The best sofa beds promise a handy two-in-one solution; both a sofa for relaxing and entertaining and a comfortable bed for guests. Historically, though, they have been neither. They seemed to be too firm and unyielding as a sofa and uncomfortable and creaky as a bed.
That’s a surefire recipe for back pain . But the sofa beds of today have evolved, according to interior designer Katy Raywood of Howson Design Interiors . “They used to be poorly sprung, uncomfortable additions,” she says.
“They are now comfortable, practical and easy to function.” You can also order sofa-beds flat packed now, for easy home delivery. Raywood does still only recommend them for occasional use, rather than to replace a bed full time.
This is because the mattresses are much thinner than on standard beds. But for an overnight or weekend visitor, it’s great to have the multi-functionality of a sofa and bed in one. “As an interior designer, I see many clients who need a guest room that doubles as a home office ,” says Raywood.
“The sofa bed is the ideal solution. Your workspace feels less like a bedroom – and you have more space.” But it can be hard to know which is best for you.
I spent a week testing sofa beds of various sizes around London showrooms. I tried click-clack sofa beds, where the back folds down to create a flat surface and pull-out sofa beds, which conceal a hidden mattress. (There’s more on the difference between them in our FAQ section .
) You can read my full re.
