Special offer

Home Staging Tip #3 - Bed in a Trunk! New Picture.

By
Home Stager with California Moods Inc

How many times have you come across a junk room or an empty room that needs to be staged as a bedroom? In minutes you can have a beautifully dressed bed in any size including king...all from the trunk of your car!

What you will need:

  • 2 air mattresses - Uhuh, this is the instant bed in a trunk - $80
  • 1 bed-in-the-bag (Bed-dressing ensemble includes dustruffle, comforter, 2 shams, 2 sheets, 2 pillow coses) $50
  • 4 bed pillows - $2o
  • Decorative throw - $20
  • Misc. decorative pillows - $30
  • For the bed frame use 4 boxes - Use office filing boxes that collapse -$5

Assemble you boxes and place them where the bed will go, blow up your air mattresses, and make your bed! Voila, that is it. You are good to go. It is a great way to cut costs in staging a vacant home as well.

Estimated total cost: $200.00 

This clever solution to a big staging problem is in my how2homestage.com January Home Staging Tips Newsletter. I apologize to the Rainers who already subscribe to it but because it is so useful in staging, I wanted to share it with everyone here in the rain forest.

logo

Stage It Forward! 

Posted by

Namaste

Sue Cram
Sue Cram - Sequim, WA
Thanks for the information, everyone.  I googled the "Ozark Trail" air mattresses from WalMart and found lots of reviews that said they leak often.  So I think maybe I'll try regular air mattresses on boxes as you've described.  Thanks again for the leads!
Feb 25, 2008 11:18 AM
Vicente A. Martinez
Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson - Woodhaven, NY
Realtor, Brooklyn - Long Island - Queens Homes
Sheron that's an awesome tip... I'm going to take a page out of your book and put this idea to use. Thanks for the tip!
Feb 25, 2008 11:41 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager
Sheron, Great Post!  You never fail to deliver in the useful info dept.   I love Penny's idea of using the homeowner's packed stuff as the bed!  Brilliant! 
Feb 25, 2008 01:57 PM
Alice Benjamin
Bernadette Interiors Design Studio - Las Cruces, NM

Boy, what a great topic.  Just what I wanted right now.

I am looking for one that has a frame (so I can use the standard bedskirts).  I found one on Sams Club site, but it's not in stock right now, and they won't post the price on an out of stock item.  They have it listed as "EZ Bed Sport - Queen) #132170.  It looks like it would be perfect.  Does anyone know where else I could get this?

Also, has anyone used airbeds4less.com?  I just discovered them while web surfing.

Apr 03, 2008 10:24 AM
Cari Pilon
RE:STYLE Home Staging - Brighton, MI
RE:STYLE Home Staging
Love it Sheron! Thanks for the play by play too!
Apr 03, 2008 11:14 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.
First I have to say, over 3600 views!!!   I am bowing to you my friend.  Good post, yes all variations of this one work.  We make these all the time and love where you shop for the bags.  I do too.  Great minds think alike I guess.  Thanks for sharing.
Apr 03, 2008 05:52 PM
Janis Gaines
Staging Sells Eugene Homes - Eugene, OR
Home Stager Eugene OR - The Notably Well-Dressed H

I have used these beds in modest sized homes on modest-sized budgets for 3 years. I've  found them with the telescoping frame at GI Joes (or other camping supply stores), Walmart, Fred Meyer and Shopko - don't know how many of these stores are located across the country. They're anywhere from $65-$85, depending on if they're on sale.

They are in a canvas bag with a handle and wheels on it and look a little like a small sized canvas golf cart. Some of the air mattresses  last a long time. Others start deflating after 3-6 stagings (maybe its those little "elves" bouncing through homes and onto my beds while their parents talk with the realtors.) When a matress starts leaking, I DON'T have the patience to repair the leak. I've found replacement Queen mattresses at Walmart for @$20 and they are typically a thicker material and last a lot longer.

Apr 03, 2008 07:07 PM
Sheron Cardin
California Moods Inc - Selma, CA
ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!

Whoa! Thank you ALL for reviving this post. It would behoove a reliable manufacturer of an air mattress to design one especially for the home stager. Will be interested to see who jumps on the bandwagon and markets to stagers :)

Love all the ideas! 

Apr 04, 2008 04:58 AM
Amy Prouty
Home Staging - Keno, YN
This is all great info.  Thank you everyone! 
Apr 04, 2008 12:25 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

I love this Blog!  I am new to the industry and thought of this idea but was scared to use it!

 

Jul 12, 2008 09:23 AM
#81
Anonymous
Michelle- www.attentiontodetail.ca

I wonder if you could just make four wood blocks with felt on the both top and bottom and place them on that?

Jul 12, 2008 09:28 AM
#82
Sheron Cardin
California Moods Inc - Selma, CA
ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!

Hi Michelle - the wood blocks sound heavy and bulky and the object of the bed in a trunk is to keep it light and easy to transport. Office file boxes collapse and can store clutter if that is what you had in mind. Keep thinking...we are a creative bunch!

Dear I love this blot, are you a member of active rain? If you need help, please feel free to contact any one of us and we will be happy to help you!

Amy - you rock!

Jul 13, 2008 04:18 AM
Richard Dolbeare
Inactive - Wailuku, HI
Living the Hawaii Lifestyle

Gread ideas in the post and all the follow-up.  Thank you, thank you!

Sep 06, 2008 01:49 PM
Sheron Cardin
California Moods Inc - Selma, CA
ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!

You're welcome, you're welcome!

Sep 06, 2008 02:03 PM
Anonymous
Cassie

 just bought a bed in a bag at Ross for only $29.99 for a queen size bed, that included

the sheet set, 2 shams, 2 standard pillowcases, bed skirt, and of course the comforter. Great Bargain!

Oct 09, 2008 04:36 AM
#86
Sheron Cardin
California Moods Inc - Selma, CA
ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!

Cassie - great find! Thanks for stopping by.

Oct 09, 2008 07:39 AM
Anonymous
Myrna Brown

I had bad luck with air mattresses deflating on me so created a bed with 4 plastic tubs - 2 in front and 2 in back then placed a 4x8ft sheet of foam board from Lowes on top then added bedspread.  Next time I will probably add an air mattress on top of foam board for form then the bedding.  I also created a framed sign that said "Do not sit on this bed.  It is not real, and will break"

Aug 21, 2009 11:11 AM
#88
Anonymous
Miroslav

I really liked mine I got it from http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Air-Beds/2020/subcat.html Air Beds are awesome.

Aug 18, 2010 05:06 AM
#89
Anonymous
RH
who would sit on a bed at a home showing? That gives me the creeps to think that strangers would sit on my bed.
Jan 12, 2014 12:14 AM
#90
Sheron Cardin
California Moods Inc - Selma, CA
ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!

Hi anonymous #90,

I would imagine children running and jumping on any bed they see is a possibility/probability. It could happen. We hope it doesn't. Thanks for stopping by.

Jan 12, 2014 02:57 PM