It is said that one of the most wonderful sounds in the world is the knock at your door by a true friend. The problem is sometimes the knock causes you to stress over where your friend would sleep in a really small house. Since the current housing trend is continuing toward “downsizing,” the answer is definitely not to get a larger house just so that you always have a dedicated guest room!
So familiarizing yourself with some of the state-of-the-art ways to produce a comfortable bed on an “as needed basis” is worthwhile and can eliminate any sense of stress when out-of-town guests arrive at your doorstep.
Recommended Stories
People of a certain age are familiar with the type of rollaway folding mattress used by the hospitality industry. Generally, the mattress thickness is only 5 to 6 inches and therefore the quality of comfort is rather like sleeping on a cot. Not such a luxurious bed, but definitely an option.
There are numerous companies on the Internet, however, that offer a much comfier mattress that automatically inflates in less than three minutes. The magic is provided by an electric pump that fills the mattress with air.
You can also purchase a Memory Foam mattress topper that adds 2 inches of thick body-conforming foam. Such beds are available in twin and queen sizes. Supported by 16 steel legs, your guests will appreciate the upgraded temporary bed.
There are also lounge chairs that open into twin beds. This is a great solution in an area that must perform dual functions such as a den or home office.
Shown is a twin bed that appears from an ottoman and generously supplies a headboard. The headboard might deliver a more secure feeling for a little child or provide a way for an adult to effortlessly read in bed. This room could normally be used as a home office or den and be drafted as a guest room only on occasion.
It is important to also try to provide your guests with a few other amenities such as a small dresser, a reading lamp and a rack for hanging clothes. The dresser could be a piece that normally stores family games or photos and that you simply empty when guests come calling. You can easily obtain a folding luggage rack like the type used in most hotels and motels at a retail store that sells bedding and household items or through a mail-order catalog. These little touches are considerate and demonstrate to your guest that even if there is not a separate guest suite, you have their comfort and privacy in mind.
Another nice touch could be use of a folding screen to provide a little extra privacy just in case your “bedroom” is actually the living room that the entire family uses. Even if the bathroom assigned to your guest is a family bathroom, you can provide a soft bathrobe, extra thick bath towels, a basket filled with toiletries just like in the most deluxe bed and breakfast inn. Fresh flowers cost very little, but again, prove that you consider your guest special by setting a small bouquet in their area.
