Before purchasing a home tanning bed, it is important to survey your living area. There are a number of factors to take into consideration that will impact placement, or that may inhibit installation completely. Depending on which type of bed has been selected, rearrangement or even renovation may be required before the purchase is made.
Space Requirements
Tanning beds are all quite large, regardless of make and model. Most standard beds lay between 7 and 8 feet in length and are between 32 and 46 inches wide. Know the exact dimensions of your chosen bed before finalizing your purchase. Try to allow for at least 12 inches of extra space on each end of the bed; this means you will probably need close to 10 feet of length to adequately fit your bed into an open area.
Take the height of the bed into consideration before placing the side against a wall. Most beds are shorter than 36 inches when closed, but may require more than 5 feet of overhead to open the bed fully. This also means additional space needs to be allowed between the wall and the hinge side to account for this adjustment. Shoot for 24 to 30 inches.
Stand-up beds require far less room. They usually stand around 7 feet tall, but only occupy roughly 4 feet of floor space in each direction. In addition, the doors typically open outward to the front, so very little extra space needs to be accounted for.
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Make note of the exact measurements of your specific bed before making a purchase.
Other Considerations
Tanning beds also require a great deal of electricity to power. A three-pronged outlet will be necessary, and it is vital that the power source is secure. The amount of power used by the bed may interfere with other outlets on the circuit, and has been known to cause blown fuses and short out other appliances. Make sure the power source is extremely smooth to ensure there is no flickering within. Also, expect this increase in electricity to be reflected on your monthly bill.
Be very conscious of the possibility of fire. Besides the high level of electricity being used, the bed itself also reaches extreme temperatures. Keep all flammable items away from the tanning bed vicinity.
It is a good idea to put some kind of a plastic mat underneath the bed to protect carpets and hard floors against any possible heat damage.