Sofa secrets: how to choose the ideal sleeper sofa
Kate Wilson is a writer and fact checker for home decor and furnishings at Chosen Furniture. She enjoys splitting her findings with others.
The following article will answer your questions about various styles, materials, and how to choose the best sleeper sofas for your home. It’s the ultimate buying guide for sleeper sofas and sofa beds.
The Pros and Cons of Sleeper Sofas
The pros and cons of sleeper sofa has been talked about during each review but let’s just bring it all together. Sleeper sofa beds have different options, including but not limited to fabrics, finishes, framing, and size. It means that the above ones may just be some of the best.
Pros of sofa beds:
- Saves a good amount of space.
- Eliminate the need to have a separate guest room.
- Offer a place to sleep when you don’t feel like going to bed.
- Sofa bed mattresses can be replaced once the old one becomes worn out.
- Many come with a storage solution to store excess items.
- A vast array of designs and sizes.
- Makes your home more guest-friendly.
- Financially, it represents far greater value for money – and no compromise on comfort.
Even though a sleeper sofa seems perfect, there can be a lot of cons:
- Pick up the one with a frame that supports more weight and tolerates moisture.
- The beds or mattresses can be cheap and thin.
- If you choose the wrong fabric, it might be tough to clean.
- Sometimes, back cushions are not removable.
- They can be heavy and big.
- Sometimes the convertible mechanism breaks down with excessive or improper use.
- Feet are not so robust all the time.
Deciding to buy a good sleeper sofa is tough if you don’t know exactly what you need and want – read on to learn more.
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Various Styles of Sleeper Sofas and Sofa Beds
We all know (and experience!) that buying a new piece of furniture is stressful. With sleeper sofa beds we need to analyze what is going on with fabrics, frames, and so on. This part of the sofa bed buying guide is written to teach you a few things about their stylings of them.
Left Arm Facing, Right Arm Facing or Armless
When shopping for sectional sofas with attached chaises, you will often hear the phrases left-hand facing and right-hand facing, which can be a bit confusing. Those are also known as Left Arm Facing (LAF) and Right Arm Facing (RAF).
LAF means that when you are facing the piece, the arm is on your left, and the sofa continues to the right. RAF means that the arm is on your right, and the sofa continues to the left. Getting the convenient facing arm is essential because you will be joining more pieces, and the placement of the arm will determine if your sectional fit into the room style.
A metal furniture leg looks great in an office, while a wood furniture leg goes well in a house room.
With one or two arms, the style of sectional you like is easy to find because manufacturers offer many custom options. However, before you buy it, check other elements like the depth of the sectional, back style, fabric, and cushion content.
Modern and Contemporary
Modern is often confused with contemporary to describefurniture styles. The modern style generally favors strong and simple lines, while the contemporary loves curves. Modern colors lean toward natural or neutrals, while contemporary is swinging from one extreme to another. Modern style and design refer to a period created in the 1920s and 1950s. It doesn’t change; it is a defined style and will remain the same forever. Contemporary style and design refer to what is popular or used right now!
Multi-function furniture is a stamp of modernist style and design. A high-quality modern sleeper sofa can make you a hero to your home guests, especially since low-quality sleepers have given them a bad name and the reputation of being uncomfortable to sleep on.
Our range of modern futon-style sofa sleepers easily converts from seating to sleeping while maintaining a modern aesthetic not often found with other clunky sleeper sofas. We offer many styles, most with a handful of different fabric options, that blend nicely into any modern living area, study, or dual-purpose guest bedroom.
Contemporary sleeper sofa beds tend to come with pillowtop mattresses. Contemporary mixes sensible fashion with amazing style. Contemporary sleeper sofas come in different styles with different fabric options and blend nicely into any living area or guest bedroom. This style is perfect for those who don’t want anything too intense.
Classic
The classic style is safe, clean, and traditional – know what works for you, and you tend to stick with it. It values longevity over trends. Think about baroque, Provencal, Louis XV, Empire, Chesterfield, and other models. Each style has particular characteristics and accurate history. A classic sofa sleeper is one whose style recalls an earlier time. Classic sofa bed design often includes velvety fabrics, luxurious silks, and ornate carvings. Think about Chesterfield sofas and Camelback sofas as two representatives.
A classic sofa bed may be perfect for your home if you love old-style things. These beds are more structured than most other kinds available in the stores. These sofa sleepers are not as functional as other styles. This happens due to the main focus on being more stylish instead of offering higher functionality. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t high-quality options to buy, just a say that these sofa beds tend to be thinner than most others.
