Sofa Bed Buying Guide: How to Choose the Perfect Sofa Bed for Your Home

Dec 25, 2025

Corner Sofa Bed 3 Seater Fabric Grey with Storage Right Hand Fairbairn

Sofa beds are one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can add to your home. By day, they offer comfortable seating; by night, they transform into a bed for guests, family, or even everyday sleeping in smaller spaces.

Choosing the right sofa bed means balancing comfort, style and practicality. This guide will walk you through everything you need to consider – from size and mechanism to mattress type and room layout – so you can find the perfect sofa bed for your home.

1. Decide how you’ll use your sofa bed

Before you look at fabrics and colours, think about how often and how your sofa bed will be used.

Occasional guests

If your sofa bed will be primarily used for:

Friends staying over occasionally
Family visits a few times a year
Child sleepovers

…then you can prioritise sofa comfort first, with a good but not ultra-luxury sleeping surface.

Regular guests or frequent use

If it will be used more regularly, for example:

Regular weekend guests
Older family members staying for longer periods
As a main bed in a small studio or one-bed flat

…then you should treat it much more like a proper bed:

Pay close attention to mattress quality.
Choose a mechanism that’s easy to open and close.
Prioritise support and durability.

Knowing this upfront will guide your decisions on size, mechanism and mattress type.

2. Measure your space and room layout

Sofa beds take up more space than standard sofas once they’re unfolded, so careful measuring is essential.

Measure as a sofa and as a bed

You’ll need two key sets of measurements:

Sofa position: width, depth and height of the sofa against the wall.
Bed position: length and depth when fully opened.

Make sure you:

Check that there is enough space in front of the sofa bed for the bed to fold out.
Allow room to walk around the bed (at least 60–70 cm if possible).
Consider doors, wardrobes and drawers that might be blocked when the bed is open.

Modular Corner Sofa Bed 4 Seater Velvet Light Red Yosef

Think about the room type

Living room: Ensure the sofa bed looks good as a sofa first – this is how you’ll see it most of the time.
Guest room/office: You can choose a slightly more “bed-forward” design, as the room is built around flexibility.
Small studio: A high-quality sofa bed with a good mattress is essential, as it will be both your main sofa and your main bed.

3. Choose a sofa bed type and mechanism

There are several common sofa bed mechanisms, each with its own advantages.

Click-clack / fold-down sofa beds

These designs fold down by pushing the backrest forward and then letting it drop flat.

Quick and easy to convert.
Often more compact and great for smaller rooms.
The sleeping surface is usually the same as the seating surface.

Best for occasional use, home offices and smaller living spaces.

Pull-out / fold-out sofa beds

These sofa beds hide a separate mattress inside the base. You pull out a frame from underneath the seat and unfold it.

The mattress is separate from the seat cushions, so comfort is usually better for sleeping.
More suitable if guests stay regularly.
Often available in small double or double bed sizes.

Great for living rooms and guest rooms where sleeping comfort is important.

Corner sofa beds

Corner sofa beds or sofas with a chaise section provide:

Generous seating space during the day.
A larger sleeping area at night.
Often integrated storage in the chaise for bedding and pillows.

These are ideal for families and open-plan living rooms where you want both a large sofa and an occasional bed.

Deantrei Left Hand Fabric Corner Sofa Bed with Storage Taupe

4. Consider mattress type and sleeping comfort

If your sofa bed will be used for anything more than the occasional night, mattress quality is crucial.

Foam mattress

Lightweight and easy for mechanisms to manage.
Comfortable for short stays and occasional guests.
Higher-density foam offers better long-term support.

Look for good-quality foam rather than very thin or soft padding.

Sprung or pocket-sprung mattress

Closer to the feel of a traditional bed.
Better for regular use and longer stays.
Provides more even support across the body.

These are often found in higher-end pull-out sofa beds and are worth considering if comfort is a priority.

Seat cushions as a mattress

On some designs (especially click-clack and futon-style sofa beds), the seat and back cushions themselves form the sleeping surface.

Comfort depends heavily on the quality and thickness of the cushions.
Best for occasional use or younger guests.

Where possible, check the thickness and firmness of the sleeping surface and consider adding a mattress topper for extra comfort.

5. Choose the right size and seating capacity

Think about how many people will sit and sleep on the sofa bed.

As a sofa

2-seater sofa beds – ideal for smaller living rooms, guest rooms and home offices.
3-seater sofa beds – better for main living rooms where the sofa is used daily.
Corner sofa beds – best for larger spaces and families who want lots of seating.

As a bed

Small double – comfortable for one adult or two for short stays.
Standard double – better for two adults, especially for longer stays.

When you browse the **Sofa Beds collection**, check both the sofa width and the bed size in the product description so you know exactly how it will function in your room.

6. Fabrics, finishes and care

Your sofa bed fabric needs to look good as a sofa and be practical for sleeping.

Fabric sofa beds

Soft, comfortable and available in many colours.
Great for family homes and relaxed living rooms.
Consider stain-resistant or easy-clean fabrics if you have children or pets.

Velvet sofa beds

Luxurious look and feel – perfect for more glamorous interiors or guest rooms.
Darker velvets hide marks better, but all velvet needs a little more care.
Works beautifully as a statement piece.

Faux leather / leather-look sofa beds

Easy to wipe clean – good for high-traffic spaces.
Gives a sleek, modern feel.
It can feel cooler to the touch, which some people prefer.

Whichever fabric you choose, think about:

Other furniture in the room – do you want the sofa bed to match or contrast your main sofa?
How often it will be slept on – lighter fabrics may show marks more quickly.
Care instructions – check the product details for cleaning guidance.

Modular U-Shape Sofa Bed 5 Seater Fabric Taupe Amaron

7. Layout ideas for different rooms

Where you put your sofa bed will influence which model works best.

Living room layout

Place the sofa bed where it feels natural as a sofa first.
Make sure there’s enough room to pull the bed out without moving lots of furniture.
Side tables or light, moveable coffee tables are helpful – heavy pieces are harder to shift at night.

Guest room/home office

In a dual-purpose room:

Position the sofa bed along the longest wall, so it can easily unfold into the centre of the room.
Keep storage pieces (wardrobe, chest of drawers, desk) accessible even when the bed is open.
Use wall-mounted shelves to save floor space.

Small flats and studios

For studio living:

Invest in the best quality sofa bed you can, as it will be used daily.
Choose a neutral fabric that works with both daytime and nighttime styling.
Use rugs and lighting to create a sense of “living zone” by day and “bedroom zone” by night.

Sofa Bed Light Grey Elina

8. Choosing your sofa bed with SOOXOS

A well-chosen sofa bed can completely transform how you use your home, turning a living room, office or spare room into a comfortable guest space whenever you need it.

When selecting a sofa bed, remember to:

Decide how often it will be used for sleeping.
Measure both the sofa and the bed dimensions carefully.
Choose a mechanism and mattress type that match your needs.
Pick a fabric and style that fit your existing décor.

At SOOXOS, our SOFA BEDS COLLECTION includes:

Compact 2-seater sofa beds for smaller rooms.
Generous 3-seater and corner sofa beds with integrated storage.
Styles range from modern minimal to cosy, upholstered designs.
A choice of fabrics and finishes to suit modern UK homes.

Explore our sofa bed range to find the design that will bring comfort, flexibility and style to your home – day and night.

Sofa Bed 3 Seater Boucle Brown with Storage Ellie

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