Sofa Bed Recommendations

GiantTCR

I saw, funnily enough the design is very similar to the one I linked from IKEA.

pinkshoes

GiantTCR said:

I saw, funnily enough the design is very similar to the one I linked from IKEA.

I did go to have a look at the Ikea ones but didn't like the fabric choices and they looked a bit boring.

I decided to go with sofabed.co.uk  because they were a small independent company with really good reviews, and they offered a huge selection of fabrics, plus I was able to upgrade the mattress. 

The sofa itself is nice and firm to sit on (I hate sofas where the cushions sag and need plumping up all the time!). I will have to sleep on it one weekend to see how comfy it is to sleep on but just lying on it for now it seems fine! I think I'll still get a mattress topper for it though! 

There's even an option for a hotel grade mechanism with deeper mattress, but I decided that would not be necessary!

I paid £1179 with my chosen upgrades so it came in under budget.

DavidAtFurl

The person asking the original question wanted something no wider than 1m90 that works as both a sofa and a bed. This is actually a really specific brief that rules out a lot of options.

The honest answer is that the mechanism matters far more than the brand name or the price. Most sofa beds — even expensive ones — use a basic fold-out frame that puts the bar across your back and a thin foam pad on top. That's why the reputation for sofa beds being uncomfortable exists.

What to look for specifically:

The mattress depth should be at least 12–15cm for regular sleeping. Most budget sofa beds have 6–8cm. Anything under 10cm and you'll feel the frame.

The mechanism should ideally be a proper sprung frame rather than just a fold-out metal rack. Hospitality-grade mechanisms — the kind used in hotels where someone sleeps on it every night — are built to a completely different standard.

For a 1m90 width you're looking at a double or small double. Most manufacturers list the sofa width not the bed width — check both measurements before buying.

If it's going to be sat on every day as well as slept on regularly, I'd set a realistic budget of £1,500 minimum for something that will actually last and be comfortable for both uses. Below that you're generally compromising heavily on one or the other.

Happy to answer any specific questions about what to look for — I've been in the furniture trade a long time.

Mands

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81960655#Comment_81960655

Would their 1300 budget have been reasonable when they asked the question 4 years ago perhaps?