It is important to verify that the sofa is as much as comfortable and blends in with the room’s design. Avoid mixing several styles to ensure perfect room harmony, paying attention to forms, materials, and colors. If the size of the room permits, to obtain the maximum effect, you can combine a three-place sofa with a loveseat, a chair, and an ottoman.
Tufted and Double Tufted
Back in the 1960s, everyone had or dreamt of owning a tufted sleeper sofa. These gorgeous sofa beds tend to fall under the classic category, and anyhow, if you have an affinity for classic style and want your sofa bed to look much more elegant, then these sofa beds are the ones you should go for.
Most modern tufted sofa beds use button tufting, which is an excellent way to stabilize the cushion fabric. The resulting style helps give the sofa texture and depth. So if you’re searching for a modern tufted sofa, there are plenty of offers with different colors, prices, or features.
Wooden Frame
A wooden frame is perfect for a classic, sturdy design that will never fall out of fashion. It adds a beautiful decorative accent that suits any room, providing a solid foundation for a broad range of decor and themes. Wood furniture frames are available in various sizes, shapes, styles, and wood types to beautify your sofa bed and extend the lifespan of your beloved furniture. If you’re in doubt, you should know that metal frames don’t look right with every style and color.
Metal Frame
The modern era offers endless style possibilities. Metal frames are especially exceptional on pieces that encounter moisture daily. Prefabricated metal frames are produced for sofas, chairs, cabinets, and tables. They feature top-quality chrome, satin stainless steel, or silver metallic finish and come in a wide range of sizes. If you have a neutral room that focuses on varying shades of blacks, grays, and whites, this style of sofa bed might be a perfect solution. You can also get that valuable space for storage underneath.
What’s the Difference Between a Convertible Sofa Sleeper and a Futon Sleeper?
The answer to this question is simple, although we need to dig a little bit into the history of this piece of furniture.
A traditional Japanese futon is comprised of a mattress (shikibuton), a quilt (kakebuton – otherwise known as a kake futon or kakefuton) and a comforter or quilt (makura). The futon is only about three inches thick, which makes a good, firm bed. A traditional Japanese futon is placed directly onto tatami flooring. When not in use, it is rolled up, packed away, aired, and beaten to prevent the filling from maturing together.
Western culture took this concept further. On a western futon, the mattress is always placed onto a metal or wooden folding frame so that it can be configured to a sitting position during the day (becoming a sofa) and can be turned into a guest bed. This way, futon sofas perform a dual function, save space during the day, and transform into beds at night.
Besides construction, what differentiates a futon from a convertible sofa bed is the mattress. Futon mattresses are made up of compressed layers of material, such as organic cotton, wool, and some latex. Being made of natural fibers and a little latex, futons require more maintenance and often need to be flipped. A futon mattress with proper care should last between 8 and 12 years.
With convertible sofa beds, by design, the mattresses are usually thinner than that standard, and the “bar in the back” syndrome is apparent for anyone trying to sleep on it. Also, you never have to worry that the mattress is sliding off while sleeping on it – as it is on futons.
Another difference is that sofa beds often have space under the mattress where the folds in, while futons don’t have it. This area is suitable for storing blankets, comforters, pillows, or whatever you want. If you buy a convertible sofa bed, it is important to know that there are at least two types. The most common types are the pull-out sofa beds and the “click-clack” style beds (named for the noise they make as they go through changes).
The upholstery is another distinguish sign. The upholstery on a traditional sofa sleeper is permanently attached to the frame and cushions. For a futon sofa sleeper, you need to choose a cover.
A decent sofa sleeper will cost $1,500 and up. Cheaper models and closeouts will be less. A good futon sofa sleeper will cost less than $1,000 and up. Cheaper metal, pinewood models, and closeouts will also be less.
Sofa beds are available in many styles and give a luxurious touch to your home, while futon sofas cannot grab attention and fail to hold a prominent place in the room.
15 Things You Need to Know Before You Buy a Sleeper Sofa
Call it a sleeper sofa, or sofa bed, this is one of the most functional type of couch you can own. Having a sleeper in your living room rather than a sofa might be one way to overcome space limitations if you have them. It lets you turn any room into a guest room or even a bedroom for yourself if you live in a studio apartment. Here is what you need to know before you buy one for your home.
1) Sleeper Sofa Frame
For long-lasting life, a solid frame is a must. This is the structure on which the sofa is built. The sofa frame needs to be durable because it will experience wear and break as it changes back and forth between its forms. The edges should be smooth – sharp or rough edges could snag the sleeper’s fabric.
