Sofa Bed Buying Guide

Home Inspiration November 02, 2023

Nothing says "best of both worlds" like a sofa bed - the ultimate in efficiency, getting the most bang for your buck, maximising your space, girl maths.

Nothing says "best of both worlds" like a sofa bed - the ultimate in efficiency, getting the most bang for your buck, maximising your space, girl maths... whatever you want to call it. Two for one! But which sofa beds should you consider for your home, and how do you know what to look for?

Whether you're after one for your office space or spare room, our sofa bed buying guide will help point you in the right direction and tell you everything you need to know.

Why choose a sofa bed?

Ok let's start at the beginning, what are the benefits of buying a sofa bed (or sleeper sofa)? One of the major benefits of sofa beds is versatility - a piece of multipurpose furniture that transforms living rooms into bedrooms with just a few simple adjustments.

Our range means you've got the ultimate stylish seat ready to lounge on during the day, but are just moments away from making up a comfy bed for any unexpected guests who might need somewhere to sleep at night. Simply add some sheets, a pillow and a duvet, and you're ready to go.

They're also great for those with limited space - e.g. residents of studio apartments or people with an office/bedroom hybrid. Whereas a regular bed will always take up a significant amount of room (and be a real magnet for dumping piles of clothes and coats on), a sofa bed folds away neatly into a functional, stylish piece of furniture that takes up much less floor space than even a double bed frame, so you've still got plenty of room to move around.

The different types of sofa bed

At Sofa Club, all our sofa beds offer our signature combination of runway-ready style and effortless, efficient practicality. We've also got a range of shades, styles and sizes to choose from, so you can find the perfect fit for your home. Seriously, our range is so on trend that your guests won't even be able to tell it's a sofa bed, no matter which style you choose.

Traditional sofa beds

A classic, for a reason. These models look just like ordinary sofas, but pull out into a bed. Of course, at Sofa Club we don't do 'ordinary' - our collection includes different fabrics and sofa back options to perfectly complement your interior design, no matter which room you're styling.

Corner sofa bed

How do you make corner sofas even better? Give them even more functionality, of course! For people with a little more space, an awkwardly shaped room or just a lot of regular guests, our corner sofa beds offer the best combination of seating space for everyone and a spacious bed for whoever needs it.

Click-clack sofa beds

Click-clack sofas make catering to unexpected guests a breeze, with a clever mechanism that slots together with ease to transform a comfy chair into the perfect base for a good night's sleep.

Sofa bed sets

If you're putting your sofa bed in the lounge, or even if you're just particularly style-conscious (you're in the right place), look no further than our sofa bed sets. These packages, complete with matching footstool, help make your whole room come together, combining practicality with effortless style.

How to choose a sofa bed

This wouldn't be a sofa bed guide worth its salt if it didn't help you choose the right one. Luckily, there's plenty of choice in our collection, including a range of neutral and classic colours designed to match any decor scheme. We've also got different size options, styles and types of sofa beds, so you won't be stuck for options. Of course, that does mean you might find yourself a tad spoilt for choice...

As with all things furniture, you need to consider practicality as well as style when it comes to picking the right sofa bed. Think about which room it will go in, and what else will need to fit around it. You might be using it for extra seating in your office space, or adding it to a small spare room to save space when it's not in use. Or, you might be opting for a sofa bed in your lounge, to offer even more options when you host family Christmas or those uninvited friends pop round.

Think about the decor scheme of the room, how it will fit in the space, and what other furniture you'll need to fit around it (and potentially move when you pull it out for the mattress). Luckily, all our comfortable sofa beds look stylish and chic in any room, so you'll have plenty of options.

Are sofa beds comfortable to sit on?

Our sofa beds certainly are! More and more of us are putting up guests in lounges or repurposing the spare room as a home office, so finding the perfect combination of comfort and practicality is key. All our sofas and sofa beds are developed to feel as good as they look, so you'll be comfy whether you're sitting on it with a cuppa or settling in for the night.

Obviously, different designs and mechanisms will feel different. So, it's just like choosing a regular sofa - you'll find certain couch cushions more comfortable, and different designs better-suited to your taste (for example scatter back sofa beds vs high backs).

How to make sofa beds more comfortable

There are lots of ways to personalise your sofa and make it even more comfortable, for use as a seat or a bed. Our sofa mattresses are designed to offer a good quality of sleep and plenty of comfort, but you could add a foam pad or memory foam topper to make it even softer.

Adding extra cushions can add a pop of colour and also make any sofa even more cosy to sit on. At bedtime, add a couple of comfy pillows (or even just repurpose those sofa cushions for a plush solution).

How to measure a sofa bed

Measuring for a sofa bed is very similar to how you'd measure for a normal sofa, though you'll need to make sure you take the fully extended length into consideration.

So, start by measuring the sofa's width, height and length. You'll also want to measure any doorways or hallways to make sure the delivery will be smooth (you can check out the dimensions of each of our sofas on the product page itself).

Check how the sofa will fit in your room when it's fully pulled out - paying attention to walking space and any other furniture nearby. If you're putting the sofa near a door or under a windowsill, make sure to check there's plenty of room for access and walking around. You can use masking tape or newspaper to mark out the shape of the sofa bed in your room, to understand how it works in the space.

Check out our full edit of chic sofa beds to transform your home with the ultimate in multipurpose furniture!

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