Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with couch

PC gaming from the sofa

fatfrank — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:46:48 -0800

So, I have a laptop with an HDMI port, a big ass HDTV, a Steam account and a comfy sofa and would like to bring all these things together. What peripherals do people use to do PC gaming on their TV? Some type of console-esque controller? A wireless keyboard and mouse? What do you balance your keyboard on? Trackball mouse? Please enlighten me with describing your setup. Bonus points for avoiding RSI.

I want the Camry of sofas, not a Yugo or a Porsche

Diagonalize — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:51:53 -0800

Where do you go when you've graduated from IKEA and are ready for decent, but not necessarily heirloom quality furniture? We're just hoping to find some stuff to carry us through the next 8-10 years, or is that unrealistic? How much should we honestly expect to spend? We're buying a house, but we don't really have any furniture. Our parents were both of the "buy it once; buy it for life" mentality, and while we'd certainly like to get some nicer stuff, we're also kicking around the idea of having kids in a couple of years and there's a ~50% chance we won't stay in the area long term, so we're not really sure the best way to proceed.

There are a ton of furniture stores in our area, but the range of price points and quality within any given store seems to be all over the place. And as far as I can tell, they're also always having sales, so I don't actually have a great sense of how much anything actually costs. We don't mind dropping some cash on this, but we're not super loaded and this is mostly new territory for us, so we're not really sure if the average middle-class furniture budget is more in the $1K or $100K range.

Reviews have been mostly useless: usually nothing with the occasional angry rant about how much Pottery Barn/Ethan Allen/insert choice of store sucks. I've read almost every furniture-related AskMe and dozens of home and design blogs like Houzz, Apartment Therapy and YoungHouseLove, but their budgets/DIY savvy/Craigslist fu/whatever usually appear to be way more impressive than ours, and everything I read seems to vacillate between making DIY gold from thrifted junk or why you shouldn't even bother with anything but high-end. 8-way, hand-tied springs, chalk paint, and vintage Eames recliners are fine, but I'm hoping you fine folks can help give me a reality check and some specific brands/stores to explore for that happy middle road option.

The sofa is soiled.

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 09:48:28 -0800

There was poop on the sofa after the party. What do we do? There was a little get-together at the neighbors' house. There were 9 people there, six adults and three kids. When we started tidying up, a substance approximately the dimensions of a fun-size candy bar was discovered resting between two couch cushions. The only people there were the hosts and I. The hosts refused to touch it, and so I was deputized to pick it up with toilet paper. It was most definitely fecal material. Given the size and condition, it appeared human, fresh, and not tracked in from somewhere. The whole room is carpeted and there was no sign anywhere but the sofa.

The hosts were understandably horrified, expressed a burning desire to figure out what happened but don't want to say anything to any of the guests. They are both "guess" culture, I am definitely "ask".

Complications:

Two of the kids at the party are my children, one adult is my partner. Both my kids were near enough to the sofa that it could have been them, potentially.

After the discovery I went home and scrutinized the kids' laundry and shoes. There was no sign that the poo was either emitted or tracked in by them. I also asked my partner, who denied any knowledge of the situation. Both of us had removed our shoes in the hosts' house.

Four of the adults never sat on the sofa.

Both the hosts sat on that sofa.

The other kid at the party, who is about 10, laid on that sofa for a while, then moved over to the sofa next to me. Their parent was sitting on the floor the whole time.

There was definitely a smell in the air midway through the festivities. I actually took the time to speak to the host in the kitchen and say "look, i'm sure you can smell what's going on out there and I just want you to know - it's not me farting up a storm in your house, okay?" They laughed but admitted that the smell was noticeable, and jokingly said that I was trying to blame the kid next to me on the couch for my stomach discomfort. I said that it was probably the host's food making everyone ill, we both laughed, and then went back into the living room.

Everyone there was wearing long trousers. It seems inconceivable that someone could actually befoul themselves to the point where excrement would fall out the leg of their pants and not react in a way that would be noticeable to others.

After the sticky discovery, the hosts and I talked about the situation and all agreed it was most likely the third kid at the party. They would like for the parent to know, but are reluctant to bring it up themselves, and indicated they'd prefer someone else brought it up.

