Temporary Guest Accommodations

My neighbors just had 7 houseguests for 3 weeks and they pitched a big tent in the backyard and put air mattresses in them. On hot nights they moved the mattresses indoors.

If you have any close friend's you could ask if you could borrow a bed. I just sold a bed with mattress for a client. It came out of her guest room. Sold the whole thing for $200. on Craigslist.

She mainly wanted someone to haul it away. It was upstairs in her condo. I told her to sell it. Let people give her the money to haul it away! HA!

The mattress had been slept in less than a dozen times.
It was immaculate.

I just spent a week sleeping on an inflatable mattress (one of the higher quality ones). It was a miserable week. I don't think I had a good night sleep the entire week. I have a history of back pain and I woke up stiff and sore almost every morning. If you are sleeping with someone who weighs more than you, they depress the mattress more and you roll into them. If you sleep too close to the edge the side collapses a little. That happens more if the mattress isn't inflated full enough. Over time they do lose air and need to be refilled. I also hated the squeaky noise the mattress made any time one of us rolled over. The sheets and blankets were always getting all twisted or falling off the mattress because you can't tuck them in to anything. We had to deflate the mattress every morning and reinflate every night so it was out of the way during the day. It was a huge pain.

Hide-a-beds aren't that comfortable, but I think I would rather sleep on that or a futon. To help add comfort, top the mattress with the foam "eggshell" mattress topper. My parents used to sleep on my hide-a-bed when they came to visit. The foam pad made a huge difference.

Wow, that is a hard one. Is there any way you guys can rent a different couch for that time frame? A hide-a-bed? Some have nice mattresses now. When you go look you must pull it out and lay on it, just like if you were shopping for a mattress set.

I'd see if anyone has a futon too. Some of those mattresses are 10 inches thick and you can't feel the bars.

You can also borrow a bed from someone, you can put a plastic mattress cover over both pieces from Walmart, they're less than $5 each bag. I put all our mattresses and box springs in them. It keeps the dust out, keeps them clean, and it saves them from accidents.

You will have to put an additional mattress pad on the mattress though because their body heat will make the plastic hotter than hot. I put a padded mattress pad on top and it keeps everyone cool.

I still think I'd consider renting a bed since they'll have a room it can go in. This way you aren't obligated to buy something and everyone can still be comfortable.

Maybe rent-a-center or something will have a bed you can rent for a month.

Amazon.com also has memory foam mattresses for $200-500 free shipping and some are made in the USA). You would just need a foundation. Have you checked into Murpheybeds? Might be a good addition to your basement in the event of future guests. I have seen the frames on craigslist rather cheap, and then you can throw the memory foam mattress in there. Or you can build it. Yourself if you're the DIY type.
And in case I am calling it the wrong term-Murpheybeds are frames that fold up into a bookshelf when not in use.

I think B has nailed it. A month is a LONG time to be living in someone else's space and to have someone else living in your own space, especially with no room of their own. It is really important to have a space of one's own. Also, if there is a cooking area (fridge and stove and microwave), your inlaws can make their own breakfast, cook some foods of their choosing when they tire of your fare (not a comment on your cooking at all, just that every family has its own tastes), and give you a break from preparing every meal with them in mind.

I know it seems expensive, however I suspect it could be only a bit more than buying a new bed/mattress for them, and for the interpersonal relationships, 'priceless' (as they say). Maybe you can find an extended stay hotel nearby?

ETA: After reading your SWH, having them in your house is a much better possibility. At least they'll have a space of their own. Your original post made it seem like they'd be camping in the living room for a month... How about a futon and frame which can sit up into a couch? They aren't as expensive as a bed+frame, and they could just stay in the room and be used as a couch.

Those Aero (sp?) mattresses are inflatable and affordable but actually super comfortable, more so than a fold out bed. If it was my in laws I would probably give them my room and hubby and I would sleep on that in the living/family room.

There are Aerobeds that are normal bed height. I find them way more comfortable than a fold out sofa (slept on one of those for 4 months during a home remodel).

I am a FIRM believer in the power hotels to keep the peace when visiting family.
You have a space to retreat when you want some alone time.
You can watch what you want on tv while people at home stick with their routines.
It doesn't matter if anyone snores.
You can (usually) have a complimentary breakfast at the hotel (most offer them these days).
You can use the gym/pool/hot tub (if the hotel has these).
I visit my Mom for a week every year and we're BOTH so happy with me staying in a hotel.
We love each other but we need breaks - too much togetherness gets on our nerves!

Do you have a Costco or Sams membership? They have this strange memory foam mattress. It is only about 300 for a queen but it fits in a box. My point is it is like an air mattress only comfortable.

Hmmm ... what do you think of looking for a hide-a-bed on Craig's list? If you were to find a nice one, it could really come in handy down the road.. I've seen some very good ones and some very cheaply made ones, so you would want to be careful. But then you'd always have that option for a guest in the future.

I personally find the elevated air mattresses to be a lot more comfortable than a fold out bed or a sleep sofa with the bar in the middle.

My in-laws have a futon that is actually really comfy.

If they are selling their house, where is their bed going?

I didn't see anyone mention day beds. Is that an option for you? They are more like a sofa, with a trundle bed that pulls out and pops up. So.. like two actual twin beds, or I have seen them where you can make them into a king size bed, also.

It would serve your "short term" needs, and then be a sofa after your in-laws are gone to Europe. They also might be handy when your kids have guests stay overnight in the future(?).

My mom has one of them in her basement... it used to be in the main floor den (in their previous home) and was used as a couch/sofa for every day. The trundle only came out when another bed was needed (besides the two rooms upstairs).

If you don't like that idea, or can't find one in your price range or style, then I'd give a back-up vote for the full sized air beds. I've seen both the kind that are double height (all air) and also the kind that are single height but rest on a metal (folding) frame, so that it is still normal bed height, AND you can stick slippers under the "edge of the bed". I couldn't tell you which is more comfortable, though. We have the kind with the metal frame. It is pretty tough, and fairly comfortable.. but the frame makes it rather bulky and heavy if you were to try to use it for camping or anything. I'd imagine a double height full vinyl one would be fairly heavy as well, though. :/

Aerobeds are awesome, they might be a solution for this situation. They stay inflated, are a bit on the taller side and are very comfortable.

This: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Spa-Sensations-8-Memory-Foam-Ma...

And this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Spa-Sensations-8-Memory-Foam-Ma...

Very comfy. Sounds like it's time to make a temporary guest room! :) The great thing about this is that you can fold the base up and put the mattress in a good cover and put it in a storage room. Easy and cheaper than a lot of options out there.

If you get a fold away bed, check out Laz Y Boy sofa sleepers. They have a really good one without a bar...so no bar in your back. I have heard it is really comfortable. Or you could get a futon and then also order a 3 inch memory foam mattress for on the top.

i'm glad they'll have their own space. that will make it much easier to survive the month. i agree with the suggestion to check out rent-a-center. better yet, buy a really really good quality air mattress (yes! they exist!) and then a pillow-top. that way you can store it away and have it for future guests.
we renovated recently, and our 4 bedroom house has become a 2 bedroom one. but we keep a good air mattress handy for when the guest room is occupied and the boys come home. couches are great, but only for a night here and there. if anyone is staying longer, they need a decent bed.
khairete
S.