5 Best Sofa Beds UK – A 2023 Expert Buyer’s Guide

Sofa beds are great.

Just fold it out and anyone can happily stay the night. No wasting time blowing up an air mattress that’s deflating as fast as it’s blowing up. No overpaying for a hotel.

Turn your dining room into an extra spare room. Great for the kids coming home to visit!

Even free up some space in a studio apartment.

There are so many great reasons for getting a sofa bed but it’s hard to choose the right one. That’s why I put together this guide. I’ve looked into A LOT of sofa beds and have confidently come up with the best ones available for you to order today.

Just click the name to go to John Lewis And Order Yours Today.

THE BEST SOFA BED

1. Top Choice – John Lewis Sansa Sofa Bed

John Lewis excel at everything they do and this sofa bed is no different. They’ve thrown convention to the wall and given us a sleek stylish sofa that is super comfortable to sit on while having a bed you happily kip on every single night built into it. It folds out into a double bed so two people can comfortably sleep the night away.

A common problem found in sofa beds is that with no board or frame underneath the cushions they tend to sag. That leaves you with a sofa that needs to be plumped and rearranged before every sit. Well, this sofa is built so the bed slides out from underneath and folds up. So the cushions rest on a frame like a normal sofa making a miraculous difference in the feel and comfort.

Because it’s a three-seater sofa you also make the bed widthways instead of lengthways which is a really practical space saver. No more relocating the coffee table and everything on it just to unfold the bed. As a bonus, the chaise lifts giving you extra storage for all the bedding you might need.

Meanwhile, the 8 cm mattress provides you with more than enough support to sleep soundly all night long. And if you’re not a fan of the leather then you’ll be pleased to hear you can customize your own and choose exactly the cover material you want.

It is everything you could want, a pullout bed that will have your guests convinced they are sleeping at home. All fit into an extremely comfortable sofa that will last you over a decade.

2. Best Sofa Bed For Everyday Use – John Lewis Basic Clapton Sofa Bed

This modern look sofa bed is ideal for anyone short on space. Its firm cushions make it ideal for long-term use. But for those wanting a little more comfort, you can get yourself a mattress topper and simply tuck it down behind when not in use.

The top-quality build that John Lewis always offers is essential if you’re going to use your sofa bed long term. You don’t want a futon where you can feel the wooden slats underneath or one that you kneel on and it breaks! A comfortable sofa and a comfortable bed are what you need and this Clapton sofa bed provides just that.

It is 180cm long as well which makes it perfect for anyone up to 6 foot tall. Any taller than that and you’ll have your toes hanging out or you’ll have to bend your knees. It’s about the size of a single bed but a little wider making it great for those in need of some extra space.

Terrific value and available in three different colours to suit almost any decor. And as a bonus, it’s available with free delivery.

Now best and cheap are normally two words that are hard to fit into a single sentence, but I’ve done my very best and found the best cheap sofa bed for those who are in need but don’t have the budget for the absolute best.

Just remember there’s no point skimping out ending up with an uncomfy sofa with a bed in it that no one wants to sleep on!

3. Most Comfortable Sofa Bed – JOHN LEWIS BAILEY TWO SEATER SOFA BED

First off a 10-year guarantee is fantastic! Reliable comfort as a sofa and a bed for the next decade, lovely. And it has a huge range of colours and fabrics so you can get the exact one you need to complete the look of your room.

The bed itself is relatively simple to pull out, it’ll take a couple of tries but you’ll get the hang of it in no time.

The mattress is only slightly thinner than a regular double mattress and it’s a pocket sprung mattress making it extremely high quality and similar to a regular bed mattress. Pocket springs are individual springs that can move independently so you get full support up and down your back and in any sleeping position. Quite something from a fold-out bed!

When you’ve not got the back cushions off and you’re using it as a sofa you’ll be pleased to hear the seat cushions are fully supported and it feels just like a normal sofa. No sagging and completely comfortable as the main sofa in the living room.

Overall, John Lewis & Partners have done it again with a good quality comfortable sofa, and bed perfect for overnight guests or long term use.

4. Best Double Sofa Bed – Innovation Living Cubed 140 Sofa Bed with Serpentine Sprung Foam Mattress

This is from a Danish company and made to the highest standards and quality. It’s a good-quality sofa but an even better mattress featuring a combo of springs and foam.

