Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put guests in the attic on a mat?

51 replies

WhisperingSeagrass · 20/05/2016 07:52

Usually they have DS' room and he moves in with us in a travel cot. There's a double-bed in his room and an en-suite. So it converts into a nice guestroom.

We also have an attic conversion (used as an office) no bed but space for a double camping-mat/air bed. Attic also has an ensuite but just a loo, sink and bath no shower.

WIBU to start giving guests the attic instead of turfing DS out of his room? I'm tired of moving all his things out to give guests drawers and cupboard space. Also 2 sets of guests have used his cot as a luggage rack Angry Angry
I don't want grubby bags and clothes dumped in his cot!!

They would be able to use his en-suite during the day, when he's not napping.

OP posts:
Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 20/05/2016 08:36

When your son gets bigger, swap the double in there for a mid sleeper ... Then nobody can expect to / will want to be given his room.

Having a double in a baby's room does give out the message it is a guest room/ baby's room rather than actually his own bedroom.

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 20/05/2016 08:39

I once stayed with a lovely friend who gave up her bed for me - it made me physically comfortable but mentally uncomfortable. .. As a guest I'd rather inconvenience my hosts as little as possible.

shinynewusername · 20/05/2016 08:42

Can't you put a trundle bed in the attic and just cover it and put the boxes on top when not in use? Air beds are a form of torture, especially if you have 2 people sleeping on them. We got a very comfortable trundle bed from Bensons that wasn't expensive.

sharknad0 · 20/05/2016 08:50

I don't really like to give my bed, only because all my stuff is in my bedroom. It's much easier to have a guest room and everybody is happy. I would feel really bad to invite friends and family to stay, only to give them an air mattress in an attic full of boxes (unless they are teenagers). We also have lots of space in the garage, but come on!

It you only have guests once a year, it's not worth fussing, but if you have regular visitors, it's so much easier to have a space for them. You only have to take towels out for them when they arrive and you are done. I put change the bedsheets when they leave obviously, so the beds are always ready for visitors.

I love having people staying over! Hopefully all friends and family who keep inviting us feel the same way, some posters here make me worry sometimes.

Gwenhwyfar · 20/05/2016 09:01

I would be wary of buying an expensive air bed. They tend to get punctures eventually so I'd buy a normal price one.

Camping mats are no better than sleeping on the floor for me, but camp beds are fine, but take up more room when not in use than air beds.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/05/2016 09:02

The double height air beds are brilliant, don't take up much storage space and inflate/deflate v quickly. I'd get one of those - that is if you do actually want guests to stay. If not, there's no harm in a little austerity, in the hope of limiting visits in future.

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 20/05/2016 09:06

I disagree about the air beds, I think they're hugely uncomfortable, it's horrible as a guest being given second-best camping equipment. Put a proper bed in the attic - that's going to be your future set-up so just get on with it. Put a camp bed or sofa bed in your ds's room

thecapitalsunited · 20/05/2016 09:12

I have a full height kingsize aerobed and have never had any complaints from guests. I've slept on it many times so I know people aren't being polite. Once I slept on it for 6 weeks while I was waiting for a bed to be delivered. I've had the bed for around 10 years now and it's been well worth the money. It rolls up pretty easily so it can be stored out of the way and it a doddle to put up and pack away.

Those full heigh airbeds are nothing like rubbish camping airbeds. I don't even know how you'd take it camping because it needs to be plugged into the mains to inflate.

blitheringbuzzards1234 · 20/05/2016 09:17

What about futons if they haven't been suggested? Could be used as chairs when not a bed. Does the attic have a proper opening or a small hatch? I only ask because when our (1st visit) guests had gone home, hubby found that our specially bought fold-up beds couldn't be stored in the ruddy attic as he'd originally planned - they were too wide for the hatch! Groans all round. When not in use we had to wheel the beds/frames into the garage, not ideal, in fact a bloomin' nuisance. Please avoid this ridiculous scenario, if only for your own sanity.

HazelBite · 20/05/2016 09:31

Don't get an air bed they are awful if two of you are sleeping on one. A bed settee that opens out to a decent height bed, for the attic is the best option.
Futons tend also to be a bit too low for anyone older.

OliviaBenson · 20/05/2016 09:41

Why not bite the bullet and set up a proper guest room in the attic, get a single bed for your child's room. Much easier than faffing around with airbeds etc.

witsender · 20/05/2016 09:48

How old is he if he is still in a cot? I'd move him.

MillionToOneChances · 20/05/2016 10:13

Futons are terribly uncomfortable. Definitely NBU to put guests in the attic room, though.

