Impossible bed dilemma— AIBU? Am I missing the solution?

[lemonadecar]

Very tired lone mum with a frazzled brain. I have moved house but still have my mattress on the floor as I can’t solve this bed dilemma— maybe you can help work it out.

I got rid of my gorgeous oak frame as it was too big. These are what I need to find:

• is small enough to fit up very small twisty staircase (probably flat pack then)
• is very sturdy and doesn’t squeak/wobble
• can be assembled by me
• has space under for storage, not a low bed
• I’m also not sure whether to downsize to a double which would fit the room, or persevere with king size
• the wall behind my bed is the flimsy wall of the partitioned off shower room. I want a headboard to lean on but don’t understand how they work.

I am so tired out by life and just want to solve it so I can have a lot of sleep in the new house. Hopefully someone who likes logistics will help me.

have you tried ChatGPT? You can put in dimensions etc as well to get suggestions

Thank you, yes I have. It keeps recommending I get a bed from Amazon and so on. I just need some help from humans to solve the whole dilemma. I’ve never bought a bed before in my life and don’t really get it.

I know this is a boring question, sorry.

I loved my IKEA metal frame which has a sturdy built in headboard, they don’t seem to do the girly swirly one anymore but the basic one is cheap and you can dress it up with nice linens and cushions. Will come flat packed so you can get it up the stairs.

As for the mattress there are loads that come compressed so arrive really small and then it will expand once you get it up the stairs (memory foam type).

Good luck! I know how making all these decisions can be overwhelming sometimes 🫣

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/stjaernoe-bed-frame-white-luroey-s79563365/

OP, I’d go double if the room isn’t particularly big, so you have a bit more room for a bedside table and to get round the bed. You need to go and look at beds and see what you like - you can test them out to check they don’t wobble. Speak to someone in the shop about the difficulties of getting it up a small twisty staircase - you won’t be the first person to have had such a problem.

What kind of shop @sesquipedalian? I don’t drive and so only have the normal shops of a middle sized city.

Headboard: get one that’s nailed to the wall rather than attached to the frame. It’ll reduce the number of parts that could squeak.

Bed: get a futon style solid thing with built in storage. Low to the ground but high enough for storage. They exist, won’t be flat pack but will be able to slide up the stairs, especially if two single bed things that can be zipped together to make a double.

I worry about having a headboard stuck to the very thin partition wall my head is against (the wall of the separated off bathroom). Will it collapse?

OP, I have a king size bed in a double room and it fits fine, but it’s a bit of a pain. I’d stick to double if I were you. I’m a single parent too and I don’t think I’ve once slept on the other side, so a king can be a bit of a waste!

Thanks @JMSA thats useful.

Four years ago I bought the Ashley bed frame in white from The Original Bedstead Company. There is loads of storage room underneath, it’s easy to assemble and very sturdy … no wobbles or movement at all. I bought the small double size which is perfect for one and leaves plenty of room in the bedroom. I purchased online as a family member had one of these beds & she recommended it. They make many different styles & colours and have very good reviews.
The only part that I couldn’t advise on is getting it up a small staircase! Maybe you could contact the company and ask for advice on that?

Thanks. Yes it’s a very small staircase leading from an interior room with a twist at the bottom— like a cottage staircase.

I wouldn't recommend trying to assemble a flatpack bed by yourself. It always gets to the point where there just aren't enough hands to hold things in position and screw things in at the same time. If you can't get a friend to help you out, or don't want to risk a friendship with the inevitable assembly arguments, you might be able to find someone on airtasker.com or taskrabbit.co.uk, although availability may vary dependent on where you are. IIRC on airtasker you put a request up and people bid for the job, while on taskrabbit you describe the job and pick from a list of people the site serves up to you. It's more expensive than doing it yourself, obviously, but is likely to achieve a more sturdy result.

Ime most flat packs that are sold online list the package dimensions as well as the actual item dimensions. So as long as the package dimensions will fit (create a similar sized package out of cereal boxes to test it out if you have to!), you can then assemble it in place. Look on local Facebook pages for handymen etc if you need assembly help.

We have a wooden frame from ikea, will try to dig out the name. It’s very unobtrusive and we fit plenty under it. You can get people to assemble furniture on taskrabbit, but DH assembled this bed 4 times in 4 different houses by himself. They deliver if you are willing to pay.

Simple - get a double bed that comes as 2 singles that zip together same with the mattresses

@Darragon has it been ok in terms of sturdiness?

https://www.happybeds.co.uk/phoenix-oak-finish-wooden-ottoman-storage-bed-frame-4ft6-double?campaign_id=22204756968&asset_group_id=6705442528&adgroup_id=&creative_id=&keyword=&device=m&network=x&ad_type=pla_with_promotion&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22204758414&gbraid=0AAAAADNNkT2Am0fRIYQUYE4rPwKI-4NO9&gclid=CjwKCAjw7p_UBhBlEiwAhpIs7xn9o0fcZWcWFZu4DRoq1Gy4lkUDxiNf9YwrrhUfKzqG3b0X_HCcoBoClkwQAvD_BwE we bought something very similar to this….might be this very bed and it’s been great.

Get a wooden frame that’s assembled in the room eg Warren Evans. Easily disassembled when you move.They’re not creaky either.

I'd order a bed you like the look of. IKEA is a great shout! Then I'd book someone fron taskrabbit to come and build it. Protect your energy!

Literally any high double bed that is flat packed.

I had a cheap IKEA bedframe that I had to assemble, disassemble, reassemble 4 times as I moved between temporary houses post divorce.

I had no issue building/dismantling the frame alone.

Now that I'm finally in my forever home, I bought a beautiful double ottoman. The company were really helpful with my questions before purchase. I have a lovely soft headboard that is a smidge away from the wall it's up against. I have loads of easy to access storage when I lift up my bed. I unboxed it downstairs, making the component parts easier to get up the stairs. I built it myself, but it would have been easier with a spare pair of hands tbh. But I'm a stubborn determined cow and persevered alone 🤣

The ideas about task rabbit to help with the build are a good one.

All the best with finding a solution.

https://www.time4sleep.co.uk/collections/double-ottoman-beds

I would love a pretty ottoman like that it’s just I have this tiny staircase.

We had the same issue with our attic room (twisty staircase) so we went with one like this.

https://comfybedss.co.uk/products/split-divan-bed-base?variant=42849956069615&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21409605575&utm_content=pmax&utm_ad=&device=c&network=x&target_id=&location_id=1007251&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21409611773&gbraid=0AAAAApASk6EEYnmYPMZ-OwWUcit9gDZUi&gclid=CjwKCAjw7p_UBhBlEiwAhpIs7_SWG28NcTk_q-nhb77oEpDElU3UynEGokgt4NL56acnbaijoqpMGBoC13QQAvD_BwE

Ottoman bed.
They're flat packed, it doesn't come as a box, it's all sides you screw together. They are sturdy, don't squeak, have loads of storage, have a strong headboard.

You can absolutely assemble a bed yourself. Most furniture I've ever had I've assembled alone. It's only since being with DH that I've had help and I still do most of it while he's at work. Most things are a one person job. Beds are easy because they're so low down and a basic shape. No need to pay someone to do it.

The headboard part is the only part you could struggle with so just make sure you buy one that the headboard comes in parts or isn't too high

It comes flat packed, so you assemble in the room.

I unboxed mine downstairs so I could carry each piece of it up the stairs.

Like I said, I had a few questions for the company before I purchased. Take some measurements of your staircase, have a shortlist of beds you're interested in. Then give the company a call/drop them an email to ask their opinion about if/how you can get the component parts of the bed up your staircase.