A sofa bed combines two essential pieces of furniture in one – it’s a settee with a fold-out bed hidden underneath. It’s perfect for putting up friends or rellies overnight at a moment’s notice; or, if you’re living in a smaller studio, it’s a great way to squeeze both a couch and bed into a limited space.
Don’t be put off by visions of the bad old days, when sofa beds tended to be cumbersome and rock-hard. Today, many are just as comfortable and durable as a standalone sofa or an actual bed. Plus, there’s more choice than ever, from mattress types to measurements and fillings to fabrics. Read on to discover the best sofa beds, and what to look out for when buying one.
Buying guide
What types of sofa beds are there?
With a metal-action frame, the mattress and bed frame fold out from inside the body of the sofa. This is great for comfortable sleeping because there’s enough space underneath to fit a fuller mattress.
A “clic-clac” design is simpler, and better for smaller spaces. Here, the base cushion of the sofa clicks forward and the back part lies flat. Whichever design you choose, the ideal sofa bed should fold out in one smooth motion, without squeaking or sticking.
A third option is a futon: these work in different ways depending on the type of frame. For example, you might fold the back panel of the sofa down to convert into a bed frame, then place the mattress on top.
How important is size?
Very – and don’t just think about how much space a sofa bed will take up as a settee. You need to be sure there’s space for you to fully open it out. Check the dimensions of the whole structure, not just the mattress dimensions. Think about how you’re going to get it into place, too: check doorways, hallways and stairwells to ensure it will fit through.
Other considerations
A big question is how often you intend to use your sofa bed, for either sitting or sleeping. If it’s going to be your main sofa, it needs to be robust and durable, particularly if you have a family or pets. Make sure it looks the part, too: if it’s going to be the centrepiece of your living room, you don’t want something that looks like a folded-up bed.
If your sofa bed is going to be frequently used as a bed, then you’ll want a good-quality mattress. For more occasional use, you may be able to make do with a medium-quality mattress, perhaps with a mattress topper for extra comfort. Remember, a thicker mattress isn’t necessarily better – a slimmer one may actually offer more support, depending on how it’s engineered. The ultimate in comfort comes from a pocket-sprung mattress (with as many springs as possible), but memory foam also suits some people well, moulding to the shape of their body. Also bear in mind that wooden slatted and webbed mechanisms tend to offer better support than trampoline types.
1. Sofa Workshop Jude: Best sofa bed for a corner
Price when reviewed:£2,409
Handmade in Britain, the Jude has a durable hardwood frame, solid beech feet (which can be stained light or dark) and foam seat cushions with fibre-filled back cushions. These provide great support and are low-maintenance.
What’s really distinctive about the Jude is its corner design. It comes in two mirror-image versions, so you can make sure it fits your room layout. There’s also huge choice when it comes to fabrics, and you can even use your own – if you’ve found some upholstery fabric you like in John Lewis (as long as it’s plain), for example. It looks great with the matching footstool, although that will set you back another £361.
Not only is the Jude attractive, it’s one of the best beds we’ve tested, both in terms of comfort and support. And if you’re worried your doorway is too small, you can remove the arms for access.
Key specs – Dimensions: 92 x 269 x 175cm (HWD); Mattress size: 183 x 133 x D11cm (LWD); Mattress type: pocket-sprung; Number of fabrics available: 1,000+; Warranty: 15 years for frame
2. Ikea Lycksele Lövås: Perfect for limited budgets
Price when reviewed:£175
If you don’t want to spend a lot on your sofa bed, this humble option from Ikea is just the thing. It has a removable, washable cover and the foam mattress moulds to your body and is nice and thick.
While it doesn’t quite as look as swanky as some of the more expensive sofa beds in our roundup, we like the understated, minimalist appearance and clean lines. With the covers available in six colours – plus extra ones available to buy separately – you can easily match it to your décor and give your room a new look whenever you like.
Key specs – Dimensions: 87 x 142 x 100cm (HWD); Mattress size: 188 x 140 x 10cm (LWD); Mattress type: foam; Number of fabrics available: 1 (6 colours available); Warranty: 10 years
3. Futon Company Oke three-seater sofa: Best futon
Price when reviewed:£949
The Futon Company was the first futon shop to open in the UK in 1980. It now has 21 branches across the country, with a wide range to suit all budgets – our favourite being the Oke 3-seater.
The Oke’s solid oak frame looks smart and, unlike many futons, offers good lumbar support, with a nice high back. The cotton/polyester filling makes for a supportive mattress and the lack of springs means it will last well. Heavier folk can upgrade to include an extra supportive layer in the mattress – or, if you prefer a softer mattress, there’s a new fluffy option with an extra malleable layer.