I can see the merits of either saying something, or keeping quiet, but I feel like if the parent is going to be told, it should be right away. Alternatively, I could just ask the kid directly. Given the relationships of this group of neighbors, it's unlikely that this event will stay much of a secret, and I think it's kindest for the kid who is likely to be blamed, and their parent, to know immediately rather than hear about it much later. However they choose to resolve things with the host is up to them.

I want to know if I should say something, and how to best broach the topic.

Throwaway email: soiledsofa@gmail.com

My couch got hit by a car. Now what?

phunniemee — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:56:02 -0800

I bought a new couch. It got delivered yesterday. The couch is damaged (though it's very minor). I'm going to call "the guy" today and "work something out." Please help me choose the best option. So, the reason the couch got damaged is that the delivery truck got hit by a car on the way to my house. The front corner of the truck got smashed clean off, the cab lost a side mirror, and scary pieces of metal were sticking out every which way. Apparently they got hit by some drunk teens out joyriding. Awesome.

Anyway, the couch suffered a puncture wound. It's a slit about the diameter of a nickel, and it's located approximately here. That is not my couch, nor does it look anything like my couch, it just serves to illustrate that it's on the top of the back part, not on a cushion, more or less hidden from view. I noticed it after the guys had finished putting the couch together and hauling it into my apartment.

The delivery guys were great about it, took pictures, noted everything fully on a form, and told me that I should do whatever I want, because they're going to bill the damaged truck and damaged contents to the other driver's insurance, and it wasn't going to get them (the delivery guys) in hot water either way. Cool.

Here are my options:

1) Get a whole new couch. (This is a very large sectional, and they said it might take a few weeks between ordering a new one and delivering it. I like having my couch right now and would like to continue having my couch.)

2) Let them send someone out to fix it. (It's a microfiber material and the wound is pretty small.)

3) Talk to the shop owner and work out deal where they give me some money back.

I think I'm going to call today and ask for a combination of #2 and #3.

My questions:

a) Is this a bad idea? Should I ask for a whole new couch? I don't particularly care much, honestly, and the idea of getting money back appeals to me. But it's the sort of thing that some people (like, for instance, my mom) would absolutely freak out about. Is there a legitimate reason I should want a whole new couch?

b) Assuming I go the other route, how much money should I ask for? I paid $900 for the couch, but I talked it down a bit (a bit). Ideally I'd like to get as much back as possible just because, y'know, money, but I don't want to be ridiculous.

I'd also like to be nice about this. The saleslady was very nice to me and gave me candy, and the delivery guys were very nice, too. And they got hit by a car and still delivered in the promised time window.

Thanks!

How weird is it for an office to lack a desk?

cessair — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:26:24 -0800

I would like to take the big, corner desk out of my office and instead have a couch, along with a laptop table that I can use as needed. Or maybe a small stand-up desk off to the side. I am wondering what the outside perception might be, as well as any potential problems I may not have considered. I am sufficiently senior that I'm not worried about being "allowed" to do this, or facing any repercussions career-wise, but I also don't want everyone to think I am incredibly bizarre.

Possibly relevant facts:

- I work in an academic type environment.

- My office is private.

- I only use my laptop.

- Meetings with external people only occur in a separate conference room, only my direct reports ever visit my office for meetings, and then for infrequent consultations - most internal meetings also occur in a conference room.

- I have sufficient space to have a couch, a 4 top conference table, a laptop desk or standing desk, a bookshelf, and a filing cabinet.

Would the couch seem less weird if there was also a standing desk as an option? Is an armchair with an ottoman better? I don't want to nap, I just want a comfortable place to sit when I have to do tedious computer tasks!

Do you have an unusual office configuration? Suggestions for the best set-up?

Is this a classic piece, or just something I dig?

lottie — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 14:55:29 -0800

I bought a timber couch to restore. Is it a designer piece, and if so, does anyone recognise the designer? The person I bought this old couch frame from said this piece was made in the Fifties, and it's familiar to me. It resembles Shaker furniture, I think, but I have a very dim memory of seeing this in furniture design books. Perhaps I'm just remembering the Wegner harp chair, and have it all wrong. If it's not designer, I'm happy to own it now anyway, but the fact that it's very, very familiar to me is kind of driving me a little crazy. Can you identify it?

How do I clean this white, cloth couch?

geoff. — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 06:59:07 -0800

I have this Crate & Barrel Petrie Couch in white, drinks were spilled. Manufacturer care instructions say to just use distilled water, this has not worked. What can I try next? Googling online, people have taken the buttons out and taken the cushions to the dry cleaner. This seems a bit much, any other thoughts?

