A floating bed is a piece of furniture made in a special way . When you look at it, you get the feeling that the thing is hovering above the ground. In the interior, they look simply magical. There is no secret: the design features allow you to achieve this effect. You can assemble such a bed with your own hands if you wish.
Archiexpo
We are drawing up a project
A “flying” bed is an incredibly beautiful accessory. The sleeping place floats in the air, giving the whole room a futuristic and unusual look. It’s all about the design of the stock support. This bed does not have regular legs. They are replaced by a base, which is smaller in width and length than the frame.
The floating effect can be enhanced by equipping the lower surface of the furniture with lighting. Attach the LED strip along the frame and enjoy an additional source of night light. LED strips also allow you to create a unique design using different colors and lighting modes.
Fastening such furniture eliminates loosening over time, as can happen with ordinary legs. In addition, being raised above the floor makes cleaning much easier. For example, a robot vacuum cleaner can do all the work for you.
To begin, select the look you want. Search the Internet for photos of models and draw your design based on the images you like.
Don’t forget to take into account the dimensions of the future bed. Measure the installation location carefully. Think about what the headboard will be like, whether you need a footrest, soft upholstery, or an additional drawer. Once you have the image of the future bed in your head, it’s time to draw up an assembly plan.
Schemes and design drawings
Floating beds are generally constructed in the same way as regular ones: it is a frame where the mattress is placed, and its support. There are several types of bases.
“Secret” legs. Such beds have legs, but they are located not in the corners, but in the depths on the supporting beams of the bed.
Reduced box. The bed is supported on a square or rectangular base, smaller in size than the frame.
“Underframe”. By analogy with tables on one leg, the bed is supported by just one small support. Moreover, to avoid overturning, such models are bolted to both the floor and the wall.
Mounted. An L-shaped profile of the required height is attached vertically, and on its basis, the bed itself is assembled. A beautiful headboard will help hide the attachment points. In an effort to achieve a unique design, some even hang the bed from the ceiling on chains. This way the structure will sway slightly when moving, which adds additional zest to the bedroom design.
Transparent base. The box on which the mattress is placed is made from high-strength glass. The most controversial option in terms of care, cleaning, and operation. But the appearance is simply amazing.
The choice of base depends on the final size of the bed. For spacious double beds, it is better to choose a combined type: both to the floor and to the wall. Or a stable structure, not too narrow, so that the furniture does not tip over if you suddenly sit on the edge.
Usually, linen drawers are hidden inside the box on which the bed rests, but in our case, the ultimate goal is to get rid of this element. If you need extra storage space inside the bed, consider models with a lift-up mechanism.
When constructing a drawing, take into account the desired height. The larger it is, the narrower and more inconspicuous the support should be.
Also, the diagram should take into account the areas of greatest load. These are the edges of the bed where people sit before lying down, and the middle where they sleep. The mounting points must be strong and the fittings must be of high quality. You can entrust this stage to professionals who can calculate the load on each structural element.
How to make a frame out of wood?
Wood is a durable and popular environmentally friendly material for furniture production. It is easy to work with if you decide to make a bed with your own hands, and the final weight of the structure will be less than that of a metal one. Take all measurements in advance to buy the required amount of material. To save money, external elements can be made from chipboard or MDF.
Tools and materials
To make a wooden bed we will need:
boards of different lengths for the frame;
plywood for the base of the bed;
strong bars to strengthen the structure;
drill for holes for fastenings;
jigsaw for cutting elements of the required size;
screwdriver;
building level;
Screwdriver Set;
roulette;
various screws, furniture plugs, and other accessories;
iron corners for fastening;
LED strip if backlighting is planned;
facing materials – fabric, foam rubber, chipboard, MDF, depending on the design project.
Manufacturing stages
It is better to assemble a bulky structure at the installation site. Prepare your bedroom by removing clutter and covering furnishings with plastic sheeting.
The bed is assembled from the bottom up. First, we create the base box. There should be several crossbars inside it for strength. Place them at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from each other, depending on the size. This type of construction means that the edges of the frame will not extend beyond the base by more than 30 cm. For additional stability, the side that will be adjacent to the wall may not have an indentation.
Then the bed is assembled. Beams made of timber are attached to the frame. They should coincide with the crossbars of the base, so the bed will be stronger. The lower part, which will “float”, is equipped with beams running across, with the same distance between them.
Both elements are connected using pillars with a height from the floor to the edge of the bed. These pillars are mounted at the junction of the crossbars.
Coat the wood with varnish or paint to protect it from moisture and parasites. At this stage, attach the backlight, if needed.
All that remains is to cover the bed with plywood and screw on the sides. Their height is determined by the parameters of the mattress. The sides can be made from materials other than wood.
The headboard is prepared separately and attached to the finished structure. At your request, it can be simply a decorative sheet of laminated chipboard or an OSB board covered with fabric with foam filling.
Making a metal bed
Making a metal structure at home is more difficult – the work requires certain skills and experience.
If you are not completely confident in yourself, entrust the production of parts to professionals according to your drawings, and just assemble a “constructor set” at home. These beds will last for many years.
Despite its heavy weight, metal is much stronger than wood and can withstand high loads.
To work you will need:
tape measure and marker for marking;
grinder with a set of cutting and grinding wheels for metal;
drill with special drills;
clamps, clamps, clamps;
square metal profile;
plywood for the stock;
facing materials for sides and headboards;
accessories for fastening.
You can use welding instead of bolts. Do not forget about protective equipment when working with a welding machine.
Assembling a metal frame is not much different from the stages of working with wood.
Assemble a frame for the stock from a profile pipe. Add cross beams to strengthen the structure, but do not overdo it so that the final weight does not go through the roof.
Place the legs at the intersection of the crossbars. It is best to place them at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from the edge.
Sand the structure and varnish it to protect it from moisture and corrosion.
Install bumpers and a platform under the mattress and headboard.
Useful tips
When choosing the height of the bed, focus on your comfort. To select a support that will not be visible from the side, move as far away from the installation site as possible. This way you will understand which type of fastening is right for you, given that the legs should not be located deeper than 40 centimeters under the bed.
You can simply walk through furniture stores and look at samples to understand which model suits you best.
To enhance the floating effect, match the color of the box and base to the shade of the floor. Visually, this step will help fit the item into the interior.
If you want to choose an option with a mount without legs, study the material of the walls. A high headboard will further strengthen the structure.
When estimating the size of your future bed, start from the parameters of the mattress you plan to use. When producing furniture, companies take into account the standard sizes of sleeping places, so it is easy to choose the filling for any bed purchased in a store. Keep this in mind when planning custom furniture.
When assembling the base, protect the legs with furniture pads so that they do not leave marks on the floor. This is especially true for metal structures.
