Impossible bed dilemma— AIBU? Am I missing the solution?

We have the same ottoman bed from Happy Beds, it comes flat pack. Yes making it will be awkward, but the box will definitely fit up the stairs.

I have traditional style metal bed frame I got from Argos nearly thirty years ago that has moved three times with me up and down narrow twisty staircases. It takes apart and puts together easily. It’s sturdy and has room underneath for storage in boxes. As others say, you can buy a compact compressed style mattress.
For one adult, a traditional double bed is fine and is a sensible size in a smallish bedroom, which you probably have if your staircase is narrow and twisty.

I came on to recommend this option. Brilliant company and all beds are flat--packed and handmade but there are lots of options with storage. They will also assemble for you in any room. Yes, that costs are bit more but having a well-made bed is crucial and the beds themselves are reasonably priced. I would also get a double rather than king if the room isn't very big.

How tiny is this staircase, OP?

Mine is narrow (72cm), steep and has a 90 degree turn at the top, where the newel post reduces the opening even more. Then there is a tiny landing (72cm x 90 cm) with doors on 3 sides.

The delivery men had no trouble whatsoever getting my double divan bed up the stairs and into my bedroom.

My spare room is currently accommodating my friend's kingsize bed that went up those stairs, too. It's wooden framed, but it all went up in one piece.

Haha. Now I know this is a wind up post.

From a practical point of view, if a king size is a squeeze in the room it will be far more difficult to assemble than it would otherwise be. You need plenty of room around it to bend over, manoeuvre 6ft long pieces of wood etc. A double would give you that little bit more leeway.

She’s confused because the first post bizarrely recommended that she get a headboard that was nailed to the wall! That’s total nonsense OP, ignore it.

I have this bed from Dunelm. Had absolutely no problem assembling it solo. As many many others have said, came flat packed and individual pieces were simple to carry up stairs (I have a narrow staircase with a 180 degree turn). My husband was in the house at the time but I prefer to work alone!

www.dunelm.com/product/alara-pleated-velvet-bed-1000214552?defaultSkuId=30855705

We have this one and I love it. So much storage space.

We have a six year old Ikea bed that’s been moved twice and is still sturdy, doesn’t squeak at all. I was sceptical tbh but have been impressed!

Lots of storage underneath and obviously flat pack, although much easier to assemble with two people.

We have this bed frame from ikea. It's very sturdy, headboard attached to bed not the wall. We have the storage drawers, but you can order without. It did take two of us to put it together (but were both rubbish at diy).
We also have an awkward twisty staircase..
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/malm-bed-frame-high-w-2-storage-boxes-white-luroey-s69175974/

Roseland furniture offer an option of delivery to room of your choice - and assembly service - it’s extra cost of course but in my experience they also take away all packaging.

Double sounds better bet. When I became single I made sure I bought one from a place where the delivery guys take it to a room of your choice (ie up the stairs). Consider getting a local handyman in to build it (unless you are handier than me, lol). Do not, repeat, do not think taking the mattress out of the plastic downstairs is a good idea. Ask me how I know! I got a sort of free standing headboard so it’s not attached to the wall or the bed. With shelves etc so no need for additional furniture in a smallish room.

Although you do have to account for bends in staircases and low ceilings - in my old house nothing bigger than three feet would go up the stairs and some flat pack furniture had to be hoisted in through bedroom windows! (It was a very old and very awkwardly-built house!)

Building a flat pack bed is dead easy. They usually come with the required tools (just an allen key, probably!) and you know what a bed looks like, you can't really go wrong. you can stack some books to hold bits up if you need to, or get the kids to hold something (if they are old enough to help).

Also, on a practical level, if you're worried about getting a whole bed up the tight staircase, you can always unpack a flatpack downstairs and carry pieces up individually.

I agree that the half I sleep on less is harder but I try to roll over in the night to use both sides. I also rotate the mattress regularly. It is a pain to change the sheets in the far corner but I manage it and I’m an old bag! I’ve vowed never to buy another bed without storage, it’s so useful

We got something a bit like this - we had to assemble it but that was fine, so and loads of room inside it
https://dusk.com/products/ascot-ottoman-bed-frame-natural?variant=56281402212730&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21439363600&gbraid=0AAAAADNOeOU3I-vch9AJsxKcYMDKGpPN5&gclid=CjwKCAjwkaXUBhASEiwAZI3ds5SJ5rf4QZxxA4iHCg6xXAo94l5P4OfjrtuhJeAWzi1BvMcW1SbZTxoCL0wQAvD_BwE

I just put up a king size bed frame on my own yesterday. I had no help at all but they are very easy to do so don’t be put off. I always put together our beds, it’s really not hard. I have a really nice one from Argos which is much cheaper than others I’ve bought but both nice and sturdy. It might be worth looking there is you haven’t already. Dunelm has lots of nice ones too.

I would just order a bed from Ercol Outlet or John Lewis and get your long term boyfriend to help assemble it.

My daughter has that bed frame and it’s lovely. It looks as good as my much more expensive Ercol frame. I think the main difference is mine has bendy slats, hers are just flat. I house sat for her recently, found the bed really comfortable!

@lemonadecar i would probably get some sort of roll up mattress. I thought I would have no problem getting a super king mattress up my straight stairs. It got stuck under the bulkhead! The delivery men were useless. Me and my brother, both in our 60’s, eventually got it in.

Shout out for John Lewis.
They are happy to take back beds if unable to get up the stairs,
Have you considered using a window as alternative access?

I don’t know what your budget is, but Loaf have some really beautiful solid wood beds with headboards. We now have three at home, as the quality is so good. They arrived flat packed. We paid the assembly charge, but it was very straightforward, and I’m sure we could have easily done it ourselves if needed.

Would zip and link work? Then it's basically 2 beds joined together.

If you’ve got a wall so flimsy it’ll collapse from having a head board fixed to it then you’ve got problems! If it’s a timber frame wall, buy a little stud finder tool to find the studs and only fix through those.

All my double/king sized beds over the years have been from Ikea, JL or an independent bed shop approx 20 mins drive away for my latest (10 years ago). They sometimes assemble, or I do, or my DB comes and does it or I use Taskrabbit. I’m thinking of switching to a king too as my boyfriend stays over more and more and a double is a bit too small. I think I want an ottoman too but have currently got an Ikea wooden slatted one. I replace the structure every 10 years if I can, as you’re supposed to do that and mattress similar. I keep seeing Dusk, Emma and other newer companies but I do like Ikea and JL! Off to Ikea in Valley Park tomorrow, nearest JL is in Kingston, that’s my next visit, they used to have a JL Croydon furniture store but the bastards shut it down! My independent bed store was in SW London, Garrett Lane way I think, sort of a warehouse shop. More personal service. I prefer to see and test them in person but that’s just me.

IKEA frames have served us and our adult kids well. Varied sizes both UK and continental.

Foam mattresses.