Collection: Sofa Beds and Day Beds

Choosing A Sofa Bed

Sofa beds have moved on significantly from what they were when they had quite a bad reputation for a period of time.  Gone are the days of the "bar in the back" being the standard experience; modern technology and engineering now prioritises mattress thickness alongside comfort and ease of use, meaning that sofa beds these days will often rival standard beds for comfort.

As we have a wide and colourful selection of sofa beds and day beds for sale here at Price Crash Furniture, we have put together this guide to help you understand some of the key elements of choosing the right sofa bed for you

Choosing the Right Mechanism For Your Sofa Bed

The "how it opens" part is just as important as the "how it looks" part, and there are three distinct choices on offer;

• Clic-Clac: You will find that the clic-clac option is arguably the most common choice these days for sofa bed design.  This is where the backrest folds down to meet the seat and make a flat surface for your bed.
• Pros: Affordable, very fast and easy to convert from sofa to bed.
• Cons: This design will usually require you to have a gap between the sofa and the wall to be able to operate it.
• Pull-Out (Metal Action): With this option you get a frame and mattress that are folded inside the sofa for storage when not in use.
• Pros: Uses a real mattress (both foam and spring options are available); and the sofa back stays in place meaning it can sit flush against the wall
• Cons: A lot of models can be heavy and potentially need two people to be able to convert it; cheaper frames may also squeak over time.
• DL / Flip-Forward: The seat slides forward and the back flips into the gap.
• Pros: Great for small rooms as it has a shallow depth; these designs will often also include hidden storage.
• Cons: With this choice of design you actually end up sleeping on the sofa cushions themselves, so as a consequence cushion quality is vital and you will need to make sure you give that some thought,  also longevity of the cushions may be compromised depending on how much use it gets.

Essential Buying Tips

• The "Daily Use" Test: If you plan to sleep on it every night, you should try and prioritise a Pocket Spring mattress. For occasional guests, High Density or Memory Foam you will find it normally sufficient and is also usually cheaper.
• Measure Twice: With this, make sure you don't just measure the sofa width. You also want to check the extended depth ie. the full dimensions of it when the bed is fully open and laid out for the night to make sure you can still walk around it – you’d be surprised how many people forget this step
• Fabric Matters: For high-traffic areas, look for performance fabrics or "hydro-suedes" that resist stains. If you have pets, tight-weave velvets are less likely to get snagged by claws.
• The "Gap" Rule: Check if the sofa you like needs additional clearance to work when you convert it to a bed. You will find some models require an additional 10–20cm of clearance from the wall to open, which if you are limited on space where you want to put it, may be an issue.