A sofa bed won’t be worth too much if the framing isn’t done right. The problem is that if the sofa frame is weak, it will have a higher possibility of breaking. If the framing isn’t strong enough, it won’t be able to withstand the weight of anyone. And that’s a sure recipe for sofa bed disaster.
While metal frames are available on a large scale, the best sofa sleeper brands will almost exclusively use wood. A simple and low-cost wood frame can be a heckler in the long run. Pine or other more pliable woods are low in cost and used in cheap sofas, but they may warp or wobble after a few years. The best sofa beds will almost exclusively use kiln-dried hardwood because of the superior durability of this material. More expensive wood can be used (like ash or beech) for the sofa – which means you have a piece of furniture that is long-lasting and beautiful.
It is important to avoid frames made of particleboard, plastic, or cheap metal – they may warp and crack.
If you want to test the frame strength, lift the sofa’s front/back corner or leg off the floor. By the time you’ve raised it at least six inches, the other front/back leg should have risen too. But if it’s still touching the floor, the frame is too weak – a good sign that it’s made of cheap materials. Walk away and choose another sofa bed!
A good quality frame symbolizes a long-live sofa. Make sure the frame is made up of the best material and quality.
Don’t forget the joints and legs!
Frames with joints connected by dowels, double dowels, corner blocks, metal screws, and brackets, are solidly constructed. In some cases, staples and/or nails are used for extra reinforcement. NEVER buy a sofa sleeper that’s held together solely by the support of staples, nails, or glue.
Sofa joints define how much you can use the sofa. If the joins are poorly done, early damage is imminent. When you are in a furniture showroom, ask a salesperson for written information from the manufacturer about the frame joinery. If you are buying the sofa online, check the details about the joinery given by the manufacturer, check user reviews, or ask the producer before you decide to buy the sofa.
Strive to go after sofas in which legs are part of the frame or held uptight with screws, dowels, or pegs and not with glue. This helps hassle-free assembly, and the frame is more durable.
Depending on the type of flooring you have in your home or office, choosing the right furniture legs is important because it will prevent damage to flooring material. Even if you have chosen metal legs, they can easily be equipped with a wooden or plastic coaster to protect your flooring.
A metal furniture leg looks great in an office, while a wood furniture leg goes well in a house room. The shape and type of material of the legs must also be considered. For example, a slender cone shape wood furniture leg mind of class and sophistication, while a pyramid-shaped metal leg gives a business look and feel, which makes them ideal for office spaces.
There are a plethora of furniture legs to choose from, so you can choose through a large selection of legs of all shapes, sizes, and materials.
Wooden Legs – this is a highly compatible stylistic option as compared with others out there. If you’re in doubt, you should consider wooden feet because metal doesn’t look right with every style and color.
Metal Legs – these legs look great for the high fashioned style. If you have an office or a neutral room that focuses on varying shades of blacks, grays, and whites, this style of sofa bed feet might be perfect for you.
2) Mattress Quality
Without any doubt, the most important component of a sofa is the mattress because it determines the feel and comfort offered to the user. A classic sofa bed holds two types of replacement mattresses: 4 and 5 inches thick. The quality of sofa mattresses is determined by support, durability, and firmness. And there are four most used types of bed mattresses.
Natural Latex Sofa Bed Mattress
Latex is nothing more than natural foam rubber mixed sometimes with soy plants. The best sleep surface is done when manufacturers use a high-quality latex core. To be sure you are buying the 100% latex core, read the specifications because manufacturers can name a mattress latex even if it has only one thin layer of latex inside. If only one inch of latex is coated with an inferior support foam, it can be called a latex sofa bed mattress.
Latex mattresses have three drawbacks:
- They are very expensive to make: latex foam costs almost twice what a good urethane does.
- They are allergenic: latex is a natural product. It’s the sap of rubber trees and contains lots of proteins. Many people have allergies to one or more of these proteins.
- They are uncomfortable: a latex mattress roughly provides comfort equivalent to that of a spring mattress but offers extended durability (10-30 years).
Note that synthetic latex is also available but lacks many natural latex properties! Depending on which company you choose to buy from, the term “synthetic latex” often is used to refer to material that is simply cheap foam (and contains NO latex). As a general rule for latex mattresses, the more natural they are, the firmer they tend to be.
Memory Foam Sofa Sleeper Mattress
Memory foam was designed in the mid-1960s for NASA airplane seats. It is made from a substance called visco-elastic. This type is referred to as Standard, Traditional Polyurethane, or Petroleum-Based. It is highly energy absorbent, not too hard, and soft. A memory foam mattress provides support, comfort, and lower motion transfer because no coils shift when your partner moves during sleep. By his nature, memory foam molds to the body in response to pressure, distributing body weight. It then returns to its original shape once you remove the pressure.
