Put aside your notions about hideaway beds — older versions may have been lumpy or awkward, but contemporary models are sleek, mechanized and comfortable, and they can come tucked inside sumptuous cabinetry that you'd never suspect of hiding a bed. Take Zoom-Room: a retractable (rather than folding) bed that slides easily into a room via remote control. It's housed in a versatile cabinet with modular side shelving that can be used as an entertainment center, a clothes closet or a bookshelf. Prices start at $4,450. Flying Beds in Denver designs custom systems for hideaway beds; president Ron McKey's motto is "Give me any mattress, and I'll make it disappear!" Flying Beds designed this fold-down unit to function as a mirrored wall in a workout studio. The bed occupies the middle two mirrored panels; each outside panel folds down to reveal two drawers and a closet-type cabinet with a hanging rod. Ron says the most important consideration when deciding whether and how to install a hideaway bed is how the room looks when the bed is closed — after all, that's the room's primary function, and if it doesn't work for you, you won't be happy with the result.
"Decide if function change is the main concept desired, or if you want total deception," he says. Then, design your surround to accomplish that goal. Both of these spaces designed by architects Fernau & Hartman are roomy enough to make guests feel comfortable in out-of-the-way spots. Plus, Amanda says, niches that don't contain windows could be hidden with doors when not in use. This space designed by architects Fernau & Hartman is roomy enough to make guests feel comfortable in an out-of-the-way spot. Plus, Amanda says, niches that don't contain windows can be hidden with doors when not in use. Flying Beds also offers the Dotto SmartBed from Italy, a functional desk 24 inches deep that houses a side-folding bed and fits into a compact space, such as a small office or even a laundry area. When the bed is lowered, the work surface simply glides underneath and remains horizontal, so you don't even have to clear your desk before guests arrive. Because the bed faces sideways, the fully extended double bed takes up less than 5 feet of room depth, the queen version, 5'4".
The kit, including mattress, runs north of $5,000. If you have no choice but to put your guests in a high-traffic area, such as your dining room or living room, you'll need some kind of moveable partition for privacy. Amanda loves this solution from architecture firm Inscape Studio. Recessed tracking and wheeled shelving units create a useful and chic moveable wall that can hide a bed and double as nightstand storage when guests arrive. "This is a great alternative to plain sliding doors or a collapsing wall," Amanda says. Got more space outside than inside? Do all of the previous solutions seem a little, well, small to you? If you're looking for a fun, adventurous building project that you can reuse as a studio or garden retreat after your guests go home, consider investing in a yurt. Modern yurts, modeled and named after the homes of Asian nomads, are like a cross between a tent and a cabin. Sold pre-fabricated by companies such as Pacific Yurts, yurts are canvas-covered, typically feature a skylight at the peak, can be plumbed and wired for electricity, and are tough enough to withstand rain and snow — some interiors, as in the photo shown, are positively luxurious.
Someone with basic carpentry skills can put one together in as little as a few hours, or during the course of a weekend. Basic kits range from about $2,500 to $15,000 and up, with extras like porches or wood stoves adding to the cost.I’ve always thought there are two kinds of mattresses in the world. There are saggy, stained mattresses that are on their way to being replaced someday. These mattresses draw ire from their owners, who acknowledge they need a replacement, but for some reason are waiting it out. The other type of mattress is the dream mattress. No sag, no stains, just the right firmness—this mattress is the one you plan to keep for years to come. An owner of a dream mattress loves the bed they sleep on and wants to keep it pristine for as long as possible. They rotate the mattress as directed and may even protect it with a waterproof cover. If you’ve got one of those dream mattresses and you want it to remain in it’s dream-like state, it’s imperative that you store it properly.
The key is to mimic it’s natural position by laying the mattress flat with no items resting on top. Wrap it securely in a plastic cover and secure the cover with rope or tape. While in storage, keep it at a reasonable temperature – humidity and mold are the greatest threats to the life of your mattress, so it’s important that you take the necessary precautions. To find out more, we reached out to Mattrezzz Guys, a retailer that’s making a name for itself as an Austin favorite (check those Yelp reviews), and spoke to owners Frank and Anthony about how to properly store a mattress. This is the main reason this blog post exists. Not to point fingers, but other blog posts and websites often say to store the mattress on its side. Frank and Anthony strongly advise against it. “If you stand it up, the padding and coils can settle and the mattress will never be the same. Don’t forget, gravity’s not always our friend,” said Frank. If you intend on keeping this mattress in good shape, you’ll want to mimic its natural positioning—maybe even setting up your whole bed inside your storage space.
Gravity can come into play if you leave something on top of your mattress (or you have your mattress resting on something). To avoid wear and tear, make sure nothing is weighing down your bed. The only thing that should be on the mattress and boxspring is a plastic cover. This final layer of protection can prevent worst-case scenarios. Frank and Anthony recommend completely wrapping the mattress in plastic, be it a specially made mattress bag or stretch plastic wrap. Water damage or pests shouldn’t be a problem at most storage facilities, but the covering has a more important application as well. This prevents dust from settling into the fibers of your mattress, which can happen even in the cleanest indoor unit. You should apply the plastic wrap or mattress cover before moving to help protect it while it’s being transported. Make sure you cover the entire mattress and secure the cover with tape. While we’re on the topic of transportation, you should avoid tying your mattress down on top of your car.
You’re either going to warp your mattress by tying it down too tight or ruin it having it fly off the top of your car and onto the road. You should transport your mattress protected from the elements in a covered moving truck. Note: It’s okay to transport the mattress on its side as long as you aren’t leaving it there long-term, according to Peter Cancelli of The Mattress Expert. “If you’re storing for an extended length of time use climate-controlled storage,” Frank advised. He might have been speaking to local customers in this case, but this tip applies anywhere with a relative humidity that swings above 50 percent (hint: almost everywhere at some point in the year). Mold is a serious threat to the health of your mattress and potentially to your health, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Frank and Anthony’s final tip: If you stored your mattress for more than six months you should remove your plastic covering and let the mattress breathe for a few hours before you put your sheets on it.