Transformable chest of drawers: types of models, design and selection rules

A compact bed-chest, suitable for any apartment, even small one-room apartments. This is an ideal option if it is important to save more free space in the room. In addition to a sleeping place, this model can accommodate children's clothes, toys, and bed linen. Thanks to its versatility, you won’t have to spend money on additional furniture.

Transformable chest of drawers - advantages and features

The original design is a medium-height chest of drawers containing a sleeping place. Thanks to a special mechanism, the bed is installed vertically and hidden from prying eyes by a decorative panel. Many models are complemented by drawers, cabinets, tables, sofas and other items to increase functionality.

A bed that can be transformed into a chest of drawers has a number of advantages.

• Compact dimensions when folded.
• Space saving.
• The conversion provides a simple and reliable device.
• Variety of façade designs.
• Various types of equipment.
• Possibility of combination with any interior style.

Popular models

Under the general name “bed-dresser” there are several variants of the product. Each is characterized by a certain structure, size, and functional elements. The model line includes different designs:

1. Crib for newborns. The berth is identical in shape to the playpen. The built-in pendulum helps rock the baby to sleep. The advantage of modern children's beds with a chest of drawers and drawers is the transformation into a teenage model.
2. Folding bed. Convenient transformer that allows you to lower the bed at night. During the day, the piece of furniture looks like an ordinary chest of drawers.
3. Two-tier model. The chest of drawers for two children is equipped with two independent sleeping places. Drawers are located in the steps leading to the second floor, or under the lower tier.
4. Chest of drawers with pull-out table. Multifunctional design, the tabletop here reclines or extends. The work table unfolds during the day when the mattress is raised up.
5. Loft bed. The structure is characterized by the presence of an upper berth. On the lower tier there is a table and a wardrobe. Some models provide gaming and sports elements.
6. Sofa bed. A universal model that can be an adult or children's transforming bed with a chest of drawers. The ability to convert a bed into a sofa allows you to place such furniture in the living room.
7. Smart furniture. The set includes a bunk bed, bedside tables, table, shelves. Both mattresses are reclining. The lower one is converted into a desk, and the bedside tables act as steps.

For adult users, models with folding beds and transformers are optimal.

For newborns

Folding

Bunk

With extendable table

Loft bed

Sofa bed

Smart furniture

Modifications

A wide range of designs makes it possible to choose a model that fully meets your requirements. Manufacturers offer various types of products.

• The classic version is represented by a horizontal folding bed of a single or one-and-a-half type. It has compact dimensions; one and a half meters of space in front of the facade is enough to unfold it. Such furniture can be complemented by a system of shelves or a cabinet for organizing storage.
• The two-story model includes two sleeping beds. The lower block extends thanks to guides and a roller system. At the bottom there are usually spacious compartments.
• For a children's room, a bed-dresser with a table would be a good purchase. In a small area it will be possible to arrange a working and sleeping area. During transformation, the lifting tabletop moves upward along with all the contents, and the resulting gap takes up the sleeping space. In another modification, the working surface can serve as a support for a folding bed.
• In some models, a small sofa is installed in front of the facade. During transformation, the product is hidden in the base or only soft pillows are removed. The presence of such a piece of upholstered furniture makes the room more comfortable and creates a comfortable corner for sitting during the daytime.

A chest of drawers is a functional product that allows you to wisely manage your free space. The model is considered an ideal solution for small apartments.

Manufacturing materials

Structural parts of bedroom furniture are made from different raw materials. Its quality affects the strength, reliability, environmental safety, durability, and appearance of the product. Manufacturers use:

• tree;
• MDF;
• Chipboard.

Purpose of a functional bed, popular manufacturers
Solid wood is ideal for the production of a children's bed with a chest of drawers. Such raw materials guarantee a long service life of furniture without loss of basic characteristics. Throughout use, the natural material retains high resistance to mechanical stress, aesthetic appeal and environmental friendliness. Most often, inexpensive but durable pine is used for production. And to increase their presentation, these boards are covered with veneer made from valuable species.

In second place in terms of quality and cost is MDF. The big advantage of the material is that no toxic substances are used in the manufacture of fiberboards. The dense and homogeneous structure of MDF explains the long service life of furniture products. In addition, thanks to modern processing, the panels have an attractive appearance.

Chipboard is inferior to the first two types of materials in quality, but benefits due to its lower cost. Chipboard is reliable when using furniture. It makes beautiful dresser fronts and bed frames.

When purchasing furniture made from chipboard, you need to remember the possible toxicity of the composition that is used to glue the chips.

Tree

MDF

laminated chipboard

How does a 2 in 1 folding bed-dresser work?

The bed-dresser consists of the following elements: frame, base, transformation mechanism, decorative facade.

