Buying a Sleeper Sofa
Why Buy a Sofa Bed?
Whether you plan to sleep on it in a small studio apartment or use it for overnight guests in your home office or living room, a space-saving couch that folds out into a bed is a smart furniture choice. However, you’ll want to ensure your new sofa bed fits the size of your space as well as your style. And, your new sleeper sofa can be just as comfy as a standard bed and frame.
The tips in this article can help you select a comfortable sofa bed for daily use or the occasional guest. To assist you in your search, this post covers:
- Different types of sofa beds.
- Considerations for your space, comfort level and convenience.
- Benefits of adding a sofa bed to your space.
- Comfortable bedding for your sleeper sofa.
What is the Most Comfortable Sleeper Sofa?
Seating is the primary use of a sofa bed, and like any couch or sectional, sleeper sofas have seat and back cushions that provide support and plush comfort. Some designs are armless while others take the form of a traditional couch. To find the most comfortable sofa bed, look for the features you love about your current living room seating.
Keeping those features in mind, look at the different types of sleeper sofas on the market. You can find different versions of sofa beds that transition from couch to bed in the following ways:
- Fold Out: Traditional fold-out sofa beds have a mattress and a bed frame built into the base of the couch. With this type of sleeper sofa, you can choose from different types of mattresses to suit your comfort needs.
- Fold Up: Popular in U-shaped and L-shaped sectional designs, these sofa beds have hidden cushions beneath the main frame of the couch instead of a standard mattress. To convert a fold-up sofa into a bed, you simply pull this section up and extend it out.
- Fold Down: Similar to a futon, some sleeper sofas have a hinged back cushion that folds down flat to form a bed. The streamlined design of fold-down sofa beds makes them popular for apartments, college dorms and small studios.
A fold-out sofa bed may be your best option if you need a specific type of mattress for your sleep style. However, if you prefer the extra seating of a sectional, choose a fold-up design. Furnishing your first apartment or decorating on a budget? Fold-flat sleeper sofas are stylish as well as practical. Once you have a sofa bed model in mind, there are a few other factors to consider before you buy.
Things to Consider When Buying a Sofa Bed
Measure Your Space
Many people purchase sofa beds because they’re running low on space or need a versatile seating option for their guest room. Your first concern when looking for a comfortable sofa bed is how the dimensions of the couch, once it’s folded out, up or down, will fit your space.
Keep your living room layout in mind when measuring for a sofa bed. If you plan on placing furniture in front of the couch, such as a coffee table or accent seating, they should be lightweight or easy to move. For compact rooms, a set of nesting tables offers portable pieces with ample surfaces for lamps, drink coasters and remotes.
Choose a Size
Just like living room seating, sofa beds come in an array of sizes and widths, so you can easily choose a model that fits your space and budget. A standard sleeper sofa is about the size of a three-seat couch and typically folds out to a queen mattress that sleeps two adults. Some smaller versions, like fold-flat sleeper sofas, are closer to a full-size or double mattress.
Need something smaller? Sleeper loveseats offer compact seating, fold out into a twin-size bed and some include a twin mattress, depending on the design. If you already have a couch or want to add something smaller than a daybed to the room, sleeper chairs are the perfect small sofa bed for one.
Find a Mattress
When buying a mattress with your sleeper sofa, comfort is key to picking a sofa bed for daily use. You’ll want a mattress with support equal to a standard bed. As for the frame, sleeper sofas either have a metal frame with coils or a hardwood base with slats for extra support.
There are three common types of sofa bed mattresses, although you might be able to swap out your mattress for one more suited to your sleep style:
- Innerspring: Many sofa beds have an innerspring mattress with coils for bounce and soft padding for comfort. Innersprings work for all sleep styles, too.
- Memory Foam: Memory foam conforms to your body, providing you with adaptive support beneath your shoulders and hips, making it also ideal for back, stomach and side sleepers.
- Air Coil: These mattresses blend the bouncy support of an innerspring with an air-cushion top layer. An air coil mattress’s flat, firm surface has some give, perfect for those needing a bit more support.
Test it Out
If you can visit a store and try a sleeper sofa in person, test out a few different models. Take a seat on the sofa, gauge its support level and ensure the back and seat cushions offer ample padding. Then, fold down or pull the bed out to make sure it offers plenty of comfort for a full night’s sleep. Trying out a new sofa bed is the best way to feel confident in your investment.
Benefits of Sleeper Sofas
Adding a cozy pull-out sofa bed to any room has several advantages. The compact, foldable design takes up less space, so you can furnish the rest of the room how you want. If you have a studio apartment, you can easily use your living space as your bedroom, saving you money on additional furniture.
Impromptu Guest Bedroom
Having an extra bed available when you need it boosts the welcoming feel of your home. When family or friends stay the night, this improvised guest suite eliminates the potential discomfort of asking guests to sleep on a regular couch, and you can make your guests feel at home without sacrificing precious floor space.
Flexible Home Design
Many modern homes feature flexible design elements such as collapsible tables built into the walls or appliances hidden in plain view. Sleeper sofas are a classic and simple way to add flexibility to your home, freeing up valuable space while serving two purposes in one.
Style Variety
Because your sofa bed will likely be in couch form more often, choose a sofa that coordinates with your other furniture. Sleeper sofas are popular enough that you can find a wide variety of different upholsteries, designs and styles to suit your decor. Choose a beige sofa bed to fit a neutral color scheme, or opt for a navy-blue design for a casual addition to your laidback apartment.
If you want a traditional sofa bed, look for classic details like nailhead trim and tufted cushions. A couch with a wood base pairs perfectly with a couple of dark wood end tables and table lamps as well. Modular sleeper sofas suit both modern and contemporary decor, lending your space an easygoing, low-profile look with the added benefit of functional style.
How to Make a Sofa Bed More Comfortable
You can style a sofa bed just like a normal bed frame and mattress. To boost your guest’s comfort, top it off with a mattress pad and maintain your bed’s quality with a mattress protector. A set of sheets makes any bed feel soft to the touch and helps pull your color palette together. If you have a sleeper sofa without a mattress, keep a throw nearby and invest in some stylish accent pillows.
Bedding is the best way to enhance your sofa bed. Some frames have built-in storage compartments, making it easy to keep comforters and pillows nearby. When choosing bedding for your sleeper sofa, be sure to choose the right size, whether you’re fitting sheets to a mattress or basing your duvet purchase on the size of your sectional’s cushions.
Can a Sofa Bed be Comfortable?
A quality sofa bed outfitted with the best mattress and cozy bedding lends any room a boost of comfort and flexibility in design. Whether you use it for naps, hosting guests or settling in for the night, the right sleeper sofa will fit your space and complement your layout.