Setting up a bed

Mr H
Mr H Forum Participant Posts: 356
100 Comments

Whilst away someone suggested the non-fixed bed(s) would be more comfortable if we reversed the cushions (flatter side uppermost). Is this the case? Also is there a preferred place, to store the removed cushions, without blocking access to the toilet?

Comments

  • TonyBurton
    TonyBurton Forum Participant Posts: 269
    edited July 2019 #2

    It is a pain reversing the cushions but it does save waking up with a bad back. You may get the spare cushions under the bed as long as the dog doesn't sleep there, otherwise they go in the car to save space.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2019 #3

    Our Bailey cushions are much more comfortable turned over we sleep singly and the backs are stored in the shower 

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636
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    edited July 2019 #4

    Surely it depends on the layout of your van where you can store the removed cushions. We store ours on the side seats, having a 4 berth side dinette van. We convert to a double bed, turn over our seating, the seats going to the outside with the knee roll next to the walls, and the seat backs between them.

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,484 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #5

    If we make up the king sized bed we need all of the sofa/back rest cushions etc.,  to make the bed up properly so why is there a question as to where to store them?

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited July 2019 #6

    That's what I thought too J with a J. We use the two seat bases & the two seat backs, all 4 upside down, seat backs under our heads & feet and the seat bases knee roll to knee roll ie both in the the middle.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #7

    Never found it a pain to make up the bed by reversing the cushions.  If we use them as singles the back rest cushions we lay in the dining area

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #8

    We had the knee rolls removed when buying the van.

    We tend to sleep them as singles, we don't turn them over never have done.

    We do however each have a 1" memory foam topper. I made sheet covers for them a bit like a big pillowcase.

    We store them in the shower cubicle, lift them out at night time and just unroll them onto the cushions.

    No sheets needed (as they are already on) pop on duvet and pillow. Seat back cushions then stand in the shower cubicle until morning. smile

    Whole process takes less than 3 minutes. 

  • Mr H
    Mr H Forum Participant Posts: 356
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    edited July 2019 #9

    Our caravan is a two berth and we tend to use the benches singularly. This means we have two back rests to store (usually between the central gap between the benches) that leaves us with four upholstered full end cushions plus 4 soft cushions. We always use our shower as a shower so currently we load up the top of the gas stove and the main door recess. Not brilliant if you needed to evacuate quickly. I will try turning the bench seating over next time. Perhaps by then we will have bought a couple of Duvalays as I have heard they are good. Thanks for your responses

     

  • JayOutdoors
    JayOutdoors Forum Participant Posts: 572
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    edited July 2019 #10

    Another solution we have used when using bench seats individually is to pull out each bench seat enough to allow the back rest to drop down next to the outside wall.  It does however make the gap between narrower but may still enable storage of the excess cushions.  We have had Duvalays for some years now & wouldn’t go away without them even though they are bulky.  Good Luck.

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
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    edited July 2019 #11

    We don’t bother to turn our cushions over as we have quilted mattress protectors and fitted sheets on them, which we cover with throws for daytime use (we use the bench seats as two singles).  At night we just get the duvets & pillows from beneath the seats and replace with the small bolster cushions for the night.  A single duvet and pillow fits into one of the jumbo storage bags from Lakeland, and is just the right size to fit under the seat.  The seat back cushions go on the floor between the beds.  Obviously the space is narrower, but there’s still room to navigate a path to the loo in the night.  I’ve got used to the knee rolls, so they don’t bother me.

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #12

    We have had Duvalays for some years now & wouldn’t go away without them even though they are bulky.

    Best thing ever, expensive, but comes with memory form mattress & snuggle down duvet. We make front lounge into big double bed using all the cushions and simply leave it all in situ, just in case we need a siesta, we have an additional lounge at rear if we need to sit indoors due to weather etc. so all good.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2019 #13

    Knee rolls can help stop you rolling off the bunk. wink

    I had the same problems when we had our two berth Dart - where do the spare cushions go. Ours were stacked in the doorway as well plus there was never really anywhere to put your clothes. Even more cramped than our 6M motorhome.

  • Hedgehurst
    Hedgehurst Forum Participant Posts: 576
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    edited July 2019 #14

    As Nelliethehooker says, it all depends on the layout.
    Ours is 2 berth and tiny. We both have mattress toppers, stored in the space under the bench seats, with sheets stitched into loose covers already in place.
    I don't bother turning the seat blocks. There are four back cushions, so two get turned into headboards, the other two stack on the wardrobe. It's a pop-top so the wardrobe doesn't go all the way up :-)
    We take off the scatter cushions' outer covers, (made from cheerful charity shop curtains recycled), to reveal the pillows they really are.

    But if making it up into a kingsize bed, then yes, I do turn the seat blocks so the joins are more flat, and use the backrests to fill the space. It just takes a lot longer in a very small van to achieve this, it's like doing one of those puzzles where you have one space and all the pieces have to be moved in the right order!