Sofa beds: How to find a size to suit your room

Sofa beds ā€“ usually, I admit, are a bit of an impulse purchase when you realise you have guests coming to stay during festivities (remember those?) or when you need seating in the box room/spare room/play room that will double as a bed for sleepovers. But, I’ve come to realise, the sofa bed should be much more than that.

With home offices springing up around the country, spare bedrooms are now serving as multi-purpose spaces, while you may need to have extra sleeping space downstairs for anyone isolating or for family members who come to stay as part of your social bubble. For me, I fall into the former category with the spare bedroom now serving as my home office – but I also need it to function as the guest room, so cue sofa bed. Also cue cosy snug for watching trashy TV (priorities!).

When it comes to sofa beds, comfort is absolutely KEY. It has to be comfy as a sofa and as a bed. Iā€™m sure Iā€™m not alone when I recall uncomfortable nights spent sleeping on a lumpy fold-out with a metal bar digging into my back?

So, check out the mattress size. A three-seater sofa bed doesnā€™t necessarily mean the mattress will be big too, so make sure youā€™re happy with the dimensions. A small double might be fine for a single sleeper, but not quite comfortable for two. If you are looking for a design to sleep guests only now and then, comfort as a seat will probably be the deciding factor. Bear in mind that a sofa bed will usually feel firmer to sit on than a standard sofa, because of the pull out or folding mechanisms for the mattress.

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Youā€™ll also need to think about size and space. Measure up where youā€™d like the sofa bed to go before you begin shopping and remember to measure for when the sofa becomes a bed too.

Style-wise, there are two main categories: sofa beds that have a retractable mattress that folds out from the front, or ā€˜clic-clacā€™ designs where the back and sides fold down into a flat platform.

There are lots of shapes, colours and fabrics to choose from, so take the time to find a one that offers what you are looking for. Donā€™t be afraid to make bold choices ā€“ why not go for a velvet upholstered style?

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Single, small double, full double and king-size options are available at different price points and different seating configurations, from armchair to corner sofa, so do shop around for a style to suit your space and dƩcor.

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Speaking of dĆ©cor, youā€™ll want to find a style that fits in with your scheme. Since the bed may not see frequent use, focus attention on the sofa style ā€“ there are plenty of fabric choices available with button details and leg options, and more. Do think about where in the house your sofa bed will go, though. If for a kids playroom, choose a hardwearing and easy-to-wipe fabric, but if itā€™s for your office (for example), you might get away with something a bit more bold and luxe.

Lastly, set your budget. As I said, there are many options available at different price points. Generally speaking, those with retractable mattresses are higher in price compared to the flat folding designs and the bigger the sofa/bed, the more you should expect to pay.

Letā€™s have a look at whatā€™s out there shall we? Iā€™ve listed them as small, medium and large designs for ease of browsing. Enjoyā€¦

Small sofa beds

sofa beds
The Crumpet love seat sofa bed, Ā£1295 from Loaf folds out to a single mattress which is 93cm wide.
Simple and squidgy: Dodo single sofa bed, ā‚¬349, Michael Murphy.
sofa beds
The Fluted medium two-seater sofa bed with dark legs and Hatton Soft Pink fabric ticks the style boxes, for sure. Ā£549, John Lewis & Partners. A clic-clac design, it measures 110cm wide when open.
Scroll for the bed view…
sofa beds
Corella daybed sofa upholstered in pink velvet, Ā£799, Cult Furniture. Simply fold down the back and you have a mattress the size of a large single or small double.
Now this is clever! Scroll for the bed view…
sofa beds
The clever people at sofa.com have created the Henry bed in box which folds out to a single mattress and then neatly away again. Shown in Oxford Blue brushed cotton, Ā£730.
Great for a chic home office, here we have Dunelm’s Elodie clic clac sofa bed in Moss Green velvet, which folds down to a small double at 108cm wide. Ā£329.

Medium sofa beds

sofa beds
Fancy some pattern? Ligne Roset’s clic-clac Berlin Loft sofa bed starts from Ā£2247 and folds down to a 140cm mattress.
Easily folding out to a double bed, the Kahlo large double sofa bed from Made is contemporary and comfortable. Ā£349.
sofa beds
Go bold, why not? The Patrick two-seater sofa bed in Canary Cotton matt velvet, costs Ā£2490 from sofa.com. With a chesterfield style when closed and a zesty colour, this is classic meets super cool.
Nice sofa. Scroll down for the bed view…
sofa beds
Folding down to a double, the Luna three-seater sofa bed costs Ā£599.99 from Oak Furniture Land.
Ohh la la ā€“ how’s this for a showstopper? Nest’s Softline Jasper sofa bed costs Ā£2372 and is sure to add wow to your space. Plus, it folds to a good-sized double bed.
sofa beds
Paris three-seater sofa bed in natural tan leather, Ā£1,999, Dwell. Easy wipe = good with the kids around!
The Nimbus deluxe sofa bed, Ā£1049, from Sofology measures 185cm wide so folds out to a good-sized double bed.

Large sofa beds

sofa beds
This Versatile small two-seater fabric chaise sofa bed with no arms is modular so can be rearranged into a double bed. Ā£1465, Furniture Village.
Easy to assemble and, importantly, put away again, the Ellington four-seater kingsize sofa bed featured classic curved arms (when as a sofa) and a fully sprung mattress. Folded out, its a king-size bed. Ā£1512, Made To Last.
sofa beds
Keep scrolling for the bed view of this sofa…
Even when folded out, Loaf’s Jonesy corner sofa bed has space to sit for a morning cuppa. Ā£2695.
sofa beds
Simply fold the two halves of My Furniture’s Berkley 6 seat sofa double day bed together and you’ve got a cosy double bed. All you need to do is add a duvet. Ā£999.99.
Jude sofa bed in House Brushed cotton in Latte, Ā£3,369, Sofa Workshop.

What do you reckon? Found one for your space? Let me know in the comments below…

Featured image: Lawson Deluxe sofa bed, from Ā£1099, Sofology.

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