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1. 

   tylerrr
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Dec '11
   Posts: 200

   I know this is the 2nd topic I've started in one day, but I really trust all of you for advice on stuff...

   Here's the deal, I'm moving into very small studio type apartment in North End of Boston in two weeks.

   What would you do about a bed? I have to leave my present bed in Florida.

   My only real requirement is that my sleeping space be firm(soft beds hurt my back).

   Are there any kind of new small bed technologies or ideas you've heard of?

   I have slept on the floor before, but I don't know this place yet and a little freaked out if there might be bugs on the floor at night.

   Any advice is appreciated....

   thanks

   Posted 10 months ago #
2. 

   Christopherjart
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Apr '12
   Posts: 191

   a murphy bed, a sofa-(hide-a-bed), or futon are the normal options for a reduced living space without sleeping on the floor.

   Posted 10 months ago #
3. 

   dragoncar
   

   Expert
   Joined: Oct '10
   Posts: 1,289

   I've got a murphy bed in my tiny studio. It's not for everyone, but it's pretty useful if you want to *sometimes* use the bed space.

   I usually leave it down, but put it up if I'm having guests over, or want to do some crazy gymnastics.

   I wouldn't do it the other way around -- leaving it up most of the time and putting it down just for sleep. That presumes I'd be using the space in front of it, and I don't have the mental energy to rearrange my place on a daily basis.

   Note that the place came with a murphy bed already installed. I'm not sure it's worth paying $$$ for if you can't get one cheap/free. Depending on how tiny the place is, how about just a twin bed? You could bunk it and put a desk underneath.

   Edit: I also second the futon, which can typically be had free (but used bedding is sometimes ew.) Again, I'm lazy here and might leave it down most of the time or even up. In that case, you could just go with a comfy couch. To some degree, this really depends on if you intend to have guests, and which kinds of guests if you know what I mean.

   Posted 10 months ago #
4. 

   rcamp
   

   Apprentice
   Joined: Aug '11
   Posts: 65

   Another nod to a futon: lots of designs and lots of used ones available.

   Another suggestion: ask your soon to be neighbors what do they use?

   Finally, maybe a camping pad on the floor until you figure out what works best for you?

   Posted 10 months ago #
5. 

   Christopherjart
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Apr '12
   Posts: 191

   I've actually slept on a futon for mmm about 6 years. Having said that I wouldn't recommend it for long term use. Their "mattresses" are what we call here colchonetas which are really very thin.
   You really can't get regular good sleep with them unless you plan on replacing those every couple months or so depending on how fast they get flattened.

   After a year I decided to buy a regular mattress and put it on top of my always open futon base. Even then it really isn't good since a futon that is open isn't perfectly flat so a mattress on top will not be perfect.

   If I could select one of the three options that I mentioned I'd probably go with the murphy bed if I could afford one or a sofa bed since at least one of those would be easier to fold up every day.

   At least with my futon. If I didn't have the mattress on top, I'd have to leave a big space behind it (when in sofa position) for it to open fully.

   Posted 10 months ago #
6. 

   dragoncar
   

   Expert
   Joined: Oct '10
   Posts: 1,289

   Oh yeah, American futons are like 9 in thick. They are only moderately inspired by Japanese futons.

   Posted 10 months ago #
7. 

   Shandi76
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Jan '11
   Posts: 111

   My partner and I slept on airbeds for a fortnight when we moved him into our new apartment (he had to move a few months before me for work reasons). I wouldn't recommend that for long term use, but they are comfy enough short term and take up next to no space if you can be bothered to blow up and deflate them every day.

   He is currently sleeping on a high quality futon until I move in with the bed, and it seems fine for regular use. We were going to get a sofa bed but the decent ones were all ridiculously expensive, and also too big. They also tended to either be comfy as a sofa but not as a bed, or vice versa.

   Posted 10 months ago #
8. 

   Scott 2
   

   Journeyman
   Joined: Feb '12
   Posts: 189

   I lived in a 250-300 sq. ft. studio apartment for a little over a year.

   My bed was an inexpensive queen mattress on the floor. It cost a couple hundred bucks new, with delivery. During the summer my now wife lived with me. It was just fine.

   We only used the apartment for eating, sleeping, studying, internet, etc. We might have one or two people over, but no parties or anything like that. Nobody really wants to hang out in a tiny apartment when the city is available to them.

   Our other furniture was a desk with a chair, a folding table with an exercise ball, and a papasan. When I moved out, it was to get away from the city. The actual living space was quite comfortable.

   Posted 10 months ago #
9. 

   Ego
   

   Master
   Joined: Nov '11
   Posts: 754

   We got two of these Ikea Lycksele chairs on craigslist for $95 and $89. They are great. Push them together and they are a big bed. Fold them up, throw the cover on and you've got two comfortable chairs.

   http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59840000/#/S99840003

   We'll likely sell them when we leave for the same price we paid for them. They are easy to sell because they fit in a regular car.

