The podium is a modern solution that allows you to delimit the living space. And if a do-it-yourself pull-out bed is installed under the podium, then the functionality of the raised platform doubles. Plus, there is space for small cabinets to store small items. You should not assume that such a structure can only be done in small apartments. This solution will enliven any interior, even in a large room/apartment! Moreover, it never hurts to have an extra bed in case guests or relatives arrive. This design can also be assembled in a rented apartment, because there is no need to raise the floor and make an opening in the wall. So what kind of preparatory work needs to be done to make a pull-out bed and how does the manufacturing process itself go?
Preparation is the key to success
Corner bed arrangement diagram
The design of a pull-out bed can be different. Let's look at an example of a corner location:
- Support wall frame.
- A frame podium that was mounted on vertical strong sides.
- Pull-out bed with mattress on rollers. There can also be several drawers for bed linen, books and the like.
- Several additional corner and side drawers.
- A ladder of one or two steps.
This is how the finished structure with a pull-out bed will look like.
Pull-out bed with mattress on casters
It is necessary to consider the size of the purchased mattress.
In fact, the space above and near the bed will be a kind of dead zone, since it needs to be pulled out unhindered at night. The height of the mattress and flooring will be 45 cm. This height is sufficient, since a standard apartment has a height of 2.30 m. A person of average height will feel completely comfortable. And on top you can easily place a computer table and an armchair.
Collecting materials and tools
Tools and materials
Everything should be carefully prepared for work. Having made preliminary calculations, you can buy the material. You will need:
- Beam 40×60 mm 25 m.
- Furniture board: thickness 22 mm, size 600×3000 mm in two copies.
- MDF board: thickness 19 mm, size 2070×2620 mm in duplicate.
- There are two furniture casters.
- Screws and dowels.
- Acrylic paint and furniture varnish.
- PVA glue.
The dimensions indicated here are approximate. In your case, the dimensions may be different!
As for the selection of tools, you will need:
- jigsaw,
- electric saw,
- drill,
- milling machine,
- screwdrivers and screwdriver,
- clamp,
- roulette,
- ruler,
- pencil,
- sander,
- sandpaper,
- brush and roller.
Decoration
In order for the boy to be satisfied with the assembled “car”, it is beautifully decorated. Decorative elements are made from the same material as the main product. They can be decorated with multi-colored self-adhesive film. Some parts can be painted with rich, durable acrylic paints using a spray gun or a spray can. And sometimes a simple brush comes to the aid of a master. Volumetric car beds are most often painted in rich red or blue and decorated with white stripes.
The wheels can be cut out of chipboards and painted black, and inexpensive plastic caps can be used to decorate the center.
The wheels do not need to be painted or decorated separately, but can be painted on the side parts. You can also paint the car bed in assembled form.
The car bed is decorated with emblems, inscriptions, moldings or stickers. The sides are decorated with decorative overlays, which are screwed with self-tapping screws 80 mm long. The lower edge of the lining is located at a distance of 41 mm from the floor level.
In place of the headlights, holes are cut out for low-voltage LED spotlights. In this case, the “car” will have luminous headlights. The final appearance of the design depends on the imagination of the craftsman.
Installation of wall frame
Podium drawing for a double bed
First, a support structure is assembled and installed along the wall. You should measure straight. Directly on the floor, markings are made for the bed. These measurements can be plotted. To get the support rails into place, remove the baseboards. Now vertical racks made of timber are installed along the entire perimeter of the flooring. Depending on the expected load, adjust the pitch of the racks.
If you have two or more children, then, of course, you cannot drive them off the podium. For this reason, place the racks in 40 cm increments.
Making a podium
As for the height of the racks, it should be less than the platform exactly by the thickness of the timber. Mount a horizontal beam on top of these supports. This entire structure must be attached to the wall using dowels. The result will be a fairly rigid and strong structure.
Method for making copies of parts
Step 1
To make the second side wall, you could cut it with a jigsaw with a slight allowance and use a sander and file to finish it to the final shape. But, believe me, this is a waste of time. To quickly create the perfect duplicate, use a hand router and an edge banding attachment (photo 6). Use the first, already finished, side wall as a template. We advise you to use this copying method to make duplicates of other parts - body (B), fenders (C), tires (D) and wheels (E).
