What to Consider Before Buying a Sleeper Sofa

Whether you call it a sleeper sofa or a sofa bed, this is one of the most functional pieces of furniture you can own. A convertible sofa in your living room is one way to overcome space limitations. It lets you turn any room into a guest room or even a bedroom for yourself if you live in a studio apartment.

Although the terms sleeper sofa and sofa bed are interchangeable, a sleeper sofa usually has a hidden mattress that must be pulled out. In contrast, a sofa bed's seat cushions are flattened, or pillows are removed to reveal a sleeping surface.

Here's what you need to know before you buy a sleeper sofa for your home.

Before Buying Your Sleeper Sofa

A sleeper sofa offers dual functionality, but evaluate your needs and whether you'll need an extra bed before buying. Its greatest attribute is its versatility.

A sleeper sofa is a great purchase if you have occasional overnight guests and don't have a separate guest room. It's much more comfortable than an air mattress. They're also great for sitting on while watching TV, reading a book, or relaxing. But, if you rarely host guests and have your bed, the extra cost and its heft might not be necessary.

However, a sleeper sofa is an excellent solution if you're sure another sleeping surface is needed for occasional use.

Buying Considerations for a Sleeper Sofa

Space

Sleeper sofas are multifunctional pieces that can be a good purchase for your home—but only if you buy the right size for your space. You will need to consider whether the sofa will fit into your space when fully open and whether it has enough room for non-toe-stubbing foot traffic when fully extended.

Limited Space: A twin-size sofa bed might be the perfect answer if you have a very small space. These are less than 5 feet wide and great for sleeping one person. The mattress for a twin-size sleeper sofa can run up to 39 inches wide.

Opened up, the length can be around 54 inches wide and 85 inches long. These sleepers are sometimes called chairs and half beds or chair beds. Don't expect them to be any cheaper because of the size. They should not be considered for affordability but for their suitability for smaller rooms.

Large Space: A queen-size sleeper sofa is the most widely available when space is not an issue. You can easily find queen-sized sleepers in different styles and fabrics and with your preferred type of mattress. There is a great deal of variety available in this size.

A queen-size sleeper sofa can easily seat three and provide a comfortable bed for two people. The entire sofa, from arm to arm, can measure approximately 84 inches wide. When the bed is opened up, the sofa, from the back to the end of the mattress, can measure 90 inches long, depending on the piece's design.

Sofa Bed Mattress Size

Sofa beds come in many sizes in a number of formats, from ottoman pull-outs to sectionals. A full-size sleeper sofa is what you need if it will be used every night, even if you have a tiny space. An adult might find a twin-sized sleeper too small and restricting for everyday use, and, in a pinch, a full-size sleeper can even sleep two. But again, if two people are going to use it regularly, the full-sized sleeper might not be comfortable or spacious enough.

For sitting, the size of a full-sized sleeper is between the size of a sofa and a love seat, unlike an apartment sofa, so it is still a good option for smaller spaces and apartments.

Will It Fit in the Door?

Even if you know the sofa's dimensions will fit in the room, you must measure the doorways, hallways, and turning radius. The sofa's depth and width must be smaller than your main entrance and pass through all the doors and hallways to reach its final destination. If the sofa comes boxed, it might need to be removed from the packaging to get inside. Check the heights of boxes or packaging to see if it's noted.

Also, walk the path length in your home that the sofa will travel before it reaches its spot. If you live in a building with an elevator, check that it can clear the elevator doors or stairwells. Hallways and door frames might also be too narrow, so double-check.

Sleeper Sofa Mattress Types

While its functionality is important, consider your needs before buying a sleeper sofa. Carefully consider whether it will be primarily used as a bed or for seating.

