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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Am I being ridiculous to but dd (8) a short length bed?

25 replies

Reastie · 30/10/2019 10:56

We are moving dd into another bedroom. Because of layout it’s either buy her a short length bed 6 foot( rather than 6 foot 3 standard) (you can get them online but it’s not a standard thing) or a regular single bed mattress and have it go right in the middle of the room obscuring the door as you come in and hugely reducing the space she has to play with toys. This bed needs to last her through her teenage years so I’m not sure if going small is a mistake.

The only other option is to either move the piano (which atm is in her room) in the sitting room meaning we have to get rid of a (v expensive) sofa and do some jiggery to everything in the room or else move the piano in front of the radiator in dds new room meaning we’d have to turn off the radiator permanently and buy some kind of electric heater on a timer system (assuming that option is safe to leave on at night) and place the heater to cover the fireplace in there.

I’m at a loss what to do for the best and dd says she’s easy whichever option. Any advice?

OP posts:

ChicCauldron · 30/10/2019 10:59

Moving the piano would give her more space.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/10/2019 10:59

What height centile is she on? If she's average height for her age, it probably won't make much difference. If she's on track to be 6ft tall, it is likely to cause issues in a few years.

highheelsandwitcheshats · 30/10/2019 11:02

Where is 6'3 a standard bed length? We have a standard double and my 6'2 husband sleeps with his feet dandling off the end.
(He won't upgrade to a king size 🙄)

TheDragonFromDreams · 30/10/2019 11:03

Yeah I wouldn’t worry about this at all unless she is likely to be over 5 foot 8. And then I’d worry about it then tbh...

highheelsandwitcheshats · 30/10/2019 11:03

Could you get her a high sleeper and have the piano underneath?

AwdBovril · 30/10/2019 11:04

If you buy her a short length bed now, what are you going to do in a few years when she's takler? Will you still be living in the same house? Will you still have the piano & sofa? (Why are you storing a piano in her room!?)
FWIW, I'm 5'3" & only had a junior bed until I left home at 19, as my bedroom was tiny. It was 2'6" wide & I'm not sure how long but I suspect not more than 6' long. I was fine. However if your DD is likely to be even a tiny bit taller than I am, I wouldn't recommend it. I only barely fit. And the bedsheets were always loose, despite my learning to sleep almost without moving around at all.

On the plus side, my giant DH & I can cope in a standard double bed now, as I require very little room.

highheelsandwitcheshats · 30/10/2019 11:04

Bh the time she's a tall teenager, you might have gotten rid of that expensive sofa anyway, meaning the piano can move.

AwdBovril · 30/10/2019 11:10

Regarding the heating in her room, you could turn the radiator off or right down, & get her an electric blanket. That's what my parents did, as the only viable place for my bed was right by the radiator (which was left switched off when I got a high sleeper to give me more storage space).

Drogosnextwife · 30/10/2019 11:35

Why is there a piano in her room

randomsabreuse · 30/10/2019 11:38

I'd go with the short bed that fits until she gets uncomfortable if she even does.

BarbourellaTheCoatzilla · 30/10/2019 12:08

I think I'd go for the short bed but we're all v. small and couldn't foresee it being an issue. Plus since she is only 8, 5-8 years time when she grows and may out-grow the bed you might have space elsewhere for the piano / she's stopped playing and no longer wants the piano.

Why is there a piano in her room
I really do think the IQ level of the average mnetter has decreased lately.

Original poster

Reastie · 30/10/2019 15:27

Highheels that’s according to google but you don’t lie at the very top of a bed because of pillows etc so you need a bit of extra space to allow for that. I’m not sure about a high sleeper with piano under because of thr room set up it just wouldn’t logistically work.

Awd I was hoping she could keep a short bed into adulthood...

So the piano obv is there to play 😁. We aren’t planning on moving. Dh and I are both average, maybe 5’6 and 5’8 so I’m not expecting her to be giant.

I hadn’t thought about changing the bed/piano situ in the future as I was hoping to buy once and last so maybe buying for now for a few years and reassessing might be the best thing.

OP posts:

itsboiledeggsagain · 31/10/2019 19:59

to put this another way are you choosing possible discomfort for your dd over a sofa?
who cares about an expensive sofa?

You havent suggested it is the only sofa in the house...

DustyMaiden · 31/10/2019 20:03

I don’t think she will ever need a bed longer than 6ft.

PhantomErik · 31/10/2019 20:11

I'd go for a slightly shorter bed. Especially if you & your DH are average height.

We opted for 2'6" wide single beds thinking that at the moment they need maximum floor space to play & could maybe change when they get older but actually they're a good size & I expect will last into adulthood.

PhantomErik · 31/10/2019 20:13

Oh & my dd has an piano in her bedroom & loves it. She practises much more than when it was downstairs.

amylou8 · 31/10/2019 20:16

Small bed for now, rethink if she grows out of it in years to come.

ColdRainAgain · 31/10/2019 20:16

I'd happily get a 6ft bed if it is a standard 3ft wide. I'd have more reservations if you were going to get a 2ft6 wide bed. I was also under the impression shorty beds were usually less than 6ft long.

RandomMess · 31/10/2019 20:16

She'll be fine in a 6' bed!!!

daisypond · 31/10/2019 20:19

Quite normal for a piano to be in a bedroom if there’s only one person who plays it. A friend of mine who became a professional classical musician had her piano in her bedroom until she left home.

GertiMJN · 31/10/2019 20:26

Sounds fine. I'd do it.

mrsm43s · 31/10/2019 20:30

Is the piano "her" piano, and she's a keen pianist or is it just a piece of family furniture that just happens to be in her room? If its the latter, I'd ditch the piano tbh, and replace with a keyboard for her to muck around on.. Obviously not if she's a serious, high grade player heading for conservatoire!

southofmanc · 31/10/2019 21:00

Could you move the radiator anywhere? DS had a awkwardly shaped room and we got a radiator that was really tall but super narrow - fitted in a small corner gap all the way to the ceiling.

Worked really well.

Something like this https://www.bestheating.com/milano-windsor-vertical-double-column-white-traditional-cast-iron-style-radiator-1500mm-x-200mm-21230?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2eKWgLLH5QIVF-DtCh28xAMsEAQYAiABEgJyZ DD_BwE

Original poster

Reastie · 05/11/2019 15:02

Sorry, I didn’t spot these responses!

So dd used to learn but gave it up [the piano]. The piano is a sentimental piece of furniture and was inherited and hideously expensive when originally bought. Ds May learn but that’s a few years off. I said to dh shall we get rid of it/offer it to family but he refuses to entertain the idea despite not playing himself. I do play it and would miss it but would sacrifice it for the greater good. Maybe dh enjoys my playing 😂.

Southofmanc now that is an interesting idea and one I hadn’t contemplated as if we’re buying a heater for dd to put on a timer anyway it might not be such a huge difference.

I looked up short beds and mattresses and it’s more expensive than I thought so we may have to keep her existing bed and put piano in front of radiator space and see how that goes.

OP posts:

BendingSpoons · 05/11/2019 15:09

Ikea make a bed that extends to three different lengths. I don't know quite what the lengths are but it might work for you. You could have it on the middle option for now and reconfigure later on. The mattress has separate sections you put in and out.

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