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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think sleeping in the living room would be fine?

83 replies

Adskps · 15/02/2021 18:12

Live in a 2 bed flat, both bedrooms are double but not huge, eldest DS (7) has autism and adhd and really needs his own bedroom, he doesn't tend to sleep much and he also encourages his little brother to do stupid things and it's a bit chaotic at times, he sleeps in my bed at the moment because he kept getting the younger one up at night and it was just dangerous as the little one is only preschool aged. Even if he stops that, younger DS will need a full single bed soon and in either room fitting two single beds would leave hardly any space for playing/toys/stuff
Bunk beds out of the question because it would be too dangerous.
So sleeping on a sofa bed in the living room and giving the boys a bedroom each seems the most logical idea?
I'm a single parent so it's just me and I really dont use my room for anything other than sleeping atm anyway so seems a waste.
Storage wise I have enough space for storage elsewhere in the flat where I could keep clothes and bits.
Has anyone done this? Was it ok or did it drive you mad? Is it really annoying having to pull the bed out every night?

OP posts:
chitofftheshovel · 15/02/2021 18:17

I do it at the moment but have a full on double bed in the sitting room, in hindsight I wish I’d gone for a fold down sofa bed.
It does do my swede in being cooped up in the one room (tiny kitchen), I eat, sleep, sit in the same room.

But needs must and the children’s need for their own rooms outweighed mine.

Girlwhowearsglasses · 15/02/2021 18:17

Does the ADHD one go to bed ok- and safe in his room by himself? If so I'd just have the little one in with me for a while - keep their stuff in the kids bedroom but let him sleep with you. When the little one is a bit older he may be fine on the top bunk. My oldest has ADHD and now 14. He'd never have been able to do top bunk but his younger sibs were fine from 6 as they weren't liable to jump off Confused🙄

YoungBritishPissArtist · 15/02/2021 18:18

Can you have a proper bed? I think sleeping on a sofa bed long term wouldn’t be good for your back.

biddybird · 15/02/2021 18:21

I've done this in the past with a partner as well, and it's fine. If you do it get one of the bi-fold futons that converts to a bed just by pushing on the back.
The tri-fold ones are a real PITA to unfold every night, and aren't that great as sofas either.

biddybird · 15/02/2021 18:21

And as PP said, sofabed will do your back in if you sleep on it all the time.

Rewis · 15/02/2021 18:22

I would get a proper bed in the livingroom instead of having to make up the sofa bed every night. I know quite a few families that do this. Some have put a little curtain/room separator thing to create a bit if privacy for the bed area.

HighSpecWhistle · 15/02/2021 18:24

It's your home to work with as you need. It sounds like a good solution to me and if I were in your circumstance I would do the same for now I think. I'd rather sleep in the lounge than sleep with a child.

HighSpecWhistle · 15/02/2021 18:27

You could also get a sofa that has storage. Our sofa bed has a chaise lounge style bit that has storage when you lift it up - like this (but we didn't pay as much!).

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-bailey-5-seater-rhf-chaise-end-sofa-bed/p3757206?fabricSku=237736028

IliveonCoffee · 15/02/2021 18:27

I think you'd need to get a decent one, that would be comfortable long term.

I think you'd need to be quite displined with yourself. Personally I could see myself pulling down the bed quite early, but then staying up to the small hours watching TV. So, perhaps if you'd be the same you'd need to be strict with yourself about having a transition between it being a living space, into a bedroom.

Same with putting it away in the morning.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 15/02/2021 18:31

Definitely get a decent quality sofa bed if you're going to use it every night. I'd probably have the preschool child in with me for now.

Lovethewater · 15/02/2021 18:34

Would you have room for a Murphy bed that folds up into a wall cupboard? A number of relatives have these in European city flats and seem to work well.

teenagetantrums · 15/02/2021 18:36

I did it for 5 years. As a single parent it was fine until they turned into teenagers and wanted to stay up later.
Get a good sofa bed. My clothes were mainly in my DD room as she had largest room. But l had a chest of drawers in loving room with PJs and underwear plus a few bits.
It was quite nice actually once kids went to bed l got into sofa bed to watch TV all cozy

QueenArseClangers · 15/02/2021 18:38

IKEA always has good ideas for multipurpose spaces. Like PP have said, make sure you get a decent mattress so you don’t do yourself an injury.

Levirandal · 15/02/2021 18:38

Could you house a double and a single in one room and you share with your youngest? My two kids have asd and adhd and couldn’t share with one another. Failing that a really good decent sofa bed/bed in the living room. It’s your flat and you should do whatever works best for you.

Hankunamatata · 15/02/2021 18:40

Pull down bed might be the way to go

To think sleeping in the living room would be fine?
firesidetartan · 15/02/2021 18:46

I had a friend who's parents did this so the girls could ha e their own rooms as teens. They had a fold out bed that wheeled into one of the bedrooms during the day.

BlueTimes · 15/02/2021 18:50

I think it’s fine but agree it’s worth making sure you have something appropriate to sleep on so you don’t end up with a sore back.

Lilymossflower · 15/02/2021 18:57

I have a day bed in my living room. A bit like this.
www.dunelm.com/product/memphis-day-bed-1000108444?defaultSkuId=30510437&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1KiBBhCcARIsAPWqoSqI7ACdv1NqoSq5qG9HG3jo7jf5OuxTB8iCdvuMubMruQuPA1WUdcwaAvQnEALw_wcB

I dont sleep on it but it comes in handy if anyone needs to stay. And it's great for storing things underneath

Mangofandangoo · 15/02/2021 19:03

What about a daybed in the living room, that way it looks less bed like in the daytime with cushions etc. We have one in the spare room and it's really comfy Smile

Mangofandangoo · 15/02/2021 19:04

Sorry crossed postDaffodil

Happycat1212 · 15/02/2021 19:13

I could have wrote this. 2 boys sharing a box room 8 and 6 8 year old has autism and I have had to take the 6 year old out the room because they spent all night fighting, it being a box room it could only fit bunk beds but it became so bad I was worried they would tip them as they were fighting and kicking at each other from the top bunk down to the bottom. The whole thing would shake. I had to remove the 6 year old and keep him in my room but quite frankly that’s not been good for me either but I haven’t had the choice.

fabulousathome · 15/02/2021 19:14

www.wallbedking.co.uk/wallbeds?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1KiBBhCcARIsAPWqoSrpByRWkNJfkjReT9eagWcC1mi0Hr3vk9OU4dxYHbq54h11-_5gxkQaAssLEALw_wcB
This would be perfect. You can take it with you if you move too.

Playnoh · 15/02/2021 19:22

I was ready to say no way but after reading your circumstances I would think that’s the best option. Are you in a council place? Could you apply for a swap?

xHeartinacagex · 15/02/2021 19:24

I think it would be doable as long as you got something proper to sleep on. Do I spent almost a year on a cheap sofabed and we constantly had sore backs. Those pull down beds look great.

You could keep your clothes in the biggest bedroom.

JillsFlapjacks · 15/02/2021 19:26

I have to do this. It's fine. The room is set out in a way that the bed (a proper bed) is screened off. I'd be hesitant about using a sofa bed full time, they can vary in quality I think.