Contents
- 1. Install a study-table unit adjacent to your platform bed
- 2. Add a textured headboard to make your bed more luxe
- 3. Add steps to your platform
- 4. Highlight or separate a part of your home with a platform
- 5. Make every night like home-glamping experience with curtains or a canopy
- 6. Go for under-lit platforms to make your home more stylish
- 7. Install a stowaway bed
- Platform ideas that won’t get you in trouble with HDB
Platform beds have always been a go-to for homeowners who want to create more hidden storage and to save space, especially with HDB flats becoming smaller with each new launch. Unfortunately, storage space in the void between the platform and floor is actually not permitted in HDB flats.
Although this limits how creative you can get with built-in drawers that interior designers recommend you despite the restriction, a platform is still a stylish element that can elevate the look of your home. In fact, we’ve curated 7 fun platform ideas that go beyond the overdone wooden platform bed we often see on interior design spreads and websites.
1. Install a study-table unit adjacent to your platform bed
Image credit: Icon Interior, Carpenters
A platform might take up more floor area – this means that you’ll struggle with configuring your room’s layout. Try installing a study-table unit flush against your platform, a good way to save space and keep your room layout compact and neat.
These table units are often custom-made to complement the structure of your platform, and come in a range of styles, including curved and backlit ones. Especially for young children and people who often work from home, a built-in study table will be a functional, yet stylish reno choice.
2. Add a textured headboard to make your bed more luxe
Image credit: Editor Interior
Most tend to opt for platform beds with a matching wooden or laminate headboard but homeowners can explore outside of this cookie-cutter format by adding a textured or fabric headboard to the fixture. Mounted headboards come in all shapes and sizes, including ones that span an entire wall to smaller arched ones.
If you’re looking to make your bedroom more modern and luxurious, you might want to consider a little fabric and foam combination for a look that’s more plush. Other popular materials like tawny leather can also serve to add earthy and natural texture to your room.
3. Add steps to your platform
Image credit: Starry Homestead, Shopee
Here’s another way to elevate the look of your platform bed – construct some steps for the raised structure and the platform will instantly seem like a mini loft.
Not only does it make your room more stylish, but it instantly adds dimension and creates the illusion of a separate space. You can even add some recessed lighting to give your bedroom a boutique hotel makeover.
4. Highlight or separate a part of your home with a platform
Image credit: Chalk Architects
From bedrooms and small readings nooks to study rooms, you can easily call attention to a part of your home with a platform structure. Even unlikely, crammed places like your flat’s foyer aren’t exempt from this rule.
One couple has done just that: their Bishan flat makes use of a platform to highlight its entryway. This reno choice adds dimension and a decorative touch to the space, seamlessly fitting into the Japanese, minimal design of the flat.
Image credit: Weiken.com
This HDB home at Ghim Moh link features a raised living room platform, and curves that subtly guide one through the home’s interior. The platform separates the lounge and reading area from the dining space without traditional partitions like walls and furniture.
Image credit: D5 Studio Image
Homeowners looking to build their dream zen home can take a leaf out of the book of this Japanese-inspired flat located in Serangoon. The homeowners opted for a raised tatami platform to section off a part of their living room into a multi-use space and tea room – complete with the use of Shoji screens.
5. Make every night like home-glamping experience with curtains or a canopy
Image credit: erstudio
On top of muffling ambient noise and shielding its users from bright sunlight, canopies and curtains can also jazz up a platform by making it appear more luxurious. Better yet, pair it with some warm lighting, and you have yourselves a cosy and intimate setting that’s perfect for a late night Netflix and Chill.
Image credit: STUDIO OINK
Canopies and curtains for beds come in many styles, including sheer fabric ones, and opaque ones. They can be drawn back to usher in natural light to your bed, or closed off to lend its users more privacy. With this upgrade to your platform, you won’t need to travel elsewhere for a budget glampcation or camping experience.
6. Go for under-lit platforms to make your home more stylish
Image credit: Aart Boxx Interior
Backlights and underlights are a great accent feature for platforms. Not only does it make your living space more three-dimensional, it can make your platform appear as if it’s floating – this gives you the illusion of greater space
Image credit: Space Atelier
Take a look at this home – its under-lit platform helps the room achieve a laid-back and mysterious look. Instead of harsh ceiling lights, one can rely on these to provide softer lighting to make their nightly rest more enjoyable.
7. Install a stowaway bed
Image credit: Ideas2Live4, Pinterest
Yet another way to save space with a multifunctional installation, pull-out beds can be concealed within your platform when not in use. They’re a compact way to hide away your bed and its accompanying clutter, to create space that can be used for other activities like yoga and WFH set-ups.
Especially with HDB flats becoming smaller nowadays, space is scarce and small reno hacks like these can help you build a more functional and stylish home.
Platform ideas that won’t get you in trouble with HDB
Platform installations now go beyond the bedroom and can be incorporated into your living and study areas. However, you have to admit that they take up more space than the typical piece of furniture, and space might not be a luxury for most that reside in HDB flats.
Well, this list of platform ideas will give you a good mix of space-efficient and stylish inspiration that help you elevate your home’s design without compromising on functionality.
For more home inspo, check out:
- SG loft apartments in that are home goals
- Fun kitchen backsplash ideas that help you minimise clean-up
- Japanese-inspired HDB BTOs
Cover image credit: erstudio, Space Atelier, Aart Boxx Interior, Starry Homestead
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