Best Rollaway Beds of 2019

When we think of a bed, the first image that comes to mind is that of a wooden frame with four legs, topped with a mattress, sheets, and pillows. Although this is the type of bed that most of us would prefer in the ideal circumstances, the truth is that in urban settings there is often not enough space to accommodate a big bed. Traditional beds are also expensive and cannot be packed and transported on the fly. So if you’re moving from place to another, you often need to sell off your bed and buy another one in your new home — the result: rising expenses.

When a traditional bed is inconvenient and expensive, you must resort to other options. The rollaway bed is one such option that provides you with the comfort of a conventional bed but also the portability and convenience that you find in no other bed. Not only is a rollaway bed much cheaper than a traditional bed, but it can also be assembled and disassembled easily and transported on the fly. But the problem is since rollaway beds are cheap, the market is flooded with them. In this guide, we discuss the features of a rollaway bed and talk about the best options today.

How Rollaway Bed is Different than a Conventional Bed?

A rollaway bed is essentially a foldable bed. It can be folded in half when not in use and opened up to make a full-size bed. Rollaway beds are usually made of metal. The sturdy metal frame is capable of handling the weight of one to two persons. At the bottom of the four legs of the frame are caster wheels that are used in easily moving the bed from one place to another. When the metal frame is folded in half, it takes very little space for storage. Some rollaway beds come with a foldable mattress, but even if they don’t, you can easily purchase a compatible mattress later.

Because rollaway beds are much lighter than traditional beds, take little storage space, and are easily portable, they can be used for extra guests, for a trip far from home, or if space is short in your new apartment. The only downside is that a foldable bed may not be capable of handling the weight of a 300-pound person. It is best for people of average weight.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Rollaway Beds

Although foldable beds offer many advantages to those who cannot get a stationary bed, there are also certain downsides that must be considered. Here we take a look at both:

Advantages

Affordability: The primary reason why rollaway beds are popular is their affordability. Stationary beds are often exorbitant, and also take up a lot of space in the room. For someone going through a tight situation, neither is possible. That’s when a foldable bed saves the day. It’s the fraction of the cost of a stationary bed, doesn’t take up much space, and is far better than sleeping on the floor.

Portability: Even if you have a stationary bed, you might want to have one or two foldable beds in storage. That’s because they are easily portable, and can accommodate one or two people if there’s not enough room. If you’re going for a long trip away from home, you may also carry a rollaway bed in the car, so you can have your own bed to sleep on. If you move houses often, investing in a portable rollaway bed can save you the hassle of moving heavy furniture. The caster wheels also make it convenient to move the bed from one location to another.

Disadvantages

Unattractive: Even though it gives you a comfortable surface to sleep on, a rollaway bed doesn’t offer anything in terms of aesthetic appeal. There are cabinet-style rollaway beds that look slightly better than the metal ones, but they are not as attractive as a stationary bed. Rollaway beds are typically used for convenience, not for enhancing the room decor.

Durability: As already mentioned above, foldable beds are not designed to handle the kind of weight that is usually handled by a stationary bed. The region where the bed folds is usually the weakest and can get damaged with regular wear and tear. Regardless of how you use it, a rollaway bed will never last as long as a stationary bed.

Types of Rollaway Beds

There are three types of rollaway beds, and all of them have their own upsides and downsides. They are:

Standard: The standard foldable bed usually consists of a tubular steel or metal frame and a mattress platform made out of polypropylene and wire spring mesh. Standard rollaway beds work well with both foam and innerspring mattresses, and they are also the cheapest.

Cabinet: This type of rollaway beds looks like a cabinet when folded, and also has fayed doors! When folded, a cabinet style rollaway bed hides the mattress and the bed frame — one of the panels of the cabinet functions as the platform for the mattress. Caster wheels are present in all models, and headboards and footboards may also be present in more expensive models.

Ottoman: Although this type of rollaway bed is much like the standard metal frame ones, the only difference is that this one also doubles as an ottoman. This bed doesn’t fold in half, but in a third, and converts into an ottoman. All you need is a cushion and a cover to make it a proper ottoman. Some of these ottoman style beds are shaped like boxes from which you have to pull out the mattress platform.

Factors to Consider While Buying A Rollaway Bed

Given that there are a huge variety of rollaway beds all over the market, you will want to take your time in picking one that’s right for you. A bed is one of the most used pieces of furniture in the house and should also be comfortable. Just because you do not have the convenience to get a full-size stationary bed does not mean that you must sacrifice comfort and durability. Rollaway beds are generally cheap, so you should be able to find something of good quality without exceeding your budget. But regardless of whether you choose a standard, cabinet or ottoman-style bed, the following factors should always be considered.

Construction and Durability: Rollaway beds are cheap, but it does not necessarily mean that you have to buy one every three months. Therefore, the bed should be durable, particularly if you are going to put it to regular use. Rollaway beds are usually constructed either out of steel or wood. Steel and aluminum beds are less expensive than the wooden ones but are not as durable. Because these types of beds can be folded, the maximum wear and tear happen to the joint where the bed folds. The best materials for the pivot are steel and wood, the latter being stronger but more expensive. If you want the joints of the bed to hold up well, you may choose a metal construction with a wooden pivot. If the entire bed is made of wood, it becomes heavier and does not remain as portable. Metal rollaway beds are also prone to developing creaking noises as they grow older. The rule of thumb when buying rollaway beds is that the cheaper it is, the shorter it will last.

Size of Rollaway Bed: The most commonly available size of a rollaway bed is a twin. This size is capable of comfortably accommodating one person. You also get full and queen sizes, but they are not as commonly found. The full and queen sizes can accommodate two people, but they are heavier and not very portable. If portability is not a concern, then you can try looking for a queen size rollaway bed. However, the bigger the bed, the more it will cost.

Mattress in Rollaway Bed: Rollaway beds come with and without a mattress. It comes down to your personal preference. If you already have a mattress, you can choose a foldable bed that doesn’t have a mattress. If you want something cheap, beds that come without a mattress will better suit your budget, even though you will have to buy a separate mattress. Rollaway beds that come with a mattress are a little expensive, but you are spared of the trouble of searching for a compatible mattress.

Rollaway beds can be paired with memory foam, innerspring, or polyurethane foam mattresses. But regardless of the mattress that you choose, it should be foldable. Otherwise, it will be broken in the middle soon enough.

Brand: Most reputed bedding companies manufacture rollaway beds and comfortable mattresses. But before choosing one brand over the other, make sure to read customer reviews to find out what is better. Often when buying a bed online, the customer tends to get swayed by the claims made by the company. But only reviews from real customers will help you know how the bed performs.

Top 6 Rollaway Beds of 2019