A sofa bed can be a welcome addition to any home. Sofa beds make it easy to accommodate overnight visitors without having to build a dedicated guest room. The sofa can be turned into a bed as needed. The next time you’re shopping for a new sofa bed, consider these five important factors before making a purchase.
Does it Fit in Your Home?
The first consideration should be the overall size. The sofa bed needs to be able to fit in through the front door of the home. It also needs to be able to fit in the room where it will be used while closed and while opened into a bed. Sofa beds come in all sizes, from two-cushion styles to expansive sectionals with large mattresses. It is best to consider how often the sofa bed will be used and to measure the space where it will sit in order to determine the size that is needed.
How the Sofa Opens Up
Many of the sofa beds available today use the same bi-fold mechanism to open and close. It is still important to examine the mechanism and the way the sofa bed opens and closes. No one wants to have a sofa bed that is impossible for guests to open. The mattress should fold out of the sofa easily. The mechanism should not catch on the fabric or have dangerous sharp edges. The mechanism should also look durable and stable.
How Comfortable is it?
Comfort should be a primary concern when shopping for a sofa bed. The sofa should have thick cushions and a relaxing design. The mattress should feel comfortable, as well. For added comfort, look for sofa beds with locking bars that do not rest directly against the bottom of the unfolded mattress. It is usually best to actually sit on the sofa and lie down on the mattress before making a purchase. Avoid sofa beds that are only comfortable either as a sofa ‘or’ as a bed – you’re buying a sofa bed in order to use it as both a sofa ‘and’ a bed, so make sure it’s comfortable in both configurations!
Strength and Durability
Look at the overall construction and durability of the sofa bed. A good sofa bed is going to have a sturdy hardwood frame. The sofa bed should feel heavy and have heft. The mattress frame should be made from metal or wood that looks and feels very strong. The frame of the sofa bed should not shift or stretch while the mattress is being unfolded. Strength and durability is important in order to resist wear from opening and closing the sofa bed. A durable sofa bed can last for decades.
The Fabric or Upholstery Material
The final concern should be the fabric or material on the outside of the sofa. It is helpful to choose a fabric that is very strong and that has been treated to resist staining. This will make cleaning and maintaining the sofa bed much easier. Leather is a great material for sofa beds, as it’s tough and durable. Leather also creates a distinctive look, although it also needs to be conditioned and cleaned on a regular basis. Make sure the fabric or leather is high quality so that it will last for a long time. Sofa beds are great for hosting overnight guests or even just making the most of a small space. The right sofa bed will open easily, feel comfortable, and be durable enough to stand up to long-term use. Choose wisely, and your overnight guests won’t ever want to leave