Guest Beds and Sleeping Space in a Small Home

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Guest Beds and Sleeping Space in a Small Home

The options compared, mattress quality, storage and making a guest comfortable

Occasional guests are a space problem rather than a furniture problem, and the right answer depends on how often somebody actually stays.

The options

A sofa bed gives a permanent sofa and a compromise on both jobs. A folding guest bed stores flat and is the cheapest solution. A trundle or stacking bed hides under another bed and suits children's rooms.

A good inflatable bed is better than most people expect and needs a pump and somewhere to store it. A proper day bed works as seating year-round.

The mattress is what they remember

Most guest beds fail on the mattress rather than the frame. Check the thickness and the construction, and lie on it yourself before deciding it is acceptable.

A sofa bed with a thin foam mattress over a slatted mechanism is uncomfortable however good the sofa is. A topper transforms most of them for very little.

How often will it be used

For a few nights a year, a folding bed or a good airbed stored in a cupboard is the honest answer. For regular stays, a proper bed earns its space.

Space and access

Measure the bed opened as well as folded, and check the room still works with it out — including a route to the door at night.

Check the weight, since a folding bed that two people must carry downstairs stays in the loft.

Making a guest comfortable

A bedside surface, a light they can reach, somewhere to put a bag, a spare blanket and a glass of water. Those matter more than the bed.

Children sharing

Trundle and stacking beds suit sleepovers without a permanent second bed in the room. Check the upper bunk rules if you are considering one, since bunks and raised beds are not suitable for children under six.

Check the maximum mattress depth stated by the manufacturer, since a thick mattress reduces the guard rail height.

Bedding

Keep one set of guest bedding washed and ready, and check sizes, since folding and cabin beds are frequently non-standard. Air stored bedding before a guest arrives.

Sofa beds specifically

Try the mechanism yourself in a showroom, since some need two people and a clear metre of floor. Check the mattress thickness and what it sits on, because a slatted base under thin foam is what makes them uncomfortable.

A separate topper stored with the bedding solves most of it for very little money.

Check the opened length against the room, since guest beds are frequently longer than a standard single.

Storage

Store mattresses flat or rolled as the manufacturer specifies, somewhere dry, and air them before use.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop Ready Steady Bed? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop Ready Steady Bed — official site

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