Pull-out beds

The central place in the bedroom is always the bed. She often needs a lot of free space. But not all rooms are spacious, so the competent organization of a sleeping place in a small area is the main problem. But this problem can be solved with the help of transformable furniture, namely a pull-out bed.

Recently, pull-out beds have become more and more popular, which are an excellent alternative to traditional furniture. Pull-out bed due to its design has many advantages over bulky classic bed options and, moreover, pull-out sofas that are not always designed for sleeping:

• First of all, it is significant savings in precious meters. In small apartments with one or two rooms, a pull-out bed becomes a real salvation. Indeed, in such a limited space, sometimes it is not possible to allocate an entire room for a full-fledged bedroom, and a sofa is not always a good alternative.
• A good solution would be pull-out bed for small studio apartments. The presence of space without walls provides for the placement of a large number of objects, including a bed. And the best option would be a retractable design, which saves meters and provides residents with a comfortable sleeping place.

• A good option for a retractable design would be for children's rooms. Especially if the room is small, and there are two or three children living in it. Thanks to the design, the saved space can be used for games. An important advantage of retractable structures is ease of use. It does not take significant effort to push the structure, even a child can handle it. A couple of seconds and a comfortable sleeping place is ready to use.
• A pull-out bed is not only space and ease of use, but and harmonious design combined with a neat appearance. In the daytime, the bed is invisible and is an organic part of the interior. An argument in favor of a pull-out bed is a reasonable price. Buying a pull-out bed will cost less than 2-3 separate beds for children. Some classic adult beds cost much more than a retractable design.

In addition to the pros, there are also minor disadvantages:

• A complex installation system, which, as a rule, requires a call of specialists who will correctly install and adjust the mechanism.
• Prolonged use of this structure can damage the floor covering, leaving traces of the rollers, especially in the absence of a carpet.
• In addition, disputes sometimes arise between children using a tiered bed over the right to sit on the top of the bed.

The design of a pull-out bed consists of two parts: a sleeping place equipped with rollers, which can be pulled out if necessary, and a base (the bed itself or various niches). The option, where the base is a bed with a built-in extra bed, is used for children. For families with two children living in the same room, a roll-out crib with an extra bed downstairs is perfect. The design of this type has a number of advantages not only over ordinary beds, but also over high bunk options.

The roll-out design allows you to hide an additional berth under the main one.This design is stable and durable. The small dimensions of this miniature bedroom set will appeal to even the smallest inhabitants of the room. Climbing it is not high and not scary, but on the contrary, it is even very interesting. In the standard 2-in-1 design, during transformation, one tier is always higher than the other, but there are models in which a single-level arrangement of tiers is possible. For this, folding legs are mounted in the lower part, which, if necessary, unfold and both berths are at the same height.

Some models of pull-out options for children are equipped with additional drawers. The option with a box is very convenient to use, because it allows you to place any personal belongings of the child, be it toys, bedding or clothes. They are located under the lower part of the structure and are equipped with a roll-out or pull-out mechanism, like a berth. The transformation is carried out using wheels attached to the sides. They move either along the guides or on the floor.

To date, manufacturers produce many different modifications not only with boxes, but also with ladders. These small structures help the child climb to the top in the evening and descend safely in the morning. Some manufacturers equip such ladders with additional boxes. Convenient steps with a chest of drawers are obtained. For safety, the upper structure of the bed is equipped with bumpers that protect the child from a sudden fall during sleep.

Bunk pull-out beds for children are produced not only with a parallel arrangement of berths, but also with a perpendicular installation of the lower part. The lower tier in such a design becomes more convenient, since there is free space on top. To save space, it is better to install such a model on the corner of the room. In addition to the two-tier options, manufacturers produce models designed for three children. In such models, the upper tier can be either open or closed. When folded, such a model looks like an ordinary cabinet, all the tiers are hidden inside.

For school-age children, models are produced where the podium serves as the basis. The podium is based on a wooden or metal frame with a flat surface sheathed with plywood or boards. In the daytime, the pull-out bed is hidden inside the podium and is almost invisible, since its back is a continuation of the podium itself. Its surface can be used as a play or study area.

