Sofa Beds: Everything You Need to Know

Sofa beds have been rising in popularity recently, as the demand for them increased due to many people leaning toward a minimalistic style while they are furnishing their houses. Other people want to utilize the space in their rooms, as well as those who want to always have a quick and reliable sleeping accommodation for guests. Sofa beds provide all of that and even more.

What is a sofa bed

A sofa bed is a type of bed frame that can serve as a couch by day; you can put it in your living room and relax on it while you watch TV or lay on it while reading a book; however, at night it can be converted into a bed by pulling out a built-in mattress, which not only saves space and money as you don't need to buy both a bed and a sofa separately, but it also offers a sleeping solution for overnight guests.

Sofa beds often come in many styles and sizes, so you can easily fit them in your room without worrying if they will blend in with the style of your house or not.

Pros of sofa beds

Convertibility

The biggest feat of the sofa beds is that they offer a two-in-one solution, as they can serve as a sofa or a couch during the day, and during the night they can be easily converted into a bed, which can be beneficial in multiple ways as it saves space and offers a quick sleeping solution.

Saving Space

Small apartments and tiny houses will benefit the most from sofa beds, as you won’t need to buy a separate couch and bed, but you’ll only buy a sofa bed that can be converted to both a sofa and a bed, which means that you’ll save more space that can be utilized for something else.

Storage Space

Some sofa bed models come with a built-in storage unit, which can be quite useful for people with small apartments who want to maximize the space available in their homes.

Guest Accommodation

If you tend to have guests that can stay over the night, then a sofa bed is a perfect choice for you, as you can easily convert it into a bed and offer your guest a nice and comfortable sleeping accommodation.

Variety of Styles

Sofa beds come in a variety of styles and sizes, which means you can choose it based on the style and aesthetic of your room, and you won’t have to worry if it will match your room or not because most likely you will find a sofa bed that will match your preference.

Cost Effective

Anyone who is on a budget or looking for an affordable option for their bed will find sofa beds a great option, as they serve as a regular couch and as a bed, which means that you’ll save up some money by not buying both a couch and a bed.

Cons of sofa beds

Comfort

While sofa beds can be a great sleeping solution for guests, they can only be used as a temporary sleeping solution, and they're not meant for daily use, as they won’t provide the same level of comfort as a high-quality mattress and a bed.

Durability

Sofa beds are very practical and useful, but they’re not as sturdy and strong as a regular bed with a traditional mattress and will show signs of wear earlier than traditional beds, especially since the mechanisms of the bed are susceptible to malfunctions.

Maintenance

Sofa beds’ convertibility is a great feature, but it also has its drawbacks, as the converting mechanism will require frequent maintenance so it can function properly, and for some people with limited time, that can be an issue in the long run.

Heavy

If you tend to rearrange the furniture around your house, you might struggle for a bit with moving the sofa bed, as it’s bulkier and heavier than regular couches, so you might need some assistance from a friend or a family member to move it from one place to another.

Cleaning Challenges

Cleaning a sofa bed can be a hassle, as whatever means you use to clean the sofa will not be able to reach certain places on the sofa bed, especially the parts that are responsible for converting the sofa bed, These parts will collect dirt over time and might even trigger an allergic reaction for some people.

Who should and shouldn’t get a sofa bed?

Those who should consider a sofa bed

• Space-conscious individuals: If you live in a small apartment and want to make the most of your space, consider buying a sofa bed, as it can serve as a bed and as a couch, which means it will save the space of one of them in your house.
• Frequent hosts: If you tend to host guests frequently, and sometimes they can even stay overnight, then a sofa bed can be quite beneficial as it can be used as a quick sleeping accommodation for your guests.
• Budget-conscious buyers: If you’re on a budget, it’s better for you to buy just a sofa bed instead of a couch and a bed, which could cost double the price of a sofa bed.
• Minimalists: Many take a minimalistic approach when it comes to their houses, and a sofa bed fits that approach perfectly, as it saves space and allows you to buy less furniture in your house, which allows for more space.

Those who shouldn’t consider a sofa bed

• Daily sleepers: The comfort of a sofa bed won’t match the comfort of a regular bed with a quality mattress, and that’s because sofa beds are meant to be a temporary sleeping solution and will not be very comfortable or supportive enough for daily use.
• Back pain sufferers: If you suffer from back pain, you might have trouble converting the sofa bed as well as moving it around, as it tends to be bulky and heavy. In addition, it won’t provide a sufficient level of pressure relief for your back.
• People with allergies: Because of how tiresome cleaning a sofa bed is, they tend to collect dirt and microbes, which can trigger an allergic reaction in people who suffer from allergies. Check out our article on "Organic Mattresses".
• Couples who need a large sleeping space: while there are different sizes for sofa beds, even the largest size will not accommodate a couple sufficiently as a queen or a king-size bed.
• People with pets: If you have a pet, you might need to reconsider buying a sofa bed, as pets tend to damage it by scratching it, which will decrease its lifespan.
• Luxury seekers: If you’re looking for a luxurious feel, then sofa beds are not the best choice, as there are far superior options for sofas and beds; however, keep in mind that they will also be more expensive.