Frame

The frame of the product includes a bottom, side walls, and internal ribs that provide structural rigidity. The parts are fastened together using metal corners. At the bottom there is a metal strip to which the fittings are mounted. The standard dimensions of the chest of drawers are 2.2 m in length and 1.6 m in height.

Wood, MDF or chipboard are used to make the frame. The first option is distinguished by reliability, durability, and environmental safety, but the wooden structure is quite expensive. Budget products are made of wood panels. In this case, be sure to check the presence of a certificate confirming the material class: E1 or E0.

Mechanisms of transformation

To transform a chest of drawers into a bed, several types of mechanisms are used.

• Manual conversion occurs as a result of lifting the mattress and placing it in the desired position. If the sleeping bed is significant in weight, then some effort will be required. In this case, children will need adult help.
• The spring system is selected depending on the expected load. It greatly facilitates the process of reclining the bed and is inexpensive, but over time the spirals can stretch. In this case, it is enough to replace the weakened elements without affecting the remaining parts of the mechanism.
• Gas shock absorbers operate smoothly and silently, even a child can easily handle them, which is why they are usually installed on children's structures. The disadvantage may be the high price, but the material investment will fully pay off due to its long service life. According to manufacturers, it can reach 50 years.

Sleeping area

The sleeping area consists of a base and a mattress.

The horizontal transformable chest of drawers can be equipped with a solid flooring or a slatted structure.

• The first option is made of durable material: wood, wood board with a thickness of at least 20 mm or plywood. It ensures the creation of a perfectly flat and rigid surface, has high strength and an affordable price. Disadvantage: disruption of free air movement, increase in total weight increases the load on fasteners.
• The lamella design has increased elasticity, which makes it possible to enhance the orthopedic characteristics of the mattress. For the manufacture of planks, birch, walnut, beech wood, which has undergone special processing, or aluminum alloy is used. Advantages of a lamella base: reduced load on the frame, good air exchange. Weaknesses: high cost, over time there is a loss of elasticity of the lamellas.

The height of the mattress for such models depends on the depth of the box, and ranges from 20 to 40 cm. The remaining parameters are selected in accordance with the dimensions of the base. Typically, the width of the mattress ranges from 70 to 90 cm, and the length - from 190 to 220 cm. The presented size range allows you to organize comfortable sleeping conditions not only for a teenager, but also for an adult.

To prevent the mattress and bed linen from slipping, the folding horizontal transformer bed is equipped with two or three pairs of belts. Before raising the stock, they are fastened with carabiners.

Depending on the type of filling, mattresses are divided into spring and springless.

The first type is represented by independent spirals and the Bonel system.

Separate springs allow you to maintain the correct body position during sleep and react precisely to the load. However, standard designs are not suitable in this case, since over time the spirals may shift due to the mattress being in a vertical position for a long time.

The Bonel system is more reliable, but the orthopedic effect is weak.

Springless products are made of one or more types of fillers. Most often used: polyurethane foam, latex, coir, holofiber and their combinations.

The degree of mattress hardness is selected taking into account the biometric parameters and personal preferences of the user.

Facade

The front of the bed, transformable into a chest of drawers, performs a decorative function. For its manufacture, the following is used: chipboard 2.5 cm thick, MDF - 1.6 cm. Solid wood is not used so often. This is due to the high cost of the material.

If wood boards are used, their surface is covered with film, plastic, or natural veneer. Surfaces decorated with photo printing look interesting.

Another method involves installing fittings in the form of false handles, which create an imitation of a real chest of drawers with drawers.

Design dimensions

The dimensions of functional furniture depend on the type of construction. An ordinary adult chest of drawers has a standard length of 200–220 cm and a width of 90–200 cm. Only the height changes, which depends on the number of tiers of drawers. The dimensions of beds for teenagers are within 90 × 200 cm. The length and height of bunk models are dictated by additional modules that are included in the kit: bedside tables, table, steps.

Classification of folding beds, reliable manufacturers

The dimensions of transformers and folding models differ in assembled and disassembled form. When choosing such a bed, you need to calculate in advance how much space the folding or pull-out elements will require. In the room where there is an adult transformable chest of drawers, there should be free space for people to move around.

Models designed for newborns are always larger than the usual dimensions of the cradle. The changing table takes up additional space, thereby increasing the length of the structure. The width of the child's seat remains standard - 60–80 cm, and the length is 170–180 cm.

Large structures hardly fit into small rooms. Compact models, on the contrary, get lost in the atmosphere of spacious rooms. When choosing a chest of drawers, you should take into account not only the ratio of the size of the furniture and the area of ​​the bedroom, but also the configuration of the room. If you plan to place the bed in a niche, the parameters depend on the width of the wall.

