There are many situations where an extra bed at home can come in handy. Maybe your siblings and their kids are visiting, or your own kids are stopping by for a weekend. If you have younger kids, their friends need a place to sleep during sleepovers. You might have a friend in town and want to offer your place to save him or her the cost of a hotel. There could be unexpected situations as well, such as a sudden snowstorm or car trouble while you have company, preventing them from getting home for the night.
If you have an occasional or ongoing need for an extra bed, or simply want to be prepared in case the need ever arises, you have a few options to choose from. You could always go with a sleeping bag or air mattress, but both of those offer limited comfort to your guests, and air mattresses can be annoying to set up. If a good night’s sleep for your guests is important to you, or if you are the type to give up your own bed to guests and sleep on the spare yourself, having an actual mattress is vitally important. In that case, a rollaway bed could be your best choice.
What Is a Rollaway Bed?
Rollaway beds have a frame that folds up, making the bed take up less space so it can be stored more easily. There are wheels mounted on the bottom of the frame, so once the bed is folded up it can be moved around as needed. The beds can easily be stored in a spare room or large closet and then simply rolled out when needed.
Beds like this are popular for use in hotels, dorms, and other places where an extra bed may be needed every now and then. They are also great options for people in apartments who don’t have a guest room, people in homes who don’t have enough beds when extended family visits, or anyone who needs extra sleeping space that is easy to store when not in use.
Options for Frames and Mattresses
The cost for a rollaway bed varies depending on size, weight, the quality of the mattress, and other features. The frames are typically made of metal and can come with two wheels or four. The beds range in weight from under 25 pounds to over 40. Beds are typically small, but full-size and extra-long beds are available. Mattresses fold up with the frame and can vary widely in quality. An inexpensive rollaway bed mattress will likely be thin, and may be hard and uncomfortable. More expensive options include thicker, plush mattresses, or even memory-foam mattresses.
Choosing the Right Bed
Deciding which rollaway frame and mattress is right for your needs will depend on several factors:
- Who will be using the bed? Some people are more sensitive to what they sleep on than others, so this may influence your choice in mattress.
- Is size an issue? Taller people will need extra-long beds, and sleeping on a full size rollaway bed will be much more comfortable than a smaller one for most people.
- How often will the bed be used? If the bed will only be needed on a rare occasion or as an emergency back-up, you may not want to invest in an expensive model. On the other hand, if you have guests every weekend, you probably want to opt for the most comfortable bed you can get within your price range.
Once you have answered these questions, you can start comparing models to see which rollaway bed will work best for you. Most are easy to set up, so your guests will have a bed to use on their very next visit.