   Posted 10 months ago #
10. 

    Hoplite
    

    Master
    Joined: Dec '10
    Posts: 489

    I have used fold-up spring cots when moving to a new place and wanting to stay off the floor while looking for something compatible without being rushed. I believe Coleman makes one (Ikea used to) but military surplus may be a better bet:

    http://armynavysuperstores.com/cots.htm

    Not a long-term solution, but they keep you off the floor and reasonably comforatble. And they can fold away to almost nothing when not in use.

    EDIT: Amazon search:

    http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=folding+camp+cot&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=12537050010&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13107436731101866022&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_4haeibv59m_b

    Posted 10 months ago #
11. 

    jacob
    

    Expert
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 3,298

    Also consider ...

    Mattress on pallet
    Real futon http://www.jlifeinternational.com/houseitems/futon/shikifuton/shikifuton_e.html
    Used bed (craigslist or newspaper/estate)
    Build your own out of 2x4s http://woodgears.ca/bed/plans.html

    Posted 10 months ago #
12. 

    weiss-blau
    

    Novice
    Joined: Jun '12
    Posts: 10

    My room is about 145 square feet, so I went for the sofa/bed-thing. I definitely wanted a new one matress for hygienical reasons and I wanted some space under the bed for air flow, so the matress won't turn into a moldy green living creature. (My mother is germaphobic... so I don't really know what hygiene is essential and what not..) It should be foldable, as I like some space in my room and it should be big enough for me and my boyfriend and with a sofa/bed, I can use it for years and years as a sofa, if I ever -e.g. because of starting a family- move in a bigger place and get a real bed. And I wanted to be able to change the matress and be able to find a matress to my needs.
    So I bought the IKEA Beddinge(new), as I really liked one of the four matresses available, which is also quite easy to find on ebay and stuff and I'm quite happy about it. I didn't like the IKEA Lyksele, as its matress folds two time with foldings under my back and feet and well, as I have slept on my grandmothers old 3-piece-matress as a child and have considered that horrible, no two-folds for me. The Beddinge folds just once about in the middle so I and my boyfriend have "our own matress each". But well, I had to pay around 270 €...

    Posted 10 months ago #
13. 

    Scott 2
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Feb '12
    Posts: 189

    I slept on a mattress on the floor for years. If it was moldy or germy, I never noticed. From what I can tell, the main point of a boxspring or bed frame is to make the bed easier to get in and out of. I have seen claims that it also extends the life of a mattress, but I find those a little hard to believe.

    Posted 10 months ago #
14. 

    LiquidSapphire
    

    Master
    Joined: Jul '11
    Posts: 434

    Surprised someone has not already beaten me to this yet -
    Relevant thread:
    http://forum.earlyretirementextreme.com/topic.php?id=684#post-8352

    Posted 10 months ago #
15. 

    tylerrr
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Dec '11
    Posts: 200

    awesome posts on this thread! thanks!

    after reading all responses, I came up with an idea to save money. I'm moving into this small studio by myself in Boston.

    I already planned on bringing my camping backpack which has a tent packed inside and a camping pad.

    I can pitch the tent in my place! Why? Because I can keep the tent zipped, which keeps out all bugs during the night and I'll just sleep on the pad inside the tent!

    The door to tent is mesh so air should flow nicely especially if I turn on a small fan outside the tent.

    I think I have a solution...:)

    am I a weirdo? LOL....

    The military style cots above in the links are very nice. I like those a lot because they are practical, somewhat comfortable and keep you off the floor away from bugs.

    BTW, in my last place I put a mattress straight on the floor and because of the stability of the concrete floor it was the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on...Only thing that bothers me is the thought of bugs crawling over me while sleeping.

    Posted 10 months ago #
16. 

    bigato
    

    Master
    Joined: Mar '11
    Posts: 921

    Put sleeping pads on the floor. Sleep inside a sleeping bag, it will keep the bugs out. Make a small mesh protection for the head area. It will protect you from your fear! Because, unless you are sleeping outside in a tropical forest (and I did it already sometimes), then it seems to me that your fear is not in sync with reality. :-)

    Posted 10 months ago #
17. 

    tylerrr
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Dec '11
    Posts: 200

    @bigato,

    what exactly is the mesh protection around the head?

    Posted 10 months ago #
18. 

    dragoncar
    

    Expert
    Joined: Oct '10
    Posts: 1,289

    LS: LOL I totally forgot about that whole "do we really need" phase.

    Posted 10 months ago #
19. 

    jacob
    

    Expert
    Joined: Jul '10
    Posts: 3,298

    Inside tenting is an effective way to conserve heat [at night]. The canopy bed is a classier way to do it. Same principle.

