Guest Bedroom Mattresses

[Weisass]

Talk to me about guest bedroom mattresses.

TLDR: What would you recommend that balances between wanting your parents and in-laws to be. comfortable, but also acknowledges that this is a bed that will be slept in for one month of the year? 

Longer Version: we live on the opposite coast from our family, and we go back to visit for an extended trip every summer. They come to us twice a year, so we have guests visiting for anywhere from 3-5 weeks out of the year. Most of our visitors are in their 70s, and they want to sleep on a decent mattress when they come. We recently got rid of a rather aged mattress set, and want to replace them, but the mattress game has changed so much since we last looked 10 years ago, that I don't know how to evaluate these mattresses. Does anyone have a suggestion? Any advice to offer? Help a girl out!

[Asalted_Nut]

Oh hey we just dealt with this earlier this year! So my family lives on the other side of the country and visits once a year, so having a queen bed taking up a lot of space in what is otherwise a playroom didn't make a lot of sense to us. Initially I was thinking air mattress, but who knows how long those are going to last, and even with the nicer ones you're still sleeping on an air mattress..
So we ended up getting a queen folding bedframe, and then this queen folding mattress:
https://www.amazon.com/Milliard-Folding-Mattress-Washable-Single/dp/B00W67PJ4M

We got the four inch mattress, which is fine (and you can always get a couple inches by putting on a mattress topper), but they also offer a 6-inch mattress as well. Given what you said, perhaps even the six inch, with a topper?
It folds up, and there are various cloth cases that fit it you can purchase on amazon as well (might even be linked on the page of the product link above).

With the mattress, folding frame, bed sheets and comforter and pillows and such, we are able to fit it all into one closet when they are not here and set-up and tear-down are super quick and easy.

My family is mid 60's, and usually stay for about one week each visit.

If you are just looking for a year-round guest bed, then personally we use a Tuft and Needle mattress (basic model) and find it comfortable.

[Loretta]

I have an anti-recommendation:  I have a twin Znius mattress on my guest daybed, and it is NOT thick enough to provide much support--I can feel the metal slats through it. Znius is an Amazon brand. 

[zolotiyeruki]

I have two questions:
1) how much do your guests weigh?
If they're heavier, you'd probably want to get a thicker mattress.  Unless...

2) how much do you want them to visit?
If you'd prefer less frequent visits, get a thinner mattress! :P

DW and I have been sleeping on a Lucid 8" queen foam mattress (recommended by FrugalWoods) for a few years, and like it.  We got the firm version, which took some getting used to, and I'd probably opt for the plush if I were to do it again. Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0864LNMK3/

A couple of our kids are on twin mattresses from Lucid as well, and I haven't heard any complaints.

[chasesfish]

This goes the other way...

We replaced the mattress *at* my in-laws house to improve our sleep.  Full size bed, the $159 8" foam version from Costco.

Go with foam, pick the thickness based on the size of your prospective guests.  8" for skinny, 12" for thick

[Weisass]

I have an anti-recommendation:  I have a twin Znius mattress on my guest daybed, and it is NOT thick enough to provide much support--I can feel the metal slats through it. Znius is an Amazon brand.

YES Thank you. I want to make sure I don't buy something that everyone who visits me regrets. And my parents specifically mentioned that they want to be comfortable.

[Weisass]

This goes the other way...

We replaced the mattress *at* my in-laws house to improve our sleep.  Full size bed, the $159 8" foam version from Costco.

Go with foam, pick the thickness based on the size of your prospective guests.  8" for skinny, 12" for thick

thanks for this, I hadn't thought to go to Costco.

[Weisass]

I have two questions:
1) how much do your guests weigh?
If they're heavier, you'd probably want to get a thicker mattress.  Unless...

2) how much do you want them to visit?
If you'd prefer less frequent visits, get a thinner mattress! :P

DW and I have been sleeping on a Lucid 8" queen foam mattress (recommended by FrugalWoods) for a few years, and like it.  We got the firm version, which took some getting used to, and I'd probably opt for the plush if I were to do it again. Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0864LNMK3/

A couple of our kids are on twin mattresses from Lucid as well, and I haven't heard any complaints.

My parents probably are around 400-450 lbs if you added them together. My MIL is probably closer to 140.    I definitely want them to be comfortable, and enjoy having them visit.

Thanks for the advice. You reminded me of that excellent post reviewing the Lucid Mattresses. I just purchased it and it will be here by Thursday.  *win*

[Morning Glory]

Following because I will need mattresses soon too.

