Frugal portable bed ideas?

[lucille]

Our son needs a new bed. He wants something that is fairly portable so when he leaves in a few years he has something easy to move and take with him between what will probably be quite a bit of moving for work and school.

We had thought about some version of a futon mattress but would need to figure out a base that would be durable yet dis-assemble and make good use of space in small rooms.
I had hoped the net would be full of DIY bed plans but have found zero.

Does anyone have any good ideas?

[mcnerd]

Futons are good. I used an air mattress placed on plywood and a few cinder blocks. Air mattresses these years are a lot better than they used to and they are very portable. You don't even need the other stuff unless he wants to be higher off the ground.

[72Tiger]

water beds were cool in the 70's.

[lucille]

Originally Posted by 72Tiger

water beds were cool in the 70's.

We have one! A vintage 1980's dark walnut king sized captains bed with the huge drawer kit. No it doesn't have the mirrored canopy, that would be just too tacky!

[72Tiger]

Originally Posted by lucille

We have one! A vintage 1980's dark walnut king sized captains bed with the huge drawer kit. No it doesn't have the mirrored canopy, that would be just too tacky!

There are degrees of tackiness?

[jdp]

Air mattress. I've been sleeping on one for 3 years lol. I keep thinking "I *will* buy a bed when this wears out.

[kav122]

agreed with the air mattress! They feel fine to me.

[abh5e8]

i would also go with an airmattress over a futon. i slept on one for a while but had lots of back pain. i ended up buying a good quality full size mattress that fit perfectly onto my futon frame. this might be a good option if you are looking for a more traditional mattress/frame bed, as usually the futon frame is smaller, lighter and easier to move.

also, just the basic frame for a twin or full size bed is very portable (just a couple pieces of metal that fold together) and i can fit a twin size mattress into the back of my 4runner no problem. a twin will definatly take up the least amount of floorspace.

also i found lots of options by googling dorn loft plans. this one seems really easy and inexpensive http://www.collegebedlofts.com/plans.html and when its time to move, just pull out the drill and disassamble. its nice that it gives you the desk, storage and bed all in the same footprint.

HTH!

[purplefdu]

Originally Posted by lucille

We have one! A vintage 1980's dark walnut king sized captains bed with the huge drawer kit. No it doesn't have the mirrored canopy, that would be just too tacky!

Is it bad both my parents and my in-laws have the exact same type from the 80's?

Futon frames (the wood ones) can be taken apart just fine, although an air mattress would be easier to move than futon mattress which can be quiet unwieldy.