apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I slept on this:
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=4197371&cat=4017659
for a few days at a friend's house, and found it very comfortable. It would mean "unmaking" your bed every day, but it does work well as a sofa, and, IME, as a bed.

I like the idea, but I guess I think maybe you should have some sort of upholstery-like blanket that you will cover the whole set of bedding with, and then put the pillows on top of that. Otherwise I feel like it will be slightly "ew-we're-sitting-on-their-bed" feeling. I always feel a little shamefaced when guests sit on our bed - not sure why, since I'm not normally squeamish about anything. But unless you're completely fastidious about your linens, I think a heavy blanket that doesn't *look* like a blanket is in order. That would help with any wierd feelings people have.

I know I would feel weird sitting on somone's bed and vice versa...having lots of people sit on my bed. I hated both in college dorms. I suppose though, that is in part because I've never had no other option.

That being said, in your situation, it seems you should use a heavy, durable, solid fabric to cover the entire mattress, down to the floor, during the day so it looks like a big solid mass. Then use throw pillows and dense cushions (no bedroom pillows) during the day. That way, guests wouldn't be sitting on your sheets or duvet and leaning on your pillows.

Also, make sure you get frame that doesn't scream bed. Either no head/foot boards or solid ones that are around the same height.

Yes, there's a lot of weirdness going on on both sides with this arrangement! In earlier (pre house) days, I did it by (a) making it look hippy (Indian bedspreads, funky pillows), and (b) formal (so to speak---gray flannel bedspread/upholstery and shams), and it never fooled anyone. How about a Murphy bed?

I'd feel wierd sitting on your bed if I came over for a visit.

Would it be possible to use a built-in Murphy bed and use a loveseat and side chair combo for the sitting area instead?

I'd love it because I'm tall and most sofas are too shallow. To avoid the over-cushioned look, you could go for double rows of BIG square pillows, or a combo of thick bolsters with cushions in front. I would try some sort of cover to make it more couch-like (even something made like a fitted sheet in the fabric of your choice) and match some of the cushions to that.

Or you could go crazy with the cushions and fabric, and make it very decadent.

Oh, and Murphy beds NEVER get put up unless there's company-- so your apartment just looks a mess.

If you like a hard mattress, I would suggest getting a really (really) well built futon that converts into a sofa. you can usually get a nice looking cover for the mattress when it is in sofa form. We bought an amazingly great futon several years ago (with an extra thick mattress) and still love it.

I toyed with the same idea and came up with a better solution! I gave up my low sofa, and instead of buying one queen sized bed, I got two single mattresses with legs attached, the simplest I could find(thanks MUJI!). They're laid out in an L formation when guests come, and at night I push them together for a very large bed! To avoid accidents I use long strips of velcro to keep the beds together. I cover the bed with throw pillows during the daytime. To keep them looking un-bed like(!) I only use boxsheet covers of the same colour, and I use a bed pad and top sheet when I am ready to sleep. Of course the wear and tear on your bedding means that you'll have to buy a few extra sets of your favorite linens. It's working well so far - I have already had a few friends over who love it and can't leave my house when they come over! I can probably seat about 6 people on my makeshift 'sectional'. I can send you a picture if you like!

Carlyle (http://www.carlylesofa.com/) make very very good sofa beds, if you live here in NY and if you don't mind spending $5000 .

You can get one cheaper if you buy a floor model.

We have one and can attest to it's quality. Made in NJ I believe.

i live in a small studio and use a full size bed as a "sofa" it seems to work with a few layers of pillows.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyjp23/2340716170/

its an older pic but you get the idea. good luck!

I think a bedframe like the middle-of-the-room one above would look very couch-y against a wall, especially with the right pillows.

I agree with above comments about covering it with an upholstery fabric when not in use to really change it from bed to couch, but after that I wouldn't worry too much about guests' reactions. Be realistic in how much you really entertain in a small studio - I think in the long run a comfortable place to sleep will be more important than the occasional slightly-wierded-out guest. And keep a few folding chairs on hand.

I'd have a wall-bed installed in long sweep of cabinetry.

have you ever considered a bench at the foot of the bed, acting as a footboard as well as couch? it is really ness to have no couch, a bench seat could only be about a foot deep, which seem like enough space to me, do you have alots and lots of quests who hang out all day? or is it occasional quests? maybe have a long bench on wheels that you can roll under your bed so there is a place to sit but you can put it away. .. do you have any pictures of your place?

A bed this wide is uncomfortable to sit on when you're only five foot two.

for instance an apholstered bench that resembles a lack shelf form ikea, that can be storage underneath or just rolled under the bed or used as step up to a high bed...

i dont particularly like the idea of sitting on someones bed, especially if they are married and we KNOW what they do there lol. but thats just me.

i really like this idea, but it would be a lot of work to constuct:
http://mettespotteridanmark.blogspot.com/search?q=couch

I second OliviaTokyo's two mattress solution. I slept on a futon for two years, and a "real" bed is SO much better.

