Hi All, this is my first post. Not your usual topic.
I live in a small studio apartment and have the bright idea of making a day bed where the couch back cushion (and support) could be put next to the seat to extend it into a bed for two.
My current thinking is to get a queen size mattress and cut it lengthwise at about 39 inches and 21 inches wide, and then sewing new fabric over the cut edges of each “half” to close them up… Crazy, I know.
The question is: Do you have any experience or educated guesses about how sleeping on the “crack” (when the two pieces are laid next to each other) would feel compared to a normal mattress?
Are you considering doing this with an all foam mattress or something with an innerspring? It would be an easier task with an all foam mattress.
If you’re cutting apart an all foam mattress, generally the gap between the two pieces won’t be as noticeable as splitting an innerspring product. You’ll tend to have a bit more of a radius along the top edge when creating a new border panel when splitting an innerspring mattress, and the connected nature of the springs can be interrupted which can result in more noticeable change in feel in the area when the mattress is split as well.
If you’re splitting an all foam mattress, you can usually create a new border panel where you split the mattress and that can be done with a minimal radius, and the two pieces can meet together and maintain a relatively flat surface. This result wouldn’t be too different from two twin extra long latex or memory foam mattresses placed next to each other in an adjustable bed configuration when flat and used as a king mattress.
The largest obstacle you’ll need to overcome is stopping the two pieces from creeping apart through the night. You may wish to create or purchase a strap like this to place around the two pieces when sleeping upon them to minimize separation.
@Phoenix–Thank you for your quick and thorough reply! You seem to have your eye on this forum all the time.
I haven’t started serious mattress shopping yet, wanting to get this question answered in my mind first. I am expecting I’ll end up preferring a pocket spring mattress. I found an online article about cutting innerspring mattresses at https://www.instructables.com/id/Hack-a-Mattress-into-a-Couch/?ALLSTEPS.
I searched this forum the other day and saw your links to several gap fillers and straps, so thank you for the resources on that. I’m confident I can find a way to keep the two pieces from creeping apart. I was more worried about a sag while sleeping on the crack since the top fabric is not continuous.
The article you linked to showed cutting a Bonnell spring unit that had metal helical lacing holding the springs together. You’ll be cutting through fabric instead of metal with a pocketed spring unit, and perhaps a foam edge reinforcement layer. I’d find the gap between springs that most closely corresponds to the dimensions you prefer, and cut from head to toe there.
I’ll look forward to some photos of your project as you move forward.
I’ll do that, though it may take a few weeks or so. I am just now starting my mattress education (on this site, mainly) and shopping. And I’m a careful shopper!
I’ve already drawn up the wood frame I have in mind and will be building that probably after I buy the mattress.
