Family/Guest Room Dilemma

Gold Member Joined: Dec 24 2009 Posts: 2433

Okay so here's the situation.

In our old apartment, we had 3 bedrooms. The third bedroom was TINY and all we could fit in there was a bunkbed to be used by my stepchildren when they visited. And we used that for orchim as well - that's what we had so that's what we offered.

Now that we've moved, our third bedroom is still a small room, but bigger than what we had before.

The current set up is the bunk bed with a dresser and a bookshelf and room to actually walk.

I have considered putting two twin beds in the room with a night table between and it would take up almost the entire room, I would have to give up either the bookshelf or the dresser. But it would be more mentchlik for guests. (My step kids don't care either way).

We have friends who want to come for yom tov, but are concerned that if the wife is in niddah how can they sleep in bunkbeds (ie each feels the motions of the other)? The friend suggested they will take the mattress off the top bunk and put it on the floor but that just doesn't feel very mentchlik to me at all!

I could buy frames and box springs relatively cheaply if we wanted to do that and store the bunkbeds, but there's something bothering me and I can't figure out what it is.

What would you do?

Executive Member Joined: Oct 29 2009 Posts: 368

How about a bunk bed with a trundle? Satisfies all the problems. Keep the bed closed unless you have adult guests.

Posted: Thu, Jul 29 2010, 12:55 pm Post subject: re: Family/Guest Room Dilemma

Buy a really nice aerobed. Then whenever people come, say *I know that not everyone appreciates sleeping in a bunk bed as an adult. Let me know if that will be uncomfortable for you, and I'll set up the aerobed.* Trust me, you're not getting me OR DH in a top bunk, no way, no how, so it really doesn't necessarily relate to nidda.

Gold Member Joined: Dec 24 2009 Posts: 2433

Gold Member Joined: Dec 24 2009 Posts: 2433

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 12 2005 Posts: 2715

Posted: Thu, Jul 29 2010, 1:20 pm Post subject:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00161837

Here's the trundle WriterMom mentioned (I think).
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Posted: Thu, Jul 29 2010, 2:08 pm Post subject: re: Family/Guest Room Dilemma

What about getting a high-riser instead of the bunk beds? That's what we have in our guest room, which doubles as my DH's office. It works out great - the room is a little tight when we have to use both beds, but guests have their own space and it's not a problem with niddah issues (and no adults have to climb up on a top bunk).

Gold Member Joined: Dec 24 2009 Posts: 2433

Posted: Thu, Jul 29 2010, 2:39 pm Post subject:

We were given bunk beds as a married couple once. It was a memorable visit, and not in a good way. Neither of us was comfortable sleeping on the top bunk so my husband ended up sleeping on a blanket on the floor.

If you want to have adult guests I would work on setting up two beds of some sort somehow.

High riser is great, two beds are great, anything but bunk beds. Smile

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Diamond Member Joined: Apr 18 2010 Posts: 3027

I would say keep an aerobed rolled up and stashed in an easy-to-find area of the room. That way, it won't take up much room when not in use, and the couple can use it if they need to without having to inquire about it. My husband and I have gone away for Shabbos many times, sometimes niddah, and it is always awkward when we have to ask for another mattress/airbed (after tearing apart the room hoping to find one...) The best was when we were going to a wedding out of town and opted to come in for the preceding Shabbos. My friend (the kallah) emailed me the name, number, and address of the people she had arranged for us to stay with and at the end of the email she wrote "And they have a second bed in case you're going to need it". While I don't doubt the fact that her kallah classes were likely fresh in her mind, I am still impressed at her consideration; turned out that we did need the second bed, so I was really grateful that my friend had planned for that possibility. When they say to anticipate your guests' needs, well this one is so basic yet so often forgotten.

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 12 2005 Posts: 2715

Posted: Thu, Jul 29 2010, 4:36 pm Post subject:

Is there room for an aerobed or trundle with the bookshelf and desk still in the room?

Gold Member Joined: Dec 24 2009 Posts: 2433

Posted: Thu, Jul 29 2010, 4:48 pm Post subject: re: Family/Guest Room Dilemma

My lovely lovely (and modest) cousin has a futon and an air matterss (equivalent to your bunkbeds and air mattress but you could fit 3 kids in your room). She makes up both and always says that some people's backs aren't comfortable on the futon so she has both out as an option.

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 30 2009 Posts: 4624

def go with a blow up air bed. sounds like the best course to take. this way your step kids have room and your guests have comfort

Gold Member Joined: Dec 24 2009 Posts: 2433

Gold Member Joined: Dec 24 2009 Posts: 2433

Posted: Thu, Jul 29 2010, 9:18 pm Post subject: re: Family/Guest Room Dilemma

I doubt it pops up.
Most trundles in my experience don't. The only ones that do are those within boxspring frames and that style aren't common here at all, maybe they are there.
Our eldest sleeps on a trundle bed and it stays on the floor (that's why he moved there, when he broke his leg he couldn't manage the regular bed height and he's just stayed there since even though his leg is better now).
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Diamond Member Joined: Nov 12 2005 Posts: 2715