Cat peeing on our couch, what could be the problem? See details.

AbsolutelyHonest — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:52:17 -0800

How can I stop my cat from peeing on my couch? I have had my cat for about 9 years now. He was my baby for a long time. When my husband and I moved in together about 7 years ago, the cat started peeing on my husband's side of the bed. At that point, the cat wasn't allowed in our bedroom anymore and still isn't to this day.

We never had another problem from him until we got a puppy about 4 years ago. He started peeing on our couch, and this continued for a few months and then stopped.

Then last year, we had our first child. After our LO was a few weeks old, the cat started peeing on the couch AGAIN! This, again, lasted only a few weeks but my husband was at his breaking point and kept threatening to give the cat away. We started locking him in our garage at night and anytime we weren't home to watch him like a hawk.

Now, randomly, he started peeing on our couch AGAIN! The ONLY thing that is new is that our LO started walking about 2 weeks ago. I don't know why this would anger my cat, but I can't think of anything else that would cause him to do this.

We live in an apartment now and no longer have a garage to lock him in. Last night, my husband was sitting on the couch and the cat peed RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.

I have tried every kind of repellent imagineable. I have cleaned and scrubbed the couch, tried paying extra attention to the cat, feeding him and making sure he has water constantly.. I just don't know what could be wrong.

Any suggestions both for possible causes or solutions would be amazing.

Just basically tell me how much to exercise, k?

Chorus — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:23:27 -0800

How much exercise is enough or ideal or normal... or? From various internet sources, I've read that the optimum level to exercise at is anything from 10 minutes to an hour - sometimes everyday, sometimes three times a week, sometimes every 2nd day, sometimes five days and sometimes rest days are an absolute must.

Also, nobody I know exercises. I am an aberration in my social group in that I've gotten into exercise by my own motivation and actually enjoy it. So, this is why I'm turning to the hive-mind.

I'm currently on Week 5 of Couch-To-5k (the one with 8 minute runs) and this is the fittest I've ever been. I am on a month's sabbatical from my career, so I get to go to the gym everyday. So far, so good, but I'm thinking to when I finally complete the C25K program and need to get in the rhythm of fitness from there onwards.

Is running 5k a day complete overkill, not enough exercise or just the right amount? Maybe only three times a week would be better? Once a week? I honestly have no clue, but I've heard of someone running 10k a day to stay fit and eat what they like. I know I need to figure out what works for me and what I will stick at, but I need some kind of yardstick to measure exercise by. 30mins running everyday will surely do me good, is that enough though for everyday?

My fitness goals are just to be fit and healthy, not necessary thin or skinny or ripped.

Is Scotchgard worth it, and if not, how do I keep white sofa clean?

LobsterMitten — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:25:46 -0800

White cotton-upholstered couch -- help me keep it clean. Pros and cons of using Scotchgard or similar product? Health risks for people and pets? Other methods? I understand that Scotchgard works, but I also see some disturbing stuff online about its health risks and environmental badness. Anybody have perspective on how to weigh these and what the current evidence says?
We have an indoor cat but no kids, if that's relevant.

We would apply it ourselves; the store does not do it. Tips on applying, or best type to get?

Other methods of stain prevention? Most slip covers seem very loose and bulky, made for overstuffed furniture - but this couch has rectangular lines and is not overstuffed. Do you know of any slipcovers that fit a more modern, angular style of sofa, and preserve its lines? Or non-slipcover options?

I'm looking to buy a smallish, modern gray couch for my new apartment. Catch: needs to be under $700. Help?

anotheraccount — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:30:53 -0800

I'm looking to buy a smallish, modern gray couch for my new apartment. Catch: needs to be under $700. Help? My current couch is a futon that I've had since I was 14 years old, so I'm really looking forward to buying a real sofa. The only problem is that the security deposit and movers' fees have slashed my budget. I really, really want a modern, gray couch. Some ideas so far:

Home Decorators Roberts

Urban Outfitters Night and Day

World Market Morgan

Home Decorators Martine

Home Decorators Emma

Any suggestions on other places to look or other specific models? I'm trying to avoid IKEA.

