How to get a divan bed up attic stairs (IT WILL NOT FIT) - an alternative solution.

A solution for when a divan bed REALLY will not fit up the stairs no matter how hard you try. This is a final ditch attempt when it definitely positively will not go up those stairs no matter what.

I recently bought two brand new divan beds for the attic room after much shopping about.  I finally chose two single beds and they were delivered into my living room.  You couldn't move in there so they had to go in place asap.

Kept the bag on the first and lugged it upstairs but HORROR OF HORRORS no matter how much we twisted and pushed and pulled, much swearing, it simply WOULD NOT GO.

see the problem?

So - what to do?  I got on the blower to Mr Bed-shop man to see what the options were. He promised to come out the next day (apparently he is highly skilled at getting big things in small places!).  I told him it simply wasn't going to happen but he said he would come out. The house is not huge and it felt half the size with two divans hanging around.

Next day Mr Bed-shop man came out and agreed "No way will you get this bed up there" he said.

Bloke and Mr Bed-man and his assistant um'd and ah'd and looked at the hole (as blokes do) and then decided to measure the window in the attic on the side wall of the house.  Apparently it was good news - the window was big enough - only problem it was on the attic level.

More Um'ing and Ah'ing. "Too high for a ladder" declared Mr Bed-man, stating the obvious. Then he decided it may be possible with scaffolding to get it through the window.  All very well but how much is scaffolding?  Minimum of about £150 a day if you know someone in the trade (I don't).  Besides there is no way I am waiting another week or more with two divans in my living room - we can't even see the TV.

Mr Bed-man refused a full refund as he said the beds had left the factory so they were no longer new - even though they were all still in their original packaging.

OH DEAR!

So I sent him packing firmly believing in the 'Where there's a will there's a way'.

I asked friends if they had a solution. Dismissing 'sleep in the living room' and 'use a pulley' as bad ideas, I devised my own solution...

I would like to point out I am NOT a professional nor am I an expert in beds. I have no professional understanding of the bed market but am just sharing the method I used which worked for me.  I cannot accept responsibility in ANY WAY if you do this and it goes pear shaped OK.. Just saying, just in case. I had no option as the beds were already in my house and I can't afford £150+ and a day off work for scaffolding.  Bear in mind if you are a large person or need a specialist bed this is probably not a good idea.  These 2 beds were about £250 each and basic beds.  I in no way recommend doing this - merely pointing out how I did it.

First take out the drawers if there are any and take a look inside the frame to establish if you have the nerve. It's a scary moment!

First cut the fabric in the middle of the drawers with a sharp knife as the cut will be straighter than scissors - cut with the grain of the fabric.  Cut all four pieces in the same place.

Be brave - you can do this.

With a fine saw cut in the middle of the two supporting struts.  Be sure to fold the fabric out of the way so it doesn't get caught by the saw. (By the way keep any excess fabric which they may have used to hold the drawers in place.)

You will also need to cut the fabric on top and bottom. Use Duck tape BEFORE you cut the fabric to stop it fraying.  Also cut carefully the cardboard stuff with a Stanley knife.

The bed is now in two pieces.

Now you can carry the two parts up the stairs. Hurah!

Now you have to put it back together.  Place the two halves together making sure everything is straight and as it was.  Then I used these kind of bracket things on all the cuts. You may have to do this inside the frame depending where the cuts are in relation to supporting struts.

Now to hide the evidence.  Pull the fabric back into place.

Use some of the spare fabric (I had a whole load which was used to hold the drawers in place which was the same fabric as the bed base) and cut a piece about 3x the width of the cut and long enough to go the whole length of the cut.

You don't have to be a master of the sewing machine - I just sewed the strip together right sides in then turned it the right way.  Iron it flat so the seam is at the back. I also used fray check on the current fabric just as the one on this bed is apt to fray a lot. Of course you can be as fussy or not as you like - it's your bed!  Tuck the raw piece of fabric under itself if you like.  I then sewed the strip by hand to the existing fabric, covering the gap.

Gap covered. You can see it but SEW WHAT? You've got your bed in your attic :) 

(see what I did there?)

Put the drawers back in.

Bob's your auntie!

PLEASE REMEMBER I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL AT THIS - THIS IS JUST THE WAY I DID IT AND IT WORKED FOR ME.  There are different types of beds and this will doubtless not work for all of them.  If you are a large person (I'm not) you are clearly weakening the frame so it may not be a good idea for you. I cannot be held liable for any damage and of course any warranty or whatever will be void if you do this.  

Good luck!