Pocket Guide to Sofa Beds and Sleeper Sofas FAQ (2024)

What to know before buying a sleeper sofa

Now, since we cover the things you need to consider when buying a sleeper sofa and reviews the best sofa beds out there, it would be a good idea to go over some of the frequently asked questions about sleeper sofas. Considering how much has changed in the construction and design of sleeper sofas, many people have questions. So we’ve rounded up some of the frequently asked questions here to give you answers that will help you in your research.

How often do you have sleepover guests?

Before taking any steps, you need to ask yourself: how often do you have guests or friends for sleepovers? If the answer is frequent and has limited capabilities to sleep, then you need a sleeper sofa. In more cases, you need it also because you don’t have enough space for a regular bed.

How will your sofa bed be used most of the time? Sadly, most sofa beds are less comfortable than regular beds. So if you plan to use yours mostly for sitting and will only have guests sleep on it occasionally, it makes sense to buy a comfortable sofa sleeper. If it is mostly used for sleeping, focus on the comfort of the mattress.

How often will it be used? If your sofa bed is used for occasional guests who only stay for a night or two, you can get away with a budget model. If you or a guest will be sleeping on the sofa bed a lot, it makes sense to spend more for premium comfort.

Buy a regular bed or a sofa bed?

Perhaps the most frequently asked question is whether you should buy a regular bed or a sleeper sofa. Is buying a sleeper sofa better than having a comfy bed? With so many options, you must consider what you want from your sofa bed. To save you time and cut back on frustration, first, learn about different type of sofas and after that, consider these basic facts.

The best way to go is to consider your lifestyle and the space available in your home. What’s your living situation like? If you live in a tiny apartment or move a lot, a smaller, lighter sofa bed makes more sense than a queen-size bed model. If you have a home with lots of space and plan on staying there for a while, choosing a bed is the option that works every time.

You need to assess how much extra space you have in your house and determine whether or not you have enough capacity for a guest room. If you can arrange a room only for guests, then getting a bed may be preferred. Though, if you have an additional room that might be a bit crowded, a sleeper sofa is the best option.

It is useful to remember that a sofa is a better alternative to other space-saving sleeping methods, like using an inflatable mattress or using a futon. Compared to futons, sofa beds are inclusive pieces of furniture that add completeness to your home. Also, the comfort level of a sofa bed is better than other sleeping options.

How comfortable sleeper sofas really are?

With the prompt help of modern technology, sofas have become more comfortable. There are various options when talking about sleeper sofas. This product comes in a wide variety of styles and is made of different construction materials.

The comfort level varies and depends on your choice, budget, how much you want to use it by day, and how comfortable they are. Even so, some things can categorically say about sleeper sofas – they are much more comfortable than air mattresses. Air mattresses lack both comfort and aesthetics.

Sofas vary widely depending on the fabric and the support system (cushions and frame). For example, fabric sofas are much more comfortable than leather. The main reason is that fabric tends to be a softer, warmer finish than leather. Leather can often feel hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Nevertheless, leather sofas look much better than fabric sofas.

If you want a sleeper sofa, always go for the best value for your home. It is ideal for guests and provides a comfortable sleep.

What are the dimensions of a sleeper sofa?

The dimensions of any sleeper sofa are determined by two main factors. First, it is the bed size (mattress) within. After figuring out the mattress size, the next factor in your sofa’s overall size is determined by the style you choose, as sofas with smaller, more compact arms will have smaller dimensions than sofas with larger arms.

These are fairly standard sofa bed mattress size measurements. A sofa bed mattress’s width and depth can vary. Many times, actual sofa bed mattress dimensions will vary by a couple of inches – depending on the manufacturer.

Here is a table showing the ranges of overall dimensions for sleeper sofa sizes:

Which mattress works best?

Without a doubt, the mattress is the most important part of a sofa bed. So you’ll want to pick the one that feels the most comfortable. Here’s what you should know about the two basic types.

Innerspring mattresses: not all of them will give you a good night’s sleep. Commonly referred to as a spring mattress, the innerspring mattress is mainly built internally of coils and typically consists of three components: support, comfort, and fabric cover. The higher number of coils (over 600) will usually offer more comfortable than one with fewer coils. Springs that are stress-relieved-treated are more comfortable, but they are more expensive.

Memory foam mattresses: are made of durable visco-elastic foam, not springs. Most visco-elastic mattresses are made from a layer of visco-elastic material adhered to traditional foam. Compared to inner springs, high-quality memory foam mattresses offer more consistent support, mold better to body shape, and snap back into place easily. Since memory foam is so flexible, it’s a great choice for sofa beds.

Air-coil mattresses: a combination of memory foam and innerspring mattress (air mattress built on top). The major disadvantage: may need to inflate/reinflate periodically using a pump.

