our living room is also needing to be our bedroom how can we make this work?

[Veggielove84]

Hello

We are a family of 4 living in our 2 bedroom, 1st time home owners. We look likely stuck here long term.

My daughters can not share a room (autism and large age gap) and so they each have a lovely room but me and husband are just on a sofa bed in living room and it was over a grand in ikea and its shockingly uncomfortable! I can not sleep on this thing any longer! our living room is not big at all.

Living room currently holds the small office desk and computer. some toys (most in bedroom) 1 x 3 seat sofa that is a sofa bed and and arm chair. My thinking was to move the office space and convert under stairs cupboard in kitchen to office space.

But do we just use a double bed and have a smaller sofa with the arm chair ? I am torn between needing comfort (I'm 40 this year husband in his 40s we need proper rest) and the look of it, I have a similar colour scheme but still... No option to do extension as live in a flat that is upstairs downstairs ( maisonette 2 bedroom and bathroom up, living room kitchen downstairs)

I hate sofa beds we have tried so many :(

not a lot space for a bed to pull up into wall and wouldn't probably be able to afford one anytime soon if it would fit.

our radiator is undeneath the large window/ there is a fire place on one wall with 2 small cupboards either side so only have a small corner area in the room and one wall where nothing is.

actually starting to wonder this myself now lol

about the fact it doesn't look maybe so comfy lol

perhaps I can recreate that look with a double bed and a sturdy wardrobe at the end of bed an(make it match my decor) and perhaps a curtain , so as when you walk into the living room/our bedroom you see the curtain but walk by it to the sofa tv area. It is a small room so it will all be squeezed in I guess. I will try and draw something and upload if I can figure that one out lol

You don't say which child is autistic, so if it is the older one, is there a reason you can't share with the younger one? The previous idea of a doubt bed bottom bunk and single top sounds good. Then everyone can get a proper bed. If that doesn't work then a Hemnes day bed is a good idea as it pulls out to be big enough for 2 amd you can pick your own mattress to get what you need. It can be a sofa in the day.

20 years ago my DH and I had an older version of this bed

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/nyhamn-3-seat-sofa-bed-with-pocket-spring-mattress-skartofta-black-light-grey-s09516985/

It's an every day sofa and an every night bed.

It was the comfiest bed ever and a comfy sofa (nice high back). (It was also really good for sex. 😳)

Our son now sleeps on this modern version.

It can be dressed up really nicely. Wouldn't look out of place in a living room and easily turns into a bed.

Would this suit you?

We had one of these for ages and it was great. With a topper, you wouldn't know you're not in a normal double.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/utaker-stackable-bed-with-2-mattresses-pine-afjaell-medium-firm-s49521517/

could this work?

we decided to buy a nice white metal day bed with trundle that slides under. the large set of drawers will be coming as well. Also a 2 seat sofa will be coming. No wardrobe though, unless that is kept upstairs in the largest bedroom for my dresses mainly. the day bed will have about 6 pillows along the back of it for sitting comfort and a nice look of fullness during the day. Thanks again to everyone with the great ideas.

Good choice! I sleep on a white metal day bed in my living room too! Very comfy and if you have one with a decent back and arms you can add plenty of cushions and make it look decent.
For bonus comfort you can also buy upholstery foam to make a proper back and arms.

Could you utilise your upper space to save on floor space? ie, a rail on the bedroom wall to hang clothes.

Oh thanks that's a great idea!

We divided our biggest room into two with a wall. Obviously one child has to walk through to get to their room but it's worked pretty well over the years. We were lucky that each room got a window and radiator due to how it was originally laid out.

Is something like this possible?

Someone may already have posted this but could be worth a look? I think the drawers are real and can be used for storage

Just saw your update OP - glad you found a solution

We bought a £1800 sofabed.
It really changed the game.

But we do enjoy having a bedroom now.

Well done OP, enjoy your new space. Always nice to get an update.

I would aim to keep your clothes in one of the girls' rooms. Keeping some "territory" in another part of the house is no bad thing when you are living and sleeping in one room.

I don't know if things like this are sold for clothes but if not OP check out rug rails for horses. Horse rugs can be heavy so you could definitely hang all your dresses from one.

My friend has something similar to one of these - it's extremely comfortable, but hers is a double:

https://www.wallbeds.co.uk/solutions/complete-systems-furniture-mechanisms/life-desk-bed-wall-bed-system/

The Zebedee clothes rails are really good and can be fitted at any angle, including a sloping ceiling.

Would something like this fit into your kitchen?
https://www.wayfair.co.uk/furniture/pdp/brambly-cottage-rosa-dining-table-u001613220.html

If something store bought would be too big, perhaps a local joiner could make similar bench seating, could even make them storage benches perhaps.

You could make it comfy with cushions and perhaps put a small TV on the wall nearest it so that you are making the room a kitchen/living/family room so that you and DH can have a bedroom of your own.