Are there any comfortable sofa beds

As our homes have changed to become more multifunctional spaces, more and more of us are turning to the trusty sofa bed to make the most of every square inch of footage. All of which can be transformed when guests do come to stay by simply pulling out the sofa bed. However, as we discovered when trying and testing the sofa beds for this buying guide, not all sofa beds are not created equal. So in this guide, we aim to sort the wheat from the chaff to help you find the very best option for your home.

Click-clack sofa beds are the simplest design. In these models the backrest and seat of the sofa fold flat to become the sleeping surface, with the locking mechanism making the distinctive 'click-clack' noise after which they're named. Most commonly made of solid foam, a fold-out sofa bed generally tends to be on the firmer side for both sitting and sleeping, so they're often best used as occasional seating and sleeping options - good for the home office, playroom or a sleepover space in a children's bedroom, but probably not for your main everyday seating in the living room - apart from in the case of models like the Heal's Oswald sofa bed which blend a foam click-clack design with integrated pocket-springs which ups the comfort levels considerably.

On the downside, the sleeping surface on a click-clack sofa bed is often very low to the ground - fine for the young at heart, but perhaps not the best option for less spritely guests or longer stays. And, because your guests are sleeping on the fabric upholstery surface you'll probably want to protect this somehow - which can sometimes be tricky as the depth of the sofa bed can mean finding a mattress protector that fits is more difficult. On the plus side, a click clack sofa bed tends to be much more affordable than its pull-out counterparts, this design generally takes up less room once extended than a pull-out option - so is useful for rooms that are limited on space - and click clack sofa beds tend to come in contemporary designs and have shorter lead times - although upholstery options are generally more limited.

Alternatively, a pull-out sofa bed is often the most similar in design to a traditional sofa. In this design a dedicated mattress and a collapsible bed frame are pulled out of a hidden compartment under the sofa seat cushions, so to look at the seating before the bed is extended you might never know a sofa bed was hiding inside.

Once the bed frame is pulled out then the mattress is generally a similar height to a regular bed, and the dedicated mattress depending on its thickness and construction can make the sleeping experience of similar comfort to sleeping in a real bed.

Plus, pull-out sofa beds tend to have a much wider range of upholstery choices on offer to ensure you don't need to compromise on style choices, and, as they are most often produced by specialist sofa manufacturers, it's more likely that the sofa bed will be part of a coordinating furniture range, so it's easier to blend one of these options in with a wider living room suite.

A pull-out sofa bed will tend to take up more room though as the backrest and arms stay in place once the bed is extended, and, because of those upholstery options, there is often a long lead time for a pull-out model compared to a click-clack option, so you might need to be prepared for a wait. They can also tend to be the most expensive sofa bed options. On first appearances, the modern rectangular form looks fairly firm, and its click-clack construction plus a lot of disappointing experiences sitting on similar-looking sofa beds led us to expect a pretty unforgiving seating surface.

Happily though, all worries were dashed the moment we sat on this sleeper. And, as the seat and backrest fold out to become the sleeping surface, it offers a comfortable sleep experience too - in our opinion akin to a dedicated mattress. The loose back cushions are also a cut above the standard, with feathers and foam creating a really comfortable surface to relax against and the back height providing plenty of support.

And, once the sofa bed is pulled out into position, a handy storage area means these cushions can be stored safely away so as not to clutter the room.

The downsides? There are only three upholstery options, although the grey Dessin fabric is a nice weave and good mid-tone colour that will suit a lot of homes. Taller guests may perhaps find having armrests top and bottom of the sleeping area a little claustrophobic. It is an investment. And it still delivers in the style stakes. The design comes in a really useful range of size options, from the smallest Haru Single sofa bed basically a chair bed that sleeps one, to the Haru Small sofa bed think a very small double or roomier option for one guest and the Haru Large sofa bed that offers two guests comparatively more legroom.

Another click-clack design, the curled up Haru form unfolds to become the sleeping surface, but in this model there are no pocket-springs, just solid foam and the click-clack mechanism, so the sitting and sleeping experience is much firmer. There are two colours of legs on offer and these are concealed by zippers in the upholstery when not in use, folding out straight when the sofa bed is unfurled.

Two coordinating scatter cushions cover the concealed legs when the sofa bed is in seat mode, and provide some support on the fairly reclined backrest. The angle of that backrest is worth bearing in mind if you're space is short on depth, as it does push the sofa bed away from any walls and into the room a little, although it's compensated for by a pretty shallow seating area. All size options of the Haru are available in a good range of luxe-look velvet colourways and a mix of colourful hardwearing woven fabrics - including the most popular grey option - which overall offers a good selection of style choices considering this is a budget sofa bed.

In our opinion, the Haru's main selling point is definitely its price, alongside those Instagram-friendly velvet and rainbow-coloured upholstery options. Sit and sleep-wise we definitely found it a sofa bed for occasional use only - although there are plenty of reviews on the MADE website that suggest some owners are happy using it more frequently. But, as multifunctional accent seating we think it makes a good-looking, versatile and very affordable guest bed solution. The Bluebell sofa bed from Sofa.

The sofas rolled arms, piped upholstery detailing, and turned wood legs on castors all work to deliver an elegant period aesthetic. A traditional look that is made possible largely due to the pull-out sofa bed construction, with a hidden metal bedframe and dedicated mattress folded up and stowed away underneath the seat cushions.

This design - common to nearly all pull-out sofa beds - means the sofa seat cushions are resting on the back of the metal bed frame when the sofa is upright, which explains the firmness of the seat. Most normal sofas have webbing or springs in the frame under the seat cushions which provides much more give and bounce and generally makes for a far more comfortable sitting experience.