If you plan to use it as the primary sleeping surface, look into the type of mattress that comes with it. Sleepers come with more mattresses than they did years ago, making it easier to find your preferred mattress type. A sofa mattress's standard height (or thickness) is 4.5 inches. Here are the types of sleeper sofa mattresses available:

• Gel memory foam: A cushiony but firm feel with a cooler sleep than traditional memory foam that may work for every night use
• Traditional memory foam: Ideal for pressure point relief but sleeps warmer than gel
• Polyurethane foam: An affordable, high-density foam mattress may be best at eliminating the feel of the mechanism
• Air over coil: Also called an air mattress or hybrid mattress, the inflatable air bladder on top of coils might give you a more comfortable, customized sleep, but it may need additional maintenance (using an air pump)
• Innerspring: The traditional, standard coil mattress with padding for sleeper sofas that are used infrequently
• Latex: A firm, hard feel and made from eco-friendly materials

Other Considerations

Buying a sleeper sofa is a substantial purchase. Here are a few other things to consider before buying:

• Budget: For many people, budget is a limiting factor that helps rule out a lot (in either direction). Determine what you can spend, and remember to factor in customization costs, tax, shipping, delivery tips (if using white-glove service), or assembly fees. Also, if deterred by the price, consider buying around major holidays when the furniture stores may run sales.
• Futon versus armless versus trundle or folding sofa: If a pull-out sofa is too costly or large, consider a futon (less expensive); an armless sleeper, also called a click-clack sofa bed (smaller); a compact trundle sofa (like a trundle bed); or a closer-to-the-floor folding foam mattress without a mechanism.
• Mechanism: Today's mechanisms are built with more comfort from better decking material, anti-tilt design, minimal bars and springs, and out-of-the-way tubular legs, but check to see if anything is sticking out or uncomfortable or may create a hazard.
• Easy setup: A higher-quality sleeper sofa typically has a better interior mechanism, which makes it easier to open and close, but try it out several times on the retail floor, if possible, before purchasing.
• Sectional sleeper sofas: Before choosing a sectional sleeper, see if the mattress is in the chaise or the regular portion of the sofa, which will determine the mattress size and storage options.
• Comfort: Last but not least, it's always best to sit and rest on a sleeper in both positions before purchasing; it should be as comfortable to sit on as it is to sleep on.
• Fabric: Certain materials, like a high-performance material artificially designed to withstand wear and stains or leather upholstery, will last the longest. Fabrics like silk or linen are harder to clean or more prone to fading. Other options include wool blends, velvet, cotton blends, and synthetic fabrics.
• Filling: In addition to the mattress type, consider the sofa cushioning and whether you want a firm, sinking, or firm but cushy seat. Sofa filling can be made of downfill, fiberfill, foam, or spring coils. Some sofas use a combination of these fill options.
• Quality check: You want a sofa to last at least 10 years, but it will only last long if it's well-made. Sleeper sofas serve a dual purpose, so there's a high chance it will get a lot of use. Look for a solid wood base frame as a sign of quality. Plywood, medium-density fiberboard, and particleboard are less reliable. Also, look at the joinery, which should not be only glue and dowels; good sofas will also have screws to fortify the joints.
  

Types of Sleeper Sofas

Pull-out Couches

The pull-out couch is one that you might be most familiar with. This type of sleeper sofa has a real mattress. To open it up for sleeping, you remove the cushions and pull on a handle or bar to lift it out and fold the bed. Some models will have a lock (button) you push to release the bed, while more expensive ones use a power mechanism to extend out the mattress. A pull-out couch can come in small and large models. They tend to take up more room than other types when open.

Sofa Beds

This type of sleeper sofa folds down into a bed. Like a futon, the mattress for sleeping on is the cushion you use to sit and rest your back on. Unlike the pull-out couch, a sofa bed has no cushions to move out of the way.

Futon

Futons fold out flat and transform into a place to sleep. They come in various sizes, from twin to queen, and can be made of metal, wood, or a combination. Mattresses for futons come in different thicknesses, and if you use them a lot for sleeping, you will want to get a thicker mattress, around 8 inches or more.

Daybed

Most daybeds look like twin beds, usually with pillows along the back (one long side). Some have railings around three sides, with the two short-side railings often serving as armrests. These mattresses do not need pulling out or transforming; however, some have trundle beds that can roll out from under the top bed. These are usually favored in children's rooms, dual-purpose offices, and guest rooms or dens.

Sectional Sleeper Sofas

A sectional sleeper sofa is great for larger rooms and can have a foldout type of sleeper or a trundle bed style that pulls out. These usually are equipped with queen-size or even king-size mattresses. The sleeper portion can also be located in the chaise section of the sectional, offering a smaller—usually twin-size—sleeping arrangement.

