Sofa Beds - Sleeper Sofas

Does it always feel like you’re short of space, especially when family or friends come visiting? Do you often feel like you have to choose between a good bed and a sofa or loveseat? Then a sofa bed might just be the right fit for you. A sofa bed is a piece of furniture that can be collapsed into a sofa and stretched into a bed as need be. It saves you some furniture space; you can turn any room into a guest room when you have people over.

Preparations and measurements before buying sofa bed

Taking measurements is very important when you want to purchase a sofa bed. You need to know the dimensions of your space. Keep in mind that the furniture you’re about to buy is not just a sofa, it’s a bed too! So your measurements must leave enough room for a whole bed and some.

Type of Mechanism

Even though all sofa beds morph from sofas into beds and vice versa, they do this in different ways. You should consider the mechanism used by these sofa beds before making your decision. Here are the major transformation mechanisms you should know:

Folding sofa beds
This is a style of sofa bed that uses a foldable mattress. You unfold the bed from its base to spread it out and fold it same way back up for the sofa.

Clic clac sofa beds
It works by pushing the back of the sofa forwards slightly to release the locking mechanism, after which you fold the back down to bring out the flat bed.

A-Frame sofa beds
The sofa bed works by you pulling the lower front panel of the sofa forwards, this unfolds the frame to bring out the flat bed. A cantilever mechanism returns the bed into the sofa position.

Lift & pull sofa beds
Lift the up the sofa seat until the lock is released, then pull it back down to make the bed.

Corner sofa beds
This particular design functions as a modern, stylish corner sofa. An additional platform pulls out from below the sofa and pops up to align with the end, creating a double bed. It also features a sizeable storage compartment to keep other beddings.

Sofa bed Mattress Type

There are two basic types of mattresses that are used in sofa bed manufacture:

Innerspring mattresses: Innerspring mattresses can be described as bouncy. This is due to the presence of coils in the mattress. Here’s one thing you need to know; when it comes to coils, the more the merrier. Mattresses with more coils are more likely to be more comfortable when compared to those with less coils. The cost of the mattress depends largely on the kind of spring used. Stress-relieved springs are on the high side, and are more comfortable.

Memory foam mattresses are more consistent over time. This is because they are able to acclimatize to your body structure and weight over time. The foam used in making them is durable.

Sofa bed Mattress Sizes

Here are the various sizes of mattress you can choose from.

Size	Dimensions
Chair (Cot)	51 to 58 inches,
Twin (Loveseat)	56 to 65 inches,
Full	68 to 92 inches
Queen	79 to 101 inches

Sofa bed Style Options

Traditional pull-outs: These are mostly used for full mattresses and queen size mattresses. Sitting is usually more comfortable than lying on this style of sofa beds. You can guide against uncomfortable lying by avoiding sofa beds with thin mattresses.

Futons: They’re very light and can fit in very small spaces. You should only go for them if it’s for temporary use. This is because they get hard and flat over time since they are made from low-density foam. Also futon style sofa beds are not very big on comfort.

Daybeds: If the major purpose of your sofa bed is for sleeping, you are advised to go for a daybed. They can be as big as a full bed. They are built to offer maximum comfort when used as a bed. Also the price ranges are similar to that of a full bed.

Sofa Bed Upholstery Materials

Leather: If your space is expected to accommodate kids and pets, you may consider choosing leather materials for your sofa bed. It’s strong, long lasting and easy to clean. However, it’s easily damaged by sharp objects.
Fabric: There are many different types of fabrics you can use for your sofa bed. We’ll let you in on some of the most popular fabric types available;
Linen: Linen fabric is a class material that gives your room a formal, classy feel. However, you should only consider using linen if your sofa bed will be used for entertaining your guests. This is because it is quite expensive to procure and maintain. Cleaning linen requires professional hands. It can be a bad choice if you live with kids or you often have them over.
Cotton: Cotton is very commonly preferred because of its ability to maintain its original color for a long time. There are different types of cotton fabric that can be used, depending on the manufacturing process of the cotton.
Velvet: Velvet fabric is top-shelf material; quite expensive, but beautiful nonetheless. Although a sofa bed is generally regarded as a necessity, you may want to add a touch of classy luxury, combining the velvet touch with a traditionally styled sofa bed.
Faux Leather: It is very similar to leather when observed. It is also easier to clean, but it most certainly will not last as long as natural leather. Also sofa beds made from faux leather, vinyl or leatherette easily absorb moisture. So, if you live in an area with a humid climate, you should avoid faux-leather sofa beds.

Sofa bed Frames

Like other classes of furniture hardwood offers the premium quality for the frame, because of its durability and relatively high fire resistance. . Plywood is also quite strong and suitable for use in sofa bedframes.

Summary

Sofa beds are amazing, but you want to buy the one that best fits your needs and taste. We believe your options are much clearer now, and you can make an informed purchase.