Give me [a] back [to] my couch!

two lights above the sea — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:18:51 -0800

We have a dream... to rearrange our media room so that the couch is not against the wall. The problem? It's this sofa, and the cushions do fall off after a few minutes of relaxed sitting, despite being weighted. We considered putting a heavy piece of furniture behind it, but that's not ideal as it takes up all the wonderful space we are trying to get back. Can you help us add a back to our couch? Ideally, it would be a low profile, stylish thing that we can drill into the bottom of the couch so that the pillows don't slide off when we're sitting on it. I can't find pictures of anything that I like, but here are a couple pictures that give you an idea.

I'm thinking of a low-back dark wood piece that is pre-made for this purpose (or a similar one). We're fairly handy, but we don't have wood working tools so making something complex from scratch is out of the question.

I'm looking to you, Metafilter. Give me your best solutions! Thanks in advance!

Need a good couch co-op game

ShawnString — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:09:19 -0800

I need suggestions for good couch co-op games to play with my wife on our Xbox 360. She has been playing the hell outta Skyrim and has finally gotten the handle on using a controller for 1st person control. Was thinking Portal 2 but I need some more suggestions We have played some of the Lego games together and that was fun (but crap the deign of those games drives me nuts...). Pretty much any genre would be considered

Added bonus (but not required) if the kids (ages 6 and 9) can play it too

Hacking (or just hacking up) my couch, vs. just replacing it already

aecorwin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:50:43 -0800

Can I hack my (Ikea Varnamo) couch? SHOULD I? I am becoming increasingly unhappy with my couch -- an Ikea Varnamo (which is a discontinued model) purchased about seven years ago. Picture here for folks unfamiliar with this particular sofa.

It's in fine structural condition, and I don't care about the rips and scratches in the upholstery as it's wearing a microfiber slipcover 24-7 these days, but the curved arm-rests are really beginning to bug me as they make the whole thing take up way more room than anything reasonably should along the wall I have it up against (which is really the only logical place for a couch in my house).

Moreover, the thing has terrible back support. It always has, and honestly the only reason I got it in the first place was because it was cheap and (at the time) I was too poor to afford anything else (we got it on super-discount as they were discontinuing the color). I am just not a fan of the "large floppy pillow backrest" configuration. Both my partner and I would really like a firmer backrest, and I would also really like a seat length that allows my knees to bend in the right place. Right now they dangle uncomfortably unless I curl them up to the side and put them ON the couch, which has its own issues (mainly of the "ow, my foot's asleep" variety).

....but all that aside, while I've been testing out some new couches lately, it occurred to me today that I might be able to use the basic structure of this couch and do essentially a strip-and-reshape / reupholster. I have never reupholstered anything before, unless you count going at my dining chairs with a bolt of tweed and a staple gun, but I have a fair bit of experience building simple wooden things like shelving units ("from scratch") and plenty of carpentry-related tools.

What I'd like to do if I go the modification route is remove the existing fabric cover, "square off" the armrests so that they're rectangular and not round, and build up the backrest into a single, much firmer unit to replace the three squishy cushions that are making my back muscles writhe in pain as I sit here typing this. Obviously I wouldn't be doing this to save money (though I'd prefer to keep things under $500ish if possible) -- it would be more of a creative endeavor coupled with a desire to perhaps save a good bunch of basic materials from the landfill.

...but all that said, my question to the denizens of mefi is: can you please share your recommendations / links / other online resources regarding projects such as the one I am considering? I am especially fond of personal blog posts with LOTS of step by step photos and before-and-afters, bonus if it shows a couch starting out looking like my existing Varnamo and ending up a fair bit more modern/streamlined (my house is a 1954 MCM ranch and smallish at just over 1000 sq. ft., which has me thinking in space-efficient geometric terms).

I haven't found much in my search so far, aside from a lot of instances where people just changed out the fabric and padding. I am hoping this is just due to inferior search skills and not because Extreme Couch Modding is in fact a ridiculous impossible thing no reasonable person actually does, but I am prepared for the truth, no matter what it may be.

Alternately, if anyone has recommendations for couches in the $300 - $800 range that offer good back support, reasonable seat length for both a 5'3" person (me) and a 5'10" person (my partner), and fabric options that could survive a household that includes 4 rowdy but generally well-behaved cats (as in, they run and leap all over the furniture but mostly prefer to scratch their scratching posts as opposed to my couch), please feel free to offer those as well. Basically I want something durable, more firm than squishy, and more modern / industrial than traditional or floofy in design.

