Looking for recommendations for a portable "guest" bed

[dud]

The wife and I are looking at options to replace the old queen mattress/box spring that just went out in the trash. Our situation is that we have a guest bedroom that doubles as a storage room. When we do have guests (1-2 times per year) we were hoping to put them up on a portable bed, one that inflates or folds up in some sort of way and (when stored) is out-of-the-way. The old queen mattress/boxspring took up a LOT of space ... space that could be used in other ways the 90% of the time we have no guests.

Any advice, especially based upon personal experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks ...

 

[cabri]

We use Ozark queen when the house starts to overflow with adults.

Kids get blankets on the carpet.

 

[dud]

We use Ozark queen when the house starts to overflow with adults.

Kids get blankets on the carpet.

How confortable is it?

Portability is priority #1

Comfort is #2

 

[Away]

I'm not sure if you still need a queen, but Big Lots has a folding twin for a decent price. I've slept on the same model before and it is pretty comfortable.

http://www.biglots.com/p/c/beds/roll-away-bed

 

[Scarpozzi]

I think you should consider a Futon. Good ones aren't real cheap, but they sleep pretty good and last quite a few years. Just don't bother with a metal frame one. I prefer the wood frame models. Something like this:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden...JU&searchidx=4

 

[Eug]

You don't need a boxspring for a guest bed.

 

[vi edit]

We got an inflatable AeroBed. It's queen size, stands about 2.5' tall, has a memory foam topper. Nice bed. Probably more comfortable than a cheap box springs & mattress setup. Folds up a bit bigger than a laundry basket when done.

I think we paid around $200 for it about 5 years ago.

 

[minendo]

We got an inflatable AeroBed. It's queen size, stands about 2.5' tall, has a memory foam topper. Nice bed. Probably more comfortable than a cheap box springs & mattress setup. Folds up a bit bigger than a laundry basket when done.

I think we paid around $200 for it about 5 years ago.

My parents have the same style bed and it is not bad. Typically we use it when we visit if all the other beds in the house are taken.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Aerobeds are decent. I still have too many memories of leaking air mattresses growing up. I suggested the futon because when I lived in an apartment, I had a futon in the living room. Anytime someone stayed over, I just flipped it out and had an instant bed. It was more comfortable than most beds I've had in the past. I currently use it in one of my cabins out at the lake and still choose to sleep on it rather than the mattresses.

If you don't like futons, you could make it a fun DYI project:

http://www.wallbed.com/standard_kit.html

 

[herm0016]

what else do you use the room for? will it be pulled out or the room for use ever? if you have the space these are pretty good.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S89929208/#/S89875658

the chair bed ones are pretty cool too, but I have not used one.

 

[BoomerD]

We got an inflatable AeroBed. It's queen size, stands about 2.5' tall, has a memory foam topper. Nice bed. Probably more comfortable than a cheap box springs & mattress setup. Folds up a bit bigger than a laundry basket when done.

I think we paid around $200 for it about 5 years ago.

Yep. We bought one at Costco about 2 years ago. the "double height" makes it pretty easy to get in/out of it. MUCH better than our first AeroBed that was only a single thickness mattress. IIRC, the Costco version is about $129.

 

[KeithP]

Yep. We bought one at Costco about 2 years ago. the "double height" makes it pretty easy to get in/out of it. MUCH better than our first AeroBed that was only a single thickness mattress.

Yeah, I have had both and the tall ones are definitely nicer. However, if it is in your budget, I think a murphy bed (wall bed) would be the preferred way to go.

-KeithP

 

[cabri]

How confortable is it?

Portability is priority #1

Comfort is #2

Deflates into the size of a gym bag
You can get them with or without a built in inflation pump.
5-10 minutes max to inflate.

They are tough enough to handle kids climbing on them (not as a trampoline).

I have used them multiple times when visiting our kids. 3-4 days at a time and do not wake up stiff.

 

[BoomerD]

Yeah, I have had both and the tall ones are definitely nicer. However, if it is in your budget, I think a murphy bed (wall bed) would be the preferred way to go.

-KeithP

Murphy beds are MUCH better...but they're much more expensive and take up quite a bit of space...(and have to be installed...with ATOT's skill level...preferably by a professional)

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Found a wrought iron trundle bed at a thrift store. Can be used as 2 twins, or a queen. Got a cover, and matching pillows to make it look like a couch in my computer/office room.

 

[DrPizza]

As others said, air mattress of some brand or another. Get one that has the inflator built in (and reverses direction to deflate it.) Pay VERY close attention the first time you inflate it, as to how it's folded. It's very easy to fold it up to the same dimensions, which is quite small.

Additionally, there are folding frames for air mattresses (Sort of like those folding chairs, just with a lot more legs.) With a good quality air mattress, and a mattress pad and sheet, with the frame, you might not even realize you're on an air mattress.
http://www.cabelas.com/ensemble/Cam...ed-Frame-with-Queen-Air-Bed-and-Pump/6851.uts

 

[dud]

Thanks all for the advice and suggestions. To answer a few questions:

- The room is used mainly for storage (and the occasional guest). The more portable the bed ... the more storage room.

- We already have a futon in another room ... it is the most-used piece of furniture in the house. Might consider another for this room if we could get one in a full.

- The murphybed option intrigues me ... I hadn't thought about it before. I could easily build one. I will consider it.

- The aero mattress concept is currently the frontrunner at the moment. The portability is the main attraction to this option. When the guests leave ... the mattress disappears!


Thanks again for the personal experiences ...

 

[richardycc]

get a murphy bed with a real mattress, all portable beds and mattresses suck.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Another vote for air mattress. We got one as a wedding present and the wife's folks slept on it for a week+ after our daughter was born. It's surprisingly comfortable, and if you're only going to have people on it a couple weeks a year, it's an enormous space saver. If you have frequent guests, you could invest in a more permanent fixture, but our experience with the air mattress has been great. And they're cheap, which is nice.

 

[Cuular]

Aerobed, "double height". I bought one 3 years ago, when I got rid of my 15 year old box springs. Still using it now. Hasn't leaked excessively. I push the "add a little air" button about every 8-10 weeks. Very comfortable, and can defalte and fold up into a normal sized gym bag for storage.