to the design of the room.

Podium bed in the bedroom

If a young family without children has a spacious bedroom, a pylon can be installed on a podium located opposite the bed. The husband will eagerly run home from work, and pole dancing will help his wife save on visiting a fitness club without compromising her figure. When offspring appear, such a podium can simply be converted into a home theater, and the metal pipe will go to the nursery to play firemen.

Cozy bedroom with a podium Bedroom with a podium Bedroom with a high podium Minimalist bedroom with a podium Bright bedroom with a podium Gray-white bedroom with a podium White bedroom with a podium White-beige bedroom with a podium White-brown bedroom with a podium Living-bedroom with a podium Living-bedroom with podium Living room-bedroom with a high podium White bedroom with a high podium Bedroom with a screen with a high podium Bedroom with a screen with a podium Bedroom with a wardrobe with a podium Bedroom-office with a podium

Equipment: what to choose?

Podium beds, even if they belong to the same type, can have many differences and features.

Important points include choosing the following parameters:

logs;
the presence of headrests and armrests;
selection of material for the supporting structure;
finishing material;
canopy;
presence of mechanical devices;
the need to design steps.

When choosing, consider a number of parameters

If the podium will not be used as a place to store things, then you can choose a monolithic structure. In this case, the external design should take into account the design of the room.

A canopy with a free-standing podium bed looks good only in those rooms where the ceiling height is significant. For low rooms, it is better to separate the sleeping area using a curtain or curtain.

Advice When the height of the podium is 0.3 m or more, it is necessary to provide a step for ease of ascent.

For convenience, we make a step

Podium for a children's room

For a children's room in which several children live, the podium will be an innovative solution to the problem of placing sleeping, play and study areas. A bunk bed can cause arguments over who sleeps on top and who sleeps below. Creating a podium with two pull-out beds on the bottom and two study spaces on top will solve the problem in a wide room.

High podium for a children's room

A similar option for a rectangular room is two podiums, each of which has a bed and a workplace. In this case, the bed can be placed at the top, and the podium can be equipped with a retractable table and storage drawers.

Podium with a pull-out bed and a workspace for a children's room

The design of a nursery should be dynamic and developing, as the inhabitants of this room grow quickly. When equipping a podium as a play area for a child, it is better to think in advance about how to convert it when the child goes to school. The color scheme of those elements that cannot be repainted should be chosen in neutral colors. So, for example, a teenage boy will say that the baby blue color his parents chose several years ago is not cool. With girls it’s easier in this regard; pink usually remains relevant from the cradle and at least until graduation.

Teenager's room with a podium Podium in a nursery with a pull-out bed Podium in a nursery for two children Podium in a teenager's room Comfortable podium in a nursery Comfortable podium in a teenager's room Bed on a podium in a teenager's room Podium in a teenager's room Podium in a child's room Podium in a children's room Podium-bed in the interior of a children's room Podium-bed in the interior

Room style: do you need to stick to it?

Each design style imposes certain requirements:

The nautical style can be maintained indoors by organizing a podium mounted into the wall, using appropriate accessories and a blue and white color scheme.
The ecological style is emphasized by wooden flooring models that protrude beyond the bed. At the same time, highlighting the texture of the wood is welcome.
Minimalism favors simple forms and the absence of eye-catching accessories. The height of the deck should be about 0.2 m or less.
In a small room, free space should be economical. At the same time, the presence of drawers makes storing things easier.
The tall structure allows you to well divide the space and highlight zones.
In a country-style interior, it is desirable that the wooden surfaces of the podium match the rest of the furniture in color, texture, and processing technique.
The distinctly rough processing of the wood adds style to the room. This option is good for decorating country houses and cottages.
In the Art Deco style, the accent of the interior will be a white podium bed with drawers.
Eclecticism requires bold decisions. The color “electric” is especially effective in this regard.

In the style of minimalism

Advice The emphasized texture of wooden surfaces should be combined with careful processing.

Bed by the window

New fashionable techniques in bedroom design

Comfortable podium and 3D wallpaper

More and more fashion designers are suggesting placing the head of the bed towards the window. In this case, the window should be large, panoramic with a beautiful design, in some cases with an arched ceiling, like an alcove.

What are the advantages of this furniture:

the morning sun will not wake up the sleeping person;
there will be a constant flow of fresh air, which is especially important for private country houses;
there is an opportunity to look at the stars at night - it’s so romantic;
for smokers, the problem of smoke in the room is solved.

The bed is the central piece of bedroom furniture. When positioned near a window, you can choose interesting bed models, around the style of which the entire design concept is built.