Thanks in advance!

Is a BoConcept sectional worth the money?

Heart_on_Sleeve — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:13:32 -0800

How do you feel about your 2+ year old BoConcept sofa, couch or sectional? Was it properly upholstered? Is the leather wearing well? Do the legs stay on? Are you happy with your purchase? The Mister and I are shopping for a new couch to last us the next 20 years and there's a very strong contender at the (new) local BoConcept store. We are thinking of an Indivi 2 in grey-brown leather.

We like the computerized design modeler, and the showroom model was comfortable. There are a lot of cranky BoConcept purchasers venting on English-language websites about bad customer service in ways that seem localized & unhelpful 2-4 years later.

Another contender would be a local manufacturer, who would be faster, comes recommended and can likely be equally flexible, but doesn't have a fancy 3D autocad setup to help us visualize the end product effectively.

Can I fix the webbing on my couch?

The Card Cheat — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:41:01 -0800

Can I fix the webbing on my couch? I have a retro couch of the type where the cushions lie on top of webbing. Last week one of the straps broke (pic), and when I made inquiries into getting it fixed at a nearby furniture store the price quoted was more than I would prefer to spend. It looks like you can buy similar webbing at Online Fabric Store, but is it possible to replace the straps yourself (and if so how do you do it)?

Administrator please hope me move a sofa!

J-Do — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:28:35 -0800

NYC Mefites: What are the best options for moving a sofa from Brooklyn to the West Village? If you've used a good "man with a van," please recommend, but any suggestions are appreciated.

Long term purchase.

niccolo — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:21:56 -0800

What would be the best color for a leather couch (not knowing the future color of walls)? Is there a couch color you have regretted? I'm going to buy this sofa. My plan is to keep it for a long time and through all the different places I will live. This is a couch that I eventually expect will be in my home office (and I think this classic design would be versatile). I'm considering the dark gray (Charcoal), dark brown (Chocolate), or light grey (Putty). I currently live in an apartment, I am male and 29.

How to repair a leather couch damaged by kitty?

zinful — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:51:38 -0800

Wondering how to save a leather couch that my cat had a party on... The couch isn't mine, and was in lovely pristine condition before kitty had a field day. I use claw caps on him, but not on his back feet, so there are long gashes where he jumped, killed his toys, ran, etc. My parter really loves this piece of furniture, and it's basically irreplaceable (since it was found at deep discount from a very chic upscale shop). I tried rubbing most of a bottle of Leather Honey in over the course of about a week, and it didn't do much except make the couch a little shinier.

The problem is twofold: the leather is very nice and tautly stretched over the overstuffed-style cushioning, so scratches really stand out, and the couch is purple. Like, really purple. There's no way I'll be able to use shoe polish or any of those colour tricks I've found on the googles. Can it be repaired? Are there even places that do that, or is it even remotely possible to do it on my own? Should I give my partner money in compensation/for repair? I feel so guilty, and don't think kitty can go visit any longer, since the cat has managed to foil every attempt to cover the couch we've thought of.

Tall Person + Couch = Happiness?

odayoday — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:50:00 -0800

My boyfriend (who is 6'4") and I are buying a couch, and we're looking for one that would provide neck support for his head. My previous question about our cats has led me to believe we'd be best with a microfiber couch, but most tall-backed couches seem to be made of leather. Any ideas? Also, as mentioned in the previous question, we have around a $1500 budget (although we could go up to $2000 if necessary). Other factor - we currently have no couch at all, so we would prefer one that would not need to be special ordered. We're in Austin, if that helps at all. Thanks!

Cats+Couch = Happiness?

odayoday — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:19:14 -0800

We have a $1500 budget for a new couch. We also have two boisterous longhair cats. What type of couch will survive them better, leather or something with slipcovers? We had a leather couch a friend gave us, and it was great because the cat hair didn't stick to it, however although they didn't intentionally scratch it, sometimes when they would run around chasing each other they would launch off of the couch, leaving small scratches and puncture marks. We were thinking that having a slipcover option might help with that, but then we'll be dealing with constantly rolling/vacuuming fur off the couch. We've looked at an Ashley Furniture all-leather sectional (I think it's the "Palmer" and Pottery Barn comfort slipcovered sectional. Has anyone had experiences, positive or negative with either of those and cats? Any other ideas that we haven't considered? We do clip their nails, but not as often as we probably should.

