The Sofa Bed Buying Guide

A sofa bed has to do two jobs well: work as a proper sofa most of the week and convert into a proper bed when it's needed. That balance is harder to get right than it sounds, and it's why a few questions come up again and again: what a click-clack sofa bed actually is, which double sofa bed suits a particular room, whether it holds up to regular use, and how to spread the cost. This guide covers each of those in turn, so you know exactly what you're buying before it arrives.

Why buy a sofa bed instead of a separate bed?

A spare room used twice a year is a lot of space to set aside. A sofa bed lets one room carry both jobs instead: a proper living room day to day, and somewhere comfortable to sleep whenever guests turn up. It's a practical way to get two rooms' worth of use out of one.

What is a click clack sofa bed?

Push the backrest down, and it clicks through a few fixed positions: upright sofa, reclined lounger, flat bed, locking solidly at each stop. There's nothing to pull out and nothing to lift, just a simple, sturdy mechanism that does exactly what it needs to.

What other sofa bed mechanisms are there?

Pull-out sofa designs hide the bed frame and mattress under the seat cushions, sliding forward to unfold flat when needed, while chaise-fold designs take a different approach, lifting the seat base on a corner sofa bed to reveal both storage and a fold-out mattress in one motion. Click clack differs from both again; there's no sliding or lifting at all, just a backrest that reclines through fixed positions until it locks flat. Of the three, pull-out and chaise-fold suit daily use best, since they're built for regular conversion, while click clack tends to work better for the odd guest than for nightly use.

How do I choose the best double sofa bed?

The number to focus on isn't the sofa's width; it's the mattress size once everything's unfolded. A double sofa bed needs proper sleeping depth for two people, not just enough width for two to sit during the day. Check the unfolded dimensions against your room, and leave a little extra floor space in front of the sofa for the mattress or frame to extend into.

Can I get a sofa bed with a headboard?

Generally, no, most sofa beds are built to sit flush against a wall, keeping the daytime profile neat, not bulky. If a headboard appeals for the odd night it's used as a bed, a cushion or bolster against the wall behind it does the same job, without adding to the space it takes up.

What's the best sofa bed for a small space?

A small room doesn't rule out a corner sofa bed, but it does mean choosing carefully. A chaise-fold corner sofa bed packs seating, sleeping and storage into roughly the same space a plain sofa would take up, which is what makes it worth the extra thought. If even a corner shape is too much for the room, a slimmer 2 or 3-seater sofa bed still converts to a similarly sized bed, just without needing as much space to unfold into.

How do I measure my room for a sofa bed?

Two measurements matter here. Start with the sofa's daytime footprint, then measure the space it needs in bed mode too, since pull-out and chaise-fold designs both need extra floor space in front to unfold into. It's worth checking the route into the room as well; doorways, hallway turns and stairs all matter a little more for a sofa bed than a standard sofa, simply because there's more built into the mechanism.

Will a sofa bed be comfortable enough to sleep on regularly?

That comes down to the mattress more than the sofa around it. A thicker foam or sprung mattress makes a real difference if the bed's going to be used most nights, rather than just for the occasional guest, so it's worth checking the mattress depth on the product page rather than assuming they're all built the same.

What fabric should I choose for a sofa bed?

Chenille and other textured weaves are forgiving of daily use, hiding the marks that come from being sat on constantly and slept on occasionally, while faux leather wipes clean in seconds, which suits a household with children or pets underfoot. A lighter fabric works well too, especially in rooms that get plenty of natural light and don't experience as much day-to-day wear.

Can I pay for a sofa bed monthly?

Yes, through Klarna, spreading the cost across several months, rather than paying it all upfront. This is particularly worth considering on a larger corner sofa bed with storage, where the total naturally runs higher than a standard 2- or 3-seater. Full details sit on our finance page, or simply head to the product page to see the instalment breakdown before checkout.

How do I keep a sofa bed clean and looking new?

A regular vacuum with a soft brush attachment keeps dust from settling into the weave, and any spills are best dealt with the moment they happen, rather than left to dry in. If the bed side gets used often, it's also worth airing the mattress out now and then, since folding it away straight after use can trap moisture a flat bed never would. For extra peace of mind, our Loxa Cover protection covers accidental stains before you even need to think about them.

How long will delivery take?

Most sofa beds in stock arrive within 1 to 5 working days of ordering. What's included with delivery varies by design, so it's worth checking the product page to see exactly what to expect when it arrives. Full details can be found here: delivery and assembly information.