It is one of the most popular solutions if you are going to sleep on the sofa every night or if you do not sleep alone. chiropractors and physicians recommend sleeping on memory foam mattresses because it relieves pressure on critical body zones such as the head, spine, and wrists. A memory foam mattress offers your body the best sleep surface, with better blood circulation and contouring support being big pluses.
These mattresses are known for their pressure relief and comfort but are made with chemicals. Petroleum-based memory foam is made using known carcinogens and is associated with itchy eyes, respiratory issues, and headaches. Other issues of concern are complaints of toxic off-gassing, heat retention, and sleeping hot. Visco-elastic foam often retains heat and can make the sleeper uncomfortable throughout the night, which isn’t great for hotter climates but can be a bonus for cooler ones. The most common complaint is toxic off-gassing (also known as outgassing), which is the release of odor that can last anything from a few days to a few weeks.
In your journey to find the best mattress, making the healthy choice (natural latex) or comfortable choice (memory foam) is a big dilemma for all consumers!
Innerspring/Coil Sofa Bed Mattress
This type of mattress comes standard with most sofa beds but has a reputation for being the least comfortable. It features a system of coils for firmness, making it the most economical sofa mattress choice. Why are they not the best choice for a sofa bed? Because these mattresses are less than half the thickness of a regular bed mattress, and thus, there’s no room for springs to float before fully compressing.
Plus, the coils inside of an innerspring mattress push back against your body, and your body pushes back against the coils. This can cause pain, poor blood circulation, and restless sleep. If more than one person sleeps on the mattress, coil mattresses become very loud and uncomfortable. Not to mention that these types of sofa mattresses are not as durable as ones made out of latex or memory foam, and many owners become frustrated when the mattress no longer holds the desired degree of firmness and need to change them often.
The only reason why manufacturers still use them is that they are relatively cheap and lightweight, which makes them easier to transport. You should avoid coil sofa mattresses if you suffer from back pain!
Air Coil Sofa Sleeper Mattress
Incorporates an innerspring mattress with an air mattress on top (need an air pump to inflate the air chamber of the mattress). These mattresses are comfortable for sleeping, but they are not practical. The mattress expands to approximately 10″ in thickness when inflated, getting you away from the sofa bed mechanism. Adjusting the sleep surface from firm to soft is fast. A simple touch of a button located on the inflation valve makes individualized comfort easy to achieve. The valve also allows for the deflation of the mattress.
Some owners complained that these mattresses reduce thickness during the night after using them for a while. Also, you must use an air pump whenever you want to sleep on an air mattress. This means that you must wait before it inflates, and can’t sleep on the sofa if the air pump is damaged.
There are also inflatable sofa beds, which are sofa bed versions of an air coil mattress. They’re not a good option for daily usage but are cheap and portable. Offer more functionality than a basic air mattress, and they are easy to deflate and pack away afterward – although we do not recommend them for sofa sleepers.
3) Sofa Mechanisms
While in the store, try the mechanism by pulling the mattress out and back in. Make sure that the mechanism is smooth. Also, make sure to check the edges of the metal parts below to avoid tearing the sheets or hurting yourself (or guests, that’s quite embarrassing and a big problem) during sleep.
Multiple sofa bed styles are available, operating on different principles to cater to different needs. Here are the most popular ones:
A click clack sofa bed will be one of your best options if you have a small space and receive many guests. Click clack sofa beds are adaptable and very useful thanks to their two uses: by day, it is a sofa, and at night it becomes a bed. In addition, its aesthetics and comfort have been evolving to adapt to the needs of each person.
4) Sofa Bed Design and Style
You know, there are probably thousands of sofa beds with different designs to suit all preferences, so you may need to decide which one you want. Furniture design is related to good function and aesthetics, durability, shape, appropriated materials and structure, personality, and identity.
The existing decor of your home or office and how you’ll integrate a sofa with the color scheme is also extremely important. All these should enhance the overall appearance of your interiors.
Don’t choose your sofa sleeper simply because you like the style or color, every design element needs careful consideration to create a well-designed space. Consider what look you are going for and then choose accordingly. You should have a clear sense of what you want to have; otherwise, you’ll get confused with the plethora of choices available on the market.
5) Sofa Sleeper Upholstery
Functionality is the key, but upholstery material has capital importance. From durable fabric that hides spills to an easy-to-maintain performance velvet, there are almost unlimited options and combinations to suit every lifestyle.