There are also plenty of great extras available, including a drawer to go underneath, cushions and table. Our only caveat is that the angular corners aren’t great if you’ve got young children around.
Key specs – Dimensions: 81 x 203 x 100cm (HWD); Mattress size: 190 x 136 x 15cm+ (LWD) (depending on mattress type – there are 3); Mattress type: cotton and polyester blend; Number of fabrics available: 4 (17 colours available); Warranty: 1 year
4. Innovation Recast sofa with pocket-sprung mattress: An easy-fold sofa bed with eye-catching retro styling
Price when reviewed:£899
The Recast’s design says Scandinavia all over – and sure enough, this sturdy sofa bed is handmade in Denmark, by a company that’s been going since 1972.
Of all the sofa beds we’ve tried, this is one of the quickest to fold out – you simply pull out the base and drop down the back. And because the mattress is pocket-sprung, it’s comfortable, albeit quite firm – if you prefer a bit more give, you might want to add a mattress topper. The fabric is top-notch quality and hard-wearing, but be warned there’s a lot of depth in sitting mode, which doesn’t suit everyone.
There’s enough room for a duvet in the storage space – handy for when unexpected overnight guests descend on you. It’s a shame there are only two fabrics available, though, and you have to assemble the whole thing yourself, which takes around 90 minutes.
Key specs – Dimensions: 63 x 200 x 96cm (HWD); Mattress size: 220 x 140 x 14cm (LWD); Mattress type: pocket sprung; Number of fabrics available: 1 (2 colours available); Warranty: 2 years (frame and mechanism have lifetime warranty)
5. Loaf Cloud sofa bed: Best sink-into sofa
Price when reviewed:£1,595
Cloud by name, cloud by nature – this laidback, slouchy sofa is the settee of choice for those who want to sink into the softest, squashiest and cosiest seating at the end of a hard day. The box edges give it a chic, contemporary and tidy finish, while the seats are made from feather-wrapped foam, with feather-filled back cushions.
There are two sizes available – medium and large – plus a wealth of fabric choices, including herringbone, wool, a wide range of linens, cottons and velvets. There’s also an option for loose covers, which can be removed and washed – good for anyone with younger kids and dogs – and if you still can’t decide, then you can find your own.
The metal action pull-out system works with a firm tug from the front, but although the mattress is padded with wool and cotton and the bed has wooden slats, the open coil filling isn’t ideal for light-sleeping couples, as the springs move as one unit.
Key specs – Dimensions: 76 x 190 x 95cm (HWD); Mattress size: 180 x 135 x 12cm (LWD); Mattress type: open coil, padded with wool and cotton; Number of fabrics available: 156; Warranty: 10 years
6. Made Fletcher: Best for everyday use
Price when reviewed:£1,299
Made’s clever folding mechanism makes it effortless to switch the Fletcher between modes. The whole thing glides seamlessly from sofa to bed in one swift action, with the back cushions staying attached when it’s pulled out. It's designed to be slept on every night – so it’s perfect for studios – with a memory foam or pocket sprung mattress available. Some people may find the former too hot at night, since it moulds to the shape of your body, but the latter offers a great balance of support and comfort. The clean lines of the design give an elegant finish; we only wish it were available in more than two colours.
Key specs – Dimensions: 87 x 189 x 102cm (HWD); Mattress size: L190cm x W140cm x D14cm; Mattress type: memory foam or pocket sprung; Number of fabrics available: 1 (2 colours available); Warranty: none
7. Willow & Hall Foxham love seat sofa: Best for compact spaces
Price when reviewed:£861
Willow & Hall is a brand that stands for luxury, and most of its sofa beds feel on a different level to anything else on the market. If you get a chance to visit the company’s Chiswick showroom, do – the staff are hugely knowledgeable, and that’s a boon when you start to realise the number of choices you have to make. You can take your pick of mattress type (pocket sprung, open springs and memory foam), cushions (from luxury ones to harder-wearing everyday designs), under-seat storage, and of course fabrics.
For us, the standout piece is this Foxham love seat, which is great for popping into a small alcove in the living room. Not sure about the design? Check out the company's large selection of other love seats, all ideal for more compact living spaces.
Key specs – Dimensions: 90 x 130 x D90cm (HWD); Mattress size: H54cm x W95cm L182cm; Mattress type: 3 types available (open sprung, memory foam, pocket sprung); Number of fabrics available: 130; Warranty: 10 years on wood frame
