Idea for Guest Bed

[TromboneAl]

Here's my idea for a quick, twin-sized guest bed in our exercise room:

I'd permanently attach a nice-looking (e.g. hardwood) 2x4 to the wall. A sheet of plywood would live behind the door to the room (and thus take up no space). When we needed the bed, I'd put the legs on the plywood, attach it to the 2x4, and blow up an air mattress.

See any problems with that?

I'd like to make the platform narrower and shorter than the mattress, but then there's the potential that the mattress would slide off. IOW, perhaps I need a rim on the platform. What do you think?

 

[aja8888]

Here's my idea for a quick, twin-sized guest bed in our exercise room:

I'd permanently attach a nice-looking (e.g. hardwood) 2x4 to the wall. A sheet of plywood would live behind the door to the room (and thus take up no space). When we needed the bed, I'd put the legs on the plywood, attach it to the 2x4, and blow up an air mattress.

See any problems with that?

I'd like to make the platform narrower and shorter than the mattress, but then there's the potential that the mattress would slide off. IOW, perhaps I need a rim on the platform. What do you think?

Kind of like the beds we see in prison shows on TV.

Why not invest in an inflatable bed (instead of just an air mattress)?

 

[W2R]

Why not invest in an inflatable bed (instead of just an air mattress)?

During the Hurricane Katrina diaspora, at one point I was sleeping on a double high air bed that was amazingly comfortable. It was sort of like this one, IIRC:

http://www.amazon.com/SoundAsleep-M...r_1_1?s=bedbath&ie=UTF8&qid=1403652516&sr=1-1

In fact, it was so comfortable that if/when I ever want to use my guest bedroom for anything at all, I plan to donate the queen sized bed in there and buy one of these for my guests, instead.

 

[zinger1457]

May need to add some additional support under the plywood. Could be in for a bouncy night of sleep if the bottom isn't support well. I had a platform bed that used plywood for a base and as I recall it had a lot of support under the plywood. That being said my guest seem to be happy with just the air mattress on the floor.

 

[heeyy_joe]

Spring for a top of the line sleep sofa with a tempurpedic mattress,

 

[NW-Bound]

+1 on more feet for support and these should be removable.

About air mattress sliding off, how 'bout velcro?

 

[Ally]

I've slept on amazingly comfortable air mattresses. They inflate and deflate by plugging them in the wall. Very convenient.


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[Sarah in SC]

We sleep on an inflatable bed that has legs when we go to my sister's house. It inflates and deflates automatically and is quite comfortable. The legs telescope out and make it a perfect height, which is the real drawback to the mattresses on the floor.



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[samclem]

What do you think?

Observations:
1) A twin size mattress is 38" wide, interior doors are typically just 32" wide, so the stored platform will stick out a bit.
2) Plywood would need additional support--probably a 2x2 around the edge and another one down the middle. It might need another leg in addition to the wall support and the legs at the bottom.
3) People sit on the edges and foot of beds, so the edge of the platform will need to be rigid and able to support the full weight of a person in a concentrated spot. For the same reason, the platform needs to extend to the edge of the mattress.
4) You'll need a lip or pins to assure the platform doesn't slip off the cleat on the wall.
5) Putting the cleat on the wall means that is the only place the bed can go, and you can't put anything else heavy blocking it (i.e. a bookcase can't go there). It limits your options when the bed is there and when it isn't.

A lightweight folding metal/fabric cot with an air mattress atop it gives a lot of flexibility in where it is put (or can go with you when you drop in on the young 'uns. "We're here!") and can be set up quickly. Here's one--they make 'em a lot bigger, too.

Another thought--For a guest bed, don't get anything too comfortable.

 

[W2R]

We sleep on an inflatable bed that has legs when we go to my sister's house. It inflates and deflates automatically and is quite comfortable. The legs telescope out and make it a perfect height, which is the real drawback to the mattresses on the floor.

The one I linked to above is 19" above the floor, and I think others are available at 20" too. These are perfect heights for me and good ones are very stable, very easy to get up from, and don't sink when you lie down on them. I think that as you point out, they are available at any height off the floor that is desired. I can't imagine wanting a platform for one of them.

 

[NW-Bound]

In our loft, we have a couple of sofa beds from Ikea that look like the following. They remain useful when not used as a bed, and are very easy to convert, unlike the old-fashioned heavy sofa beds.

 

[Ronstar]

I don't think that plywood alone will be enough support. You may want to research the support structure on Murphy Bed plans that you can adapt to your design


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[Ally]

We sleep on an inflatable bed that has legs when we go to my sister's house. It inflates and deflates automatically and is quite comfortable. The legs telescope out and make it a perfect height, which is the real drawback to the mattresses on the floor.



