My bed in the living room - what would you do?

[mummacello]

Hi all,

I'm after some advice. DS, DD and I just moved to a very small flat, having left an abusive relationship. I'm in the living room as budget doesn't allow for a separate bedroom. I'm looking at ways to hide a bed that's suitable for every night use but not insanely expensive (what the hell is up with the sofa beds that cost more than a car?!?).

I teach in the living room (when we're not in lockdown), so the bed needs to be hidden, and the room isn't big enough to divide into separate spaces.

I've considered a wall bed but there isn't room to hide it. I also wondered about a folding mattress in some kind of chest (which could also be a window seat?). And then there's sofa beds, but I'm struggling to find one that's useable every night and affordable. Are folding mattresses ok to use every night?

Any ideas or recommendations? I'd like a double size ideally.
Thanks :)

A day bed with a trundle underneath maybe?

might be of interest

IKEA Hemnes day bed could work. You can dress it up as a sofa during the day.

www.homestratosphere.com/bed-alternatives/

This is a good article that has a few suggestions.
The hammock is a bit daft but the mats or morrocan cushions seem a good alternative to sofa beds.

How about advertising locally for a second hand sofa bed? Would be a lot cheaper.

Get a futon. Much better construction and will last longer/be more comfortable than a sofa bed.

What's affordable at the moment? Our sofa bed was less than £500, is very easy to pull out and would be fine to sleep on every night. You could go for a blanket box to keep your duvet and pillows in that could double as a coffee table.

Either a day bed or a futon.? I have the hemnes day bed and it’s a comfy bed but not a comfy sofa due to the design of the raised sides

I was going to suggest Ikea hemnes too. Fold away into a single bed / sofa in the day and pulls out to a double. They’re £385 brand new with the 2 mattresses but I’ve seen them cheaper as never used guest beds.

You want the IKEA corner sofa with the bed but that comes from underneath. You can even store your bedding in it

I would stick to a proper single day bed and dress/use it as a sofa in the day (our sofa is Ikea stacking singles)

Our IKEA sofa (Söderhamn) is very strong, very durable and easily sleeps an adult comfortably if you remove the back and side cushions.

I would go for this from IKEA. You can use it as a slim single (80cm, a normal IKEA single is 90cm) or a double (160cm), or later on when circumstances have changed it can be in two separate rooms, or just put cushions on the back for a sofa type thing.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/utaker-stackable-bed-pine-00360484/

I’ve got this one for a spare. I have a foam mattress topper on the top to make it more comfortable. When folded it takes up the same space of a folded table. I have to throw the mattress topper over the top but you could cover that with something or put in your sons room for the day.

It’s also on wheels so you could fold and push into sons run for work if really wanted.

The IKEA Friheten is great and folds out into a really substantial size, I think we have to use king size sheets on it. I got mine for £70 almost new on Facebook but they are £500 new. It has storage underneath to store the bedding in when you are using it as a sofa.

This one!

We have an Ikea Friheten corner sofa bed and with a nice topper on it makes for a very comfy nights sleep. You can store all your bedding in it as well.

The one I linked to is £290 or £320 depending on which quality mattress you go for.

Another vote for a single bed with a decent mattress, that you can dress as a sofa during the day.

My friend has the IKEA corner sofa that turns into the double bed with storage for bedding in it - works well and seems easy to manoeuvre in and out

Futons are very heavy to move.

We have a Lycksele Murbo sofabed from IKEA in dad's room. We find it really comfortable to sleep on - bit like a futon. About £250

I wouldn’t move it - I’d use it as a sofa during the day.

Does it need to be put away or can it just be behind a screen?

We had the IKEA Friheten and it was actually really comfy as a bed. Super easy to pull in and out and bedding can be stored in it too. I'd get a topper probably as well.