How to Choose a Great Sofa Bed

The sofa bed is a fabulous invention. Unlike other temporary bedding, a sofa bed looks like a regular sofa. It's perfectly at home in your lounge, and requires no additional storage.

Yet an unexpected guest for the night is no problem, because your sofa will magically transform into a bed in seconds.

Of course, there's a world of difference between the best and worst sofa beds. And it pays to choose wisely, because the best sofa beds work as well as any sofa while being as comfortable as any bed. That's some achievement!

There are 4 main areas to consider when choosing your sofa bed. They are...

• Comfort
• Size
• Fabric
• Ease of use

Comfort:

Cheap sofa beds tend to come with low-cost mattresses that don't properly support adults through the night. The end result is a poor night's sleep, and grouchy guests the following day! Make sure you find out how thick the mattress is, and what it's made of. Look for one with a mattress that is 10cm (4 inches) thick, and sprung with super loop back springs (for extra comfort).

It's likely you'll spend more time sitting on your sofa bed than lying on it, so make sure the cushions are comfortable too.

The best sofa bed I've slept in was called 'The Lavinia'. There's a world of difference between the comfort it provided, and the one in my old flat! In the world of sofa beds, you tend to get what you pay for.

Size:

The sofa has to fit both as a sofa and a bed. It's essential that you obtain the dimensions in bed form, and make sure it will fit properly. Remember, you have to be able to access it to unfold and refold it. A tight fit is not recommended.

Fabric:

As with regular sofas, there are usually a wide variety of fabrics to choose from. Linen is hard wearing, which can be useful in a sofa bed. Remember, it will be folded and unfolded over the course of its life.

If you opt for a light colour, I recommend you have it treated to make it water and stain resistant. A little extra cost now could pay for itself over and over again. Especially if you have kids.

Ease of use:

A good sofa bed will be easy to fold and unfold. The best of them require little effort, and can be handled easily by almost anybody.

If possible, try converting it from sofa to bed and back again right there in the store. You want to make sure nothing sticks, the motion is smooth, and no wrenching is required.