I want to buy a spare bed - Futon vs Bed

zr160vvc

Not sure what bed to buy for the spare room,a futon would be great for space. But not sure whether just to buy a double bed!


Any suggestions???

eileenfromplaistow

Who's going to have to sleep on it?
(Relatively!) old bones might well find a futon too hard, or not high enough off the ground to get in and out of. Young people are generally just glad not to be on the floor.
We have a sofa bed (not the cheap foam on-the-ground type, which is pretty useless as a sofa) and it has been very useful over the years.
And I would always get a double over a single - more useful for the times you need one

Caixta

One January sale we bought a bed from Argos. It's in our daughter's room, but this is also the room where we put guests when they come to stay. (Daughter moves into our room when that happens.)

So we needed a versatile bed.

It's a single bed, with another bed that stows underneath with its legs folded.

When guests come to stay, it can then be used as:

a single bed

two single beds, if used apart

or even...

a superking size double bed, when pushed together. Very comfy!

When the spare bit is folded away, you can't even see it because we've put a valance on the bed base to hide it.

Something along these lines: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6618087/Trail/C%24cip%3D36030.Furniture%3EC%24cip%3D36072.Beds%3EC%24cip%3D36074.Guest%2Bbeds%2Band%2Bfolding%2Bbeds.htm

I know it's a bed and not a sofa, so you might still be able to put cushions, etc, on it and use it for sitting on when not in use as a bed.

https://www.furniture123.co.uk has a few ideas. Look for "guest beds".

Purely as an aside, in case anyone is interested, this one is fun: http://www.furniture123.co.uk/Layouts/item.asp/itmid/6320/d/Optimax_Triplesleeper_Bed_in_Blue Occasionally OH and I have discussions about whether to have any more children and where we would put them!

rowantoad

I would go for a decent firm double bed, one with drawers in the base for storage. We had a futon from ikea with the best mattress thing they do. It was not very comfortable to sit on. Was ok for lightweight people to sleep on but if you are heavy it's hard.

AuntyJean

We had a spare bed which was the z-bed type. It had metal legs which you unfold and when folded up had a sort of shelf on top which acted as the headboard when unfolded.

Unfortunately, kids decided (or possible an adult) to jump on it and the legs buckled and it cannot be repaired. £150 down the drain.

If we bother to replace it, it would be with something that lies flat on the floor rather than on legs.

jobbingmusician

I think it would help us if we knew what you plan to use the spare room for when not entertaining.

If it's for storage, a double bed with drawers is great.

If it's a study, a sofa bed is good.

If it's a rumpus room, a foam bed which unfolds is ideal.

Hope this helps!