Ask yourself these questions while choosing the upholstery material:
- Does this material have trouble stretching?
- Does this material endure wear and tear daily?
- Does this material stain easily?
- Does this material irritate your skin?
- Is this material tough to clean?
- is there a way to use a cover?
If your answer is yes to a couple of these questions, then the material you’ve chosen is not a good option. Sofas need a durable upholstery material. Cotton and linen are the winners, and they can be treated for stain resistance; however, they aren’t easy to clean or as durable. A combination of natural and synthetic materials tends to pill within a year. Wool and leather sofas are always handsome and strong but expensive. Silk is sleek and fragile. Fabrics with patterns intend to wear better than those with printed patterns.
Different materials have different characteristics like strength, durability, stain resistance, and cost. Some fabrics are more fade and mildew resistant than others. Fade-resistant fabric is best for sofa beds that stand in direct sunlight. Mildew resistance materials are desirable in a humid climate. Those with allergies should consider materials like microfiber, which does not attract dust.
Types of Leather Upholstery
- Real leather upholstery is one of the most famous and durable upholstery for sofas and always stays in fashion. However, it is a costly option, but every aspect of such an investment is worth it in the long run, from luxury and comfort to looks and style.
- Suede is also obtained from animal hides, just like real leather, but it is the extensive brushing and buffing that differentiates it from real leather, giving it its trademark soft and fuzzy surface texture and feel. You can also get faux suede for sofa upholstery, which is an artificial version of naturally obtained suede and is significantly cheaper.
- Bonded Leather is reconstituted leather, offering you the look and feel similar to real leather, but only at a fraction of the cost involved in producing real leather. It is almost as durable as real leather, and its production is much more environment-friendly than real leather.
- Over the years, PU leather upholstery has become quite popular around the world for its benefits. Perhaps the best thing about PU leather upholstery is its cost-effectiveness; it is a fine way of getting the looks and feel of real leather upholstery at affordable rates. However, it lacks the durability and class of real leather.
- Bycast Leather is split leather having a layer of polyurethane applied to the surface, which is then embossed. This results in a leather-like product, which is much cheaper and easier to maintain.
- PVC refers to PolyVinyl Chloride, a thermoplastic polymer in nature, much cheap and easy to assemble, yet offering enough durability. Softened by adding plasticizers, it carries a sheen finish and is waterproof, thus very viable for upholstery.
Types of Fabric Upholstery
- If you want your upholstery to be highly comfortable and breathable, cotton upholstery is the best solution for you. It often comes in different patterns, so it offers varied ways of expressing and reflecting on your tastes.
- Linen is smooth and cool to the touch, which is why it’s a favorite summertime fabric. It also gets softer with use. You can easily combine other fabrics with it. It goes in various colors. It is one of the strongest, most durable fabrics available.
- Chenille is produced with the help of a soft yarn, which is twisted together to give this fabric its characteristic look. This fabric gives you a different look from different directions and different angles, as its fibers are known to catch the light differently from different angles.
- Microfiber is a special type of fabric known for its extremely fine texture, significant resistance to stains, and ease of cleaning. Due to such properties, it is especially recommended for people suffering from different types of allergies.
- Velvet is a tufted woven fabric composed of evenly distributed cut threads. Due to this, velvet fabric gets a short dense pile, incorporating a luxurious look and feel.
- Wool is durable and beautiful but more expensive than other fabrics. It is quite rarely used for sofa upholstery.
A good idea is to pick a neutral upholstery fabric. This will serve as a blank slate for you and will help you match it with different accent pillows and throws – read How To Style Your Amazing Sleeper Sofa Bed Like A Pro. In this case, you select an upholstery material that goes with a variety of palettes, so you also can simply redesign the entire room without having to change the sleeper sofa!
If you have pets, avoid using delicate fabric such as silk or fabric with lots of texture. Select pet-friendly upholstery instead.
Compatible Covers
Sofa covers will keep your sofa clean and dust free. The two main types are:
- Fixed Covers: designed to attach permanently to sofa frames.
- Loose Covers: covers that can be removed from a sofa and washed.
If you have a sofa bed, a good strategy is to go ahead and get covers to pair with it. It will help with maintenance, and you don’t have to worry too much about spills. Covers are also a great option if you know that you’ll live on your couch daily, so you can go ahead and use a cover that can be cleaned every week.
6) Sleeper Seating Capacity
Imagine that eight heavy-weight friends visit you and when they arrive, all you have is a sleeper sofa with a seating capacity of four and no guest room – that’s quite embarrassing and a big problem. In such a case, there are sofas with great weight capacities. But if you have, in general, one guest small in size (or maybe you are), then you might want to go after a smaller sleeper sofa bed. Various sofa sleepers may solve the seating and weight problem.