The only problem is it comes in 3 pieces and is quite heavy so you need 2 strong people to put it together. But once it’s together you’re set with a high-quality sofa bed, plus it makes it easier to get it into the desired room where you can build it.

Ideal for guests who come to stay whether it’s for a night or a few weeks they’ll be kept comfortable night after night. Normal bedding will fit nicely on top, you’ll just have to tuck the sheet further under because it’s only 12 cm deep compared to a regular mattress which is around 20-25 cm.

A superb double sofa bed.

5. Best Sofa Bed For Kids – Charcoal Chair Bed

Amazon have a great z-bed for sale. It’s a little too small to sleep an adult but it is more than ideal for a child. Easy to set up for a sleepover and small enough that it will easily fit into a child’s bedroom. The only problem will be getting them to keep it clutter-free so it can still be used!

It’s also made from a fire retardant material for a little peace of mind which is nice. and as a foam mattress, your child or their friends will get excellent support right across their backs.

But one of the best things about it has got to be the price. It is an absolute bargain for such a reliable and useful item. It’s far easier than setting up an air bed and cheaper as well since you don’t need to buy the bed, the pump and the puncture repair kit.

All in all, it’s a lot warmer and comfier than the floor is and I’m sure any child would be thrilled at having their own sofa bed for the friends to come and sleep on.

WHO’S IT FOR?

First, you need to know who you’re buying the sofa bed for. Is it for when the in-laws come to stay or is it so your child can have a nice easy sleepover? Or do you live in a studio and need a more practical bed to free up some space?

For a child, you can get yourself a nice easy Z chair that will fold into a small single. But if the in-laws are coming you will need something a little more luxurious. Luckily I cover all the different types of scenarios and types of bed so you can get just what you need.

Alternatively consider an air mattress if it’s just for occasional use.

HOW MUCH SPACE DO YOU HAVE?

Space is also a big factor, there’s no use getting a three-seater sofa that turns into a bed if you have nowhere to put it! So I’ve included the dimensions so you can measure and check it will fit when it unfolds!

Whatever you do please don’t order one and then unfold it into your television.

THE COVER MATERIAL

This is the material you’re going to be lying on if you don’t use a sheet so it is important! The top sofa bed comes in a variety of materials so you can pick your own which is pretty cool.

But, I keep a non-fitted sheet in the house to throw on the sofa bed. They’re often not quite as big as regular doubles so a fitted sheet is too big.

THE COST

The cost always has to be considered when buying a new piece of furniture. If it’s for your child’s friends to stay over then you can probably cut back on the cost and get a Z-bed or a futon. But if your guests aren’t children then you want a higher quality product to avoid aches and pains.

And don’t forget to consider how much time you spend sitting on the sofa. Remember, this is an investment in your comfort, so make sure you’re getting the best.

HOW COMFY THE SOFA IS!

Finally, you have to make sure you’re not laser-focused on the bed aspect of things. It will likely be used as a sofa a hell of a lot more than it gets used as a bed! So you want to have a sofa you’re happy to sit on and one that won’t give way underneath you.

How To Choose The Best Sofa Bed For Everyday Use

The chances are if you’re looking to use a sofa bed every day when you live in a studio flat. Or maybe you’re looking to rent out a spare room that’s a bit on the small side. All in all, you’re probably not looking to break the bank right?

Well, this is going to be your bed or someone else’s every single night so you need to make sure of a couple of things. It needs to be high enough quality to provide back support while being comfortable enough for them to sleep soundly every night. And don’t forget you want something simple. If you’re going to be folding it in and out every day you don’t want to be faffing around with lots of clips and dodgy hinges to put the thing together.

Finally, if you’re going to be spending every night on it you want to stay away from a futon. Although practical short term, they have flimsy mattresses resulting in zero back support and an uncomfortable night’s sleep.

How To Choose The Best Kids Sofa Bed

I have so many great memories of having sleepovers as a child. Staying up late eating sweets and gossiping the night away. And luckily I had a loft bed with a futon underneath making it super easy to unfold and set up with a sleeping bag!

So I understand the importance of having something simple and easy to set up. I also know the carnage we used to cause and it is reasonably priced doesn’t hurt anyone either! That’s why I picked a nice easy Chair bed that can be folded out into a mattress in no time.

CONCLUSION

And that concludes our guide to the best sofa beds if you have any questions feel free to comment below and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

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