Original poster
WhisperingSeagrass · 20/05/2016 12:57

It has a proper door and stairs not a hatch Wink

I don't really want a double bed up there permenantly as its our office, would be a tight squeeze with a bed. A sofa-bed is an option but again would take up a lot of space, especially as it's under eaves so ceiling slopes.
I like the sound of double-height airbeds!

We have guests every 6-8 weeks on average. Sometimes it's just a friend staying overnight, sometimes a relative for a few days.

My mum is quite fussy about guest facilities and likes space to hang her clothes etc.

OP posts:
areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 20/05/2016 13:28

Well, whatever others may say about the airbeds I would think carefully - we have one that plugs in to inflate to full height and it really is not that comfy especially as ppl say when a couple sleep in it. OK for a night perhaps, but several is grim. If your mum is fussy it may not go down well at all.

nobilityobliges · 20/05/2016 13:49

Can you not just not clear out the drawers and tell the guests not to use the cot to store clothes on? Tbh, I'd have trouble putting my mum on a mat in an attic if I knew there was an empty double bed in the house. Might your mum be a bit upset if you adopt this set-up? Other guests might think it's a bit off but as long as you're ok with that I think it's fine. But for your mum it seems a bit harsh to me.

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 20/05/2016 13:54

Bear in mind that mum won't be getting any younger so her tolerance of suboptimal bedding will only decrease.

Hufflepuffin · 20/05/2016 13:55

I would either get a daybed for the attic (I like this one www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401024831800)

Air bed is fine for some but if your mum is fussy you can either get a proper bed up there or stick with the current situation but get a piece of plywood to over your son's cot so it can be used as a luggage rack.

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 20/05/2016 15:08

Maybe you need to have a massive swap around and change the use of each room permanently, if you have guests that often and intend to continue to do so.

Our attic used to be an office/ guest room (with sofa bed) until our 3rd dc needed his own room (obviously kids can share, but we wanted him to move out of our room and he was the world's worst sleeper who it would have been unfair to inflict on older siblings) - we took our king size apart and moved it to the attic, juggled all the bedrooms around so the kids have a room each and we sleep in the attic.

Is your son's current room very large? Perhaps it should officially become office/ guest room if there is plenty of space for the double bed to stay there plus all your office set up, and you and DH can move to the attic, or that can become your doc's proper full time bedroom that he won't be booted out of every 6 weeks.

Have a good think about whether you can reorganise your use of the space you have - something clearly has to change.

As your DC gets older it will be very unfair to send him the message that "his" bedroom is only his if nobody more important wants it. Once a year maybe (though I still think it's a bit shabby) but every 6th week it's not on.

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 20/05/2016 15:15

Mind you if it's your mum on her own and she's not a raging alcoholic or smoker or very untrustworthy, and she visits very frequently, could she not in fact just share with your son while he is still a baby/ toddler? Could you add a clothes rail for her and not move your son out nor any of his stuff? Only your mum, his grandmother, with other guests using the attic.

I'm not sure I'd do that... but then I'm not sure I'd cope with my mother staying that often, plus we have no ensuites and as my parents "need" an ensuite they stay in a hotel :o

Inertia · 20/05/2016 18:12

If your mum is fussy about having superior guest facilities she could always stay in a hotel.

A single bed with a trundle to make it into a double is a good option- takes up much less space than a double, could go into the eaves.

I've never heard of anyone clearing out cupboards for guests who temporarily stay in someone's bedroom, that's just insane. A spare bedroom might have wardrobe space available , but you can't be expected to keep space empty in your son's room to accommodate your mum's demands. An over the door coat rack would provide hanging space.

Newmanwannabe · 20/05/2016 18:48

Do, but stay a night there first yourself to test it out... I stayed in someone's attic once (on an air bed too) which was fine... But it was REALLY cold. There were no extra blankets and even with DH there I was uncomfortable all night. The home owner just didn't realise how cold it was I think, I didn't say anything though

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 22/05/2016 14:23

You have to line an airbed with a blanket under the sheets, they are very cold to sleep in

coconutpie · 22/05/2016 16:15

Guests have used your baby's COT as a luggage rack? WTAF? What is wrong with people? Fucking ignorant twats!

From now on, guests can sleep in the attic. There's even an ensuite there - perfect facilities for them. Long term, can you get a day bed / sofa bed?

SuburbanRhonda · 22/05/2016 17:31

Another alternative is saying to guests that you're no longer in a position to offer accommodation on such a regular basis.