Podium in the interior of a studio apartment

The word "catwalk" for most is associated with the world of haute couture. However, the catwalks in the interior did not come to us from there. Their homeland is Japan. The inventive inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun arranged sleeping places on an artificial elevation, inside of which they placed straw or wooden containers for clothes and utensils. Later, podiums appeared with rail systems that can be moved inside the platform and easily find the necessary compartments.

In the homes of our compatriots, the bed-podium appeared as a feature of the oriental style, but soon the owners of one-room apartments appreciated the functionality of this design. The bed – podium is also a design solution that allows interesting zoning of the only large room of a one-room apartment, and just an extremely practical thing.

Podium Types

Most often in our country you can meet one of three types of podium structures:

• a bed on a powerful hollow metal or wooden frame, inside which you can put boxes or baskets for things;
• elevation - most often it is a wooden frame lined with plywood;
• Podium with pull-out bed.

In all cases, the maximum elevation is half a meter, the minimum is 20 centimeters. if necessary, steps can be mounted on it. Depending on the destination, there are several types of interior catwalks:

• functional (for zoning or storage of things);
• design (decorative function);
• technical (e.g. shower equipment in the bathroom).

Application

A podium as an elevation created for the visual effect alone in a one-room apartment is completely unsuitable. Any opportunity to use the space with benefit should be realized, therefore it is preferable to build a podium bed, which should perform at least two functions. We will list the main ones:

• storage of things. It is realized by installing convenient drawer boxes;
• Department of the hallway area. Perhaps by placing a podium near the front door;
• rest zone. Easily created using modern bean bags and a TV;
• sleeping place. A popular solution that comes to life with a pull-out bed;
• podiums with complex geometry in large rooms create interesting visual effects, give the design dynamism;
• built-in lights or LED strip, due to the flexibility of which, you can highlight the podium of the most complex form;
• a podium in the depths of a very narrow long room will visually reduce its length, which will visually expand the walls;
• part of the podium bed can be used instead of a table, bedside table;
• masking communications. The podium allows you to hide the pipes when redeveloping the apartment.

The shape of the podium can be not only traditionally rectangular, but also beveled diagonally, oval, round and generally any.

Elevation divides the space of a one-room apartment, regardless of your desire, and the area located on the elevation receives a dominant position in the interior, becomes its logical center, so you need to use the podium very carefully, not forgetting that the emphasis is on that area of ​​the one-room apartment, which is located on the podium.

Mistakes

The construction of the platform is risky in a certain sense.It attracts attention, is the logical center of composition, and therefore any constructive or design error can lead to the most sad consequences. We will try to list the main types of errors in the construction of podiums:

• location along a long narrow room. This will only emphasize the poor proportions of the room;
• centrally located a small living room. Walkways around will be difficult to use;
• erection of a high platform in a room with a low ceiling. A high podium in a low room is possible if it is low (below 20 cm) and occupies less than half the room;
• placing on the podium a large number of large items. They will look even more massive.

Conclusion

When it comes to the rational use of space in one-room apartments, there can be no solutions that are “too extravagant” or “risky”. Only solutions can be right and wrong. The construction of the podium, without a doubt, belongs to the first category, and we hope that our advice will help you avoid mistakes during its construction and maximize the potential of this design solution.