This classic design also has a brilliant range of upholstery fabrics on offer - over 70 in fact - which makes tailoring a look to suit your home easy work. As one of Sofa. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. The Rise of the Cleanfluencer.

Here are the most common types of sleeper sofas: Pull-out couches have a real mattress stored inside. After removing the seating, you pull a handle to transform your sofa to an actual bed. These beds require more space than its counterparts below. Sofa beds feature a sofa that folds down, creating a bed without an additional mattress or having to remove couch cushions. They are the most space efficient and convenient option.

Futons fold flat to make a bed, but lack sofa cushions altogether. They're great for small spaces that can't accommodate a full-sized pull-out couch. For sofa beds and futons , the cushions will be used as a mattress, so it's key that you like their feel and fabric.

Typically, the seat cushions are filled with foam that is wrapped in either down or polyester fibers for both support and comfort. Although it's more expensive than polyester, down filling gives a more plush feel. In pull-out couches , the mattress is typically made of foam without springs so it's easier to compress into the sofa when not in use.

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Ideal for families or for a sleeper sofa that will be used in a vacation rental, and further extending its sustainable credentials by offering an easy way to ensure longevity. On top of that, feather-wrapped foam cushions deliver comfortable seating and a wide range of matching furniture ensures plenty of options for planning your entire interior scheme.

What's not to love? One of the best sleeper sofas for everyday use in the lounge, the Mulholland Drive Sleeper Sectional from Apt2B offers spacious seating thanks to its roomy chaise longue module. The solid wood base creates a contemporary look, whilst a good selection of over fifty upholstery options allows plenty of color choices to make it your own, meaning we'd be very happy giving this sectional pride of place in the lounge.

Our one gripe is that - despite the sofas generous width - there is only a full-size mattress hidden in its depths, and that mattress is a little on the small side compared to a standard full. We would have liked to see a queen mattress option, but, to cushion the blow, you can upgrade from the innerspring mattress to the memory foam alternative to treat your guests to a little luxury.

And there is always the chaise section to offer taller visitors a little extra legroom. If budget is top of your agenda, then the Gabi Sleeper Sofa from AllModern offers an affordable price tag without too dramatic a decrease in style.

The mid-Century inspired sofa bed is available in a versatile gray linen-blend or an attractive olive green velvet, which, whilst not offering the breadth of upholstery choice available with other models, are perfectly in keeping with the design, and the solid elm frame is simple yet well-finished.

The main point of difference - and reason for the lower price tag - is that this is a fold-down sleeper sofa rather than a pull-out mattress, so the sofa seat and backrest become the surface guests will sleep on. The folding design makes for a firmer seating and sleeping experience so it's less likely you'll be content with this as the main sofa for everyday use, but, for occasional use this budget sleeper sofa makes a really useful addition to a home office or guest room. If space-saving design is top of your wishlist, then the compact Kipton sleeper sofa from Arhaus could be just the ticket.

The 84" design will fit into smaller spaces with ease, whilst the vast array of coordinating furniture means it's easy to sneak this sleeper sofa into a mix of sectionals and armchairs in a larger room. We love the versatile design which has that elusive quality of blending perfectly into either a modern or classic interior, and the choice of upholstery options is second to none. And the best part? That compact design hides a generous queen-sized mattress, so guests will be just as happy with your furniture choice as you are.

If your friends are used to sofa surfing then the Denver Trundle sleeper sofa from Anthropologie will offer some welcome extra legroom. Its sleeping surface might not be huge, but if space is too restricted for a full extending sleeper sofa then the pull-out trundle section offers a much more comfortable night's sleep than the couch alone would do.

It also offers the option to extend the couch into a comfortable chaise whenever you're in need of putting your feet up! Available in a range of pretty linen and velvet shades, we think this is a good option for a guest room or teenager's bedroom, where the multifunctional seating and extra sleeping space is perfect for impromptu overnighters or accomodating extra guests.

A wide selection of upholstery fabrics allows you to specify the aesthetic finish to suit your decor, and the selection of coordinating furniture means this sleeper sofa can easily complement the rest of your living room suite.

Meanwhile, guests will appreciate the generous innerspring queen-sized mattress the frame conceals. The CB2 Una sleeper sofa makes for versatile seating in a home-office-come-guest-room, or an apartment where space is limited. Plus, it couldn't be easier to transform from couch to bed; simply flip the back down and you're ready for guests.

Or a workday snooze. Although it's a fold-down sofa bed rather than a sleeper sofa with a dedicated pull-out mattress, the foam cushions contain a pocketed coil springs so the sleeping surface is more comfortable than you might expect. Ultimately, the best sleeper sofa for you depends on how much space you have—and how often you plan to have overnight guests. Not sure where to begin your search for the best sofa bed? This top-rated sleeper sofa is a total steal.

It has a timeless, sophisticated look with piped detailing and neutral hues that make it a seamless addition to any aesthetic. To make it your own, you can choose from more than two dozen fabrics. Like the original, this sofa bed is a stylish, cocoon-like couch by day and a queen size bed at night. The couch itself can be totally customized, too, with 75 different fabric types and shades to choose from. With its rolled arms, diamond-tufted back and plush layer of feather and down cushions, you may choose to sleep on this Wendover Sleeper Sofa from Frontgate over your own bed.

The best-selling Henry Sleeper has a simple silhouette and completely customizable options. Choose your favorite fabric, mattress size and whether you want the basic spring mattress or deluxe memory foam. The cushions are also reversible for easy flipping. The La-Z-Boy name is synonymous with comfort, and this Mackenzie Sleep Sofa proves that the retailer can make more than leather recliner chairs. The couch, which has a queen size innerspring mattress hidden inside, is constructed with ComfortCore cushions and a foam back with double-picked blown fiber fill that helps it maintain its shape.