[JJ-]

This goes the other way...

We replaced the mattress *at* my in-laws house to improve our sleep.  Full size bed, the $159 8" foam version from Costco.

Go with foam, pick the thickness based on the size of your prospective guests.  8" for skinny, 12" for thick

thanks for this, I hadn't thought to go to Costco.

I just bought DD a twin mattress from Costco. I think the brand is Simmons. It's comfy but I also fortunately have not needed to sleep on it.

[chasesfish]

This goes the other way...

We replaced the mattress *at* my in-laws house to improve our sleep.  Full size bed, the $159 8" foam version from Costco.

Go with foam, pick the thickness based on the size of your prospective guests.  8" for skinny, 12" for thick

thanks for this, I hadn't thought to go to Costco.

Personally we use a King Novafoam 12" from Costco.  Closer to $600 for us.

[Weisass]

This goes the other way...

We replaced the mattress *at* my in-laws house to improve our sleep.  Full size bed, the $159 8" foam version from Costco.

Go with foam, pick the thickness based on the size of your prospective guests.  8" for skinny, 12" for thick

thanks for this, I hadn't thought to go to Costco.

I just bought DD a twin mattress from Costco. I think the brand is Simmons. It's comfy but I also fortunately have not needed to sleep on it.

lol life goals to never sleep on a twin again.... because if I did that means I'm in the penalty box.

[JJ-]

This goes the other way...

We replaced the mattress *at* my in-laws house to improve our sleep.  Full size bed, the $159 8" foam version from Costco.

Go with foam, pick the thickness based on the size of your prospective guests.  8" for skinny, 12" for thick

thanks for this, I hadn't thought to go to Costco.

I just bought DD a twin mattress from Costco. I think the brand is Simmons. It's comfy but I also fortunately have not needed to sleep on it.

lol life goals to never sleep on a twin again.... because if I did that means I'm in the penalty box.

Lol, penalty box. Cracks me up.

[Metalcat]

There are tons of perfectly comfortable foam mattresses out there that are quite cheap. Costco is a good source for nicer mattresses, and Ikea's lower end mattresses are perfectly serviceable.

[sonofsven]

How old is your mattress?
I went through this last year then I realized I should get the new mattress for me and the guests could have my old mattress.

[Britan]

We have an ikea daybed frame (Fyresdal?) that is twin sized when  ‘folded up’ so it acts as a couch when not in use for guests, and when it pulls out it fits two twin mattresses to make it a king. The ikea mattresses we have are pretty firm but my parents like that well enough. And we “donate” our mattress topper to the guest bed when in laws are here. Works well to save space, the metal frame isn’t costly but also isn’t flimsy fiberboard crap, and Ikeas mattresses are sufficiently comfortable (though imho they run firmer than advertised so get one softer than you think you want) and fit into most cars so no need for delivery fees or rental trucks to get it home.

[iluvzbeach]

We bought a Loom & Leaf foam mattress almost six years ago and it was great the first two years and I mean really, really great. It then began to be less comfortable and we’ve dragged our feet on replacing it, but are going to bite the bullet and do it very soon. Don’t buy a Loom & Leaf for everyday use, if you want it to last a long time.

I was glad to see someone post about the Novafoam from Costco as we’re considering one of those. We’re looking at the 14” because it has the cooling gel and has a firm option, which DH prefers.

Mainly PTF so I can see what others write.

[youngwildandfree]

We also have the Costco foam mattress for our guest space. Our family seems to like it well enough, but we needed to sleep on it ourselves for a couple weeks and I hated every minute of it. For us, it doesn't breath enough and we both woke up every morning drenched in sweat. We did everything we could think of to cool the room/add fans/etc and we still slept terrible!

So my advice is to consider a cooler foam if you are in a warm weather climate or you know your guests sleep hot. We use the purple mattress for ourselves and we love it. It's not cheap though so I don't know that I would get one for a guest room unless you plan to have your parents regularly or as long term visitors.

[chemistk]

We have a guest bedroom for the first time, and we went with the Simmons 8" mattress (full) from Costco. We also had a very stiff 2" memory foam topper from IKEA that would otherwise have no use, to we threw it on top as well. My parents (our most frequent out of town guests) haven't slept on it yet, but I've found myself sitting/laying on the bed for longer than I anticipate. The mattress was, I think, $279 or $299 and the topper was bought years ago for $79ish. 

The Lucid mattress linked above seems like a good alternative too. Benefit to the Costco one was I could buy it when I was ready.