Varieties, advantages and disadvantages of folding baby beds
You can increase the space in a small apartment with the help of correctly selected furniture. Children's room especially needs space. It should only have the necessary furniture, appliances and nothing more. An ordinary sleeping place occupies a large area, but if it is replaced by a folding children's bed, then free space for toys, study, outdoor games of the child will be freed. A practical, modern product for babies has a lot of advantages.
What is a
A folding bed is a full-fledged sleeping place, which when assembled is in an upright position. Furniture undergoes constant movement, in connection with which manufacturers use high-quality and reliable materials for its manufacture. The model is based on a frame made of high-strength plastic sheets with reinforced filler. Side walls are made of high-quality wooden base. Rigidity and durability of joints are provided by steel mounting brackets.
The bed is raised using special mechanisms. Three types of fasteners are used:
- Gas lift or shock absorber. Long-term, silent mechanism, smoothly, without tension, changing the position of the bed. The action is due to the pressure of the gas on the piston and putting it in motion. The cost of the elevator is higher than the spring analogue, but the shelf life, ease of use justify the price. In modern furniture, a push-button control is installed to move the structure into the box and vice versa.
- Hinges. The option is designed to manually raise the bed. Reliable, but physically difficult way, not everyone can do it. Shock absorbers and springs are absent, fixing takes place by latches. Due to the severity of the change in position, the bed, as a rule, remains in a disassembled horizontal state for a long time.
- Spring blocks. The installation of such equipment requires the calculation of the weight and size of the bed. An additional adjustment of the spring tension is required. The price is not high, the service life is long, subject to technical specifications.
A bed of wood is attached to the base of the structure. It is environmentally friendly, reliable, but expensive material. Production from a chipboard with a laminated coating is possible. The box is a place where the raised bed is removed. The design is rigidly fixed, attached to the floor and wall, the safety of use as a whole depends on its stability.
Nylon belts are used to hold the mattress and bedding in an upright state. They are attached to the base of the structure, equipped with clasps, securely fix sleep accessories. When the bed is in a horizontal position, the belts are unfastened and do not cause inconvenience. To fix the free end of the furniture when resting, support legs are used, which in an upright position are hidden in a box, niche or cabinet.
When collecting individual elements of a folding baby bed, the following types of fasteners will be used:
- hooks and latches - metal plates that serve to fix the berth;
- corners - fasten the frame parts at an angle of 90 degrees;
- eccentric couplers - connect pieces of furniture;
- screws - are used to fasten the strap, handle or decor of the product;
- screws, screws - are treated with an anti-corrosion compound and fasten parts of furniture;
- nails - used for upholstery, fastening the rear wall of the cabinet from fiberboard.
The life of the product directly depends on the materials of manufacture and constituent mechanisms. According to the requirements of GOSTs, the warranty is 18 months from the date of purchase. The service life is estimated at 5-10 years.
The cost is set by the furniture manufacturer depending on the price of the raw materials. The market offers both budget models and expensive ones. Cost increases with natural wood and durable lifting gear.
Using schemes of a folding bed, you can independently build a berth with a folding mechanism, provided that reliable materials that withstand constant loads are used. To do this, you need to determine the location of the structure: vertical or horizontal. Then you need to do the working drawings of the folding beds with your own hands or find ready-made options on the Internet, make a list of materials.
Folding beds come with mattresses (usually models with lamellas) and without them. In the latter case, you should choose an environmentally friendly product with a thickness of not more than 25 cm, exceeding the height of the child. The following varieties are presented on the market:
- spring;
- orthopedic;
- springless.
Different types and fillers:
- with coconut coir - support posture;
- with natural latex - anti-allergenic, have a high cost;
- with polyurethane foam - are a budget analogue of latex.
Gas liftHingesSpring unitLamelsSpring loadedPPUWith coconutSpringless mattressLatexThe materials used in the manufacture of the bed should not harm the health of the child.
Advantages and disadvantages
To solve the issue of purchasing or ordering a children's folding bed, you must understand its advantages and disadvantages. Furniture of this kind has the following advantages:
- the release of additional space in the children's room;
- the ability to fully clean the house;
- multifunctionality (beds on the back side are often equipped with shelves for storing things);
- wide range of prices;
- lack of need to clean bed linen thanks to the presence of fixing belts;
- modern design. The bed is part of the built-in furniture and due to the right style can be a bright spot or an inconspicuous continuation of the cabinet;
- the use of environmentally friendly materials for manufacturing;
- the possibility of independent choice of a mattress.
