See our updated → 2015 Annual Guide to Best Sleeper Sofas & Sofa Beds This is my fifth Best of list for this category, and it's the biggest. The good news is that sofa beds are getting A LOT more comfortable and the options are much better at multiple price points. The list also reflects a great deal more intelligence because Aaron's been going to showrooms and testing a lot of sofa beds. Take a look at my list, but don't miss the comments on the past lists as well. There's a lot more meat on the bone where the comments are living. Got your own suggestion? Add it to the comments of this year's post. >> Mostra Sofa Bed by Ligne Roset ($5655) - New last year and designed by Didier Gomez, the Mostra is unassuming in presence and has one of the easiest transitions from sofa to bed we've ever experienced. It uses a patented Lampolet mechanism that takes care of the heavy lifting. Remarkably, all the cushions stay on the sofa as it transforms to a bed — meaning you don't have to have a place to store them.
>> Soto Sleeper Sofa from DWR ($4600) - Designed by Jeffrey Bernett, this sofa bed for DWR is part of the Soto family of upholstered seating which includes a sleeper sofa, sleeper chair and storage ottoman. The Sleeper Sofa is a meticulously designed sofa bed that is one of the best we've seen and experienced. >> Reese Sleeper from Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams ($3220 - 20% discount right now) - For a few different styles, Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams are a good option and offer 15 sleepers with a traditional spring mattress. I chose to show the Reese because it's the most unusual sleeper design I saw, as well as being very svelte. >> Nomade Express from Ligne Roset ($3610) - A classic design with simple action, the quilted back folds down to give you a nice big bed surface with no springs or bars. >> Havana Sleeper Sofa from DWR ($3500) - Aaron really likes this because it's big and low with storage. >> James Lounge Sofabed by Gus Modern ($1695) - The James Lounge is the only convertible sofa from Gus Modern.
Similar to the classic George Nelson daybed, it's a simple design that is a quick transition from armless sofa to twin sized mattress. >> Natasha Comfort Sleeper by American Leather ($2599) - Not just about leather anymore (though they do have plenty if you want it), AL has made a name for themselves in the sleeper category with the patentedTiffany 24/7 platform sleep system, which removes the springs and bars to create a totally even sleeping surface. It can also be topped with Tempurpedic foam. There are eight other designs in their Comfort Sleeper line. >> Pierce Sleeper at Room & Board ($2699) - Room & Board offers some exclusive designs with the Comfort Sleeper platform system which is made by American Leather. >> Twighlight Sofa from DWR ($1880) - A very popular solution, this daybed design is slim and modern, without any fuss. >> Metro Sleeper from Room & Board ($1899) - A classic design that can be customized with fabric or stain and a more affordable air coil inflatable mattress: "The mattress features a combination of supportive coils topped with an inflatable air chamber for customizable comfort."
>> One Night Stand from Blu Dot ($1799) - This is a great new solution, which takes mid-century styling and has it fold open to make a bed in a cool way. >> Flat Out Sofabed by Blu Dot ($1099) - Blu Dot's other sofa bed option — Flat Out — combines the company's felt-like upholstery and straightforward, modern aesthetic into a multipurpose piece at one of their lowest price points for a sofa. >> Flex Sofa from CB2 ($999) - Similar to the Nomade, but at a fraction of the price, this is a nice budget solution. >> Troy Sleeper Sofa from Crate & Barrel ($1399) - Very traditional design with a bi-fold innerspring mattress. It consistently gets high marks. >> Manstad Sectional Sofa Bed & Storage from IKEA ($899) - MANSTAD packs a lot of punch — it's a (1) small scale sectional sofa that's also a (2) bed and (3) storage. While there are options for sectionals with built in beds, few are this small, this inexpensive and few are designed to take advantage of the full footprint.
• Sofa Sleeper of the Week - Reviews by Aaron • Best Sleeper Sofas & Sofa Beds - 2009 - 23 Comments • Best Sleeper Sofas & Sofa Beds 2008 - 2008 - 26 Comments • Top 10: Sleeper Sofas / Sofa Beds - 2007 - 44 Comments • Sleepers in SeattleNeed to give friends and family a comfortable place to sleep, or like to lie down while watching movies on the weekend? When you're about to invest in a sofa bed, it's a good idea to find out all you can before laying down your money so you can get one that's as comfortable and convenient as your budget can manage. Of course, you can always buy a cheap and uncomfortable one if you'd prefer the relatives didn't stay! When you start thinking about sofa bed shopping, it's often because the need for one is arriving imminently! Let us take the work out of choosing by giving you a rundown of the options available. A bi-fold will be more comfortable because it has fewer folds, meaning it allows a thicker mattress. They're also a little easier to set up.
We reckon a bi-fold is the way to go. Hardwood is more expensive than pine, and "kiln dried" hardwood means moisture has been removed, minimising future warping – although, as a rough guide, this will add at least $500 to the price of the sofa bed. However, whether it's kiln dried or not, a hardwood frame should last a lifetime as long as it's well constructed. Test the mechanism in the shop, both pulling out the bed frame and pushing it back in. If it's too hard, keep looking, but bear in mind it can get easier once you get the knack and the joints loosen up. Check the padding by kneading the frame along the back rails and arms, as hard or sharp edges indicate skimpy padding which is best avoided – it will last a shorter time and will be uncomfortable when you're sitting in the sofa position. Your choice of fabric can substantially alter the price of a sofa bed. But unfortunately, the cost of fabric isn't a reliable guide to its quality. For example, big retailers can keep prices down on popular fabrics due to mass-production and buying power, whereas more expensive fabrics may have racked up their costs due to lower production rates and consequent loss of economies of scale.
Also, some commercial-grade fabrics (for use in cinemas or offices, say) can be tough but cheap, while more expensive ones may be fairly delicate. As a guide to quality, when you're in the shop ask for fabric samples or swatches, so you can give the fabric a better appraisal than you could by just looking at the finished product. Come home to clean floors with a robot vacuum cleaner that's up to the job. We compare models from iRobot, Samsung and more in our to find the best. A common complaint with sofa beds is that you can feel the support bars through the mattress. To avoid this, test them in the shop first – your guests will thank you! Different types of mattress to consider include inner-spring, foam, futons and inflatables. Foam sofa beds range from very basic and cheap, to memory-foam models costing well over $1000. With the basic models, their price is their main advantage; they might not be the most comfortable, but are reasonably long-lasting and can be a great option for kids.
If you regularly have guests and want to give them the royal treatment, a more expensive memory foam sofa bed could be worth investigating. Inner-spring mattresses are generally more comfortable than basic foam mattress, and aren't necessarily much more expensive. Rotate the mattress periodically to prolong its life. You can add a "topper" to make a mattress thicker, but you'll have to store it somewhere. Futons can be an inexpensive and long-lasting sofa bed option, but are fairly firm so they might be best for guests who prefer sleeping on a firm bed. Turn the futon over and air it regularly to keep it in good shape. There are also inflatable sofa beds, which are basically sofa bed versions of an air mattress. They're not necessarily a good option for daily use as a sofa as they probably won't last, but they're a cheap and portable option for when guests turn up, and they offer more functionality than a basic air mattress. They are generally easy to deflate and pack away afterwards.