Too many sofa beds fall short of being useful as either a sofa or a bed. With firm cushions, bad support, thin mattresses and clunky mechanisms, they’re usually not met with great enthusiasm by house guests. Thankfully, there’s a whole new breed of bed designs that solve the problem, with those at the top of the range being so comfortable they’re good for use every day. As always with large furniture pieces, think about size, access to your home, and guarantees that indicate sturdiness and good craftsmanship. 1. Willow and Hall Appley 2-seater Sofa Bed: from £554, Willow and Hall This small but comfortable bed from Willow and Hall folds out easily by pulling the wheeled base. Good for spare rooms and studies, the two-seater version is 122cm wide, and the armless design means it’s good for getting through small doorways. The frame is steel, and the cushions are foam and fibre. It’s available in 90 different fabrics and leathers, and is handmade and delivered in four and five weeks.
2. Sofa Workshop Jude Corner Sofa Bed: from £1,994, Sofa Workshop More of a sofa with an added bonus, the Jude sofa bed hasn’t compromised on comfort in order to discreetly include a pull-out double bed within its design. Made by hand in Britain, the sofa bed has a 15-year guarantee, a hardwood frame, foam seat cushions with fibre-filled back cushions and a deluxe double mattress that will give your guest a good night’s sleep. 3. John Lewis Clapton Sofa Bed: £349, John Lewis Great for small budgets and spaces, the petite Clapton sofa bed simply folds flat to go from day to night, rather than involving a bulky pull-out mechanism. The hardwood frame is guaranteed for 10 years – a good investment for a small price. Best for occasional use, the bed is a compact 182cm x 109cm when flat, and may need a mattress topper for added comfort. 4. Habitat Honovi Sofa: £1,700, Habitat If you’re dead set on impressing guests, the Italian-made Honovi sofa from Habitat is a three-seater that converts to the equivalent of a kingsize bed, with a luxurious 14cm-deep sprung foam mattress.
Foam is used for the deep seats cushions, and feather-filled for the back. The covering fabric is removable (dry clean only), making it practical too. Delivery takes eight to 10 weeks. 5. Loaf Pavilion Medium Sofa Bed: £1,445, Loaf The slouchy design of Loaf’s beds and sofas put comfort first, with deep seats and feather-filled back cushions across the range. The Pavilion sofa bed is no exception. Proving comfortable as both bed and sofa, it has a 12cm deep folding mattress and a mechanism that’s easy to use. The sofa comes with a 10-year guarantee. There’s a medium, large and love seat/single bed combination available too. 6. Made Jefferson Sofa Bed: £999, Made The ingenious folding mechanism makes Made’s Jefferson sofa bed stand out. The whole piece glides smoothly from sofa to bed in one action, with the back cushions stowing under the legs. With a 14cm-deep mattress it’s comfortable enough to be used every day – great for studio flats or small bedrooms.
The polyester fabric comes in grey and dark red versions. 7. Esme Sofa Bed: £970, Living It Up Esme is a smart-looking sofa bed with extra care given for your guest’s sleep. There’s a 13cm-deep pocket sprung mattress with layers of cotton, fibre and insulator pads. The sofa bed also locks into place at six points, giving good support. The small two-seater version folds out to a bed of 85cm x 186cm. The sofa has loose back pillows making it better suited to occasional rather than constant use. 8. Next Brompton Occasional Sofa Bed: £950, Next Next’s Brompton bed has a design to suit traditional interiors, with scrolled arms and a high back that look great in tweed and checked fabrics. It comfortably sleeps two with a fold-out size of 194cm x 98cm, and has a standard pull-out mechanism. There’s great scope to design a sofa to suit your needs, with a choice of three feet colours and 91 fabrics. Delivery takes six weeks. 9. Aissa Two Seat Sofa Bed: from £1,410, Sofa
This charming sofa bed looks small but packs a lot of space. Thin arms allow it to deliver a generous area for seating and a surprising mattress size of 193cm x 153cm. Comfort is key: the seat and back cushions have feather in the fillings, and the mattress is 12cm deep. There’s a choice of 100 fabrics and the frame has a lifetime guarantee. 10. Backabro Sofa Bed with Chaise Longue: £725, Ikea Ikea’s solution for combining corner sofa and bed is neat and practical – including hidden storage space under the chaise longue section for pillows and blankets. The pocket-sprung mattress is on the firm side, designed to give support, and the overall sleeping area is a huge 200cm x 248cm. The cover is a cotton and polyester blend. For unexpected guests, Willow and Hall’s Appley occasional sofa bed is sturdy and comfortable for a good price. Its compact boxy looks are made with the guest room or study in mind. If you’re opting for a sofa bed that can be used every day Made’s stylish Jefferson sofa bed delivers on comfort with a 14cm-deep mattress.
Its clever fold-out mechanism makes using it easy to use daily. This category is comprised mainly of therapeutic mattresses, like the kind you'd find in a hospital room, that can help to rehab existing injuries, or to prevent future ailments. We offer pressure-relieving, antibacterial, fluid-proof, and combination models that can cater to almost any condition. Comfort, of course, is also a major concern. Whether you prefer a foam, gel, or air-based surface, our specialized mattresses can help you get the R&R you deserve, without sacrificing the functionality you need. At 1800wheelchair, we offer the best specialty mattresses from the top brands -- and our prices won’t break the bank! Order online or give us a call at 1-800-320-7140; our phone agents are standing by to answer any questions you may have. Remember, orders over $59 qualify for free shipping!Space Savers for Small Bedrooms: 9 Sources for Modern Wall Beds Whether you call it a Murphy bed or a wall bed, these folding sleeping quarters are great for small spaces.
While there are plenty of options for wall beds out there, many of them look cheap or old fashioned. We sorted through all the options and found nine great resources for modern, high-design Murphy beds. Trying to fit your bed into a small space? California Closets — That's right, California closets is about more than clothes storage. They also have a nice selection of modern wall beds (shown above). Lori Wall Beds — Lori's beds have been on our radar since 2008. Her simple handcrafted beds are left unfinished so you can add any color or other finish you choose. She also offers plans for DIY wall bed options. Flying Beds — Based in Denver, Colorado, this company has a wide selection of wall beds, from traditional to more modern. They offer delivery and installation in NYC, LA and Chicago. Casa Kids — Geared toward a kid's room, Casa Kids' Tuck Bed would also fit in an adult space. Available with a vertical or horizontal folding mattress. Zoom Room — This company makes a new kind of wall bed.
Rather than folding up against the wall, the mattress slides up into the unit via an electronic mechanism that is remote controlled. You've got to see it in action on their website to believe it. Breda Beds — If you're looking for American-made, Breda Beds produces all of their wall beds in their southwest Idaho factory. In addition to standard Murphy beds, they also offer Hiddenbeds, which act as a desk or bench by day and a bed by night. Wallbed Factory — Based in Bend, Oregon, this company relies on eco-conscious manufacturing to create their well beds. Styles range from traditional to modern. Resource Furniture — These beds are a little on the higher end of the pricing scale, but if you're looking for modern European designs, this is your source. They have a vast selection of space saving and innovative beds. Murphy Beds Direct — This suggestion comes straight from the comments below as being a great resource for more affordable wall bed options. Re-edited from a post originally published 5.25.2013 - AB