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 :)

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/nyhamn-3-seat-sofa-bed-with-foam-mattress-knisa-grey-beige-s59306372/

we have one similar to this that we slept on for 5 years. when looking make sure its one for every day use not just occasional guest use. but ikea is def the place to look. and you should be able to find one second hand once youve chosen.

Google : Daals 3 seat sofa bed.

I work from home in a studio with a regular bed (no headboard visible) dressed as a large couch with a fancy blanket and loads of cushions. Looks fine and nice to work on too if you need a flop!

Freecycle for a sofa bed?

@Lactofreemeatballs

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/nyhamn-3-seat-sofa-bed-with-foam-mattress-knisa-grey-beige-s59306372/

I’ve had this one ( well its previous incarnation) for over 20 years now.

It was my main bed for nearly 10 years in a bedsit, and, with the best quality mattress (the spring not the foam) it is really very comfy. It is still our sofa and now doubles as a guest bed and it’s always well received. Price wise, you can upgrade the cover if you want it to look smart. Bedding can be stored away in an under bed storage box underneath.

I am considering replacing the mattress - and am on my second cover but I bought mine in Feb 2002!

Oh, friends of mine have one of these - they are excellent. Have spent comfortable nights with 14 stone, 6'2" ex on one of these. And you can put the loose cover on top of the bedclothes, so no need to re-make the bed every night - just pull the loose cover off.

I'm intending on getting one of these for my kids room - they come in velvet and linen, large and small double as well. The search function isn't working for some reason on that site, but there are reviews that say it's good as a daily use sofa bed, and I have had one similar (although not for some years now). Loads of different colours too.

How about getting something like a high sleeper / loft bed

https://www.wayfair.co.uk/Just-Kids--High-Sleeper-Bed-KLJE3138-L1074-K~JKID2027.html?refid=GX433667690578-JKID202720696002&device=c&ptid=955893881487&targetid=pla-955893881487&network=g&ireid=65175349&PiID%5B%5D=20696002&device=c&gclid=CjwKCAiA65iBBhB-EiwAW253Ww2-TtlWeFRmnT7jvflZq5L98ASBohTiCR0-aCyIPVxMEvyZL15k3hoCkwwQAvDD_BwE

The bed would be mostly out of view, you could have a sofa / desk space underneath and you wouldn't have to make up / cover up a bed every day

My vote is for a proper single bed with a throw and cushions to act as a sofa. I used one for years when i lived in a 2 room flat. I had a divan and took the legs off to make it more sittable on during the day.
But I am also teaching from home, with a corporate style banner and a flipchart behind me. A screen might be a more practical answer for you just to block view of the background from your camera - you can fold it away outside of lesson time.

Futon (try not to get a really thin one if you can afford better - thin ones are really grim, thick ones are lovely). Ikea sofa beds. Ikea Hemnes. Corner sofa bed.

You will likely find a single stationary bed much more comfortable than anything that folds out to create a double.

I’d just get a single and make it up with some nice cushions to turn it into a sofa during the day.

Hi OP, I'd second/third/fourth the IKEA FREIHETEN. We don't have exactly the same, but it's very close (our's is discontinued or I'd recommend too).

If you have the space, I'd recommend that you go for something that is 180 cm or wider - basically the length of a normal bed (the FREIHETEN does this).

Also, I'd avoid futons like the plague. I slept on one for a few years and it was really lumpy where the fold creases were. And that was only used as a bed once I got it, so the folds had moulded in from when it was used previously as a sofa the futon was folded into an S shape.

We also had a futon sofa in another house. I hated it. It was uncomfortable and hard and stiff to sit on, and the S folds always managed to slump so it would look crap and be even more uncomfortable. And the futon mattresses are really heavy, so difficult to heave into position again.

good luck and glad you and your DC are able to make a new start.

Another vote for this style of futon - really comfortable and really easy to fold down and up again. www.futoncompany.co.uk/sofa-beds/size/double-3-seaters/cocoon-3-seater-birch-sofa-bed.html

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

That’s what I’d do.

Oh god I couldn’t be doing with a nasty fold in the futon. OP I take my recommendation as it wasn’t based on personal experience.

So IKEA would be the safest bet imo.

*take back

@sunflowersandbuttercups

I would use a normal single bed against the wall, and add cushions and an extra blanket on top of your duvet during the day so it can be used as a sofa. The cushions can be put under the bed while you sleep.

There's no way I would want to sleep on a sofa bed or futon in the long term.

I was also thinking this.

Are you with your local domestic violence services and do you have a worker or somebody you could speak to? They may be able to sign post you to charities or other agencies which provide things like this at no or low cost because of your circumstances. Could also ask the school and any social worker or other support worker. Even the local food bank (even if you don't use them they can tell you about other agencies).

Firstly, very well done on making the move out of your abusive situation. I hope you are finding your feet beyond the bed situation. I agree the ikea corner sofa pull out bed with bedding storage is excellent.

We have a futon for this very same reason. Because it hurt my back, we note simply have a mattress up against the wall which we pull down in the evening. Is there any way to disguise a mattress?

My former housemate got an inflatable bed but a full height one so she wasn’t near the floor, as a temporary thing until she bought a bed. It was so comfy she used it for over a year. You could either just move it into another room when you’re teaching or deflate and inflate every day (easy if you get an electric pump). Definitely a super cheap solution. And she had Ehlers Danlos so wasn’t going to put up with something bad for her back or joints.

I sleep on an Ikea chair bed with the Havet mattress nearly every night and find it very comfortable. I first used one in a holiday let and was very impressed so bought one to get a better night's sleep at home. The Havet mattress is extremely slim compared to the cheaper options so makes a massive difference when in chair mode too.

We have a JayBe folding bed that is very comfortable, but it's a slim single. It's a sprung mattress as opposed to foam which is why we bought it. They do doubles too. Not sure if it's what you would want, perhaps worth a look at the range though.

@SwayingInTime

I sleep on an Ikea chair bed with the Havet mattress nearly every night and find it very comfortable. I first used one in a holiday let and was very impressed so bought one to get a better night's sleep at home. The Havet mattress is extremely slim compared to the cheaper options so makes a massive difference when in chair mode too.

Am I interpreting the picture right? There's a zip so you can fold the end out of the way?

(If so it might be what I need to make my rock-hard chair bed workable.)

@OhCaptain

The bed is fine for a child/overnight guest.

It’s 3ft as a single & 6ft as a double (width).

It’s just very low to the floor (as a double or separate singles). So maybe not for elderly relatives or anyone who has trouble getting off ‘the floor’.

@AuntyFungal thanks for that! Purchased for sleepovers if they ever happen again! 😅 so sounds perfect.