4 Reasons to Consider an Elevator Bed in Your Tiny House

• merryl
  March 26, 2018, 2:15 pm

  best idea ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Reply Link
  • James D.
    March 26, 2018, 5:46 pm

    It’s definitely something that can be a good option but everything has trade offs…

    The counter to the benefits they listed is added cost, maintenance and planning for when it will eventually break and need repairs, accommodation of it in the layout of the house because like a door you can’t have anything blocking its path and thus you lose some vertical wall space that could otherwise have been used for storage, the motor and rail system can take up some space as well, and the bed itself can get in the way if you can’t for whatever reason raise it, such as a power failure or something as simple as someone else is still sleeping in it and you can’t move it without disturbing them.

    If sharing the space with another bed below, such as a convertible couch bed for a guest. Then a ladder may have to be used in a bunk bed type arrangement… Or use some furniture as improvised stairs…

    Though, additional benefits is it can allow more flexible use of designs around lower height roofs for those who want something easier to tow and elevator beds can also be folding or sliding. So you can have basically motorized Murphy or Trundle beds that can also stack for instant bunk bed arrangements.

    While you can have simple ones that work off pulleys and counter weights instead of a motor that should be more reliable in the long term and won’t require power to run…

    So it definitely can positively contribute to design options, but again, there’s always trade offs…

    Reply Link
• Michael
  March 26, 2018, 7:34 pm

  A queen size bed eats up space when it comes to a downstairs sleeping pllace which I am preferring. A elevator bed helps a lot to minimize space requirements because when the bed is up the space can be used for other purposes. One important issue is missing when it comes to advantages, unlike a murphy bed which requires securing pillows, cover and more an elevator bed is always ready to use and nothing needs to be secured.
  I disagree with James about cost because a loft cost too. Beside that you don’t need a ladder or stairs which is another saving. Anna White developed a simple but efficient low cost version by using a motor only for moving and not holding the bed in position.
  A tiny space requires multipurpose solutions for not being cramped and an elevator bed beside folding furniture is probably the most important one.

  Reply Link
  • James D.
    March 27, 2018, 9:40 pm

    Michael, a motor and rail system will generally cost more than a ladder or stair, the later also providing the option for storage that you don’t get with an elevator bed. Ana White’s solution is only more cost effective than getting a commercial elevator bed system.

    Note, I never stated lofts don’t have a cost but there is a difference in costs involved and you are adding costs with an elevator bed, which still requires a platform and a system to support it for the bed to actually rest on and that’s what is getting moved.

    So the main difference is a loft is a static platform fastened to the walls and that’s it vs an elevator bed that’s a moveable platform with a motor and rail system that still requires fastening to the support structure of the house and adds an ongoing operational cost.

    Mind, with a mechanical system you’re introducing the factor of long term costs because that motor, which also requires power, and rail system will require maintenance and eventual replacement because anything mechanical will eventually wear out and break…

    Understand, I’m only pointing out that there are always trade offs to consider… Multi-purposing can indeed help a small space and some solutions are better than others but no solution will work equally well for everyone and they all have both their cons as well as pros that will factor differently for different people, lifestyles, and how those options effect other choices in the design of the home.

    Also, these options aren’t always mutually exclusive… A loft can have an elevator bed. For example, in situations where the loft is used for storage and the elevator bed both gets stored there as well as provides access to that storage… Alternatively, the loft can have an elevator platform to access it instead of a ladder or stairs… Among other examples like the cross over options I previously mentioned for Murphy or Trundle beds that could also be integrated with an elevator type system.

    There are many ways to do it, it’s just a question of what will work best for a particular owner and the layout and lifestyle the house will ultimately have to support…

    Reply Link
• Patricia
  April 1, 2018, 5:59 pm

  I would like to adapt the bed for use in a bedroom (or two) in my non-tiny house; need more details and specs.

  Reply Link
  • James D.
    April 3, 2018, 12:40 am

    Elevator beds range from DIY to commercial built, along with pulley based systems with counter weights to motorized or pneumatic/hydraulic based systems.

    If you’re getting one for an existing home then a commercial product may be best to provide some level of insurance coverage and guarantee from the company that’ll install it for you… along with help with possible maintenance.

    The elevator itself can be just about any size as well… This specific application is just large enough to put a bed on it but it can be smaller or larger.

    In some extreme cases, some people have even done lifts for their cars to store them out of sight… While others have done simple standing platforms to acts as lifts to get between levels…

    Reply Link
    • Alex
      April 4, 2018, 10:07 am

      James you are so helpful, thank you so much for helping to inform all of us!

      Reply Link

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.