But it is not always possible to copy the design you like, since the location of engineering communications abroad is somewhat different from the standards adopted in Russia.

Interesting design ideas for the 2021 season

Graceful Japanese style

It is quite difficult to describe in detail the furnishings of a bedroom based on strict criteria. I offer some interesting ideas that can be successfully implemented in a private house and in a high-rise apartment.

Royal elegance and comfort

Rationally used loggia space is when the window openings serve as a kind of alcove. The binding of the frame above the headboard complements the refined design in the classical Renaissance style.

In this option, the bed under the window is protected at the head by a high quilted backrest, which eliminates drafts.

Popular shabby chic

The photo shows the retro style (shabby chic), which has been fashionable for three seasons, which is indispensable in small spaces and allows you to use every centimeter of usable space. In this case, the room is divided into two functional zones.

Soft curtains create a cozy and at the same time bright corner for relaxation. An interesting solution, in my opinion, is the displacement of the central ceiling chandelier into the recreation area. A good solution for a teenager's bedroom or a sofa for guests.

Extravagant and stylish

A round bed solves the problem of access to the window opening . The original shape of such a bed is suitable for any interior style - classic, modern, techno. Combining contrasting colors and choosing soft textures will make the bedroom a real work of art.

Discreet and modern modern

Catwalks remain popular in the 2021 season, but ethnic motifs are giving way to urban functionality and minimalism. In city apartments, a podium and a bed near the window are the best solution, as it leaves more living space .

Please note that the suspended ceiling has spectacular diffused lighting and brackets for curtains. This technique provides coziness and comfort by limiting the sleeping area.

A simple solution in retro style

The arch creates the illusion of another small room, and the window with a magnificent view does not require additional interior decoration. Popular retro style decor is quite enough.

The bottom drawers are great for storing linen, and the bleached wood will be a hit next year. Light, aged natural materials will be in fashion.

Mix of styles

Another trend of the season is the mixing of several styles . This example shows an interesting combination of modern, clean minimalism in black and white matte tones that lead the way for 2021's base tones and warm woody details. Wicker furniture in country style brings a soulful touch to the hard black and white contrasting details of the interior.

In this solution, the bed opposite the window is moved half a meter away from the opening. To somewhat smooth out this arrangement, the designer decorated the frame with elegant high columns. It’s interesting, but even this limits the sleeping area.

Psychologists recommend, at least schematically, limiting the space for sleeping. This creates the effect of security and allows a person to relax as much as possible. Even light, transparent tulle or such figured columns can create this feeling of security.

Narrow bedroom interior

A bed along the window is the only solution for a long room. This interior option is thought out to the smallest detail.

The protective screen eliminates drafts and cold in the room.
Contrasting stripes of panels along the length of the walls, one of which is mirrored, visually make the room wider.
A plasterboard box above the bed with a small canopy can be used as an additional curtain rod or as a visual limiter for the seating area.
A soft combination of gray and beige natural tones smooths out irregular geometry.

In this decor, I would also add a small alcove made of muslin, which can be mounted above the window and on small chrome posts. This design can be done with your own hands and looks very modern.

Youth bedrooms

If you have a narrow bedroom room, then it is important to follow several rules in design:

The design is only in light colors, only a few bright ones are allowed , next year all shades of red and orange are in fashion.
The decor instructions do not recommend placing large, monumental pieces of furniture (wardrobes, even mirrored wardrobes) in narrow, elongated rooms. In this case, the perfect solution is a podium or built-in wardrobes near the doors, even a mezzanine.
Contrasting opposite walls, for example, one white, the other silver, visually make the room wider.
Bottom lighting in the corners of the room visually increases the space.
Mirror and metallic glossy surfaces will help expand the walls.

Try not to overload the room with furniture. The way out is plasterboard boxes above the window and around the door . They can accommodate comfortable and spacious wardrobes, but the finish should be such that these built-in wardrobes are invisible.

The price of such structures is small, but with the help of such a simple reconstruction you can solve the problem of storing things in a small bedroom and not clutter the room with furniture.

What are the inconveniences?

Protective box with backlight for battery

What is fashionable is not always convenient and practical. There are also significant disadvantages to installing a bed next to a window:

It's blowing from the window, you'll have to install high-quality insulation.
There is no way to ventilate the room while sleeping.
Typically, heating radiators are located under the window and in winter it is uncomfortable to sleep with your head towards the radiator. In foreign practice, warm air enters the room from slots in the floor, and not from radiators. Therefore, in such interiors, the location of the bed can be arbitrary.
Costs for equipment for protective screens and textiles increase significantly.
The window is inconvenient to clean and open - access is limited, you have to move the bed.

