Sofas transforming into a bunk bed: what are and how to choose?

Owners of small apartments often have to deal with the problem of its arrangement, since each square meter is counted. The right decision in this case will be the acquisition of such a compact and multifunctional furniture as a sofa, transforming into a bunk bed. Such designs occupy a minimum of space, and thanks to a huge selection of designs and colors, they fit perfectly into any interior.

The bunk sofa bed is a unique type of furniture equipped with a special transformation mechanism with a different principle of operation. The second floor may appear using the bottom of the sofa, seat or back. To do this, you must perform certain sequential actions. The main feature of such structures is that they allow you to quickly organize two spacious sleeping beds, without applying special physical effort (the folding process is simplified due to the fact that the transformation mechanism is supplemented by gas lifts and springs).

A sofa that unfolds in a bunk bed necessarily consists of a ladder (used as an auxiliary element for lifting to the second floor), a circular fence located around the entire perimeter of the upper tier, safety locks and side armrests that act as a vertical rack. A transforming sofa is considered indispensable for those families that have two heterosexual children.

A two-story bed will simultaneously save the space of a child’s room and give it a cozy look. In addition, preparing a berth can take children, they will definitely like the process of transformation of the structure.

Such sofas have major advantages.

• Significant savings in room space. The seat does not come forward and does not extend during the transformation, it only moves vertically. Thus, by installing a sofa in a nursery or studio apartment, you can place other pieces of furniture.
• Universality. Compared to conventional bunk beds, this transformer can serve as both a place to sleep at night and a relaxation area during the day. On stationary beds it is impossible to watch TV, read books and meet guests with such convenience. As for the transformer furniture, it is quite roomy and attractive.

These sofa beds have their drawbacks.

• High price. The folding sofa system is equipped with complex mechanisms, the release series of which is limited, so the price of them rises. If you buy a cheap model, in which the quality of parts and the frame is low, then it will not last long.
• Complex transformation. Compared to conventional roll-out systems, in order to turn furniture into a bunk bed, you need to perform a number of sequential steps. Only children over 12 years old can cope on their own with the transformation of the design.

Folding two-story sofa beds, in contrast to the classic models, which are available with the "book" and "dolphin" transformation mechanism, have a unique design, complemented by several independent folding systems. Today, manufacturers produce sofas with three types of transformation.

• Retractable. Such sofas are suitable for rooms with a low ceiling, because when unfolded, the two berths are not in the same plane. To decompose the structure, one berth needs to be pulled out from under another.

• Coupe. To organize two berths, the sofa should be laid out, for which the pillows are first removed, then the top of the structure should be pulled and the fence and staircase should be fixed.

• Tandem. The transformation process for such models is as follows: first of all, you need to pull on the base of the structure (it is equipped with wheels at the bottom), then the back of the sofa rises independently on gas lifts, it only remains to be fixed to the stops. All furniture of this type is characterized by practicality and versatility. It can be placed even in the tiniest rooms.

The reliability and duration of use of sofas with this transformation mechanism largely depends on the quality of the material from which they are made. This indicator also affects the convenience and aesthetics, since the piece of furniture should harmoniously fit into the overall interior of the room. Usually, metal and wood are chosen for the manufacture of the frame of the transforming sofas. The first material is characterized by high strength and durability, the second is a natural raw material that can withstand loads of over 100 kg.

For the manufacture of such furniture, they usually prefer to use strong wood (pine, oak, walnut, cherry, alder).Products made from alder, walnut and cherry add a special touch to the interior of the room, while oak models demonstrate their beauty. As for the pine, it is considered the most budget option, which is in no way inferior in terms of performance to expensive wood species.

We must not forget about the upholstery of sofas. Designers recommend choosing models upholstered in material, the texture and color of which is fully consistent with the style of the room. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the intensity of operation of the sofa bed. It is advisable to buy models with removable covers, this will protect the upholstery from stains and excessive wiping. Children's models are usually lined with natural fabrics (flock, linen, cotton, scotchguard). Sofas for adults can be supplemented with artificial upholstery (arpatek, chenille, forest, courtesan).

Before you go shopping for a sofa with a transformation system into a bunk bed, it is important to determine its dimensions, the choice of which is affected by the weight and height of the owner. If you plan to purchase furniture for children, then you need to take into account their age (for babies models with a bed size of 700x1600 mm are suitable, for older children - 900x2000 mm). For adolescents and adults, designs are excellent, in which the berth can be up to 2 m long and up to 1 m wide.

In children's models, the height of the furniture also plays a huge role, if it is chosen incorrectly, then too high a design can become traumatic, and a low one can be inconvenient. Therefore, for children's bunk beds, the height is considered to be no more than 120 cm, for adults - about 180 cm.

Today, the furniture market is represented by a chic selection of products that are designed to equip a small-sized apartment. Sofa beds with the possibility of transformation into a bunk berth are very popular. To make such a design more comfortable to use, it reliably lasts a long time and fits perfectly into the overall interior of the room, during its purchase it is worth paying attention to some nuances.

• The size of the berth. A children's sofa can be small, but for adults it is better to choose models in which the bed is more spacious. Its length is calculated in this way: from 20 to 30 cm are added to the growth of a person.

• Ease of transformation. The sofa should quickly and easily turn into a comfortable bed. Therefore, preference should be given to models equipped with springs and gas lifts. They will cost more, but their quality can be appreciated in daily use.

• The quality of the workmanship. Furniture upholstery should be not only beautiful, harmoniously combined with other interior items, but also practical. For children's rooms, you need to buy products with upholstery, which is easy to clean. So, for example, microfiber or eco-leather will be an excellent choice. Furniture with any upholstery is suitable for living rooms, but it should be resistant to abrasion (if the sofa is planned to be laid out daily). Upholstery from pile fabrics is not recommended.

• Combination with the style of the room. The bunk transformer fits best in the nurseries and living rooms, decorated in a modern style, they will not work for the classic. At the same time, the color scheme of sofas should be in harmony with the decoration of the room, textiles and other pieces of furniture.

• Compact design in assembled form. Many models of bunk transformers are large in size, as they are complemented by a thick back and massive armrests. Therefore, before purchasing this type of furniture, you need to make sure that there will be a place in the room to place it. In addition, large sofa beds weigh a lot, it will be difficult to rearrange them.

With the help of folding sofas, transforming into a two-story bed, you can create an interesting design in the living rooms and children's rooms. If you plan to install furniture in the nursery, then you should give preference to models of unusual shapes and bright colors. So, for example, a design in the form of a car or a house of a princess will be an excellent choice. Near the sofa bed you can place a wardrobe and compact desk. Multicolored toys and soft pillows can complement the design.

The transformer design will also look good in the living room, for this you need to choose the classic rectangular models, complemented by narrow armrests. The color of the furniture should be in harmony with the decorative wall decoration. A good choice is a light brown, golden and beige color.

Overview of the sofa-transformer see below.