Variations on the Theme of Wardrobe-Bed

What to do if there is very little space in the room, you need somewhere to store things and at the same time do not want to sacrifice a proper sleeping place, or simply there is a desire to combine several functional zones? There are many options for solving this problem, but the most universal of them is a wardrobe-bed.

In addition, there are at least three possible combinations in which a wardrobe and a bed can be combined: the sleeping place can be placed under the wardrobe, on the wardrobe or inside it. All these options represent different types of furniture, namely:

• a pull-out bed from under the wardrobe;
• a loft bed;
• a wardrobe-bed itself.

Photo 1 — Wardrobe-bed or a combination of a loft bed and a wardrobe

Pull-out Bed Under Wardrobe

Among the three types mentioned above, the pull-out bed is the rarest. This is due to the fact that the depth of the wardrobe must match the width of the sleeping area, which creates a rather bulky structure. Therefore, if space is very limited, this variant is only possible in a single-bed configuration. In this case, a platform is created into which the sleeping area is hidden and on which a wardrobe (preferably in the form of a wardrobe-closet) is arranged. Alternatively, a wardrobe can be designed with a large lower drawer or shelf where the pull-out bed is placed.

Bed on Wardrobe

This combination is much more common and represents a loft bed of various heights and configurations. There are two main variants of how the furniture items can be arranged relative to each other.

• First, a wardrobe can be organized under the sleeping area – the wardrobe will occupy all available space;
• Second, a combination of a bed with a table and a wardrobe can be made, which allows combining up to three functional zones.

Loft beds are actively used in the design of children's and teenagers' bedrooms. In addition, such a bed is a fashionable interior element in the loft style, which is very popular among creative youth.

Photo 2 — Italian Wardrobe-Bed by Fratelli Spinelli

Embedded Folding Bed

Hiding a bed in a wardrobe is the most compact and practical combination of a wardrobe and a bed. An embedded folding bed is positioned against the wall, thus requiring exactly as much space as its thickness.

Such beds are equipped with spring lifting mechanisms or have a gas lift mechanism. Reviews of each type are mixed: as they say, every pot praises its own kettle. However, it is considered that the second type of lifting mechanism is more reliable and durable. Manufacturers install a more or less powerful mechanism depending on the weight of the bed frame and mattress assembly. Given that such furniture is designed for daily use, lifting mechanisms must be tested for reliability.

Photo 3 — Dresser-Bed for a Child's Room by Ukrainian Factory Mебель Стиль

In the class of wardrobe-beds with lifting and folding mechanisms, there are many subtypes, among which the following can be highlighted:

• a typical wardrobe-bed;
• a dresser-bed;
• a sofa-bed;
• a table-bed.

A wardrobe-bed, as such, can also have several variations.

• It may be just a separate compartment where the bed is hidden, or it can be part of an entire furniture wall or a section of a wardrobe-closet;
• The sleeping area may have vertical or horizontal orientation when placed in a wardrobe-bed.
• There may be nothing behind the bed inside the wardrobe, or there may be a shelf, sliding shelves, or storage for other items.

A dresser-bed differs from a wardrobe-bed in its corresponding height, only one possible orientation for the sleeping area – horizontal – and only one possible size – single bed. Just like a wardrobe-bed, a dresser-bed can serve solely as a storage for the bed or also include compartments and drawers for storing items.

Photo 4 — Table-Wardrobe-Bed Clei POPPI BOARD

A sofa-bed is a hybrid of a guest sofa, a full-size bed, and a storage compartment for the bed. Its advantage over a regular wardrobe-bed is that in the folded state, there is space where one can sit down. It looks like a regular compact sofa, behind which there is a minimalistic wardrobe. During transformation, the bed lowers directly onto the sofa.

There is also a type of furniture that can be characterized as a table-wardrobe-bed. A working surface is built into a wardrobe of various configurations with all kinds of additions, which during transformation swaps places with the sleeping area hidden behind it. The description may seem that the construction is rather bulky, and to some extent it is. But if one considers that it combines several pieces of furniture into one, it is a quite compact solution for a bed.

Photo 5 — Bed Built into Wardrobe Niche

Another successful combination of a bed and wardrobe that does not require any transformation mechanisms is embedding the bed into a niche in the furniture wall. It looks particularly impressive when wardrobes completely frame the window and form a platform under it, where the sleeping area can be placed.

Wardrobe-Bed, Price

Beds that cleverly disguise themselves as wardrobes fit perfectly into any interior zone.

This is an excellent option not only for a living room-bedroom or bedroom-office, but also for a child's room, as it is not difficult to unfold the bed and return it to its original position.

Many of the previously mentioned concepts require custom manufacturing or personal effort. However, it is also possible to buy almost any ready-made wardrobe-bed. The price for solid folding beds with a lifting mechanism usually starts from around 20,000 rubles and depends on their configuration.