The podium bed can also be used for adults. Especially if the room is used not only as a bedroom, but also as a living room. A concealed, retractable bunk for two adults is hidden inside the platform, and the upper part is used as a cozy seating area. Thanks to this design, two pieces of furniture can be used separately, or at the same time, but they will occupy one place. A pull-out double design with a mattress can be used as a sofa during the day. To do this, do not push it in completely, cover the open part and put pillows on it. The basis for a pull-out bed, in addition to the podium, can be a decorative niche, a wardrobe and even a window sill.

Pull-out beds are classified not only by location, presence or absence of tiers, but also by size:

• To single-bed options includes products with a bed width from 80 to 100 cm, their length is in the range of 160-200 cm. Such dimensions are designed for children and adolescents.
• One and a half beds have a width of 100-140 cm, and the length of these models is 190-200 cm. Pull-out beds of this width are much less common.
• Double models, as a rule, are produced by manufacturers in widths from 160 to 180 cm with a berth length of 190-220 cm. Beds with a width over 180 cm are European sizes.

Beds with a size of 160x80 cm are most in demand, they are most often used in pull-out versions of bunk and three-tiered products of all modifications for children. The lower tier in all models is always 8-10 cm smaller than the upper tier, this is due to the specifics of the design. Therefore, the youngest child usually sleeps downstairs.

In addition to the width and length of the product, there is a value that characterizes the height of the bed. It is especially important for children's pull-out beds. Lower models, as a rule, do not have additional drawers at the bottom. In the higher models, the boxes are located under the lower tier, due to this, the lower berth is located higher. There is a way by which you can determine the ideal height of the retractable structure. The bed, or rather, its lower tier, should be at the knee level of the person for whom it is purchased.

This selection rule applies not only to children, but also to adults. Because it is much more difficult to get up from very low bed models than from designs that are level with the knees.

For the manufacture of pull-out beds, manufacturers use various materials:

• The frame of cots and some adult models is made of various wood species. The structure is subjected to grinding and polishing in order to avoid getting small pieces of wood under the skin. A solid wood bed has a lot of advantages: naturalness, environmental friendliness and safety. But there are some peculiarities: sensitivity to changes in temperature and humidity, in addition, such furniture requires special care.

• There are also combined options, where the frame is made of wood, and the facades are made of MDF or laminated chipboard. MDF is wood fibers that are pressed into panels using a special technology. In order to give the slabs an attractive appearance, they are either pasted over with a film, or covered with plastic, or veneered. Such furniture is distinguished not only by its high strength, but also by a rather high cost, which is not much lower than its wooden counterpart.

• Pull-out beds made of chipboard belong to the budget option. Good quality chipboard is a fairly stable material. Furniture from it does not dry out and does not exfoliate for a long time. This material is not susceptible to rot and mildew and is difficult to scratch or wrinkle. To prevent the ingress of formaldehydes into the air, this material is processed with PVC along the entire perimeter.

• In addition to the traditional material, some manufacturers use metal and plastic. A frame is most often made of metal, and plastic is used in combination with other materials, decorating external facades. Plastic is quite resistant to mechanical stress and is able to imitate the texture of any material.

To date, manufacturers produce pull-out beds in a variety of colors and shades. Among the popular colors there are both pastel colors and bright shades:

• Girls tend to adore warm gentle shades. Little pranksters will appreciate the pull-out bed in white, pink, raspberry or peach. A design in white looks especially beautiful in a children's bedroom. It will not only perfectly fit into the interior of any bedroom, as the white color goes well with any style, but will also visually give the children's room spaciousness and freshness.
• For preschool boys, the color scheme is somewhat different. For them, manufacturers produce pull-out beds in purple, yellow, green and blue. Bright juicy shades will give a good mood and a sea of ​​positive emotions.
• For older children and adults, muted palettes are more suitable. The best option: gray, dark blue, brown.

