When you live in the city, where rents are high, and space is a precious commodity, if you get a centrally located apartment at the right price, you probably will compromise on its size. So if you are trying to optimize your home space while retaining a smart, cozy look, here are some ideas on how to fit in an extra bed for guests; assuming you live in the city, and ex-roomies or friends come around for a weekend visit.
6 Comfortable Space Saving Guest Bed Ideas
Convertibles
If you are looking for guest beds that can fit into small spaces, convertible furniture is by far the most preferred option. Not only is it highly efficient (easy to convert into a bed), it is affordable, and there are so many different kinds.
Convertible chairs
These are also called sleeper chairs. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Usually, sleeper chairs will pull out into single beds. Some have a single mattress that slides out. Others have joined cushions that unfold. Some reviews indicate that people find a mattress more comfortable than a series of cushions that may shift when sleeping, or be slightly uneven in size.
Convertible sofas
Very similar to convertible chairs. Pull out sofas or sofa beds are usually bigger and offer more room to turn and stretch out. Convertible sofas with a wooden frame sometimes come with storage (store all the bed linen and accessories in the drawer beneath it). Convertible sofas made of microfiber or fabric sofas will not have storage but are also a lower investment. Remember to put a mat or rug under a microfiber sofa rather than just letting them rest on the floor directly.
Sleeping bags
A sleeping bag is the most cost-effective guest-bed solution, especially when space and finances are both tight. A sleeping bag on the floor is quick to open up and equally quick to put away and takes up almost no space when not being used! Best of all, they come in a variety of options! You can get the glammed up ones, or the trekking one – this is more value for money because you can also use it when you go camping; or you can get one to match your decor (theme, color, character, etc.)
Air mattresses
An air mattress is another alternative to sleeping bags. Make sure to get an air mattress with good reviews, because nothing is worse than an air bed that takes forever to inflate or then loses air steadily through the night! Waking up to a grumpy guest who has at some time in the night ended up sleeping on the hard floor is not something you want happening to you! Many air mattresses now come with a built-in pump that is easy to operate. When no longer needed, deflate the air-mattress and store away in a cupboard or closet.
Folding beds
Probably the option that has been around the longest. If well made, this is still the most comfortable option mainly because it opens into a full-size bed, raised a little off the ground. When not in use, you just shut the bed, roll it off into the closet, or tuck it away into an overhead storage place.
Bean bags
Bean bags have got to be the most fun addition to the types of convertible beds available. This giant foam-filled bag converts into a full-sized bed with just a snap and a tug! Your little nieces and nephews and other fun guests are going to love this! Best of all, you get to lounge in it for the rest of the time!
Hideaway furniture – Murphy beds
Another guest bed option to consider is having a bed built into other furniture. It is also known as a Murphy bed. It is a bed hinged at one end, hidden inside a wardrobe, a drawer, or a cabinet.
If finances are not the issue, and you have the freedom to design your apartment from scratch, then there is another suggestion you might want to consider. You can create flexible spaces with partitions that hide or contain a bed. By day, the living room dominates in your apartment, and at night, you can shrink the living room and ‘pull out’ the bedroom.
A few online sites give you creative ways to design spaces within spaces by investing in multiple-use furniture. This decor style may not be a cheap option and will require time and design input and a higher budget. However, it will make optimal use of the space in your apartment and give you the feeling of home.
Remember, if you are designing your apartment and want to keep the layout flexible, you can use the suggestions above for your own bed space first, and then consider a guest bed alternative.