What about something like this?

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=102&f=4680

I knew I could count on you brillant'es. That roomandboard sofa bed I will examine more closely (thanks sbsmom!) and also seek out some heavy upholstery for a boxy fit (thanks Enamorada for the "big solid mass" idea) - that could work, and probably less expensive than a zillion pillows. That way people would know that we don't use that cover for er, sleeping. If we did a Murphy bed I know I would never put it up. With the radiators in the way I don't think we could fit the twin bed-sofa combo -- though THAT is ingenious. All so helpful, thanks again.

It's hard to offer a good solution without knowing more about the dimensions of your space, but I think if you're set on a queen-sized bed and not a sofa sleeper, you're going to have to make room for a couple chairs, a comfortable bench or big floor pillows because I don't think anyone is going to be comfortable sitting on your bed. Not only because it's so personal and private, but also because it's just not a comfortable thing to sit on, especially one so large. You need a back rest to sit comfortably, or else you're going to have your guests sprawled out on your bed.

Other options include the flip-down futons others have posted, lofting your bed to allow living space underneath (there are attractive, non-dorm-room lofts), or...the day bed (which I don't happen to find as gross you do).

I've been wanting to ask a question to the AT community ever since I first saw that picture on the domino website. Does anyone know who makes the bed... or maybe something similar for a reasonable price?

I love the symmetry!

why do you feel weird sitting on other people's beds? what happens when you go to a hotel?

OliviaTokyo

I for one would love to see photos of your set-up. We are going to try to create something similar (2 twin beds in and L shape) for our den/TV room/guest room. So far I don't really have any examples to go by. Please share pics :)

Thanks!
FF

This option has worked for my condo clients. It is a full size sofa by day and a bed at night. All with a 20 inch double mattress air system. Sets up and tears down in minutes. I have a couple other posts on here I think about the sleeper sofa because my clients were so happy with it. You can order the sofas and the sleep system online at a very reasonable cost. The sofa frames are guaranteed for life and are reasonably priced, showroom quality pieces. All my condo clients love this concept.

http://www.simplicitysofas.com/collections/Sleeper_Sofas
Pick a sofa, and select from 50 fabrics and add the sleeper sofa option. Check it out. Hope this helps.

One other solution that worked for a few friends of mine was a queen-sized loft bed. These are sometimes hard to purchase (Ikea has a double, but not a queen, iirc) but often you can purchase plans to build your own or an assemble it yourself kit. Then get a small sofa and put it underneath. Or design/purchase a built-in desk to go underneath, like my friends did.

This only really works if you have high ceilings, and can work with the look of heavy wood furniture. (But you can paint/stain it any way you like!) And it helps to have some DIY skills to build the bed or put it together.

You know, I did the loft bed (with a desk underneath) when I lived in a small studio, and it sucked. It was as good as loft beds get (besides some sort of cantilevered built-in contraption), and it sucked. Loft beds are for little kids.

However, I came up with a better idea for a bed, though I moved away (into a 1 bedroom) before I had a chance to implement it. If your ceilings are high enough and the layout will allow, build a platform at least the size of your bed, plus a few extra inches wide, deep and high. It should be open on one side at least the width of your mattress. Then build a sturdy wheeled tray to slip your mattress into, with a front that blocks it from view when you slide it under the platform.

You'd pull your bed out at night for sleeping the way you'd open a drawer, and you'd slide it back under the platform and out of view by day. On top of the platform could be seating or a desk area - you might even incorporate a railing, and of course some steps.

It would be quite a project, and there are a few downsides - your apartment layout would have to be such that there's room to slide the bed out at night, for example - but I think this would be a far more practical solution than a loft bed if you intend to stay in the place for a few years.

Tagging onto sunspot42: (since your idea's genius!)
What about building a box structure with a slide-on top to put your bed down into? That way, when people come to visit, you could slide the top of the box on, add some tablescaping, some chairs around the perimeter (or pillows) and make it your dinner or coffee table? Its that too wierd? It would save space. Depending on construction, it could be sturdy enough to sit on, too.

add a chair or two for guests

Forever Frida! I will take some photos over the weekend and open up a flickr account. I think this idea is great for a den or guest room. Doesn't take much effort, and because you're using mattresses you can easily change the mood of the room by just changing the sheets!

Thanks OliviaTokyo! I can't wait:)

-FF

I recently made a fitted cover for a bed to turn it into a sofa - it's in our spare room/study and it's used to watch DVDs on the computer more than it is as a guest bed...

I think it has worked out quite well as a solution - the room is too small and awkwardly-shaped for a sofa bed to fit...

You can see a pic here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29510262@N02/2760434832/

Thanks for all your great suggestions. I think we'll do the perfect upholstery bed cover, right around the whole mass, covered right to the bottom like the fine one replaceableotter made, pull it out a bit from the wall and place gorgeous cushions through the middle of it.

I think OliviaTokyo has the best idea so far -- you'd get a sectional sofa during the day and a king size bed at night...what more could you really ask for?