Housewives were so ingenious in the 50s. I learned this trick from my mother-in-law, a wonderful woman and a great decorator:
1 – Take 2 twin beds on Hollywood frames (no headboards or baseboards)… Put them against the wall at right angles to each other, in an L shape, with one side longer than the other where they meet.
2 – Add wedge bolsters against the sides of both walls.
3 – Cover with tailored upholstery.
Voila! A couch by day, a guest room by night. For guests, we actually pull one bed out and put the 2 beds parallel – Rob & Laura Petrie-style. When the beds are in the L-shape, the room is quite open – great if you want to use it for a home office or 2nd TV room – or both, as we do. The look is neat, tailored, functional, flexible, and about as inexpensive as it gets. Remember: Our postwar moms didn’t have all that much money to work with!
The wedge bolsters and quilted daybed covers are available at a very reasonable price from J.C. Penney! 4 colors, traditional but workable. I also like the cylindrical bolster and the square pillow shown in the photo. But, cover these in your drapery fabric, which will add lots more personality. If you must get ready for holiday guests – maybe this is a solution that can help!
Adding this photo, Nov. 13 — see how this daybed configuration looks in a vintage photo:
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This is a totally brilliant idea, and one I am going to use in my office. Great sofa and a place to sleep to boot! Who knew!
Thanks! My mom told me another interesting fact: In the 50s, they also made a table about 40″ x 40″ and a bit higher than the beds that went in the corner. One daybed tucked under it. In effect: A couch to one side, a 40″ ‘chair’ to the other. Total 4 wedge bolsters. I am on the lookout for a photo. I guess the only way right now to recreate this, would be to find a table at an estate sale or vintage shop, or to make one yourself.
I’m wondering how stable this would be–are free-standing Hollywood frames fairly stable? I have a little wild papillons who like to “zoom” around!
Thanks,
Hope
Uh, you’re describing The Brady Bunch family room furniture. It was pretty common up through the 70s. I actually had this twin bed configuration in my bedroom in the late 70s. I also had a white fur rug, purple walls and a small white coffee table on which sat my number flipping white clock radio. I was determined to make my bedroom look like my own separate apartment… I was 12 at the time.