apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My mom and I had this same problem years ago. While my dad was stationed in Korea, my mom and I shared a studio apartment. I was five at the time and my mom bought a loft bed for me and she slept on a sleeper sofa.
But since your daughter has her own room, I would suggest either a sleeper sofa from Ikea
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/rooms/living_room/10663/
They are super versatile.

The time in our little studio apartment, was probably the most special to me. I hope you enjoy it!

I am also looking for a nice sleep/sit convertible solution and recently came across this piece at The Door Store in Manhattan. The swivel combinations and modern look are pretty cool.They also sell them online at Tiny Living http://www.tinyliving.com/store/product/2114/square-sleeper-chair-red/ and http://www.tinyliving.com/store/product/2112/swivel-sofa-sleeper%2C-red/

The fabric was not lux but seemed good enough to withstand day use, then presumably you'd put a pad and/or sheet on it for sleeping so it's texture won't be so important at night.
It seemed nicely firm and comfortable and quite roomy width/lengthwise during the show room visit but couldn't really tell if it'd be good for long term sleeping.
Can anyone else vouch for the sleep experience?

I have been looking around for several months for a great sleeper sofa solution for my second bedroom/office. Its the reason I know this one is one sale. While its NOT cheap, it is less expensive than the $3000 option and still good quality.

http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=6723

There is also this one at Room and Board. One option is flat and another is more "convertible" in that it folds down. I went to the store and looked at it. The reason I didn't purchase it was because it was a bit narrow for two people but for one I think it would be great.

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=4197371&cat=4017659

Good luck! Living small can still be living well.

Link to the encore sofa version

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=4197370&cat=27

Have you thought about getting a daybed instead of a sleeper sofa? They're usually a bit cheaper (and I think CB2 has one that's on sale!) so you can always invest in a thick, fluffy, featherbed to put on top for add comfort. :)

I had the same problem in september when I moved into a studio. I ended up with a sofa sleeper from Room and Board. They said that because its "comfort sleeper technology" you could sleep on it every night. It's been really great..no problems or anything. The mattress is only 4 inches thin which made me hesitate for a second, but because of whatever is going on inside, its comfortable! My boyfriend complains that he can feel the bars underneath, but I don't have any problems. The only thing is that the pillows take up a lot of room in my little studio when the bed is out. Hope that helps heres the link: http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/category.do?method=get&id=28&page=1

they are pretty expensive but well worth it!

I would definitely make sure to be sleeping on a real mattress (I like the daybed idea...Room and Board has a nice one if I recall). I have slept on a variety of sleeper sofas, and none of them have ever been much for comfort. A good futon can be okay, too--I'm just thinking of support and comfort here!

I second the day bed over the sleeper sofa . . . we had the Ektorp IKEA sleeper sofa for a few years for guests, and it was really uncomfortable. We finally got rid of it.

Try a trundle bed. I have one in my studio aptartment and it works well. It's a twin daybed with a trundle under it (for sleep over guests). Lots of pillows make it more like a lounge instead of looking too bed-like.

I went with a good-quality futon couch in my old apartment, which I slept on every night for nine months until the boxes were emptied out of the bedroom (my kitchen was being renovated when I moved in). Then I got a very good quality day bed for the bedroom (which was very small). The futon frame is very nicely styled and futon itself the top grade ... it's still my couch 12 years later (though I no longer sleep on it regularly), and no one ever says "eww, a futon"! I also still have the day bed, in the room off the kitchen ... Bottom line is whatever you choose, get good quality and you'll still be using it when you have something larger than a studio!

Check out the slideshow portion of this New York times article. This is awesome an awesome "Trudle". This should be pretty easy to make for a carpenter:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/realestate/02sketch.html?fta=y

I don't know what they're like to sleep on, but Urban Outfitters has some really nice looking mid century looking daybeds that are very inexpensive.

I third the futon suggestion. I've been sleeping on a futon for about 8 years (first got it when I was living in a studio). I put an ordinary foam mattress pad on top of the futon mattress, and I think it's awesomely comfortable. My couch in the living room is also a futon, and I take all my naps there. I got both at Ikea. Unfortunately, the futon frames there are no longer as good quality as they were 8 years ago...fyi.

I am glad to hear that a few of us still have futons and find them practical and stylish. My design friends say I need to grow up, but nothing sleeps as comfortably as a high quality futon, or wears as well for everyday sitting. And futons come in so many models these days that they can fit into almost any decor pretty seamlessly if you just get a nice cover and invest in some interesting pillows. I have at times contemplated getting an expensive DWR couch, but I am afraid that in the end it will not be as comfortable nor as practical as my 9-year-old futon!

A trundle bed is good because you can use the "pull-out" bed at night (leaving the upper "couch" pristine). That way, you don't constantly have to make the bed every morning when you're trying to get your daughter off to school -- or face coming home to an unmade bed in your living room.

Inflatable beds are also super comfortable these days, though they're a hassle to blow up every night.

We just bought the IKEA Beddinge sofa bed for the guest room/tv room/study and it's very comfy and easy to use.

I also really recommend the daybed solution - I live in a tiny studio and bought the "overlapping squares" daybed from west elm. During the day I have pillows and bolsters on it - it looks just like a couch. At night the pillows come off and I sleep just fine on it. The key to this is having a good quality twin mattress. I would recommend finding a day bed that you really like (west elm's are $300-400) and then getting a really comfortable twin mattress to sleep on. Your back won't know the difference. Nor will your guests!

My solution for a stylish sofa/bed that was nicer than a futon (which we had for 14 years) is the Cameleon sofa, at http://www.jaymarfurniture.ca/eng/voila.html. All the backrests and armrests are removable to convert into a bed. Nice firm mattress, very sturdy construction, I absolutely love it. It cost about $1800. Made in Quebec, so it doesn't have to travel far.

Mike

There's a store called iqMatics out in Schaumberg. They have lots of different sleeper sofas at different price points - we have one in our guestroom and you might find one you like.

Absolutely a daybed with a pop up trundle. That way if you have an overnight guest or like to roll around when you sleep it's like a queen size bed with the pop up trundle.

I just bought this one recently, and it's extremely comfortable:

http://www.chiasso.com/shopping/modern-furniture/modern-sofas/aero-sofa-with-arms.aspx

It's affordable, and I think it looks really nice. It's garnered lots of compliments from guests, anyway.

for those of you who use a futon do you keep your comforter/blanket during the day? Do you keep it on the futon? I think I just have a problem with my guests sitting on my bed which is why i got the sleeper sofa. I'm still debating what to do though because I cant stand having the sofas pillows all over my room when I'm sleeping.

You can use a mattress with a built-in base as a sofa, if you can push it up against a wall. IKEA sells mattresses with an integrated base - you just add (short) legs to the bottom of it. Get one in twin, and buy pillows or cushions you like to form the back when it's in use as a sofa. You could even upholster it in a fabric you like - just wrap the fabric around the mattress, and staple it to the wooden base.

It's by far the cheapest solution I found, and more comfortable than most.