Large: sectional sofa beds are considered to be the largest sized sofas available (between 9 to 14 feet in length). They are great to accommodate many people in a generous living area. Unlike other types of sofas, sectional beds fit perfectly in corner areas. The sofa can be split up into pieces if you want to distribute them throughout the sleeping area.
Medium: medium-sized or regular sofa beds are the most commonly. Usually extends between 6 to 8 feet in length, allowing two to three people to sleep well. It is appropriate in size for most living rooms in apartments.
Small: a small-sized sofa is also referred to as a loveseat, best to fit in smaller spaces. Its length normally varies from 5 to 6 feet and is fine to sleep for one or two people. Despite these, loveseats are also available in medium and large sizes. A loveseat can be used as a complementing piece of furniture with a regular sofa.
An oversized sleeping sofa is a great option as a guest bed for plus-size people. It might not be as comfy as the real deal, but you can add a mattress topper, and you’ll be amazed by the increase in satisfaction.
A sleeper sofa bed too large or too small for a place will make it look out of symmetry. So it’s important to buy the right sized sofa. As we also explained for porch swing chairs, the weight limit is crucial to extend you sofa life. So keep in mind: always buy a sofa sleeper with the required sizing and seating capacity!
7) Sofa Bed Colors and Patterns
If you plan to add a new sofa bed to an already decorated area or select the sofa to play a supporting role, choosing color becomes very important. Because of dimensions, sofas take up a lot of visual space and will greatly impact the overall look of your room.
You should also consider the prominence you want to give the sofa. Choose a sofa that blends with other elements of the room. The opposite option is to choose a sofa that is the room’s centerpiece – so choose a color to match any room element, such as the curtains, floor, or a painting.
Another important consideration is whether you want your sofa material to be smooth or embossed. It depends on the character you want to give the sofa bed: a classic touch with flowers or stripes or a modern feeling with neutral colors or prints. Note that the choice of upholstery will affect your choice of cushions.
Before you buy a sofa and to avoid the complication of changing the paint on your walls, let’s go through the color options you could consider for your sofa bed.
Light Colors – great options for small and simple living spaces. Light colors are also useful in particularly dark rooms. Some rooms are less desirable (like basements), and a light-colored sofa sleeper will make the space feel less shady. To get a contrast with the sofa color, use lots of cushions. In a living space with a lot of windows, light colors will show fading. A big challenge with a light sofa is staining and wear. Consider how space is used now, not how you hope it will be used. If you have kids and pets, then you would probably not want to put a light-colored sofa in your living room without using a washable slipcover!
Dark Colors – if you have a large living room with a lot of traffic and enough light, both natural and artificial, then choosing dark colors for sofa beds is your best option. To break the monotony of dark colors, jazz up your sofa bed with colorful cushions. But the main reason to pick a dark-colored sofa is that it doesn’t show wear and dirt so easily. Sleeper sofas with dark colors complement everything; they are beautiful and hide dirt and stains. A dark sofa can also create a visual bond between the sofa and the floor. You can combine your dark-colored sofa beds with bold and vibrant colors; however, you should use them only as accent tones on other living room elements like throw pillows, artwork, area rugs, or decorations.
Bold Colors – a good option if you want to showcase your vibrant personality through your sleeper couch. Bold colors are very strong or bright so that you notice them, such as bright green, orange, gold yellow, fuchsia, red, navy, or pink. The easiest way to match a bold color sofa is to keep the rest of your room neutral. Alternatively, use a combination of bold colors – mix green with yellow. red with orange or purple, dark blue with light lilac or brown. There are no rules for using and combining bold and vibrant colors – it depends on your visual taste.
Natural Colors – these colors are inspired by the beautiful hues of nature. Brown, green, tan, ivory, coral, red, and orange remain an important part of the earth scheme. It should be used to pair up with something light and relaxing, such as white, beige, and other light shades. Nature offers endless inspiration for sofa beds and decoration. Pairing these elegant natural colors with accessories adds another dimension of natural appeal. In modern spaces, a touch of nature introduces a balance to sleek surfaces and angular corners.
Neutral Colors – that’s a solid option if you’re conservative in your decorating style and prefer to use accessories that can be changed often. Neutral will always be a classic. If you decide to add some vibe to your life, you can add a few inexpensive pillows or throw in a bold color. Changing them is a great way to add a fresh, seasonal color palette to your space (think autumn, winter, or holidays like Christmas, Easter, etcetera). Sofa beds with neutral colors, such as beige or gray, can easily match any color and type of decor. If you may want to repaint the room, a neutral sofa will match the new colors more easily. Sofa beds with neutral colors are a valuable investment in style and money – it allows us to avoid buyer’s remorse and enjoy a home design that will never grow old.
