Guest bed options: What type of guest beds are available?

There are guest bed designs to suit rooms of almost any size. They come in many styles, each with its own benefits. Three of the most common types are:

1. Folding beds
2. Sofa beds
3. Trundle beds

1. Folding bed

Not everybody has a permanent guest room, but most of us are likely to have the odd overnight guest. Sometimes a temporary bed, like a folding bed - also known as a z-bed - could be what is needed. Folding beds are suitable for all guests, children and adults alike. They are constructed with a sturdy, three-part metal structure, making them durable enough for regular use.

If you don't have a spare bedroom, these beds can be collapsed and folded away until they’re needed. Folding beds and z-beds are easy to manoeuvre since they’re often lightweight and come with wheels. They can be used in various places like living rooms, kid’s bedrooms or even for travel or camping.

Folding beds typically come with a matching mattress. These mattresses have been specifically designed to fold away with your bed without reducing the quality.

2. Sofa bed

Sofa beds are sofas with a pull-out bed for overnight guests. They’re easy to unfold and set up for guests, and they come with their own mattresses.

Designed to fit into larger or smaller rooms, these beds blend in with existing furniture to suit interior styles. Sofa beds are multi-functional: when guests go home, the bed can be folded away and the sofa bed can be used as a sofa.

3. Trundle bed

Trundle beds are children's beds with a spare bed underneath. The spare bed can be pulled out to stand beside the bed, creating an additional bed for a sleepover.

As they are tucked away underneath a child's bed, trundle guest beds don't take up any extra bedroom space. When purchasing a mattress for a trundle bed, be sure to check the maximum mattress depth advised, as these vary per manufacturer.

Other guest bed options

Standard single and small double beds are also popular choices for spare rooms where a more permanent guest bed is needed. As space is usually limited within spare rooms, these types of beds are a good fit in most instances, but it’s best to measure the space to check.

Most retailers offer a range of single and double bed frames, along with a variety of divan beds. Many divan bases come with built-in drawers, making divan beds suitable for spare rooms as they help maximise your available storage space.

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Guest beds: which do I need?

With so many guest bed options to choose from, it can be difficult to decide on one that suits individual needs. Below is an outline of what someone should consider when choosing guest bed for their home:

• How much space is available in the chosen room?
• Who will be sleeping on the bed?
• What budget do you have?

Answering these questions will help narrow down suitable guest bed options.

How much space do you have?

Where will the guest bed be going? Perhaps in a spare room or the living room? Below is a table detailing what kind of guest bed best suits a room.

GUEST BED TYPE	SUITABLE FOR
Folding bed	Bedroom - of any size Living room Spare room
Sofa bed	Bedroom - particularly small bedroom Living room Spare room
Trundle bed	Bedroom - particularly small bedroom Children's bedroom Spare room
Single or double bed	Bedroom

Who will be sleeping on the bed?

Think about how many guests will need accommodations. Will it just be one person, or could a whole family be staying over? Many guest beds are designed to sleep up to two people, so whether you opt for a sofa bed or a folding bed, you’ll have enough space for a couple. Then there’s always the option of a trundle bed to accommodate an extra child. 

What budget do you have?

It goes without saying that you’ll need to consider your budget too. If you rarely welcome guests, you may not want to spend as much on a guest bed as someone who, for example, has their grandchildren sleep over every week.

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Which guest bed is most comfortable?

Generally, the most comfortable guest beds are those that use standard mattresses, such as trundle beds or standard single and double beds. 

Although sofa and folding beds offer space-saving convenience, the mattress included tends not to be as thick as the standard mattresses we have on our regular beds. However, if you don’t have the space for a more permanent bed, there are ways of enhancing your guests’ comfort.

Adding a mattress topper is one easy and cost-effective way of making a folding or sofa bed mattress plusher. Opting for a memory foam topper can create that sink-in feeling while still offering support.

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We hope this has answered your questions about guest beds. And remember, if you ever find yourself with unexpected overnight guests, our folding beds are available with Free Next Day Delivery.