Table of Contents
- Why Sofa Beds Are Ideal For Flexible Living
- How To Measure The Room
- How To Choose The Right Size Of The Sleeping Area
- Types of Sofa Beds and Their Conversion Process
- How to Test For Comfort
- Selecting Fabric and Easy-Care Fabrics
- Tips on Room Arrangement for Small Spaces
- How to Prepare a Sofa Bed for Visits
- Common Mistakes People Make When Buying a Sofa Bed
- A Short Guide for People Looking to Buy a Sofa Bed
- In Conclusion
A nice sofa bed can truly enhance the look of a sitting room, office, studio, or family room without needing its own dedicated bedroom for guests.
The main thing is to be able to find a model that’s suitable for sitting, that fits in when it’s open and that provides overnight guests with a place to sleep comfortably. Start by comparing size, seating needs, upholstery and style of conversion of different models to be able to find the best sleeper sofa for you at Poly & Bark after measuring your room.
Don’t forget that the best option is not always the best among all existing ones. This means that the best option is not automatically the largest model or the one with the most features. It means that the best option is the one that can support the use of an actual room where a sofa bed is placed.
A small foldable model can be suitable for an office that is used rarely, while a pull-out model with a detachable mattress can be a better option for frequent guests or long-term stays.
Why Sofa Beds Are Ideal For Flexible Living
Sofa beds can turn one room into two different rooms. When it’s daytime, it can be used for work, reading, relaxation as well as hosting guests. When it’s nighttime, it can turn into a sleeping place for a friend or a member of a family. This is perfect for those homes where a guest bedroom has to function also as an office, playroom or gaming room.
How To Measure The Room
One of the simplest ways to make a bad purchase is to measure only the length of the sofa when it is closed.
Record the wall width available, the depth of the sofa in a closed position, and the depth when the unit is opened as a bed. Measure all doorways, hallways, car lifts, staircase landings, and tight turns that may be on the way to the delivery area.
Practical Measuring Steps
- Use painter’s tape to mark the outline of the closed sofa on the floor.
- Expand the area of the tape to show the outline of the bed.
- Walk around this space and check that doors, drawers, and windows will open.
- Check that there is a way to access the bathroom and exit the room.
- Try to find out the product specifications instead of estimating the size based on the photos.
How To Choose The Right Size Of The Sleeping Area
Select the size of the sleeping area based on who will use it. For example, a single sleeping area can be appropriate for one child or a casual guest. A full-size sleeping area is enough for one adult willing to have some extra space. However, a queen size sleeping area is more appropriate for two adults.
Types of Sofa Beds and Their Conversion Process
Pull-Out Sofa Beds
Pull-out sofa beds have a mattress hidden in the frame of the sofa. They can give the feeling of a real bed but have the disadvantage of requiring enough free space in front of the sofa and conditions for the seat cushion to be removed.
Fold-Down Sofa Beds
Fold-down sofa beds convert into a bed when their backrest is lowered, their seat is opened, or the cushions are moved. They are relatively easy to set up and take up less space, thus can fit into small rooms. As the sleeping area is frequently constructed with couch cushions, it is essential to assess its levelness, stability, and the existence of any gaps.
Convertible Sectionals
Although sectionals are able to accommodate a lot of people during the day and can provide a larger bed, the way they are positioned matters a lot. Therefore, double-check whether the chaise is on the left side or the right side and measure the entire length of both the chaise and the sleeping surface.
How to Test For Comfort
Comfort must be checked in both positions. To assess the level of comfort when sitting, sit on the sofa for some time to check the height of the seat of the sofa, how well the sofa supports your back, the firmness of the cushions, and the stability of the base.
After that, extend the bed and check if the surface is flat, the support is firm and check where the joins can create problems for your body. The mechanism of transforming the sofa into a bed should be easy for a person to use. If you are able to, experiment with the sofa yourself instead of relying on somebody else’s experience.
Selecting Fabric and Easy-Care Fabrics
Choosing the type of upholstery affects both durability and cleaning requirements.
The material may create a comfortable look and possesses different colors and textures. Leather can get easily wiped after a spill, but different types of leather may require different cleaning levels and may feel different. If you have kids, animals, or a lot of guests, it is worth checking what the manufacturer recommends to do in order to clean the fabric.
Tips on Room Arrangement for Small Spaces
Before anything else, make sure you prioritize the walking space in a small room. For this, you will need to choose narrow side tables, nesting tables, and other movable furniture that you can move away when the bed is in use. Using wall-mounted lamps or book lamps prevents losing precious floor space. Furniture with various features is also valuable: the one with hidden shelves can keep all needed accessories close at hand, while concealed storage under the couch can get rid of the need to use a separate cabinet for bedclothes.
How to Prepare a Sofa Bed for Visits
- Always keep together clean sheets, pillows, blankets, and protectors for the mattress.
- Make sure that the conversion mechanism is working before the guests arrive.
- Clear the way around the open bed.
- Provide everything your guests might need: a small lamp, charging plugs for their phones, a glass of water, and a clean towel.
- Make sure the ventilation system is working before going to bed.
Common Mistakes People Make When Buying a Sofa Bed
- Not measuring the sofa when it is closed.
- Buying only on appearance without considering the comfort of the chosen model.
- Not taking into consideration delivery access and turn.
- Thinking that the bed has a standard-size mattress.
- Not thinking about how often the sofa bed is going to be opened/closed.
- Ignoring the question if there will be a spring for storing bedding.
A Short Guide for People Looking to Buy a Sofa Bed
- Will the closed sofa suit the interior design?
- Will the open bed leave enough free space in the room?
- Is the sleeping place comfortable for the guest?
- Is the sofa enough comfortable for everyday use?
- Can the conversion of the sofa bed be done with no effort?
- Is the upholstery of the sofa going to be easy to clean?
- Is there any place for putting bedding?
- Is it possible to carry the sofa to the right room easily on the delivery day?
In Conclusion
The right sofa bed is supposed to ease everyday life and provide comfort to your guests. Have the measurements and comfort options in mind and think about converting opportunities and various materials before you buy any model.