Sleeper Sofa Styles

Sleeper sofas can come in all styles, suiting many design aesthetics from classic, timeless styles to throwbacks from a different era. These styles reflect the most popular sofa types, including:

• English roll arm: These sofas have low, curved arms, a sloped, tight back, usually a deep seat, and a curved bottom frame.
• Tuxedo: These boxier sofas have slightly curved arms that are the same height as the back.
• Sectional: These modular pieces often come with pullouts, recliners, or a long chaise-style end of the sectional that can double as a bed.
• Lawson: This style has a boxy look with low rolled or square arms and crisp, tailored lines.
• Midcentury modern: This style emerged in the 1950s and 60s. Like the Lawson style, it has a streamlined look, a rectangular shape, bare tapered legs, and a tufted back.
• Chesterfield: Tufting and nail-head accents define this distinctive look. It is usually made of leather but can be upholstered in all types of fabrics. The arms meet the height of the back.
• Camelback: This style is a traditional style, with the "camelback" referring to the curve of the sofa back rising up like a camel hump.

Cost

Like other pieces of furniture, sleeper sofas vary in cost due to how they are made, their size, their type, the manufacturer, and the materials used. On average, a sleeper sofa will cost around $600 to $5,000 and maybe more.

A small sleeper sofa will run around $600 to $1,000, while a queen-size sleeper sofa or sectional sleeper will hit the higher end. Various features, such as a power option, will increase the price even more.

If you can hold off on purchasing one, watch around the holidays for sales, including Memorial Day, Presidents Day, Labor Day, and other special days, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Of course, these are popular times for other people to buy, too, so shop early to avoid missing out on the sleeper sofa you want.

How to Choose a Sleeper Sofa

There are several choices for sleeper sofas available, and it all comes down to your personal preference. Find something you like that fits and looks well in the allotted space and that you can afford. Questions to ask yourself as you start your search for a sleeper sofa are:

How Will Your Sleeper Sofa Be Used?

Take the time to determine how your sleeper sofa will be used once you bring it home. Will it be in the main living room and used daily for sitting? Or will it be in an office or spare room and used when guests come to stay occasionally? You might also use it when someone in the family is ill and needs to sleep in a separate room to avoid spreading the illness to others.

If it is used frequently, make sure that it is comfortable to sit for long periods, easy to get up from, matches with other furniture and decor in the room, and suits everyone in the family.

Also, check how comfortable the mattress is for sleeping on. Nothing is worse than being unable to sleep due to a mattress that is too thin, lumpy, hard, or soft.

What Size Room Will the Sleeper Sofa Be In?

The size of the room will be a factor when selecting a sleeper sofa. Can the sofa bed be pulled out without disturbing any other furniture in the room? Will you have to move some furniture around or even move it out of the room when you open up the bed to use it? How tight a fit will it be for you or your guest to walk around the sofa bed when it is open?

What Does the Rest of the Room Look Like?

Look around the room where you will be placing the sleeper sofa to determine what color will work best or if you want one with a pattern or design. A solid color works well in just about any space, and you can throw on some bright patterned pillows for an accent.

Where to Shop

A sleeper sofa is an expensive purchase that should be made at a reputable furniture retailer. Many prefer to see it in person, touch it, sit on it, and examine its construction before purchasing it.

Buying in-Store

When you are browsing around in the store, don't hesitate to ask a salesperson questions. That's why they are there. Ask away. Take your time, and sit on as many sleeper sofas as you want.

Inspect how they're made, how easy it is to pull the bed in and out, test the arms, and feel the cushion padding and material. Also, always look for the UFAC (Upholstered Furniture Action Council) tag, which certifies that the sofa has been made according to UFAC methods.

Buying Online

Buying a sleeper sofa online doesn't allow viewing it in person, so you must research. Check out reviews and any information you can find about the couch. If you've spent some time in a store before looking online, you can search for a sleeper sofa that you liked in the store and compare prices to see which way might be best to buy it.

When buying online, the best way to protect yourself is to ensure the return policy is easy and not saddled with hidden fees if it arrives and looks poor quality, broken, or does not match or fit in your home.

Where to Buy a Sleeper Sofa

You can purchase a sleeper sofa from most furniture stores and online sellers. Read the fine print about delivery options, the retailer's reputation, and the return policy. Cover all your bases so you can feel confident buying one that fits your style, comfort, and price.