Turning my porch into a sleeping porch

May 13, 2023 3:18 PM

Can you help me find convertible furniture that will let me use my screened-porch for hanging out and dining during the day, then turn into the sleeping porch of my dreams at night?

For years I dragged the mattress off my bed and downstairs to the porch for a few weeks in the late summer. Then I got a folding foam camping mattress and used that for a few more years. Now I’m ready for a permanent solution, ideally one that doesn’t require hauling a full-sized mattress around or sleeping just a few inches off the floor.

But my porch isn’t that big, and it has quite a few doors both into the house and out to the yard. So ideally I’d like some kind of furniture that can be used as a place to sit during the day. Is it two loungers that bolt together to form a bed? Some kind of futon or daybed with a trundle? It would be nice if it had storage for the mattress and bedding. And it needs to be a full or a queen to fit my partner and me (and the cat). My porch is L-shaped and the end I’d like to have as my summer bedroom is is 8.5 feet wide and about 12 feet long. A hammock has been tried and roundly rejected.

Search terms, links to specific furniture, or wild ideas are welcome. Thank you!

posted by minervous to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

The classic example of the convertible lounge/bed is the IKEA FRIHETEN, which is a sofa/lounge when stowed, and a well padded double sized bed when converted. Everything stows inside it, it's less than a minute to open/close. It's indoor furniture though, so you'd ideally want it to be in a corner away from any possible exposure to damp.
posted by seanmpuckett at 3:26 PM on May 13, 2023

what about a murphy bed?
posted by leslies at 4:08 PM on May 13, 2023

Response by poster: Sorry, should have mentioned: the end of the porch where this set-up would live is screen on two sides, french doors into the house on the third, and open to the rest of the porch on the fourth.
posted by minervous at 4:11 PM on May 13, 2023

This seems to be what you are looking for? Not a personal recommendation and might be too big. I got to this by searching outdoor futon.
posted by AlexiaSky at 4:16 PM on May 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

Keywords: folding/fold out daybed?

If you don't mind going "separate but together" with two twinsize beds, you have lots of cheaper options and more configuration options for non-sleeping uses.
posted by spamandkimchi at 5:40 PM on May 13, 2023

Would some kind of charpoy work? This is a wooden bench/bed frame thing (? IDK, google image it) with tightly-woven rope across the opening so you can sit or lay on it, and it's nice and breezy for hot nights. It's usually a pretty OK couch-like thing for the day, if done in single bed size, and if not comfy enough for sleeping, would easily support a camping pad or thin foam mattress. You could have two and set them at an angle/across from each other during the day and move them together at night to have a double bed with some uncomfortable middle section. IDK how much they cost, though.
posted by holyrood at 8:23 PM on May 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

A futon frame (sealed for the elements) combined with some sort of waterproof mattress (e.g.) and storage box for the linens.

There are also full sized daybed swings.
posted by oceano at 8:49 PM on May 13, 2023 [1 favorite]

There are metal futons with wooden arms that could be oiled over winter. There won't be direct rain, so a futon mattress with a sturdy cover should work. Bring the mattress in for storage over the winter. They make deck storage boxes for pillows, sheets, etc.
posted by theora55 at 7:00 PM on May 14, 2023

It may not work for you, but my favorite bed to sleep on during vacation is one that hangs from chains out on the porch. The chains hang from substantial hooks which are screwed into the rafters. They connect to eyebolts in the corner of the twin-size bed frame. It has headboards at each end, attached to the chains, so you can sit against them during the day.

This was a custom build. It is strong enough for two adults, because you don't want the thing crashing down with people on it.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 12:49 PM on May 15, 2023

Also in for a futon, e. g. Nirvana Futons Twin Tri-Fold Wood Futon Sofa Bed Lounger Frame

I've also seen upscale versions of the typical chaise lounge that look like a possibility.
posted by SemiSalt at 1:48 PM on May 15, 2023