Are your foam sofa bed mattresses better than spring mattresses? The answer is a straight yes. Foam-based mattresses can support around 65 percent more body weight than a traditional innerspring mattress. And because they contain no coils, you won’t feel the springs anymore. In addition, foam-based mattresses virtually eliminate motion transfer between sleeping partners – if one person gets up, the other person usually doesn’t feel it.

One more thing: your mattress has a standard size? If your mattress isn’t a standard (twin, full, double, or queen), you’re guaranteed to go crazy trying to find a fitted sheet!

How easy is it to unfold?

It depends on the type of sofa sleeper you buy. Traditional old couch beds were terrible to unfold. But today’s sleeper beds are designed with ease of use in mind. The inside mechanism must be robust yet light enough for one person to pull out, assemble and fold away with minimal effort.

A sofa bed with a click-clack mechanism simply requires a “click” forward of its seat back and then easily folded down as a double bed .. A sliding sofa bed requires a quick pull out of the base to set the bed cushion in place, rearrange cushions, and there you go.

Some sofas use a mattress that folds open like a brochure, with three folded pieces. You just pull out the foot of the bed, fold the seat back, and then unfold the bed. The mechanism is so easy to maneuver that you can get your kids to do it without effort.

Other sofa beds act like a futon and just fold open like a card. Put the seat back down, and it joins with the seat bottom to create a sleeping surface.

How to check the quality of a sleeper sofa?

Another question that often comes up in the discussion is how to check the quality of this piece of chosen furniture. There are a few things that could assist and help you to determine the quality of a sofa. The frame, seating support, folding mechanism, upholstery, and cushion filling influence your sofa’s level of comfort and its ability to retain its shape and stability for years to come.

Frame: check what type of wood was the sofa frame constructed out of. The best option is kiln-dried hardwood or a combination of hardwood and furniture-grade plywood. Avoid sofa beds with frames made from pine or other softwoods. Also, check the joints. They need to be glued, dowelled, and screwed. The corners can be strengthened by reinforcing blocks for extra support and strength. Hold the side frame of the sofa, and move it from side to side. Do the same for the back frame. A sturdy frame should not wobble or twist. Are the edges smooth? Rough or sharp edges could snag, causing the fabric, mattress sheets, or blankets to rip. Quality sofas have legs that are part of the frame, not just attached.

Seating support: always test the quality of seating support by sitting on a sofa before you buy it! Most sofas have sinuous, also called serpentine, springs — pre-assembled units of snaking wire. They’re nicely supportive but can press on the frame or sag over time if the metal isn’t heavy. Premium sofas often come with “eight-way hand-tied springs.” They’re comfy but expensive; some experts feel they’re no better than serpentines. Feel the springs through the upholstery — they should be close together and firm. Sofas with just webbing or mesh are uncomfortable and flimsy.

Folding mechanism: does it open and close easily? Setting it up at home will always be a pain if you can’t get the hang of opening and closing your sofa bed in the store. Your mattress should fold out in one smooth motion and have a locking bar to secure its position Squeaks, sticking, or wobbly parts are all red flags. Some sofa beds come with only one rotation bar attached to one side. On the other hand, if you are looking for top quality, then perhaps multiple rotation bars would be much better. If the mechanism looks rough, you should move on to the next sofa. The mechanism should preferably be quiet because if it makes too much noise, then you would be bothering those around you.

Upholstery: the type of upholstery used is equally important when determining the quality of the sofa. Check the piping and the seams of the sofa when you’re in the store. It should be straight and stitched tight. If you are buying a sofa for long-term use, check if the sofa covers are removable so that you can change to different fabrics to match the interior design themes you have planned.

Cushion filling: you aim to find products filled with high-density foam because lesser quality foam can start breaking down pretty quickly, and the fabric will not stay taut. Ask for 42 kg/m3 wrapped with down feathers, cotton, or polyester batting (7 to 9 years lifeline). These are reasonably priced and very comfy.

Warranties: for a good quality sofa, it is highly recommended that the sofa comes with a comprehensive warranty. The longer the warranty period, the more confidence there is from the manufacturer about the quality of materials used. Most furniture companies offer different types of warranties, subjected to normal wear conditions.

Finally, you need to sit on the sofa with the bed folded up so you can judge how it feels to sit on it (which is the way you’ll be using it most of the time).

Why is my mattress moldy?

Any mattress can mold if it gets no air circulation. You must not use your mattress on the floor or a solid piece of wood or plastic! The moisture from your body and air gets absorbed into the top or bottom of the mattress, and it can not be released. Then, it will stay in the cotton as cotton absorbs moisture and could mold. Mold needs darkness, warmth, and moisture, which describes most sleeping environments. The mistake most people make is cleaning off the mold on the surface and continuing to use the mattress. That mistake can lead to further mold growth and increased exposure to mold toxicity.