Are you looking to get a new sofa bed for your place but don’t know if it’s worth it? Want to maximize your space by investing in a sofa bed instead of an extra full-sized bed but don’t know if the comfort level would be the same? Well, don’t worry because in this article we are going to be telling you all that you need to know regarding the comfort level of a sofa bed so that you are able to make an informed decision when it comes to getting one.
Is Sofa Bed Comfortable?
What is a Sofa Bed?
As the name suggests, a sofa bed is a combination of a sofa and a bed. Basically, it is a sofa that is built in such a way that it can be converted into a bed. A standard sofa bed has a foldable metal frame covered with a thin mattress that you can pull out to elongate the seating area of the sofa to the point that it can be used as a bed. And since most sofa beds use a queen-size mattress, they can accommodate two adults comfortably.
Sofa beds are a great piece of furniture for almost all homes due to their versatility and convenience. This is because they have ample seating space for your guests visiting during the day and provide you with an extra sleeping area if they wish to stay the night. There are different types of sofa beds, with the two main ones being the conventional pull-out sofa beds and the click-clack sofa beds. For a conventional pull-out sofa bed, you need to remove the cushions and then tug out the metal frame from its folded position inside the sofa and pull it out till it is fully extended into a bed.
A click-clack sofa, on the other hand, is designed in such a way that the back of the sofa is able to lay flat down at the level of the seat of the sofa and form a bed. To convert a click-clack sofa into a bed, you need to grab the seat of the sofa from underneath and lift it up till the back completely lays down with a click. Then, bring the seatback down and gently let it fall back into its place. This provides you with a wide, flat surface so that gives you a lot of room while sleeping.
The Benefits of a Sofa Bed
A sofa bed is very beneficial to have in your place, especially if you live in a small house or apartment. This is because as it can be extended to a queen size bed when needed and can be folded back into a medium-sized sofa, it can save you a lot of space when compared to a full-sized bed. Therefore if you are looking for something that can provide your guests with an adequate sleeping area if they wish to stay overnight, then getting a sofa bed is a more practical option than getting a full-sized extra bed.
A sofa bed also has various hidden compartments that you can use to store bedding and cushions; this further increases its space-saving quality. The conversion process of a sofa bed from a sofa to a bed is also quite easy. Because of this, you don’t have to worry about the whole setup process and can arrange a sleeping area for your guests in less than a minute.
Another advantage of a sofa bed is that unlike a bed you are able to move it from one room to another. And so, you can use it as a couch in your living room on an ordinary basis, and if you need an extra bed, you can shift it to a bedroom and not compromise the look of your living room. Furthermore, as they are stylish and available in many colours, designs, and upholstery, you can easily pick one that matches the aesthetic of your living room to elevate the room’s look.
Furthermore, sofa beds come in different sizes like cot, twin, full size, king, queen, and so on. Because of this, you are provided with a large variety enabling you to pick one that is suitable to your needs as well as the perfect size for your living space. If you usually have a lot of friends or family members that stay overnight at your house then you can get a king-sized sofa chair, but if that is not the case then you can also get a smaller one like a cot or a twin-sized sofa bed.
Is Sofa Bed Comfortable?
Now that we have learned what a sofa bed is and how it can be quite beneficial to have one in your house, the question that arises is that is a sofa bed comfortable? Even if a sofa bed is highly versatile and extremely useful, all of its qualities would be negated if it is not actually comfortable and using it is an unpleasant experience for you or your guests.
When it comes to the comfort level of a sofa bed, when its ‘sofa’ aspect is utilized and it is used for sitting or lounging on, it is almost as comfortable as a regular sofa. This is because the cushions of a sofa bed are the same as that of a regular sofa, and so you have a large variety when it comes to the fillings of these cushions like foam, fibre, feather, and so on. This lets you pick a sofa bed that perfectly suits your comfort level.
But when it comes to using your sofa bed for sleeping, the comfort level is not the same when compared to an actual bed. This is because, when considering a pull-out sofa bed, the mattress of the bed is thinner than that of a bed as it needs to be able to fold up and fit inside the sofa. Because of this, a sofa bed is not able to provide you with the support that a regular bed does. And so, even though it might seem comfortable if you use it infrequently and for special occasions, it can get quite uncomfortable after daily use.
