Do you live in a small dorm or studio apartment? If you do, you are probably familiar with the difficulties of trying to combine style with functionality. This may be a particular problem when you want to add a little pizzazz to the central piece of furniture in your dorm, studio or efficiency apartment.
However, just because you have limited space doesn't mean you can't add style. In fact, this is where you could allow your creativity to shine through. With some imagination and forethought, you could have a living space that is perfect for both day and night. This could be accomplished by turning your twin bed into a sofa. In the evening, you could switch your sofa back into a twin bed.
The Pros and Cons of Turning Your Twin bed into a Sofa
To begin, you would need a twin platform bed, mate's bed or any twin bed that doesn't have a headboard or post. It is important to note, that due to their width, a full, queen or king size bed would not convert nicely into a couch. This would not give the look or feel that you'd want (not to mention, it would look quite silly).
The obvious advantage of turning your twin bed into a sofa would be that you already have the primary element for this design--a twin bed. This equals savings, as you would only need to purchase a few odds and ends to convert your bed into a lovely sofa for daytime living.
Another pro would be that unlike a futon, you would not need to perform additional steps to make your twin bed into a sofa. All that is necessary would be adding additional pillows against the back of the bed to give it the look of a sofa.
One disadvantage of converting your bed into a couch would be that this idea wouldn't be suitable if you share your space with someone else. For example, if you live in a dorm this might make it difficult. However, there are chances this still could work if your roommate uses a hide-away bed that saves on space. It all really just depends on the situation.
If you decide to go with this idea, one last thing...
You may find the biggest con to be the height of your bed in comparison to daybeds, futons and sofas. Platform beds are substantially lower compared to daybeds. So, keep that in mind when considering this option, and if the difference in height doesn't bother you, then using it as a sofa would not be a problem.
If you can afford to spend some extra money but still find you don't like the height-issues that come with platform beds, this could be easily remedied by boosting the height of your bed with an extra mattress or box spring. Another option would be to purchase inexpensive bed lifts or risers. They could add an additional 1 to 10 inches or more to the height of your bed.
Yet, a word of warning, risers only work if your bed has legs. If not, you would need to add height by using an extra mattress or box spring.
Lesson 101: Turning your Twin Bed into a Sofa with Style
To turn your twin bed into a sofa, you would simply place it width-wise against a wall (like a daybed). Next, you could add height by using bed risers or an extra box spring or mattress. That is the basics, now onto the creative and fun aspect of switching your twin bed into a sofa and vice versa. This section will reveal how you could add a personal touch and make your twin sofa bed uniquely your own.
Use appropriate bedding
How could you make your bed most resemble a sofa? The answer is simple, use appropriate bedding. This could be accomplished by purchasing a bed skirt or a bedding set. This would allow you to cover the legs of your bed and would give it the look of a sofa with upholstered flaps. If you use bed risers, make sure to have them in place first before buying the bedding. That way, you could take measurements to ensure that the bedding is long enough to cover the legs once the risers are in place.
Use pillows
Pillows are ideal for creating a faux backing to your bed and faux arms. Pillows could be switched around to accommodate a sofa and a bed. For evening, you could place the pillows at the head of the bed for sleeping. And during the day you could place the pillows in the back for support, comfort and look and feel. As for the arms, you could place bolsters on each side of the bed to fool the eyes into believing your sofa isn't armless.
Create your own upholstered backing
If using pillows exclusively for backing doesn't appeal to you, another option would be to create an upholstered backing for your sofa bed. This may sound as if it would put a dent in your pocketbook, but upholstered backing could be made inexpensively without compromising on style or showroom appeal.
The main supplies you would need to make an upholstered backing are...
- plywood
- upholstery foam
- and fabric
Keep in mind, it is also important to take measurements before starting on this project to determine the height that you desire for your headboard. What makes this project so affordable is that if you do not possess the tools needed to size the plywood, you could take it to a local hardware store and have them cut it for you at a fraction of the cost.
Once you're ready to get started, there are various tutorials on the Internet that could assist you in creating a headboard. A nice one worth mentioning is Make Your Own Upholstered Headboard. It should help you along quite nice and give you a few other ideas on decorative style in the process.
Once you're finished, you'll find that the upholstered headboard lends an element of class to your space. Creating your own one-of-a-kind headboard will add a sense of accomplishment. It will also be perfectly suited to your taste and style, and as a bonus you can bet you'll get plenty of compliments from your friends in the process.
Tameka Norris has been living in small spaces since she was 10 years old. She now runs a website titled Furniture for Small Spaces [http://www.furniture-for-small-spaces.com] to help people who go through the same frustrating circumstance of trying to make big bulky furniture fit in places that barely offer enough room. She offers nifty tips and tactics, a Q & A section for people in need of answers, photos of her own small space trials, projects for the DIYer and recommendations on furniture choices.
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