Smart Shopper: How to Choose a Sofa Bed
Comfort and convenience â today's sleep sofas offer both. Here's what to consider to get the right sleeper for you
Anyone who has spent a restless night on a friendâs fold-out couch will appreciate the importance of a good sleep sofa. Yes, there are comfortable models on the market â you just need to know what to look for when you shop. Hereâs a rundown of some of the most important things to consider.
Most bed frames are the same. Most sleep sofa mechanisms are made the same way (and by the same manufacturer), so thereâs little difference from one brand to another: Youâll find a metal frame with coils around the edges holding canvas decking. (Although sofa beds still have that bar underneath the mattress, it now curves away from the body, preventing painful surprises in the morning.)
One notable exception is the line of sleep sofas made by American Leather/American Upholstery. These feature a solid wood base underneath the entire mattress. This system allows the company to use conventional-size mattresses (most sofa bed mattresses are shorter), yet its sleepers take up less floor space when theyâre open.
Choose your mattress. The mattress is what distinguishes one sleep sofa from another. Because it folds, it wonât be as solid as a conventional mattress. There are three basic types:
One notable exception is the line of sleep sofas made by American Leather/American Upholstery. These feature a solid wood base underneath the entire mattress. This system allows the company to use conventional-size mattresses (most sofa bed mattresses are shorter), yet its sleepers take up less floor space when theyâre open.
Choose your mattress. The mattress is what distinguishes one sleep sofa from another. Because it folds, it wonât be as solid as a conventional mattress. There are three basic types:
- Innerspring mattresses have coils inside; the more coils, the better. The average is 345 coils; 644 is very good.
- Memory foam mattresses are better. They have no coils inside; the foam conforms to the userâs body.
- Air-coil mattresses are on a par with memory foam and feature an innerspring mattress with an air mattress built on top.
Modern
Test it out. Shoppers are often shy about testing out a sofa bed in the store, but considering the size of the investment youâre making, itâs well worth a few minutes of embarrassment.
Lie down on the mattress and mimic various sleeping positions (within the realm of good taste, of course).
Retract the bed so you can sense the weight and ease of the mechanism, then sit on the sofa with the bed folded up so you can judge how it feels to sit on it (which is, after all, the way youâll be using it most of the time).
Lie down on the mattress and mimic various sleeping positions (within the realm of good taste, of course).
Retract the bed so you can sense the weight and ease of the mechanism, then sit on the sofa with the bed folded up so you can judge how it feels to sit on it (which is, after all, the way youâll be using it most of the time).
Donât wait until the last minute. If you start shopping for a sofa bed the week before Aunt Minervaâs visit, your selection of colors and fabrics will be limited to whateverâs available on the sales floor. For best results do your shopping at least two months in advance, so the store has time to custom order the piece in exactly the color and fabric you want.
Shop sleeper sofas on Houzz
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How to Buy a Sofa
How to Buy a Sectional
How to Buy a Mattress
Shop sleeper sofas on Houzz
More
How to Buy a Sofa
How to Buy a Sectional
How to Buy a Mattress
What size? Measure the spot where you want to place the sofa bed, and figure out the ideal sofa width for that space. Sleepers come in four standard widths:
Chair: 51 to 58 inches
Twin: 56 to 65 inches
Full: 68 to 92 inches
Queen: 79 to 101 inches
Will it fit through the door? Measure the height of the roomâs ceiling and the width of the doorway (and any preceding doorways, stairs or elevators). Bring those figures to the store, so youâll know whether you can get the piece into the room. Legs can usually be unscrewed.