Furthermore, if you sleep on a sofa bed daily, over time, due to the lack of support surface, you can develop back problems. Also, with constant use, the mattress of the bed can wear out, and you might start feeling the metal bars that act as the base of your bed poke you through the mattress. This is why we recommend that if you want to maintain the comfort level of your sofa bed when it comes to sleeping, you should use it infrequently.
How to Make Your Sofa Bed More Comfortable
If you are tired of the lack of support and comfort provided by your sofa bed, there are a few ways through which you can make sleeping on it a more comfortable experience. One of these is to replace the mattress of the sofa bed. This is because, over time, the mattresses in a sofa bed wear out, because of which you not only are provided with even less support but have to deal with hard metal bars poking you as you sleep. And so replacing your mattress after a few years of use will certainly help in increasing the comfort level of your sofa bed.
But if you find the mattress of your sofa bed too thin to be comfortable from the start, then you can buy a thicker and more comfortable mattress, designed for normal beds, for better support. But since you cannot replace the existing mattress of the sofa bed with a thicker one as it would not be able to fold back into the sofa, you would have to lay the new mattress on top of the old one. Then, once you are done using it, you can remove the mattress and fold the bed back into the sofa.
But if you don’t want to splurge on a whole new mattress or find it is inconvenient as compared to storing one, then you can just get a mattress topper. This is a thin layer of foam that you can place on top of the existing mattress of the sofa bed to increase the thickness of the mattress underneath you and provide you with better cushioning. Furthermore, a mattress topper takes less storage space than a regular mattress as it can be rolled up and placed in a bag, making it a more convenient option.
A mattress topper might still not provide you with the support that you need due to being thin, and while it can be rolled up to make it more compact, it still is pretty bulky and can be a little difficult to store in small apartments. And so, the next way through which you can make your sofa bed comfortable is by investing in an air mattress. These not only provide you with extra cushioning, but they are a better option for storage because, after use, you can let the air out of them, fold them up, and easily store them in your closet or a box.
If you are going to be sleeping on a sofa bed on a daily basis, then to provide extra support, you can use a plywood board for a more uniform and stable base. Get a plywood board that is the same size as your sofa bed and place it on the existing mattress of the bed. Next, place your mattress topper or the air mattress on top of the plywood and cover it up with your desired bedding. The plywood will ensure that you are not able to feel the metal bars of the frame of the bed through the mattress and will eliminate all the lumps and dips that you would otherwise feel due to the bed’s own worn-out mattress.
The bedding that you use on your sofa bed also has a large impact on its comfort level. If you have rough sheets and flat pillows then you are definitely not going to get a good quality sleep even if the mattress of your sofa bed is not uncomfortable. This is why it is recommended that you use high-quality sheets, a thick and soft duvet, and fluffy pillows whenever you set your bed for sleeping.
FAQs
Are sofa beds comfortable to sleep on?
Yes, sofa beds are comfortable to sleep on if you are going to be doing it occasionally. If your sofa bed has a high-quality mattress, like a memory foam one, then sleeping on it can be quite comfortable. But if you sleep on a sofa bed frequently, then your comfort level can decrease drastically. This is because as most sofa beds have a thin mattress, they are not able to provide you with the support you need and so can cause back problems if you sleep on them daily.
Is it OK to sleep on a sofa bed all the time?
No, it is not okay to sleep on a sofa bed all the time. This is because even if a sofa bed may seem comfortable at first, due to its thin mattress your back is not supported properly, because of which you can end up with back pains. Furthermore, if you sleep on a sofa bed all the time, the already thin mattress you will wear out fast and get poked by the hard metal bars underneath it that make up the frame of the bed. This can make sleeping on it an uncomfortable experience.
How can I make my sofa bed more comfortable?
There are various ways through which you can make your sofa bed more comfortable, like replacing the mattress with a new one when the original one gets worn out or by getting a mattress topper for extra padding. You can also lay a plywood board on the bed and place a mattress on top of it so that you are provided with a stable and even base. And lastly, you need to make sure that your bedding is comfortable.
Wrapping Up
The sofa bed is a revolutionary invention that provides you with a bed that is usually big enough to accommodate two adults while being the size of a sofa. This makes it a perfect choice for small houses and apartments where having an extra bed for a guest bedroom may not be practical. And as it seems so useful in theory, the question that is usually asked is that is a sofa bed actually comfortable? And so in this article, we answer this question and provide you with all the details you need to know before getting a sofa bed for your own,