Accommodation options

Depending on the location of the podium, sometimes it is necessary to make changes to the existing interior, the organization of heating and the arrangement of furniture.

Near the window

A podium installed near the window will add light to the sleeping area. A podium with drawers is well suited for this type of installation.

Adding lighting to the sleeping area

To prevent the heating radiator from being completely covered by the podium, it is advisable to move it or organize a “warm floor”. To create a cozy sleeping place, it is better to use carpet as upholstery, which is easy to clean. Or natural wood.

Advice To ensure that the podium does not visually conceal the space, you can use light shades, spectacular photo wallpaper or mirror surfaces.

In a niche or alcove

If there is a niche in the room, then it can be a good place to mount a podium. This project allows you to organize a sleeping place on top. Beds with a roll-out mechanism are less preferable.

We place the bed in a niche

A fairly large alcove, with parameters ranging from 250x250 cm, allows you to install a full-fledged sleeping place for two people. This design is usually equipped with drawers in which you can put bed linen, extra blankets and other things.

The alcove provides good zoning of the room space, which can be further enhanced by the use of curtains. In this case, the arrangement of good local lighting becomes not just desirable, but mandatory.

Option with storage systems

On the loggia

Glazed loggias and balconies are extremely rarely large. But they can also be used to decorate a bed on the podium.

With enough space, you can arrange a full-fledged sleeping place. To avoid the cold, you can organize a heated floor system.

The use of free space should be maximized in this case, with drawers under the flooring. If the boxes are durable, then they can be used for more than just storing things. But also jars with preparations for the winter.

Loggias, which are connected to the room by removing part of the wall, allow you to arrange a neat sleeping place according to the principle of organizing it in a niche. This is a good option for implementing a Japanese-style bed.

If there is a lack of heat in the room, it is advisable to immediately consider a built-in heating system.

Easy to fit in a small room

In the bedroom

The sleeping place can be not only stationary, but also mobile. In the first case, it is logical to put a good orthopedic mattress on the podium. If the place to sleep is temporary, then during the day it will have to be removed by rolling up the mattress and putting it in a closet or under a podium.

A stationary place allows you to make it comfortable: use a high-quality orthopedic mattress, take the surface of the flooring protruding from the sides as a bedside table. A mobile seat requires a thinner mattress. In this case, it will have to be rolled up every morning, freeing up space for other purposes.

Option for sleeping on the balcony

In order for the podium with a bed to fit into the interior as organically as possible, the free area of the room must be taken into account. This point is especially important for small apartments, in which every square meter counts.

If only a compact model is suitable for a small room, then for a large bedroom you can choose any option.

Podium for a one-room apartment

In a one-room apartment for a family with a child, a play area for the baby can be placed on the podium. Covered with soft carpet, with space for storing toys inside, the podium will become a magical corner. The design of the wall decor in combination with the covering of the podium will create a princess castle, a magical forest or an underwater kingdom inside the room. For a schoolchild, you can equip a study space on the podium, and inside there is a pull-out bed. Such designs can easily compensate for the lack of a children's room in the apartment.

If it is necessary to combine the functions of a bedroom and a living room in a one-room apartment, a podium can replace a bed and a sofa. Oriental design with an abundance of colorful pillows will be comfortable for receiving guests and for sleeping. The built-in drawer eliminates the need to buy a chest of drawers or a wardrobe.

When the sofa for entertaining guests is the hosts' sleeping place, it would be logical to highlight the workplace with a podium. If the shape of the room is elongated, it will be harmonious to divide it in half with a podium, then a built-in bed will fit inside. In a room close to a square, it is better to install a narrow podium, the width of the desk, but as high as the ceiling height allows, then a convenient storage system can be placed inside.

The need to make the bed in the morning in a one-room apartment is obvious. But until the family acquires a more spacious living space, a bed built into the podium will solve this problem.

Podium with a workplace in the living room interior

What to look for when ordering?

When you get excited about the idea of organizing a bed-podium, it is important to follow these requirements:

Its appearance must be combined with the existing or planned interior.
The sleeping place should be comfortable for sleeping, suitable in length and width for the person for whom it is intended.
If a roll-out system is installed, the depth of the podium should allow the bed to fit completely under the podium.
A high podium requires comfortable steps and lighting that allows you to climb comfortably.
The sleeping place must be able to withstand the weight of people.
The height of the podium should allow an adult to stand on it without resting his head on the ceiling.
Materials must be environmentally friendly.

The sleeping place should be comfortable for sleeping

Tip Steps can be used to good effect by organizing storage systems in them in the form of drawers.