The advantages of using a folding bed are the expansion of the space, the convenience of cleaning, accustoming a teenage child to order.
The disadvantages include:
- High price - the latest technology and development are not cheap.
- Problems with the selection of furniture - the bed should organically fit into the interior of the room.
- Depreciation - cheap components may cease to fulfill their functions, which will lead to independent disclosure of the structure. Damage to mechanisms will require replacement and additional costs.
- Low margin of load and durability.
Installation is carried out only by professionals and only in the presence of concrete or brick walls after preliminary preparation. In other cases, operation is not recommended. In addition, such a model cannot be rearranged. If you want to do all the work yourself on the Internet, you can always find information on how to make a folding bed and hang it on your own.
Varieties
A variety of folding bed options are available. Design solutions, raw materials, modern designs are able to satisfy any ideas. The main varieties are:
- Children's folding horizontal bed. It is located along the wall and folds along the long side. The design is designed for one berth. For such a bed, the height of the ceiling is not important. At the top of the cabinet (box for construction) there is a lot of space for shelves with toys, books and little things.
- Vertical folding baby bed - a classic model. Installation is possible in high rooms, fitted wardrobes or niches. The width of the berth is 45 cm, so when assembled it is an economical option in terms of space. The lifting vertical design can be of various configurations: single, one-and-a-half and double.
- Transformer. The product is converted into various types of furniture. The most common is a horizontal module with a table. The berth is folded into the cabinet cavity, leaving instead the surface of the table with shelves. In the evening, transformers for children easily roll over, forming a comfortable place to sleep. Options 3 in 1, if desired, the owner can be with a bed, sofa and wardrobe.
- Bunk folding bed for two children. Has a horizontal parallel arrangement of berths. This design occupies the entire mounting wall from floor to ceiling, and the free space may be intended for the closet for linen.
- Bed-table. Multifunctional furniture that is more suitable for students. The berth is transformed into a desk or computer desk. The design is safe to use. Depending on the type, the countertop extends, rises or is located above the bed.
HorizontalVerticalBunkWith a tableWith a chest of drawersA wide variety of styles and purposes will allow you to organically fit a folding bed into the interior of the room.
Popular design
The niche, the facade of the described device must be combined with the design of the room, consistent with the design available in the room. Furniture for a children's room with a folding bed can be quickly and easily hidden in the daytime. To do this, use:
- niche in the wall;
- a wardrobe (in this case, a children's folding bed for two occupies its entire space);
- a podium on the floor, which hides the berth and originally solves the issue of level zoning of the room;
- chest of drawers.
The depth of the niches for storing beds is about 45 cm, but the size depends on the parameters of the beds, which correspond to the age of the child. Nuances of choice:
- For babies up to 3 years old, models of 119 x 64 cm are selected.
- Up to 5 years - 141 x 71 cm, 160 x 70 cm.
- Schoolchildren 7-13 years old - 70 x 180 cm or 91 x 201 cm.
- Adolescents - 180 x 90 cm, 190 x 90 cm.
The height of the cabinet for a vertical folding bed will correspond to its length, horizontal to its width, and vice versa. The size of the podium should be slightly larger than the berth. When purchasing a product in a store, you should choose it taking into account the decoration that already exists in the room.
Do-it-yourself folding bed is not easy. Better invite the wizard. If the design is made to order, then the expert will offer decent design options.
Criterias of choice
When purchasing a folding product in a store, you need to pay attention to its environmental safety, reliability and decor. The immediate user of this item will be the child, and his health is the main priority when choosing. The criteria that you need to pay attention to are presented in the table.
Indicators | Requirements, Recommendations |
Accessories, transformation mechanism, fasteners | Must be made of steel |
Mechanism responsible for changing the position of the bed | Smooth, without tangible jerks and significant effort. Can be used by child |
Folding mechanism | Must have a guarantee that the product does not open spontaneously when folded |
Lashing straps for holding the mattress and bedding | It is desirable that they are sufficiently rigid and long |
Construction material | Solid wood recommended |
Chipboard bed | Ensure that the raw materials comply with accepted sanitary and environmental standards. |
Decorative finish | Not damaged, no scratches, chips or cracks on the surface |
When betting on a particular manufacturer, it is worthwhile to carefully study the reviews about it. The external impression does not always correspond to technological and environmental requirements. Be sure to check the availability of a product quality certificate.
Children's furniture with a folding bed is designed to perform the function of increasing the space of a room. Also, when using it, issues of comfortable rest, active spending time by the child are effectively resolved. Design solutions allow you to harmoniously complement the interior of the room.