Welcome to our article dedicated to the sofa bed. The French writer Emmanuel Carrère once said: “A guest is always pleased, if not when he arrives, at least when he leaves.”
Many people like to host friends to sleep, but sometimes it is a challenge if you don’t have enough space. The most practical solution is precisely the protagonist of today’s guide: the sofa bed.
It is a piece of furniture that you can take advantage of. It can be kept in the living room, given its appearance and functionality similar to that of any other ordinary sofa. Still, it is perfect for having a solution for guests. Some use it as the main bed.
Here we had selected the best sofa bed that are present below.
Buyer Guide to Choose Sofa Bed
Do you want to learn how to make the most of your sofa bed? Of course, we have offered you exciting options on our list; but you already know you don’t have to hurry. You will certainly not be wrong if you take into account the advice that we will share with you in the following paragraphs.
What Kind of Upholstery Do Sofa Beds Usually Have?
The fabric of the sofa bed is one of the aspects that will define not only its aesthetics but also its strength and durability over time. On the market, you can find different options, but we want to make a summary of the most common ones.
- Cotton. It is a natural fabric, very resistant, and flexible. Also, it is ideal for hot areas, because it keeps cold, is comfortable and washes very easily. The biggest drawback of this material is that it creases easily. In terms of price, however, it is quite affordable.
- Chenille. This material is made up of other fabrics, such as polyester, cotton, and viscose. It is very soft to the touch and very comfortable to sit on. Also, it almost does not wrinkle and has a reasonably low cost. It should be washed carefully, not to ruin it.
- Canvas. You will find many models of sofa bed for sale with this type of upholstery, very resistant. Cheap enough, it doesn’t wrinkle easily. But consider that this is not a soft fabric like the others.
- Microfiber. It is a synthetic fabric that is widely used because it is resistant, but at the same time, very aesthetically beautiful. It does not crease easily and resists daily use very well. It is easy to clean and is usually treated to become anti-stain. There are different finishes.
- Skin. This is a high-quality alternative, which resists well over time. The aged leather is beautiful to look at and gives the sofa a distinct and retro look. If you choose this type of upholstery, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Remember, of course, that this is a relatively expensive option.
- Faux. Another synthetic fabric, which, in this case, imitates the appearance of the skin. Do not forget, however, that it spoils quickly with use, and also heats up enough in summer and remains cold in winter.
- Velvet. It is a very fashionable material lately, which gives an elegant and refined look. It matches perfectly with the most modern furnishing styles and is perfect for colder areas, as it provides warmth. If by combing the fabric, it returns to the original direction, it means that it is of good quality. You will need to clean the sofa carefully to avoid losing the soft-touch effect.
What Kind of Opening Can a Sofa Bed Have?
Do you want a practical sofa bed, for daily use, or to use it only from time to time? These are questions you must answer yourself, also to choose the specific type of opening of your sofa bed. In the list below, we show you the most common ones.
Later, we will return to talk about the most suitable model for each different possibility of use.
- Futon model. It has a wooden or metal base, positioned almost flush with the ground. On this, there is then a mattress straightforward to fold and unfold. This option is economical and light and gives a modern touch to the room. However, these are not very comfortable models, since they do not have staves, let alone very durable.
- Book type or Clic-clac. To open it, you need to separate the furniture from the wall and move the backrest first forward and then back. There are various economic models, but also others with a more refined and high-quality design. They usually don’t take up too much space; however, you must consider that this is not an option suitable for daily use since it is not very comfortable to sleep on it.
- Italian opening. It is the most uncomplicated opening. You don’t have to separate the sofa from the wall, nor remove the back cushions or the seats. You will simply have to pull a small lever to open the sofa bed. The mattress goes inside, and you can keep the bed ready. Also, it does not look like a sofa bed.
- Semitalian opening. It is the same as the Italian one, but cushions and seats must be removed because they are not attached to the structure.
- Sliding. The seats move forward. It has a piece to be placed on the ground, or with folding legs, which supports the weight of the bed. It opens very quickly and without having to move the sofa.
- Folding. It consists of a mattress folded three times on itself when it forms the sofa. It then unfolds directly on the floor to turn into a bed. They are relatively cheap models, but the mattress is placed directly on the ground and is not very comfortable.
How Are the Seats of A Sofa Bed Padded?
From the inside of your sofa bed, both its durability and its robustness will depend. You need to know all the options available to make the best possible decision. As it is not feasible for you to try them all, below, we show you what the most used padding offers you.
- Feather padding. It is the best material you can choose because it is very comfortable and elastic.
- Synthetic padding. If you don’t like using materials of animal origin, you can opt for synthetic filling.
- Foam. It is an economical alternative of medium strength. If you choose it, try to orient yourself on fairly thick padding.
How to Know if A Sofa Bed Will Be Comfortable to Sit On?
The sofa bed must be comfortable not only for sleeping, but also for sitting, even if you keep it in the guest room without using it very much, and above all if, instead, you keep it in the living room. Consider the following five aspects to make sure.
- Back. The back must be able to rest on the back, especially protecting the lumbar area.
- Sides. The side parts must be at the same height as the knees. If not, getting up from the sofa will not be easy.
- Knees. The final part of the session must not be uncomfortable for the inside of the knee, which generally rests on it.
- Feet. The feet must touch the floor when the backrests on the back.
- Elbows. If the sofa has armrests, the ideal would be that they were located at the angles.
Is the Chaise Longue Sofa Bed a Good Option?
If you want to take advantage of the space in the living room and at the same time have a sofa bed, you can opt for a model with a chaise longue. Don’t forget they are more significant than two or three-seater sofas; due to their size and design, they are not recommended for guest rooms, studios, or bedrooms.
One of the advantages of this type of sofa bed is that it generally has a space for storing objects under the chaise longue. It is handy for storing bed linen.
These models can have different types of opening, so you have to decide which one is best suited to your needs in terms of comfort. Don’t forget that this option usually has a higher price.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of A Sofa Bed?
Buying a sofa bed is not a too complicated task if you have clear ideas about your expectations. In this guide, we have addressed some important aspects, but you still have some left to discover. First, though, let’s show you its main pros and cons.
Advantages
- They allow you always to have an extra bed available
- There are gorgeous models aesthetically
- They adapt very well to small spaces
Disadvantages
- You don’t always sleep comfortably
- Some are difficult to open
Structure
Nowadays, furniture is always cheaper and very often this downward price game affects quality. If you want your sofa bed to last over time, you will have to pay attention to its structure, which accurately defines the quality of the furniture and, therefore, its useful life. Here are the three aspects you need to check when making your purchase.
- Structure. The ideal is to focus on steel or aluminum, but the solid wood is also perfect.
- Straps. We advise you to choose a sofa with a belt system, with ten seat fastening buckles, five perpendicular and five parallel to the seat itself. It will quickly recover its shape when you get up and will maintain this characteristic over time and with use. Some sofas have a spiral spring system, which makes them more stable, but which over time could ruin and even start to be quite noisy.
- Legs. The legs are one of the most problematic parts of the sofa because they could give way or even break with use. It would be better if they were incorporated in the structure of the sofa and not subsequently fixed.
Lining
If you will use your sofa bed a lot, or there are children or animals in the house, we recommend a removable model. It will be much easier to clean. Our advice is to orient yourself on a lining that has been sanforized.
That is, subject to the treatment that is applied to the fabrics to prevent them from shrinking with washing. In any case, always wash it with cold water.