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That's the same type I've slept on. In fact, we realized sleeping on it was so comfortable that we went and bought one of the sleep number bed type called Comfortaire afterwards.


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[Ronstar]

Some ideas here.

Waterful Wonderbeds Custom Murphy Wall Beds and hand built furniture

 

[Corporateburnout]

During the Hurricane Katrina diaspora, at one point I was sleeping on a double high air bed that was amazingly comfortable. It was sort of like this one, IIRC:

Amazon.com : SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress with ComfortCoil Technology & Internal High Capacity Pump : Camping Air Mattresses : Bedding & Bath

In fact, it was so comfortable that if/when I ever want to use my guest bedroom for anything at all, I plan to donate the queen sized bed in there and buy one of these for my guests, instead.

We have a similar Queen air mattress we purchased a couple of years ago when my sister stayed with us for a couple of weeks and she loved it. It's been used a few times since by guests and everyone loved it as well. It inflates and deflates in a couple of minutes by plugging into an electrical outlet.

 

[Htown Harry]

Take a look at this one, Al, a bed platform with a hinge along the long side that is attached wall in a study. The hinge is low to the ground. The top of the folded-up bed is maybe 48" above the floor and the stored platform sticks out about 10" from the wall. The designers really jazzed it up by enclosing the whole mechanism in cabinetry that extends to the ceiling as built-in shelving.


The Aalto

 

[harley]

When we stay at DD's house we just use a double height Aero bed (inflatable) with a piece of 2" memory foam on top. Queen size for the two of us. Extremely comfortable, easy to store, not too expensive. The only (very small) downside is having to roll off onto the floor to get up. I could spring up from the bed a few years ago, but now would need something to hold on to, since it's not as high as a regular bed and frame.


Btw, +1 on Samclem's points about plywood support and mattress size.

 

[easysurfer]

Some ideas here.

Waterful Wonderbeds Custom Murphy Wall Beds and hand built furniture

I like that pictured wall bed

 

[pb4uski]

Interesting idea Al. I think I would make three supports (wall, middle and foot) rather than two and perhaps use 3/4" plywood. I would use door hinges on the joints and then take the pins out to disassemble. And I like the idea of velcro to keep the mattress from slipping off the platform.

I recall one poster mentioning that the width of a twin is wider than the width of a door. If this is a conflict you may be able to put a piano hinge in the middle of the platform.

I guess it all depends on how elegant a solution you want for that room. At DD's we typically just sleep on a full size blowup mattress on the floor.

I think a twin sized cot and twin sized air mattress or a twin size airbed might be an easier and more elegant solution.

 

[TromboneAl]

Good ideas. I have to resist my urge to be clever when a normal-person solution is available. It's fun to do something interesting and different, but that cot that Sam suggested would fit the bill. And it would be one click of the mouse vs. a full day of carpentry.

Some of the standard solutions (e.g. futon), don't work well here, because this room isn't usually heated. In our extremely humid environment, that means that anything in that room may mold or rust.

I just freecycled Jenny's bed that had been in that room because it smelled moldy.

If I paint the plywood with mold-resistant paint, and store the air mattress elsewhere, I'm good to go.

But Sam has good points. I'll probably go with his suggestion.

 

[Moemg]

Al , If this is for Jenny to sleep on you need to think bigger than a twin because pretty soon she will be bringing a companion to visit.

 

[Senator]

I would say you need two beds. One for guests you want to stay, one for guests you want to have a short visit...

Only bring out the appropriate bed just before they get there.

 

[powerplay]

I would say you need two beds. One for guests you want to stay, one for guests you want to have a short visit...

Only bring out the appropriate bed just before they get there.

Maybe that could be accomplished with the basic cot/air mattress bed and a 2-3 inch foam topper. If you want guest to be short-term then no mattress topper is offered. If you want to encourage a longer stay then add the 'comfort' layer to the guest bed.

 

[harley]

If a deciding issue (probably not) is the plywood not fitting behind the door, you could always hinge it with a piano hinge and fold it open when you are setting it up.

 

[6miths]

You mentioned making the plywood support shorter and narrower than the air mattress. Don't get too carried away with this or a person sitting on the edge (or a child standing near the edge) could have a pretty undignified ride to the floor. Definitely 3/4 inch plywood with additional support. And maybe put some felt pads on the tops of the supports in case you have 'restless' sleepers. Also you could run a strip of velcro tape top and bottom to prevent the mattress from shifting easily.