It was August 2018 when I proposed to Shell….. Obviously she said yes, but there was a caveat. “I want a bigger bed!”

So a standard double bed on a Narrowboat is a either a small double 120x190cm or a double 135x190cm. So they aren’t big but they are ok for average sized humans. The trouble for us personally was the size of our previous bed – a superking 180x200. So we have been missing that extra space! So much so that Shell wouldn’t marry me if we didn’t increase the size of our little narrowboat bed.

Cut to May 17th and we were married (https://youtu.be/DzKA-rjyF_o) and we still had a tiny bed!!! Now I am not suggesting that Shell nagged me about this situation at all, she is just not like that, but it has been mentioned. In sentences that also include Annulment, late and not!!

So Saturday was the day. I was working overtime on the Sunday, the following weekend we were away in Snowdonia and time was ticking.. So after a leisurely start to the weekend, coffee in bed and chill out. We took the bull by the horns and started in on the bed extension project.

Now those of you familiar with self build campervan projects will undoubtedly be familiar with our design. Essentially a comb design that allows for the bed to be extended when needed and then folded back when you need the space. This will require a separate foam section to fill the gap.

So at 11.30am Saturday, we set out on our quest of a bigger bed! With the exception of 2 dog walks and 2 trips to B&Q, we didn’t stop all day. Oh no I lie, a brief halt to proceedings to munch down on jacket potato and beans….

And what a team we made. Often it is either one of us doing a project so it felt awesome to actually be working together on something. And we crushed it. It was hard and we got a little niggly at points, but that frustration is partly the tiny confines of the space. Almost everything can be frustrating when you are in such a tiny space, but attempting to build something can push those limits!!

With a little head scratching and a lot of dodgy carpentry we did it. Almost a full 60cm added to the width of our bed. This is huge! Literally! We just need to source the foam now and agree how we are going to dress the areas of construction that are visible. But that’s the nice easy bits.

first half done

As I have mentioned many times DIY is not my forte, I don’t enjoy it and I will put things off if I don’t feel confident. The irony of this situation being without trying I never build up my confidence so I am stuck in a DIY doughnut of doubt! But this project has certainly helped. We both sat in a little glow of satisfaction as we sat down to consume more Season 2 Mindhunter on Netflix, late in to the evening.

BIG bed!!!

If you would like to see the process watch the vlog on our YouTube channel here

We love to read your comments and questions so please leave them below.

Extending our Bed