Types of Sofa Beds

2-seater sofa beds

A traditional sofa bed that can be converted into a bed during the night and can also be used as a 2-seater sofa provides a quick sleeping solution if you want to arrange sleeping accommodation for an overnight guest.

3-seater sofa beds

Similar to 2-seater sofas, it combines the comfort of sofas with the ability to be transformed into a bed, except that this model can fit up to 3 people.

Chair beds

A chair bed looks exactly like an armchair, but it can also be converted into a bed, as it has a mattress that can be pulled from underneath the chair.

Footstool beds

While it seems like a footstool to prop up your feet on, the footstool bed can be converted into a bed, as it includes a single bed that can be expanded under its cushion.

Corner sofa beds

L-shaped sofa that adds a nice flair to your room, but it can also be transformed into a bed by pulling a mattress from underneath it, and they usually include storage space as well.

Mechanisms of Sofa Beds

Click-clack

The click-clack mechanism allows you to drop the back of the sofa until it becomes on the same level as the seat. You can also tilt the back slightly to make the couch more like a recliner; however, if you’re using this model, make sure that you have empty space behind so you’ll be able to drop the back of the sofa bed.

Fold-out sofa beds

Fold-out sofa beds are one of the most common options, as they allow you to place a mattress on the sofa bed.

You simply drag the mattress fold from under the sofa, which converts it into a foundation for a mattress.

Pull-out sofa beds

Pull-out sofa beds have a similar mechanism as the fold-out sofa bed, except that when you pull the bed from underneath the bed, it gets lifted up to the same level as the seat and creates a sleeping surface.

How to Choose Sofa Bed

Space

Before buying a sofa bed you need to consider the place that you’ll put your sofa bed in, and make sure that the sofa and its mechanism are going to function without anything hindering it.

Size

You have to consider which size of sofa beds you need, as they come in many sizes, so you need to choose the size based on how many people are going to use the bed.

Style and material

There are many styles of sofa beds, which is a positive thing as you can easily match it with the décor of your room, but you also need to consider the material and try to choose a durable material that will last for a long time before showing any signs of wear.

Ease of use

As we mentioned there are different types of mechanisms for sofa beds, so you have to make sure that you’ll be comfortable using that mechanism because if you’re not comfortable with it or it’s difficult for you to convert the sofa into a bed you will lose the most important function of sofa beds.

Budget

There are many options for sofa beds, with different materials, styles, and mechanisms, so if you have a tight budget make sure to limit your options to the ones within that budget, that still match your preferences.

FAQs

Can I get a mattress for my sofa bed?

Some models can accommodate a mattress, but usually, traditional mattresses can’t get folded up a few times without getting damaged, and sofa beds usually come with a built-in mattress, which can be replaced when they start showing signs of wear.

Are sofa beds suitable for everyday use?

It’s not recommended to use sofa beds daily, as they don’t deliver the same level of comfort as a high-quality mattress and a bed frame; they're meant to be only used as a temporary sleeping solution.

How long do sofa beds last?

It completely depends on the material and the overall quality of the sofa bed. Also, how much you use it plays a role in the longevity of sofa beds, but a well-maintained and high-quality sofa bed could last up to 15 years.

How do you maintain your sofa bed?

Vacuum your sofa bed once a week, avoid using it outdoors, keep it away from moisture and pets, and follow the manufacturer's guidelines if you want to make your sofa bed last as long as possible.

Is a Murphy bed the same as a sofa bed?

The main difference between a Murphy bed and a sofa bed is that a sofa bed comes with a built-in mattress, whereas Murphy beds require a mattress so you can sleep on them.

Is a futon considered a sofa bed?

Not really, because sofa beds can be considered proper sofas and can be converted into beds, while a futon is just a simple mattress that sits on the floor.

Conclusion

Sofa beds are a very efficient and convenient option if you want to quickly set up sleeping accommodations for overnight guests or if you live in a small apartment and want to save as much space as possible because a sofa bed has the unique feature of being converted from a regular sofa to a bed.

Sofa beds are only meant to be a temporary solution and not your main sleeping area, as they don’t provide the same level of comfort as traditional mattresses and bed frames. They can also wear out quickly if you use them every day.