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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask... if you were a guest in someone's home would you

178 replies

monkeymamma · 14/05/2017 20:47

prefer to sleep on:

a) a futon (e.g. posh Futon Company style one)

b) a day bed (e.g. IKEA Hemnes) with decent mattress

c) a traditional fold-out sofa bed

I am veering towards option B because the mattress would be firm and supportive rather than the foam options that the traditional fold-out sofa offers.

We would use it 2-3 times a year, the main people using it will be 70+ (and one has back problems) so the more comfortable we can make it the better.

It's to go in our playroom, so as a sofa to sit on it doesn't need to be wildly comfortable (we have other sofas for sitting on).

I'd prefer something compact to maximise space for playing. Don't mind spending more if anyone has ideas beyond the above but I don't want a big old sofa that takes up loads of space.

IABU to put this in AIBU I know. Especially as this topic has been done before just not very recently.

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
BuzzKillington · 14/05/2017 22:01

*and

MsJolly · 14/05/2017 22:01

DS has the hemnes-he's only 8 at the moment but it is very comfortable and it opens out to a full size king size bed which is great for visitors. We had the most expensive mattresses, which weren't that expensive!

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 14/05/2017 22:03

We have a lyksele lovas (sp?) from Ikea. Not very comfy as a sofa but a very comfortable bed.

Garlicansapphire · 14/05/2017 22:03

B or C.

A futon is like sleeping on a fence.

DebiNewberry · 14/05/2017 22:03

70+? I'd either offer my bed or the local premier inn.

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 14/05/2017 22:05

A PP has made the point that I was going to - we used to have the Ikea Hemnes day bed and it was really comfy. PIL couldn't sleep on it though as whoever was on the far side couldn't easily get in and out for a drink/toilet visit in the night. If you didn't mind swapping with your room that might solve the problem tho.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 14/05/2017 22:09

We have one of these m.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-sacha-large-sofa-bed-light-leg-erin-grey/p/3120201 and it's very firm but with gaps between the cushions. Have bought a memory foam topper which can be stored inside and that's made it comfortable.

We also have the Hemnes day bed that can be used as a double, although we haven't yet. I've slept in it with my 2 year old and it was fine. I think we bought the more expensive mattresses. We store the spare one down the back by the wall.

readyforno2 · 14/05/2017 22:16

Definitely B.

CheeseQueen · 14/05/2017 22:20

I came on to say "I don't care where I sleep as long as I've got a duvet and a pillow. Floor will do me."
(I'm 40.)
See your guests are 70 though so maybe in need of a bed more. In that case sofa beds are comfy.

Lulukat · 14/05/2017 22:21

70+ are not going to fit on any option, have you considered a hotel?

Movingin2017 · 14/05/2017 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Spudlet · 14/05/2017 22:26

D! An air bed. This one: www.aerobed-europe.com/UK/p-26316-platinum-raised-airbed-king.aspx

We have this one, and slept on it when we had a pregnant friend come to stay (she had our bed with her toddler - better loo access). It was very comfortable. The mattress did feel a bit chilly underneath just a sheet but we put a thin blanket under the sheet which solved that. I really did like it, it was actually probably slightly more comfortable Han our normal bed...

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/05/2017 22:27

We have the Hemnes daybed as our spare bed, and people who have slept on it say it is very comfortable. So I vote B.

RedBugMug · 14/05/2017 22:27

b or c

WankersHacksandThieves · 14/05/2017 22:28

We used to have a sofa bed that was a decent size and also had a full sprung mattress on it. It was expensive and weighed a ton but it was incredible comfy. If you are not going into the expensive sofa bed market then the day bed is the best option. A futon is too low.

Notso · 14/05/2017 22:29

C. We had a sofa futon thing from the futon company it was really comfortable as a bed just like a good mattress and a sofa and not low.

I had a day bed growing up and was always banging my head on it so I wouldn't choose that.

Sofa beds, if it's one of those foam ones no way. Dsis has a next one which is a proper sofa, it was really comfy at first but a couple of years in its awful. The mattress is really thin.

opinionatedfreak · 14/05/2017 22:29

Ikea lycksele. I had the top of the range mattress.

Everyone who stayed on it liked it - they are designed for studio flats so for permanent sleeping. Really comfy. I used it for about 6 months as my bed when I was between properties and my proper furniture was in storage.

I now have a wallbed though - which is amazing - proper bed, sprung mattress. Takes up very little space when folded away, but does need floor space to fold down into.

This company delivers all over the UK.... www.wallbed.co.uk/wallbed_smart.htm

However - they are fairly expensive and you can't easily take it with you when you move.

Notso · 14/05/2017 22:30

Oops I meant A! Blush

ginsparkles · 14/05/2017 22:32

Have slept on a B ikea day bed and it was a great nights sleep. So definitely B for me

Naughtyfrog · 14/05/2017 22:37

Highly recommend this:
m.johnlewis.com/innovation-recast-sofa-bed-dark-leg-blue-nist/p/2087416
VERY comfortable. My parents even tested and approved the comfort of the bed before we purchased it!! They also tried the ikea hemnes and rejected it.....

MammaTJ · 14/05/2017 22:40

B, as someone who has been awarded PIP for my back, that would be the only option for me.

How nice that you are thinking so hard about this.

Kewcumber · 14/05/2017 23:03

I have a fold out sofa bed - I deliberately spent extra on one with a sprung mattress after I almost had to have both kidneys removed after one night on my friends sofa.

Suze1621 · 14/05/2017 23:04

We have the Hemnes day bed which is brilliant and a single Lycksele bed chair in my son's room which is also surprisingly comfortable.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 14/05/2017 23:08

I'm looking for one too, so just marking my place 😊

Canyousewcushions · 14/05/2017 23:12

the hemnes daybed is really good but they no longer do sprung matresses for it, only foam ones which we ended up replacing with help from amazon (need a continenal size...).

Its disadvantages are- you need to store the extra matress somewhere- it's a bit high for use as a sofa with both foam matresses on and higher still with both sprung ones. And the other issue, as pp said, if you are looking at it with a view to people with bad backs/aging using it is that the person on the inside needs to climb over the person in the outside to get out.

On that basis I'd go for a fold out sofa bed, unless you're happy to swap beds when they visit.