Patterned materials – practically, all patterns will be either organic or geometric. Organic patterns include floral patterns or whatever is inspired by nature. Geometric patterns have a definite pattern and commonly have a lot of contrast. The simplest geometric patterns are polka dots or stripes, but there are a lot of more complex geometric patterns too. With your sofa bed, use colors and patterns carefully. Use a mix of pretty shades and organic patterns on the cushions and furniture around it. A great strategy when mixing pillows is to use one of these four: a floral/paisley, a geometric, a stripe, and a solid. As long as each of these is in a similar color palette, you’re sure to create a beautifully mixed and matched combination of patterns.
For best results, choose one of the following color schemes:
- Tonal: use one color with varying tones of it everywhere in a room or use more than one color but all with the same depth of tone.
- Harmonious: pick colors next to each other or near each other. These schemes give a look that’s easy to live with and restful.
- Complementary: inject more life into a room, are more daring, and will have a higher impact.
Sofa beds come in dozens of color options, so just be mindful and check around for these options.
8) Replaceable Parts
This is one of the most overlooked parts when people plan to buy a new sofa bed! Always go ahead and check if any of the parts of your sofa bed are replaceable. Below are the parts of a sofa sleeper bed you need to pay attention to
Frame: the frame of your sleeper sofa is what holds it together. As we previously explained, get to know the material used to make the frame. Hardwood and steel are the most preferred materials, they make strong frames that can support a lot of weight.
Legs: they are usually the first parts that break. The legs are not just for supporting the sofa – you should also consider how they will look in your space. Go ahead and buy some extra feet and extra screws (or bolts) for the sofa bed.
Backrest: if you watch TV or play games, the height of the backrest is very important. You want to get good support for your back because some sofas provide complete back support while others just go halfway.
Mattresses and Cushions: are the most findable parts of a sofa bed. You can find them in any store or online, depending on size and style. Both determine the comfort of your couch. Check how easy it is to care for them and if they are made from washable and durable materials.
Upholstery: if your couch bed is upholstered, you may also choose custom replacement upholstery. Upholstery can showcase your love of style and design as it changes instead of relying on the same fabric year after year. Your sofa bed is a stylish investment in comfort, and you shouldn’t have to throw out the entire furniture piece because it went flat or because the upholstery material is no longer trendy!
9) Sofa Bed Easy Care
Choosing a sofa bed sleeper made of a material that is difficult to care for is probably not your best option. Especially if you don’t have the time, it takes to maintain and care for such material. Start to research the materials first and ask about the care options.
Figuring out how to clean your new sofa bed is a smart idea. And you should also read our Sleeper Sofas Cleaning Tips That Will Make You Snuggling Better.
10) Sleeper Sofa Size
Sleeper sofas come in different sizes depending on the mattress. First, measure your door twice, so you only have to move it once. Make sure to remove any obstacles around the doorway that might obstruct the movement of the sofa bed. If your sofa’s diagonal depth exceeds the door’s width, you might be successful in moving it through at an angle. Check if any of the legs can be removed, and consider that in your calculations when buying the sofa.
Once you’re inside and have hallways and tight corners, pass through the sofa in the upright position, which needs ceiling height to be noted. It should be more than the diagonal height of your sofa bed if you want to stay away from the ceiling. If you need to take the sofa upstairs, measure the height, depth, and width of the stairwells, so you better not take any chances to avoid confusion and hassle.
If needed to use a lift, take the measurement of the lift door and its interior dimensions. Check the diagonal height to fit the sofa at an angle into the lift. Compare the weight of your sofa with the weight limit specified for the lift you plan to use!
Once you’re inside a room, measure the available space for the sofa and compare it with the fully-extended sofa bed dimensions – you’ll save yourself from moving the furniture when you need to open the sofa. It is important to consider also the available space to walk around it. The style of the sofa you choose will also influence its footprint. Overstuffed or rolled arms sofa beds may probably take up more space.
11) Sleeper Sofa Weight
Compared to traditional beds, sofa sleepers are quite lightweight, even they come with a mattress inside it. Depending on the model, two or three people can move it around the house. On the other hand, a heavy sofa bed means quality because of uses heavy wood and steel so that it will ensure durability and resistance for a long period.
