Desk and guest bed arrangements

[decorecor]

We have a smallish room which needs to be an occasional guest room and a daily office. It could just about squeeze in the required desk, bookcase, and double bed. I think the ideal scenario would be a Studybed, but it's so expensive.

My parents, the main users, refuse to use sofabed (even when I previously bought a very expensive one much comfier than a traditional one). I think a fold up bed would be refused too. Not sure whether to have a standard bed out all the time or if there's another alternative I could look at? What would you do?

Not sure what the rest of your house set up/no. of bedrooms is, but we decided to put a double bed into my daughter's bedroom and my mum sleeps in there when she stays. We put bunks in DS's room so DD sleeps on his top bunk when granny stays. If you can fit the Ikea Hemnes in the office room, that would be a perfect solution - it's a really comfy bed and pulls out easily into a double!

Of course your parents are not CFs!!! My mum is of an age now where I would not put her on a flimsy sofa bed/inflatable mattress etc. It will be easier when your DC are older and sleeping arrangements can be more flexible.

Of course you want to make your parents comfortable. I can no longer function after a rubbish nights sleep.

would it be possible to have a work station in both your own bedroom and the spare room? Then if they’re staying over you can work in your bedroom and give them some space?

I obviously live in a very expensive part of the country but that desk combination is the cost of a couple of nights hotel/BnB accommodation.

What about those inflatable beds with motor? I've used at others' homes & they are comfy.

What size bed do you have in your children's rooms? I was often turfed out my room for guests and slept on the futon instead. I had a small double bed in my room.

A small double might also fit better in your spare room instead of a full double and would be fine as long as your parents were slim, wouldn't be comfortable for two larger people though.

@ZeldaWillTellYourFortune the Op says her parents aren't comfortable on low beds as they are older and therefore probably developing mobility difficulties getting off of low surfaces. Aren't most air beds low? If you know of a high one that could be the answer.

We bought a memory foam mattress topper for our sofa bed which has improved it massively. Maybe try that?

Me and my DM for both our homes got the same ikea sofa bed (now not on their website) it looks like the Lycksele Lovas, Havet or Murbo - mine is the Murbo. In DM’s house she also has my DB’s Chesterfield sofa bed which she’s storing for him, the mattress for that is as thin as a pancake!

Both the IKEA sofa beds work well, mines in my box room and guests have never complained and in fact complimented us on how comfy they are.

My DB’s ex flat mate got the ikea hemnes which I’m sure is fine for occasional use.

See Wallbeds.com which has a good selection of Murphy beds. We have a Diva one and it's great. You can use a strong folding table as a desk in front of the bed when it's folded up as a cheaper version of a Studybed .

I would definitely look for a wallbed / Murphy bed solution. You need to bolt the frame to a solid wall or to the floor but it provides a proper bed with a proper mattress, at normal height.

You don’t need one with a built in desk, they are snazzy but add £££ to the cost. If it’s too tight to have the folded down bed plus desk in there, consider a desk which can fold against the wall when the bed is in use?

I was going to say the IKEA Lycksele beds are a bit of an odd looking sofa but a good bed with the higher spec mattress. We slept on it for 3 months during building work. Loads around second hand.

Just give them your bed and get your sheets and duvet cover laundered for you. Much, much cheaper and far less hassle!..