Step 2
Place the side template (A) on the trestle or table and place the second, roughly cut side on top. Align the factory edges and press the pieces together with clamps. Insert the edge trim cutter into the router and run it along the edge (photo 7). The guide at the bottom of the cutter will follow the template, and the router will trim the edges of the top, rough-sawn part. As a result, you will receive a perfect copy of an existing part.
Next up is a pull-out bed
Now it's time to make the bed. The front rounded edge and the bed frame itself should be cut from 19 mm chipboard. The bottom sides and cover must have sufficient rigidity and strength to support the weight of several people. For this reason, it is better to cut the elements of the lid and side wall from a 22 mm shield. Cut out all elements according to the prepared drawing. So, here is the sequence of making a pull-out bed:
- The bed is marked on the board and MDF panel. You will need to cut out the following elements from the slab: the lower base of the bed, which will be rounded at the front. To do this, use an electric jigsaw. The cover for the podium can be cut from a furniture panel. It is recommended to clean each cut so as not to drive in a splinter.
- To strengthen the flooring, cut out the sides from the board. According to the markings, these sides are attached to the floor of the podium. Next, glue stiffening ribs from 40x60 mm timber to the edges of the flooring. The board will have a height of 430 mm. Bed wall 130 mm. Mattress height 200 mm. As a result, the height of the bed structure with mattress will be 330 mm. To avoid any difficulties when rolling out the bed, the side of the flooring can be additionally reinforced with stiffening ribs: crosswise or longitudinally.
- The glue should dry well. After this, cover the sides with a layer of varnish and only then install the structure on the legs.
- It will be necessary to select grooves under the supporting beam. They will act as a support for the triangular niche cover.
- At this stage, the slatted mattress frame is assembled. Screw the chipboard strips to the slatted base. From two scraps of slab, assemble a semicircular façade. Each of the segments should be secured with screws. Between the bed frame and the rounded front of the bed, insert a stop, which is cut from the remains of MDF.
- Now all that remains is to screw the furniture casters to the lower base of the lying area. And attach the timber parts to the front lower part of the bed. The bed is ready!
Retractable design drawing
Finally, cut out the step and secure it with screws. Triangular covers should also be cut for corner niches. Once all this is done, you can check the functionality of the bed by rolling it out. If everything is working properly, you can continue working.
Screw the side ends of the decking to the beam of the wall frame. Glue the support rail into the finished grooves, which is necessary for laying the triangular cover. This entire structure is additionally secured with screws.
It is better to store seasonal items in niches located in the corners. Since access to these niches will only be required a few times a year. It will be possible to install furniture in these places.
At the end, the ladder is installed and the work is completed.
How to make a children's bed out of wood with your own hands at home
Pros and cons of making children's furniture yourself
The younger the child, the more time he spends in bed. When buying a ready-made crib, you cannot say with complete confidence that it is completely safe for your baby. So what are the advantages of a homemade crib? Let's compare both options:
Crib from the store
Positive points:
- There is no need to waste time on a finished bed.
Negative sides:
- there is no confidence in the quality of the material;
- reliability is in question;
- the quality of the coating leaves much to be desired;
- poor quality of bed manufacturing occurs;
- you always have to pay extra.
DIY children's bed
Pros:
- independent choice of material quality;
- the design is reliable;
- every detail is carefully processed;
- paint coatings are selected correctly, in compliance with sanitary requirements;
- minimal, justified costs for materials;
- pleasure from the process;
- acquisition of new skills.
Minuses:
- time-consuming.
Floor finishing
Carpet finishing
The completed frame should be beautifully finished. To do this, the entire surface must be treated with a wood primer, for example, drying oil. The surface must be dry. Then paint the surface in two layers.
If you don’t like painted surfaces, you can lay carpet on the floor of the podium. To do this, distribute the carpet evenly over the surface of the podium. Press it along its entire length with a heavy object. Then make markings that will exactly follow the outline of the entire structure. In places where the bed platform has rounded areas, work extremely carefully and carefully. Use a sharp knife to cut carpet. Each edge can be further processed, for example, with a braided cord or something else. When you have completely adjusted the carpet to size, it should be laid with glue so that it does not move.
This is how a pull-out bed is made. In literally four square meters you can organize a workplace on the podium and a pull-out bed under it. As you can see, making a pull-out bed is not that difficult. It just takes a little patience and effort.
