Buying a Couch Bed

Sofa beds are multi-functional furniture that can be used in many ways. Interior designer Annie Mueller recommends this budget-friendly twin sleeper from Pottery Barn's teens collection. She suggests that the sofa seat cushion can be unfolded to create an inflatable mattress of 10" on the floor.

Comfort

The comfort factor is an important consideration when buying a sofa-bed. Many sleeper sofas suffer from thin mattresses that leave guests feeling like they're sleeping on a frame with a platform instead of in a bed. To avoid this issue, you can add padding to the mattress of your sofa bed by investing in a mattress topper like the Linenspa Memory Foam one available at Amazon. This will stop your guests from waking up with back pain, or with metal frames creaking or squeaking.

A chaise extension can allow guests to stretch out and unwind more comfortably. The color and fabric of your sofa bed will determine how well it blends in with the surrounding space. Request free fabric swatches to take them to test in your home to find the ideal fabric for your needs.

This modern midcentury sofa from Anthropologie is a great choice if you want a sofa or bed that's comfortable in both versions. With a queen-size innerspring mattress, this couch is ideal to host guests and seats two comfortably. It's also customizable with more than 70 different fabrics and cushion designs.

Although this sleeper sofa is more expensive than the other options on the list, it's very comfortable and comes with a memory foam mattress that's 13cm thick, which is the most thick mattress in this roundup. The unique design of this sleeper sofa, with an mechanism that flips the backrest and seat to convert it into a mattress, is a major selling factor.

The piece is a bit of a challenge to put together, but all the necessary tools are included. And it's worth the effort, as the sofa is adored by buyers for its comfort and versatility. It is spacious enough to accommodate two people, and has a variety of customization options that include 11 layouts and 194 fabrics. There are also five widths four depths, and six chaise lengths.

In contrast to other sleeper sofas from west elm uses bed frames within its structure to make the process of conversion easier and more comfortable. When it is not in couch mode, the mattress is concealed beneath the cushions and it takes just minutes to fold into a bed. The mattress isn't thin or uncomfortable, and comes with a compartment built in to store blankets and pillows.

Style

A cloth couch bed can come in a variety of designs. The most popular is a sleeper sofa, which features the mattress and frame for the bed within its structure. They are more comfortable to rest on than traditional pull-out couches. They also offer a much more consistent feel to the mattress.

Click-clack sofa beds are yet another design that can transform an ordinary couch into bed in just one move. The structure's underside has to be lifted and tipped back before it can be laid flat in order to accommodate a mattress.

A daybed has a similar design to a couch bed but it has a higher back and armrests. The type of couch comes with a mattress that is covered by a removable slipcover, making it a great option for those who want the benefits of a sofa bed, but prefers a more traditional look. This type of sofa also provides the added benefit of storage space since you can put the mattress away when not being used.

Durability

When looking for a sofa bed you'll want one that's going to be sturdy enough to stand up to the rigours of daily use. Look for durable construction details like solid wood frames, reinforced edges and armrests that are cushioned and won't fall apart over time. You'll also want a strong fabric that's easy to clean and is able to handle spills and staining. Get fabric swatches to test before you buy if you are uncertain about the right fabric for you.

This two-seater sleeper sofa from Emma Sleep is an excellent example of comfort and durability in a sleeper couch. Its mattress, composed of CentriPur Foam and is designed to keep you cool while sleeping it is 10 inches thick. It's also non-latex, which reduces allergy concerns. I found it very comfortable to sleep on and the only issue was that converting it back into a couch required a little bit of effort (it's not as simple to convert into an air mattress).

Another benefit of this bed is its frame, which is made of birch wood to provide durability that lasts for a long time. It's also upholstered in easy-to-clean polyester and comes with an additional throw pillow for comfort. The chaise is a nice bonus feature and can be used as a comfortable headrest when the sofa is converted into bed.

Another option for a comfortable, functional sofa bed is this three-seater model from West Elm. The mattress is 13cm thick when folded out, which is a good size and much more comfy than the thin sofa beds that a lot of sleeper couches and chairs come with. The extra thickness makes it easier to pull out the mattress when guests arrive without any struggle or falling.