How to choose the size

When choosing a children's bed with a chest of drawers, you need to consider that it is slightly larger than a standard bed. The sleeping place is the same, but the size of the bedside table increases its length. Models with a chest of drawers usually have a total width of 60-80 cm, a length of 170-180 cm; a transformer for a teenager will be approximately 90x200 cm.

The size of the bed should be selected according to the size of the room. There are models with a small sleeping area and a chest of drawers where the bed can be folded. And there are models with a large sleeping area and a chest of drawers with various additional equipment. This design already looks impressive and takes up much more space.

If the room is small, then such oversized furniture will look out of place. Just like in large spacious rooms, a modest chest of drawers will look ridiculous. It is important that the entire removable structure fits near one wall.

When choosing the required size, you need to take into account the space for the bed when unfolded. If you are planning models in which tables can be rolled out, then you need to take into account the space for it. Nothing should interfere during disassembly.

Mechanisms of transformation

Folding and retractable types of bedroom furniture are equipped with special control mechanisms. They allow you to easily unfold and assemble the product. Simple devices require more force, while more advanced systems provide easier operation. There are three types of transformation mechanisms:

1. Manual. The device is used in retractable furniture. The bed moves due to the operation of roller or ball guides. To ensure smooth sliding, the mattress is slightly lifted towards itself. It is not advisable to choose such a bed for teenagers and young children, as it will be difficult for them to cope with the heavy structure on their own.
2. Spring-loaded. A system of metal spirals ensures the operation of folding beds. The number of springs in a set depends on the weight of the structure. The simplicity of the mechanism is simultaneously combined with a long, trouble-free service life. Springs make it easier to recline the bed, so they are included in both adult and children's sets.
3. Gas lift. The mechanism ensures very easy and smooth lifting of the mattress. At the same time, a gas shock absorber requires greater financial expenses than a spring shock absorber. However, the ease of use and quietness outweigh all the disadvantages.

For children's models of chest of drawers, it is advisable to choose spring mechanisms or gas lift.

Manual

Spring

Gas lift

Types of mechanisms

The beds differ not only in functionality, the number of additional elements, but also in the way the bed is folded out:

• Retractable (transverse, longitudinal);
• Folding.

In the folding model, the bed is unfolded using a Push mechanism. Usually you need to pull the bed towards you so that the mattress “moves out”.

Types of mechanisms:

• With manual lifting – it is durable and reliable. When unfolding, you need to lift the mattress slightly towards you;
• With coil springs – suitable for any model of bed and any type of mattress. Withstands loads up to 120 kg;
• On gas lifts – provides easy, silent unfolding of the berth. This mechanism has a long service life (up to 50 years).

Tips for use

Simple dresser beds and more complex transformers require special attention from the owners. Constantly pulling out drawers, unfolding a bed, tilting a table - all these manipulations gradually wear out mechanical devices. Each time it is necessary to check the quality of fixation of elements. If necessary (the appearance of creaking, resistance), the working metal fittings are lubricated with machine oil. Screw fastenings are periodically checked and loose screws are tightened.

Pros and cons of a transformable wardrobe-sofa-bed, construction and design

Over time, dust and small debris accumulate in cracks and gaps, so regular cleaning of the house should alternate with general cleaning. A crib that includes a changing table requires more careful care. Such furniture must be constantly maintained in hygienic condition.

When arranging interior items, it is important to take into account their overall layout. If there is a transformable bed in the room, it is important that when unfolded the furniture does not create obstacles to movement. Open drawers and tilted countertops can not only cause injuries, but also break from impacts. Beds with desks need additional lighting, so it is recommended to consider the electrical wiring system so that there is an outlet next to the furniture. If this is not possible, the solution would be to change the arrangement of furniture.

A comfortable multifunctional bed-chest of drawers is a great solution for many spacious and small-sized apartments. Variations in models, sizes, materials, and designs allow you to choose the right one. And compliance with the operating rules guarantees pleasure from long-term use of such a product. Comfort, convenience, reasonable savings of money and square meters - the most important thing that combined furniture gives.

If creaking or resistance occurs, the working metal fittings are lubricated with machine oil.

A crib with a chest of drawers needs regular hygienic care

Beds with a desk require additional lighting, so it is advisable to provide an outlet next to the furniture

Dresser and changing table

In the standard version, the changing table is made folding and attached to the backrest. On some models, the table can be transformed to increase the sleeping space. It is better to check the reliability of the fastening before purchasing. The most rational and comfortable changing table is made from the top part (lid) of the chest of drawers with mandatory side stops for maximum safety of the child.

Bright bedroom with a transformable children's bed

See also: DIY crib: master class with drawings and photos