Accessories

The choice of accessories depends on the chosen style. Let's look at some of them.

Bed linen and bedspreads

The colors of bed linen and bedspreads create a certain mood. The color can match the podium or contrast.

We stick to the same design style

Dark flooring and light bedding create an effective contrast. Similar light shades look soft, relaxing and calming.

Plain fabrics are laconic and elegant in their simplicity. A bedspread can add a touch of chic or even become a pop of color when you choose rich colors and shimmery materials. Pastel shades are considered more suitable for the bedroom and bed design.

Plain fabrics are always laconic

The choice of fabrics for bed linen is designed to emphasize the stylish direction of the bedroom and to go well with the shade and texture of the podium itself.

Let's create our own cozy corner

Materials with a light, unobtrusive shine will help add elegance. They bring a touch of glamor and festivity. Matte fabrics (linen, cotton) are eco-friendly, suitable for country styles and simple interiors.

For a room in Provence style, you can choose light pastel linen made from natural fabrics with a small flower pattern. It goes well with a wooden surface, emphasizing style.

Minimalism requires the presence of plain materials and a strict form of the podium. For country, a good solution would be a bright patchwork bedspread and the severity of the shape of a wooden podium.

Great option for a small apartment

Accents

When placing bright accents, it is important not to overdo it with rich shades and flashy objects.

It could be:

bright pillow;
a spectacular night light or sconce above the headboard.

Bright accents with color

Advice You should not neglect installing lighting fixtures near the bed. This could be a floor lamp or a table lamp designed for reading.

Small apartment: do you really need a podium?

Is it possible to make a podium in a small apartment? Installing flooring with a modest area requires a balanced approach.

Khrushchev apartments have low ceilings and small rooms. Because of this, a limitation is imposed not only on the area of the podium, but also on its height. To prevent the room from seeming even smaller and the ceilings lower, it should be low.

In small apartments it is better to make the podium low

If a low podium does not solve the problems with arranging a sleeping area and the multifunctional use of the flooring itself, then it is better to abandon the idea. This also applies to rooms in which there is an excess of furniture.

Even a small apartment can look very modern with a multifunctional interior. In this case, pieces of furniture combine several functions, move, change position and purpose.

Drawers and shelves for books at the ends will be a good way out. To save space, cabinets and drawers can be located not only under the podium panel, but also on the sides.

Storage boxes are a great space saver

The presence of a sloping ceiling is not in itself a contraindication to installing a podium.

Should I order it or make it myself?

Runway models will definitely attract the attention of everyone entering the room. Therefore, it is important to make all the design reliably, highly durable and beautiful.

You can make a simple traditional podium without retractable or opening structures with your own hands if you have tools, high-quality materials and minimal experience in performing this type of work. In this case, the required amount of material must be clearly calculated, drawings must be made and calculations made.

Having no experience in work, it is better to trust the specialists

If there are neither appropriate qualifications for such work, nor sufficient free time, the work can be entrusted to professionals. This also applies to complex systems with opening doors, pull-out drawers and roll-out mechanisms.

Installation Features: 7 Important Recommendations

When ordering a podium bed or installing the structure yourself, you need to take into account the features of such an interior solution:

If the podium includes not only a sleeping area, but also a passage area, it must have sufficient sound insulation.
The non-standard curved shape of the top shield of the podium should have a frame of the same shape.
Structural strength is more important than saving materials.
When choosing a place to install a podium structure, try to place it in the same place where a regular bed would look natural.
If the podium is technical, hiding communications, it is important to maintain access to them. Otherwise, you will have to disassemble the entire structure to repair the cable or fix a water leak.
When ordering a concrete podium, a careful calculation of the load on the building floors should be carried out. Therefore, it is recommended for private houses and first floors.
The podium should not block the passages or clutter up the space.

We do not close the passages in the room

VIDEO: The coolest ideas for a podium bed

Podium bed in the interior

Choosing the best design ideas

Podium in the bedroom

A special place will be occupied by a podium bed in the interior of a studio apartment. Such an elevation will become a real royal bed both in a one-room apartment and in a full-length bedroom. When the size of the room is small, a design with a niche for the bed will come to the rescue. During the daytime, the compartments will conveniently store bedding, blankets and pillows, and at night the element will be transformed into a full-fledged place to sleep.

With the help of the design, it is easy to save space in the bedroom if you organize a place under it for sleeping, a niche for storing accessories and other things. When the height of the pedestal is above 30 cm, the architectural element is complemented by a footrest or steps. If desired, this element can be easily decorated with stained glass or tiles. A podium bed in a one-room apartment is most often complemented by a partition or canopy around the perimeter.