A sofa bed is incredibly handy when friends decide to crash at your place last minute. Or even when your aunt unexpectedly shows up for a visit, and you don’t have an extra room to offer. Sofa beds are a versatile addition to your living room that you didn’t know you needed.

Unlike an air mattress, which takes time, and a lot of noise to inflate and often ends up deflated by morning, a sofa bed is always ready to host guests with a simple pull or fold. The mattress offers a great night's sleep with its soft and supportive surface. When your guests leave, simply fold it back up, and your living room’s right back to normal.

A sofa bed also works as your main bed if you’re in a small apartment or studio and don’t want a bulky bed taking over your room. By day, it’s where you sink in to relax, whether you’re reading, watching TV, or enjoying a cup of coffee. By night, it easily converts into a bed that feels just as comfortable as any traditional mattress.

In this guide, we’ll answer the four main questions you have about sofa beds. Whether you’re using it for guests or as your everyday bed, we’ll help you figure out if a sofa bed is the right fit for your space.

How do Sofa Beds Work?

The core mechanism behind all sofa beds is pretty much the same, but how they unfold and set up can vary depending on the design.

One of the most common types is the click-clack sofa bed. To lay it out, you pull or push the backrest down, and it clicks into place, unfolding into a flat surface. To fold it back up, you do the same thing in reverse – just lift the back and hear that satisfying click when it locks back into position.

Next, there’s a pull-out option, where the mattress is hidden inside the sofa. To turn it into a bed, you pull it out like a drawer and then unfold the frame. Some pull-out corner sofa beds have extra legs for support when it’s extended. After use, you can easily tuck the mattress back into the sofa.

The easy-open sofa beds are designed for smooth transitions between sofa to bed and back. You usually pull a latch or a handle, and the whole thing opens up with one simple motion. The bed is already built into the frame, so there's no need to pull anything out or adjust extra parts.

Are All Sofa Beds The Same Size?

The size of a sofa bed can vary based on the design and type of sofa bed you choose. For example, you can find twin, full, queen, or king-sized sofa beds. However, just because a sofa bed is labeled a certain size, it doesn't always mean it will match the exact measurements of a traditional mattress.

When you're shopping for a sofa bed, it’s a good idea to check the exact dimensions of both the bed and the frame. That way, you’ll know what size sheets to buy and make sure everything fits properly for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Sofa Bed Size	Approximate Dimensions (cm)	Comparison with Traditional Bed
Side by Side Sofa Bed	97 x 191	Same size as a traditional twin bed
Full Sofa Bed	137 x 191	A bit shorter than a full bed
Queen Sofa Bed	152 x 203	Shorter by about 15 cm compared to a queen bed
King Sofa Bed	193 x 203	Similar to a king bed, but can vary by model

Are Sofa Beds Comfortable?

Sofa beds have definitely improved over the years. Nottingham based Interior Designer Katy Raywood points out how much they've evolved: “They used to be poorly sprung, uncomfortable additions. They are now comfortable, practical, and easy to function.”

Today’s sofa beds are made with much better materials and features, which means they’re far more comfortable to sit on than the old-school, lumpy pull-outs. Most models use high-quality foam, fiber, or a combination of both to offer a supportive seat without feeling too stiff.

The foam gives you that structured, supportive feel, while fiber offers a softer, more plush surface to sink into. That being said, sofa beds do tend to feel firmer than regular sofas because they need to support both sitting and sleeping. If you prefer a softer, more relaxed feel, look for a model that combines softer cushions in the seat and a softer backrest, like fiber seats with feather-back cushions.

Another thing that may affect your comfort is the frame. A strong, well-built frame (especially hardwood) will ensure the sofa stays solid and supportive, whether you're sitting or sleeping. So, if you’re buying a sofa bed, it’s good to try it out in person and pay attention to how it feels to sit on.

Can You Sleep on a Sofa Bed Every Night?

Most sofa beds aren’t built for sleeping every night. An insightful study found that 7% of sleep problems are related to uncomfortable mattresses, and unfortunately, the typical sofa bed mattress doesn’t offer the support you need for regular use. It’s often too thin, too firm, or too soft, leaving you with aches and poor-quality sleep.

But with Furl sofa beds, you can sleep soundly every night. Our mattresses are designed to provide real support, featuring sprung zones that make it feel like a regular bed. Unlike traditional sofa beds, Furl’s mattress doesn’t sag or leave you tossing and turning — it offers proper alignment and comfort throughout the night. Furl sofa beds are also at a traditional bed height, making them just as easy to get in and out of as a traditional bed, whether you're young or older.

Final Words

Sofa beds are a practical solution when you need an extra bed but don’t have the space. They're ideal for guests or small apartments where a full-sized bed isn't an option.

The key to comfort with a sofa bed is choosing the right one. Some are suitable for occasional use, while others are built for regular sleeping. If you're using it every night, you’ll want a sofa bed with a solid mattress and a sturdy frame to avoid discomfort. Not all sofa beds are made for daily use, but by choosing a high-quality design like the models we make at Furl, you can use your sofa bed every night for a peaceful sleep.