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.

We have an ottoman, it came in several boxes, and we put it together. The headboard is an integral part of the overall frame, and is very sturdy to lean against. We’ve had it ten years and it’s never squeaked. Tonnes of storage space underneath too.

Seconding two mattresses, called zip and link if you want to google. We also have a twisty staircase and this was the only way that worked.
All well and good if they come compressed into a roll, no problem at all getting a double mattress IN. The problem comes when you have to get it OUT again . If the mattress gets too bent then the springs can deform quite easily, and you will have a permanently lumpy mattress.

You don't need to worry about collapsing the wall. There are wooden studs behind that plasterboard and most modern houses will have this as internal walls with people sleeping against them. So take this variable out of your thinking.
You can keep your king mattress so you don't need to worry about the boyfriend.
Get an ottoman bed. Happy beds have a lot of options.
Task rabbit of you need help putting it together. But shouldn't need to as you can ask your boyfriend.

And get a double!

She already has a king size mattress up there, which sounds like it was brought unrolled from a previous home.

Agree with this. Easy to assemble (try googling to find a video to show you), loads of storage room underneath, can chuck things like dressing gowns and towels over the end 😄.

Lots of places offer an assembly service, we even have a local company that does this too.

Would a traditional divan that has a two part base work?

Having moved last year I've come to the very annoying (and expensive) conclusion that you end up buying a lot more new furniture that you thought you would, isn't it annoying when you have something you love!

I mean in wood, not wood colour. It’s wood. 😂

The wooden white Malm bed frame from IKEA is great. I have a superking but it comes in double size too.

Hotel Contract Beds will cut their divan bases into pieces so you can get it up the stairs. They do headboards that bolt to the divan base.

The removal men got my kingsize mattress up but by bending it a lot and it is not as comfy as before, so maybe it got ruined.

Yes, I am having to buy more furniture than I thought. The whole process has been stressful and I’m worried there’s about to be a house price crash too and I was unwise … but that’s another issue. I’m just so tired and this thread is amazing. I’ll definitely get one of the recommendations, just going through them to see which will fit boxes of stuff underneath.

I hadn’t heard of rolled mattresses how brilliant.

I’m usually good at problem solving but being a lone parent is so exhausting I am really grateful to everyone helping.

It is sad getting rid of nice things. I gave my giant oak bed frame which was very beautiful to a woman from freecycle who was a paramedic that had escaped an abusive marriage and was restarting life on the Isle of Wight— so a nice story.

Also, the wall to the bathroom is something I had to get rebuilt as it was dreadful before. It’s ok now, but still thin. In my room my head is against that wall, to my left are two windows with radiator under, at my feet the alcove wall with the old chimney breast, to my immediate right the door. So the bed has to go here.

How ridiculous. What adult wants a single bed? And what if she meets someone, or her child wants to sleep with her sometimes?

Not if the wall is flimsy!

Agree with other posters about Warren Evans. Lovely wooden bedframes that are built in situ by them. We've got one in our attic bedroom.

Look at the John Lewis options - some of them come with free assembly. We did this when we had a tight moving schedule but had completed the purchase before the move (lucky, I know). My parents let them in in our absence beforehand and their guys did a great and tidy job of putting the beds up. It was a big help on moving day. Sounds like you could do with a hand.
(Edited to say: yeah, don't stick a headboard on a flimsy wall!)

Sorry, not free assembly - I've just checked. Maybe it used to be or I've a bad memory. But very reasonable cost on simple frames: £30-50; about £150 if you choose an Ottaman frame for storage. You'd get a cheaper bed and set up buying roll under storage separately but the Ottaman is a great idea if you can afford it. Here's an example:
https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-clyde-ottoman-storage-bed-frame-double/brushed-weave-beige/p112837257

Another vote for ikea. I bought the one that @Vegandiva suggests only I got the girly swirly version which they don't do anymore. When I assembled it I was in my 60's with an iffy back and a duff knee and I got it upstairs and assembled on my own. their matteresses are good too and come vacuum packed, again I got it upstairs on my own, DO NOT open the mattress until its in the room you need it to be in. The wood and particles board beds are heavier and more difficult to put together.

Warren Evans will help you.

Yep.

If going for the double, keep the king sized duvet though. It really makes a difference.

Is there any chance of changing the orientation of the bed so you are not against the flimsy wall? If there isn’t could you get a joiner to build a frame for the headboard that attaches to floor and ceiling rather than wall?
I would go for a double to maximise the feel of space as well as being able to have a decent sized bedside table.
Futon company do ones which are less bulky but have less storage space underneath. John Lewis will deliver and build but cannot perform miracles with a twisty staircase. A frame and mattress will be more manoeuvrable than a divan. Next do some nice ones which are more reasonable than makes like Ercol.
You need to think about your mattress too (if you are replacing this, a lot of the ones which roll or fold are foam/latex rather than sprung. It does make getting them in more straightforward but be sure it is what you want to sleep on. At least mattresses can be bent round corners a bit.

Do you think it breaks sprung ones to take it round sharp corners/bend it?

I have this, was flat pack and you can set the height on it. Very solid and I often lean against the headboard to read
https://www.obc-uk.net/products/beds/iron/solomon?size=50&colour=black&_gl=1ex8mbr_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgaqfjqC0lgMVZqRQBh2reSmPEAAYAiAAEgIJTvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADmRao-BXM6ZZWwvxbcPg3M-LtaQT

I have a super king and I’m single. No way would I sleep in a single bed, I haven’t done since I was a child
she also has a boyfriend so a single is not going to work

I have just bought an ottoman bed from Ikea. Boxes fit in my car and the headboard is in 2 parts so you could unpack downstairs if that is too tight. The headboard is sturdy I'd say and it took me about 4 hours to assemble on my own. Mine was a double but I doubt the king would be much bigger in piece size given how it was packed - so give you choices.