There are certain rules to help you make the right choice of a pull-out bed. for children and similar designs for adults:

• When buying a retractable structure for children, first of all, you need to pay attention to its weight. The cumbersome heavy structure is difficult to operate, which is especially important when pulling out the lower tier of the product on a daily basis.
• In active games, children very often use the bed, therefore, it must be stable and durable. When buying, do not forget about the optimal height and width of the structure. After all, the higher and narrower it is, the less stable it is, which means it is more dangerous to use, especially for the smallest children. In a safe structure, all component parts must be securely fastened.
• Particular attention should be paid to additional elements: accessories and wheels. The fittings must be firmly fixed to the parts. And the wheels should be of optimal width and resistant to shocks, shaking during the extension of structural parts. Manufacturers, as a rule, provide the retractable part with locks that allow stopping and fixing the wheels at a certain length. They must work harmoniously and accurately.
• When buying, you should also pay attention to the bottom of each berth. The best option would be a slat bottom rather than solid plywood. The rack-and-pinion design is better ventilated. Models where lamellas are attached instead of slats, developed for orthopedic mattresses, are more preferable for children, but have a high cost.

• When choosing mattresses for tiers, you should not buy products with a spring block. Children who are active by nature are very fond of jumping on them, deformation in such cases is inevitable, and springs are not the best option for the correct development of the musculoskeletal system. It is better to choose a mattress with coconut coir and latex, the main thing is to choose the degree of hardness appropriate for the child's age. The material of the mattress topper must be waterproof. The fabric of the mattress topper must be air permeable.
• Materials (edit)from which the children's pull-out bed is made, must be not only durable, but also safe for health. To confirm these facts, the seller must have quality certificates.
• When buying, you should pay attention to safety both basic and additional parts. The corners on the structure should be rounded and all parts well polished. There should be no chips or notches on the ends of the bed. It is better if the protective bumpers are installed not only on the upper tier, but also on the lower part.

• Availability of additional accessories not only increases the functionality of the bed, but also entails an increased cost of the product.
• When choosing a product it is necessary to take into account the size of the berth. Some stock won't hurt. This is especially true for girls and boys of different ages. For children of different sexes, the best option would be a model where the lower tier is freely disconnected from the structure. It can, if desired, be installed anywhere in the room.
• Each pull-out bed must come with assembly instructions... In order for the structure to be stable and function correctly, it is necessary to strictly follow the assembly instructions, observe the sequence of stages and the correct execution of each.

Keeping a pull-out bed in good condition requires some effort and a number of simple manipulations. Particular attention should be paid to the transformation mechanism. The appeared dirt and dust in the open parts of the mechanism must be promptly removed with a soft dry cloth.Checking the operability and serviceability of parts of the mechanism should be carried out twice a year. The test also includes the lubrication of all metal parts of the mechanism with a special oil.

When checking the operability of the mechanism, one should not use too brute physical force. A sharp blow can disrupt the well-coordinated operation of the mechanism, and it is sometimes quite problematic to eliminate the problem of a dropped part. In addition to the general rules of care, there are special recommendations depending on the material of manufacture of the retractable structure.

Furniture made of chipboard and MDF should not be cleaned with solvents, gasoline, abrasives, ammonia, chlorine, mastic, soda and wax. It is better to clean stains and dirt with a simple laundry soap or buy a special tool - Polish. In order for the appearance of the pull-out bed to please for a long time, you should not install it too close to the heating devices. The maximum allowable distance from the batteries is 0.5-0.7 m. Direct sunlight leads to deformation of the decorative coating.

There are many ideas for the location of pull-out beds. For adults, the most common is the runway option. This option is especially relevant for one-room apartments. You can install the podium, and with it the bed, in different parts of the room. You can place a structure with a bed by the window, or it can be at the opposite end of the room. The main thing is that there is room for the bed to be pulled out.

In addition to the podium, the pull-out bed can be installed in a closet or in a hidden niche. Both options, from a material point of view, are very expensive. Because this arrangement is impossible without special transformation mechanisms. For children, bunk beds are most often used. For narrow rooms, placing the product parallel to the window is most suitable. In the daytime, when the lower tier is removed, the upper one serves as a sofa. In addition to the window, you can install such a bed in another convenient place. There are both monolithic beds with or without steps.

For the little ones, there are models in the form of various objects. Bright and rich colors of such a bed are perfectly combined with the general style of the room.

Next, see an overview on pull-out beds, their properties and characteristics.