You will find sofas with weights below 200 pounds. Setting up or moving them won’t create too many problems. You can also find sleeper sofas that are much lightweight because manufacturers are starting to use advanced composites and hybrid materials.
12) Sofa Bed Pricing
Sleeper sofas are more affordable than other types of furniture and come at a large-scale price. A single factor can never determine the cost. The final price depends on many factors like the availability of features, opening mechanism, construction materials, quality, design sophistication, labor costs, and the prominent category you are in for.
If buying a sofa bed online, security should be your prime concern. The best places to buy should offer a secure checkout option. Also, find a website that offers a clean and convenient online experience, plus the hallmarks of credible and reliable shopping transactions.
With sofa beds, you will notice great differences both in quality and pricing. Always opt for the best quality you can afford. Oftentimes, sleepers at higher price points are also better made.
13) Sofa Placement
A sofa couch’s aesthetics and physical dimensions will affect the placement. A sleeper sofa will always need to be visually attractive, comfortable, and blend with the rest of the room furniture.
If you have a very small space, then a single or a twin-size sofa bed might be the perfect answer for you. These sleepers are sometimes referred to as chair beds or half beds. Despite their small size, don’t expect them to be any cheaper. You should not buy them for affordability, but for their suitability for smaller rooms. If you have a den or study, you should choose practicality, comfort, and economy.
When space is not an issue, a queen-size sleeper sofa is the best option. A queen or upper-size sleeper sofa can seat three effortlessly and provide a comfortable bed for two people.
Ideal sofa bed placement:
- In front of a window
- Across from a window
- Facing the mantel
- Across from another sofa
- In front of a door
- In the middle of the room
Don’t forget the 3 Foot Rule: you should have about 3 feet of walking space around the room. You need to be comfortable without knocking on furniture and bumping into walls!
14) Sofa Primary Usage
An important thing to consider before buying a sofa bed is whether it will be primarily used as a bed or for seating!
If you expect to utilize it primarily for sitting, you’ll need something that takes the pressure off your backside without sinking too far under your weight. It must be robust and durable, particularly if you have family or pets. If it’s going to be the master centerpiece of your living room, choose your style wisely because you don’t want something that looks like a folded-up bed.
If you plan to mainly use the sleeper sofa for sleeping and accommodating guests, you’ll need a surface that can handle the sleeper’s entire body weight. In most cases, an innerspring mattress would do the job, but a memory foam mattress may also be considered if you require extra conformity. Sleeper sofas come with many different types of mattresses, so try and find one with a mattress type you are happy using. Also, look for a mechanism that opens and closes easily.
15) Sleeper Sofa Bed Warranty and Guarantee
The seller’s reputation counts a lot when buying a sofa bed or other pieces of furniture. A little research online can easily reveal a clear picture of the credibility of a particular seller. People often share their experiences regarding their transactions, rating the seller for the item’s quality, delivery time, delivery service, warranties, and so on. You can take a cue from other people’s experiences and opinions about the seller you choose to buy from.
It is important to ask the seller about the warranty. Choose a manufacturer/seller that offers at least a 5-year warranty that covers the full replacement cost. Your obligation as a customer is to save the receipt and proof of shipping in case you have any problem with your sofa bed.
Since sofa sleepers are made of multiple parts, a mattress is usually made by another company, so here we are; you need a separate warranty. Here’s an example of a mattress warranty:
This limited warranty covers defects in material and workmanship in the following components of the mattresses and/or bed bases described above from the date of purchase from XXXX. The original purchase receipt is required as proof of purchase.
This limited warranty applies to domestic use only for:
- Springs in spring mattresses.
- Foam core in foam mattresses.
- Latex core in latex mattresses.
- Wooden frame and slats in slatted bed bases.
- This limited warranty does not apply to products that have been stored or installed incorrectly, used inappropriately, abused, misused, altered, or cleaned with the wrong cleaning methods or products.
- This limited warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, cuts or scratches, or damage caused by impacts or accidents.
- This limited warranty does not apply if the product has been placed outdoors or in a humid environment. This limited warranty does not cover consequential or incidental damages.
- For customers in the US only: some states do not allow the limitation or exclusion of incidental or consequential damage, so this limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
Well, this < strong > ultimate buying guide sleeper sofa reveals all the things you need to know before making a selection from our picks. If you are clear about your own needs, this would hopefully help you.
Kate Wilson is a writer and editor at Chosen Furniture. She has deeply loved home decor and furniture for as long as she can remember (and a newfound love for cappuccino) and enjoys sharing her finds with others. When not working, she loves listening to music, hanging out with his family, and exercising her creative side through oil painting.