How do I attach velcro tape to my couch cushions?

reverend cuttle — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:29:10 -0800

How do I attach velcro tape to my couch cushions? I have couch cushions that slide terribly. I bought this velcro tape to keep things in place. The problem is that the tape adhesive won't stick to the bottom of my couch cushions. or the opposite fabric under the cushion. The upholstery is microfiber. How can I easily make the velcro strips adhere to the fabric?

P.S. I've tried using various non-slip rug pads under the cushions, but the cushions still slide.

How to clean a microfiber couch

backseatpilot — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:44:48 -0800

We've got a microfiber sofa and it's starting to look pretty dingy. How do I clean this thing up? I bought the couch about five years ago and it's looking pretty sad right now. It's a light beige color, and after the years of sweating on it, sleeping on it, and spilling stuff on it, most of it has a distinct grey pallor. I'd like to clean it so it looks at least halfway decent, but I'm not sure how to go about cleaning a whole couch. Has anyone done this before?

Also, the back cushions have become slightly misshapen. Any idea how to reshape them to get them back the way they were?

Modified Couch to 5K?

swingbraid — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:43:29 -0800

Inspired by this question, I've decided to finally go for the Couch to 5k. I'm currently reading through the excellent threads on here, but I have a couple of specific questions. I've recently moved to the UK (Brighton, specifically) for grad school. Up until now I've just been settling in, studying, etc. But I'm getting reeeeallly out of shape. I have never been big on structured exercise: in Chicago I mostly rode my bike in the summer and did lots of walking to work in the early spring and late fall, plus a weekly community yoga class. Lately, I'm finding that I actually miss even the small amount of physicality I used to take for granted, and I need a healthy way to blow off steam. (Yoga in my tiny room isn't doing it.)

So, I'm ready for the C25K! Before I start, I wanted to throw some questions out there:

1) Is it possible to modify this program for just walking, without running or jogging? Brisk walking is the most strain I can put on my legs, one of which has a titanium rod running from my hip to my ankle. I've had the rod for several years, and I'm very used to it. Fast walking is okay (and is approved by my doctor), plus I really enjoy it. I've checked around, but can't find many resources for modifying the program for walking.

2) Having never walked very far or cycled in cold months, I have very little idea what to wear for winter here. I'm getting some ideas from a couple previous threads, but as a grad student I have almost no money to spend on fancy cold-weather running gear. So far, I have good walking shoes that I was fitted for back in Chicago, a good sports bra, and a really great Marmot jacket for the wettest days, but that's all. I also have mostly cotton yoga pants, but I hear that cotton is not good for this type of exercise. Any tips on where I could find decent, inexpensive layering stuff in Brighton? Would TK Maxx or M&S be good places to start? There's also a Sweatshop nearby, which I plan to check out. What materials/ types of layers should I look for in terms of dealing with UK winters?

3) Finally: Any Brightonians have tips on good places to walk? I live right across from the sea, so I was planning to start along there. But I wanted to get up into the Downs, and maybe even work up to walking to campus from my residence hall (about 5 miles/8k). I'm also up for hills and scenic routes through the city.

I'm really excited about getting started, and I want to do things properly so that I don't have a miserable time and get discouraged. Any tips or advice are extremely welcome--thanks!!

Help make my bed more like a couch, please!

miaou — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 06:30:30 -0800

I’m trying to think of a way to make one part of my side of the bed more like the back of a couch. But I’m not very creative, apparently. Can you help me please? I like to sleep on our futon couch because I can bend my knees and lean them against the back. It’s a comfortable position because I have low back pain when sleeping with my legs straight, but sleeping on our couch every night is not practical for several reasons. Can you help me think of a way I could replicate this sleeping position in a regular bed? Moving the bed up against a wall and leaning my legs against the wall is not an option. One of those wedge pillows on the bed won’t work because I don’t usually sleep this way all night, rather I like to start out in this position and move to my side later. I envision something along these lines, but a little taller and shorter (and with padding if possible). All the bed rails I looked at don’t seem tall enough and are too long; I only need it to be about maybe 18" long, but it has to come up at least 22” above the level of the mattress (I'm 5'4"). If such a product doesn’t exist, how could I (a not-terribly-handy person) go about fashioning one from easily available materials? Thanks in advance, hivemind!