We are looking for a new guest sleeping arrangement in our house as we're finding that we have more house guests than we thought we would. At least every few months, we have multiple couples staying at our house at the same time, so we don't have enough beds for everyone.
Currently, we have one guest bedroom with a full bed, and a second guest bedroom with just a twin bed. These two bedrooms share a bathroom. This works for just one couple, but not for two couples.
We had considered getting a futon or sleeper sofa to go in our office, but the cost is higher for those options and since it would only be used 4-5 times a year, it's not really worth our investment. Plus, we'd like to use our office just as an office instead of a multi-use space.
Here are some options we're considering:
A - Get a queen air bed (like this one) that we could set up in the basement where there's another bathroom so each couple staying with us could have their own bathroom rather than sharing the one upstairs. Cost: about $160 for the air bed plus queen-size sheets (we don't currently have any queen beds in the house and therefore don't have queen-size bedding).
B - Get a twin trundle (like this one) that could fit under the existing twin bed in the second guest bedroom, so two people could stay in the room but on separate mattresses. This means both couples would share the same bathroom upstairs, unless someone wants to walk downstairs to the other bathroom. Cost: about $225 for the trundle frame and an inexpensive mattress (we already have twin-size bedding).
Re: Clicky poll: guest accommodations
I voted for the second option. It seems like the trundle and mattress would last longer and be more durable than an inflatable.
Tired after a long morning of hiking and swimming.
I voted the trundle bed. My parents had H and I on one of those high inflatables and I always hated it (H moves around when he sleeps and I'm and edge sleeper, so I always felt like I was going to fall out of bed).
I think the trundle would last longer and if your guest needs to walk downstairs to use a private bathroom, thats OK. I think you're being a great hostess by just considering buying a couch/trundle/inflatable mattress!
I was leaning toward the trundle, but Andy thought the air mattress was better. He thought couples would think it's weird to sleep on separate mattresses since it would be 2 twins instead of a full or queen. He also liked the idea that we could take the air mattress with us if we needed to use it at a family member's house that's full of guests for the holidays.
I know the air mattress is cheaper initially, but I'm just not sure how durable they are in the long run, and it's not cheaper if it has to be replaced every few years. I haven't bought one of the "fancy" air mattresses before, I just have camping ones, but they always start leaking eventually.
It's not completely about money either, I want to consider comfort since the cost isn't all that different between these options. If we were guests in someone's home, I would rather have us in the twin bed/trundle situation than on the air mattress, just because I think the air mattress would be less comfortable.
Thanks for the input, ladies ...
Mr. Sammy Dog
I had a trundle bed in my room as a child and I loved having it! If you have a couple, and the beds are similar height, they can push them together and basically have a king.
That'd be my vote!
- Martin Luther King Jr.
My vote would be for a higher-quality futon in the second guest bedroom (instead of the twin and/or twin trundle). It would be more multi-purpose than the existing twin bed, but would give you more options for hosting another couple.
I think your reason for excluding futons was because of the price (for a really nice one)... but aside from that factor, that would probably be my preference.
Photo taken at 16 months old