    Posted 10 months ago #
20. 

    bigato
    

    Master
    Joined: Mar '11
    Posts: 921

    http://www.ehow.com/how_5070996_buy-mosquito-net.html
    http://www.ehow.com/how_12053366_build-canopy-netting-around-bed.html
    http://www.ehow.com/how_6303595_make-own-hanging-net-canopy.html

    Posted 10 months ago #
21. 

    OTCW
    

    Apprentice
    Joined: Mar '11
    Posts: 39

    Brazilian hammock or even a camping hammock are comfortable and easily stowed away.

    Posted 10 months ago #
22. 

    bigato
    

    Master
    Joined: Mar '11
    Posts: 921

    I hate to sleep in hammocks, but I heard a lot of persons that find them comfortable.

    Posted 10 months ago #
23. 

    tylerrr
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Dec '11
    Posts: 200

    hey everyone, so I just moved to Boston a few days ago....I've been sleeping on a camping mat on a wooden floor along with a normal pillow. It's not super comfortable, but honestly I sleep very well all night and I'm never sore in the morning.

    I tried an air bed for 2 nights and my back always hurt so I definitely need a solid surface to lay on.

    Now I'm thinking of building a loft bed raised up and I can use a desk below the bed. I would get a thin mattress that will lay on top of the raised wooden platform.

    I've considered just continuing to sleep on mat on floor, but the thought of bugs at night on floor creeps me out a little. :)

    Posted 9 months ago #
24. 

    altoid
    

    Apprentice
    Joined: Jul '12
    Posts: 93

    I have been sleeping on the carpet floor, with a camping mat from COSTCO. The only problem is that I have to fold it up every morning, so my cat won't pee on it.

    Now the indoor tent idea sounds very good, I am going to try it out tonight, yikes !

    Posted 9 months ago #
25. 

    tylerrr
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Dec '11
    Posts: 200

    @altoid,

    don't worry, I don't think you're a weirdo for trying a tent inside....:)

    Posted 9 months ago #
26. 

    irukandjisting
    

    Apprentice
    Joined: Jun '12
    Posts: 89

    My boss ... and I do work in a Mental Health Unit... lies down on the floor - uses a yoga mat and hospital pillow to lie down on - in the drug room - he is always available - and finds this a way around the 12 hour shift and during his allocated 1 hour break

    Completely understandable - although I use the patient's lounge room area which is empty at around 3 am - doss down on the lounge for my nap

    Good to be innovative tylerrr

    Posted 9 months ago #
27. 

    altoid
    

    Apprentice
    Joined: Jul '12
    Posts: 93

    I just loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee to take naps at lunch times. Over the 5 years I have been working, different ways have been tried to take a nap, including lie down in a park, in a car, or go to our warehouse upstairs, big conference table, sometimes over the carpet in one vacant room. These power naps are so refreshing !

    Recently I have been thinking: a camping cot that is foldable, probably have to put it in the office.

    I am amazed how people can be so energetic all day long. Maybe I should start drinking coffee?

    Posted 9 months ago #
28. 

    irukandjisting
    

    Apprentice
    Joined: Jun '12
    Posts: 89

    lol altoid... I too can sleep anywhere - all the travelling I have done... but now as I am working long overnight shifts - I usually quick breakfast at McDs and then find a quiet area in the Service Centre, lay the seat back and snuggle down in the front seat for a half hour sleep - I carry a pillow and blanket - previously - have fallen asleep at the wheel twice during the hour drive home - no amount of food, coffee, car radio or open window stopped me falling asleep doing 100 kmh

    ~~Iru~~

    Posted 9 months ago #
29. 

    jzt83
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Jun '11
    Posts: 146

    I currently sleep on a comforter over a piece of thick cardboard over berber carpeting. It's decent enough until I find the perfect mattress. Have any of you slept on a latex mattress? That's what I'm leaning towards.

    Posted 5 months ago #
30. 

    FrugalZen
    

    Journeyman
    Joined: Aug '11
    Posts: 270

    Well the post is a bit old but I ran across a website via Google called Bed In A Box that made generic Memory Foam mattresses.

    They were available in several thicknesses and firmnesses and pretty much cut to order in size and are shipped compressed in a box.

    Seemed to be about 1/3 the price of the name brand...whose name escapes me at the moment...another Senior Moment..Sigh!!

    Alternatively the Murphy bed is a great idea and I (if you're going to be in Boston for a while) would pair it with a Bed In The Box Mattress.

    I like the Murphy Bed that is actually 4 bookcases..two of them slide out of the way in front of the two end cases so the bed can be unfolded...good dual function but I think a bit on the pricey side...justifiable IMO if you aren't leaving Boston for a while (couple of years).

    Beds...for your backs sake...are not something one should scrimp on....especially as you get older.

    Personally I've used a Waterbed for over 30 years...the same one too...and if my back starts to bother me a little i just add some more water to firm the mattress up some more...not complicated....1 gallon pitcher and a funnel..no need for hoses and all the rest.

    Posted 5 months ago #

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