Here's a problem that most of us have faced at some point or another: How do you fit in a bed, a big couch, and a guest room in an apartment? We've touched on it a bit before when we were lamenting on our lack of a guest bedroom, but here's an innovative solution from Danish textile designer/potter Antero Kjaer: a couch/bed made with two twin mattresses, hooks, and foam.
[ Photos from MettesPotteriDanmark blog ]
With 3 people living in an apartment that measures roughly 800 square feet, this solution enables the family to configure either a sofa or a double bed. In "Day Mode," the beds are pushed in an L-shape to create a comfy sectional; in "Night Mode," the beds are locked together for a bed ideal for overnight guests. The mattresses have hooks on the legs to ensure that each piece remains locked together in any configuration. The sofa backs also double as a headboard and are made of foam folded over and strapped down.
For more info, check out Kjaer's Mettes Potteri blog (she also has some great baby clothes at her shop Floedehesten) or ATSF's previous related post.
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I like this idea a lot. Living in a small studio, I have toiled long and hard for solutions with seating, sleeping, napping, lounging, and accommodating guests. I remember in an Ikea catalog, they showed a long, cushioned bench under a window that was actually two youth twin mattresses put end to end on a low bookshelf or something. It made a great long window bench, but was also wide enough to take a nap. The catalog unfortunately didn't go into much detail of the makeup and the employees were pretty clueless. Has anyone ever tried anything like that?
view marisajane's profile
I remember that photo -
It was basically created from 24" deep/15" high kitchen wall cabinets that would go over a refrigerator set on the floor with a deep countertop mounted on them.
West Elm's Tillary Modular seating is similar to what's shown above - each piece is the size of a twin bed.
view bepsf's profile
i once saw that on a "mission: organization" where Maxwell fixed up this woman's ridiculously small studio. It was more like a galley kitchen and a sitting room.
the bed wasn't so much a twin as a ledge with a cushion on it. and she owned that place.
ridiculous!
view Lady J's profile
This is a great solution for any studio apartment, especially if you put the bed that moves on casters that lock. For the price of two youth beds, you have a couch and a bed. So many studio apartments seem so over overwhelmed by even a double bed, no matter how one camouflages it. Two youth beds will get you 66 inches of width. A double bed is only 54 inches.
view LauraE's profile
is a youth bed the same as a twin bed?
view karmabunny's profile
A twin bed is 39' wide.
view luna's profile
No wait, that's a double-wide trailer. A twin is 39 inches wide.
view luna's profile
great idea!
view Anna Toy's profile
lol. thanks luna.
view karmabunny's profile
This looks great. Nice job!
view petro's profile
Anyone know if this is a comfy sofa to sit in? I love this and am thinking putting just one bed/sofa in our TV room which could then double as a guest bedroom. Only problem is, I would receive loud protest from my husband if I put anything other than a super comfy sofa in front of the allmighty telly. Obviously it would be good for sleeping in, but sitting through a couple of movies? Anyone tried this?
view Harpa's profile
i'm thinking if it's done with memory foam your husband would love it. i'm pretty sure i would.
view loislane's profile
this looks like salvation to me!
my small apartment is now officially driving me nuts.
view *heather leaf*'s profile
i think i just found the solution to my headboard-less bed -- thanks! foam and straps sound easy enough, i bet i could make a sweet cover for it too.
view lelusama's profile