Is the foam chair-bed a little strange, or maybe not? Perhaps the problem with the foam bed chair is that we just don’t understand it. We all know the expression of putting square pins in round holes, well, I think that’s a little bit of what we did with the foam bed chair. In fact, it is an understandable mistake. The name of the furniture indicates that it is a chair and a bed. But I don’t think the name “chair and foam mattress” is likely to take off.
The problem is simple. The foam chair-bed is not a bed, it never was and never will be. However, it is a perfectly suitable place to sleep. But just as you wouldn’t put your most important guests to sleep on a mattress on the floor, you don’t have to put them to sleep on a foam bed.
I love the foam bed. I have to confess that I have several and they are great. I have two boys and each child has one in his room, and I couldn’t imagine life without them.
So why are foam chair-bed so good? Well, first, let me explain that I was fully aware of what I was buying, why I was buying my foam sofa beds. I knew they would be in children’s rooms, so I took care.
The first thing I did was make sure I was buying some with washable blankets, which are indispensable for the child’s age. So I bought these slightly designed ones, but not specifically geared to age or sex. So, I avoided those with little football players and space rockets. I chose dark blue wave patterns. This meant that some signs that I was unable to do did not show up much. It also meant that I could easily throw some pillows on them and get a little bit better.
My guess was that they would sit and read in these chairs when they felt tired and not sociable enough to want to be with anyone else in the family. So I bought a wooden box for them to go next to the foam chairs, so that they could have a place to put the book and drink beyond the floor.
The other use of chairs was for when friends came to stay. I am fully aware that when my children remain friends, I am the least welcome person in their room. That’s why I had to make sure that they could make the beds themselves. This is where the foam bed chair is. They can do everything themselves. I never expected it to consist of just a bed. I just gave the kids a simple towel, pillow and sleeping bag. Then, when everyone is ready to go to bed, my children just have to unfold the bed-chair, put a sheet on top and throw a pillow and a sleeping bag; how much easier could life be?
Finally, in the morning, it is up to them to put the sleeping bag back in the closet and the sheet and pillow in the sink; simple.
That’s why I love the foam chair-bed, not because I need the most comfortable bed or chair, but because I need practical, simple furniture that encourages my children to be responsible, independent and organized.