A comfortable sofa with an everyday sleeping function - which sofa bed is right for you?
We all know how important sleep is in our lives - it allows us to regenerate and gives us the energy we need for the day. Having a sofa that converts to a bed gives us the option to ensure any overnight guests can enjoy the same benefits as a standard bed, without you needing the extra space and monetary investment for a conventional guest bed. A sofa bed will look beautiful in your room, functioning as a sofa in the day and by night as an additional bed – the perfect functional piece of furniture for today’s modern homes.
What kind of sofa is best for sleeping on?
Furniture for sleeping on is offered in many sizes and styles, fabrics, and colours. The first thing to consider are the dimensions of not just where the furniture is to be located as the sofa, but also when converted to a bed. A sofa, couch or sofa bed which is too big will optically reduce the size of the room and if too small will not only look amiss but may also be difficult for sleeping on. You need to consider the style and colour so that it harmonises with the whole interior design. The fabric should be durable and easy to clean. Take into account how the sofa converts to a bed and whether that suits your needs and abilities. So, what features should a comfortable sofa for sleeping on have?
The features you should pay attention to when looking for a sofa bed are:
- the width of the seat,
- the type of mattress or filling,
- the way it unfolds,
- appearance,
- the sleeping surface,
- dimensions of the sofa when unfolded,
- hard wearing upholstery fabric,
- a storage container for spare bed linen.
When choosing a sofabed, use the same criteria as to when you look at a regular bed. Look at the length of the bed when it is unfolded to ensure it is long enough to accommodate your height. The Dillon sofa bed is part of one of our most popular ranges and features a pull-out bed with mattress. It’s compact width ensures it fits into most interiors easily and the 6’ length of the bed accommodates most people.
Which model of sofa bed is best?
Due to the increased demand from our customers for a greater choice of sofa beds, we have a wide selection. Here we take a look at just a few of them:
Globe – a universal fixing, so it can be made into either left or right sided orientation. It is a stunning example of showpiece furniture, featuring stitching detail, an ergonomic rounded shape and wooden legs.
Nicea – a large corner sofa bed in a classic style featuring a dolphin system to convert it to a bed and a storage container for spare bedlinen. A great practical solution in a large choice of colours.
Mossa – a distinctive retro style combining buttoning, piping and bolster cushions with wooden legs. It converts to a bed using an automatic system where the front pulls out and the back folds flat to form the bed.
Lull – a simple design with wide vertical stitching detail on the back rest and elegant wooden legs. Ideal in a teenagers room, on a mezzanine or smaller living room. It converts to a bed using the click-clack system.
Flic – available in a choice of sizes ensuring there is an option of a single for a childrens bedroom or a large double for a living room or guest room.
Corner or standard sofa bed – how to choose what works best for you
Due to the increasing popularity of corner sofas, we now have an extensive choice of corner sofa beds. Perfect for the living room, they allow you the luxury of stretching out during the day on the chaise side, and most of them also feature storage in the base, which is great for storing spare duvets and pillows. Although larger than a standard sofa, they are practical for those who need their rooms to be multi-functional, due to other space constraints in the home. A regular 2- or 3-seat sofa is often more popular for a spare room, as they allow the room to function as an additional living room in the day and convert to a guest room in the evening when required.
A corner model will give you a greater amount of seating in a smaller footprint than a standard size sofa, so this can be a great option for rooms that have space challenges. It can also be easier to accommodate when converting to a bed as the bed part will only extend to the length of the chaise. Once you have selected a suitable corner in your room, you will need to ensure you order the correct orientation. We have a choice of universal corner sofa beds that can be arranged either to the right or left, which gives you the greater advantage that if you decide to relocate your furniture to another room or house, you are not constricted to the side you originally chose. Some of the designs are not suitable to be a universal fitting, so you would need to select either a left- or right-hand side for your chosen model. Just remember the sides are described as you look at them – face on. So, a right-hand sofa has the long chaise part on the right. Therefore, when you are sitting on it the long chaise part is to your left. The left-hand sofa is obviously just vice versa.
A sofa bed in a living room - what else should you think about?
Most sofa beds are designed for daily use as a sofa and occasional use as a bed. However, sometimes it is necessary that the sofa bed is used daily as a bed. A comfortable sofa with a daily sleeping function is not just about how beautiful it looks but consideration should be made to how easily and quickly it can be unfolded. Storage for the bedlinen is also important and ensures the transition is much quicker and more efficient.
If you are looking for a sofa bed to go in your living room, that is primarily there to provide seating throughout the day and evening and is then just available for an overnight guest when required, then it is important the sofa looks good and is comfortable too. Often, a sofa bed has to be designed with some compromise with regards to comfort because of its dual functionality. For example, a sofa with a softer sit, when converted to a bed can be too soft to function effectively, so it is important to think about how exactly you will use the sofa bed in your home before deciding which model to purchase. Bear in mind, though, that a sofa bed will generally feel firmer than a standard sofa, because of the balance of features required.
Once you have decided where it be situated, what would be the best mechanism and how you will use the sofa on a daily basis, then you need to think about the style, fabric and colour. Sofa beds, like any sofa, come in both contemporary and traditional styles, so you needn’t compromise your optimum style choice just because you are buying a two-in-one piece of furniture. A sleek, low backed model will create a modern vibe, while a high-backed, wide armrest design will suit a more classic interior. With regards to the upholstery choice, this needs to be both practical and beautiful. All the fabrics we choose are pleasant to touch with a great abrasion resistance, ensuring it will look good and last for many many years. And with such an extensive colour choice, the only decision is how bold or subtle you want your new sofa bed and interior palette to be.
