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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Porridgeoat · 15/02/2021 21:12

Tell them this is a short term measure and you will review it each summer and they might share a room again?

In a couple of years you may prefer to split their bedroom in two with furniture?

MissMarpleDarling · 15/02/2021 21:13

Yep that's fine OP.

user1471538283 · 15/02/2021 21:15

Might you be able to have bunk beds but the ones with a double on the bottom and a single on the top for your son?

I think if you sleep in the lounge you need a proper bed.

Mummadeze · 15/02/2021 21:18

We live in a big one bedroom flat. Our DD has the big bedroom and we sleep in the sitting room. She is 12 but we have been doing it for years. No issues whatsoever. We have a futon bed that we can turn into a sofa if we have guests. If we don’t we all chill out on it as if it is a sofa to watch TV etc. I prefer to keep our rent down and do this than be skint all the time.

Nearlyhalfterm · 15/02/2021 21:50

I wonder if these are as good as they look... m.aliexpress.com/item/32660650289.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail

Original poster
Adskps · 15/02/2021 21:52

Thanks lots of good suggestions.

I can't do a pull down type bed because it's a new build with weird metal stud walls that aren't much good for anchoring things on which is a shame because they look a good option. Day beds seem the most comfortable option so I'll have a look at those.

I'd hope it would be short term ish and they'll be better able to share as they get older, the main problem is that DS1 doesn't sleep and they fight but those things might change with maturity and if not, for a longer term solution one of the rooms could be divided with a stud wall quite well (it's quite narrow but really long and has a window either side of the room) but I'd have no idea where to start with that! It's housing association and I'm not sure they'd even let me do that.

OP posts:
Nearlyhalfterm · 15/02/2021 21:52

Pull down bed but also a sofa when you push it back up

Souperspooker · 15/02/2021 21:54

Husband has been sleeping downstairs for last couple of years due to non sleeping babe now toddler-and my snoring, and other issues. Anyway I got a z bed style foam mattress on Amazon for around£100 and it is seriously comfy. It's navy. Slides behind the back of sofa when unfolded v neatly. A cheaper option if you want to trial it for a bit.
Makes fantastic trampoline/ leaping about prop when folded into a cube!
I keep a fitted sheet on it and he has a small basket with sheets and blankets in under a table. They take up less space than s duvet. A storage pouffe would work too .

Yes putting away every day gets annoying..

Souperspooker · 15/02/2021 21:55

Btw we had a pull down bed for a while upstairs, actually takes up loads of space when folded, as deep as a wardrobe.

homeschoolingyay · 15/02/2021 21:56

I had a pull down wall bed when I lived in a tiny studio. It was amazing. It had the comfort and back support of a proper bed, but you simply clipped a strap across the bedding in the morning and folded it up. This took literally seconds and didn't require any strength. When folded up it looked like a cupboard, with matching cupboards on either side where I hung my clothes.

AdventureIsWaiting · 15/02/2021 22:04

I did it temporarily in the IKEA Hemnes bed, which was fine. It has drawers underneath so easy to put the pillows + duvet away, cover mattress with a blanket + cushions and it's a sofa. I'd definitely get something like that rather than a fold out one - slept on those and not been half as comfortable.

fluffythedragonslayer · 15/02/2021 22:24

I' did this for years. It's absolutely fine. Had a wardrobe upstairs on the landing and a day bed type thing in the lounge. I was lucky enough to be able to move a year ago and have an actual bedroom but before that sleeping in the lounge just became the norm and was absolutely fine.

rednsparkley · 15/02/2021 22:34

Another vote for the Ikea Hemnes day bed here, it's very comfortable, has storage and looks nice as a sofa too

notanothertakeaway · 15/02/2021 22:40

I think Next might do a day bed

Lexilooo · 15/02/2021 22:57

Why not get the kids two singles of the type where one can slide under the other, then you can put one away when they want to play.

Or just two singles and let them play in the lounge.

homebase123 · 15/02/2021 23:28

That sounds like a good idea, do whatever works best for your family.

I'd go for a sofa bed for yourself but keep a double in one of the bedrooms so you can sleep in there when you can't be bothered to set it up.

LadyLolaRuben · 15/02/2021 23:32

Get an ikea day bed and a good mattress and it'll be fine

Fuckitsstillraining · 16/02/2021 00:26

I put a daybed in the sitting room so I could sleep downstairs while nursing my mother, we only had one bedroom downstairs so by doing this we both got privacy and it was more comfortable than a camp bed, the bed wasn't expensive but I paid over €900 for the mattress. It looked good as a sofa during the day and was ideal at night too.

ConsuelaHammock · 16/02/2021 00:48

I’d buy a double bed with a single bunk bed above it for my room .

Mydogdoesntlisten · 16/02/2021 00:48

Could you get a room divider either for your living room or your DS's bedroom? I remember seeing some really nice ones in IKEA.
The day beds posted on here also look really nice though.

Pandoraslastchance · 16/02/2021 01:09

We sleep in the living room on a double sofa bed so our 16yo can have a room of her own and the younger two share the second bedroom.

It's tough I'll admit as it's a living room/dining room/office and our bedroom.

SionnachGlic · 16/02/2021 01:33

I did this for a time when in small one'bed apartment. When DS got a little bigger we had a single bunk for him (with high sides & ladder at end) with a double futon (for me) underneath. It worked well for us at that time. And like another OP...I did like the futon in sitting room...it was just me warm & cosy with tv after DS 's bedtime. I had a v good futon mattress though...so comfy.

Nearly47 · 25/02/2021 17:43

Get a daybed. They look nice enough with cushions, throws on top and you can get one with drawers under to keep your duvet and pillows

MadeOfStarStuff · 25/02/2021 17:48

I’d hate it to be honest but I voted YANBU because I think it’s probably the best option in your circumstances. It’s weighing up the current disruption over the annoyance of not having a private space of your own.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 25/02/2021 18:04

@Adskps

Thanks lots of good suggestions.

I can't do a pull down type bed because it's a new build with weird metal stud walls that aren't much good for anchoring things on which is a shame because they look a good option. Day beds seem the most comfortable option so I'll have a look at those.

I'd hope it would be short term ish and they'll be better able to share as they get older, the main problem is that DS1 doesn't sleep and they fight but those things might change with maturity and if not, for a longer term solution one of the rooms could be divided with a stud wall quite well (it's quite narrow but really long and has a window either side of the room) but I'd have no idea where to start with that! It's housing association and I'm not sure they'd even let me do that.

Is it at all possible to divide the room using furniture? So they share a door, but put wardrobes or bookshelves down the middle - one facing into one "room" and the other facing the other way?
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