The idea of having alternative sleeping arrangements for friends, family and other guests to use is one that a lot of people like the sound of. However, there are a huge number of people who do not have the living space or the spare space to make up a full bed frame, guest room or sleeping space.
This is where pieces of furniture such as sleeper sofas, futons and sofa beds come in very handy. They offer a much smaller and more space-efficient way of having space for any guests that may want to stay the night.
So many people put sleeper sofas, futons and sofa beds into the same bracket. However, they are all completely separate products with their own set of benefits.
What Is A Sofa Bed?
The most common of all is undoubtedly the sofa bed. A sofa bed is a minimalist convertible sofa that folds out flat and can therefore be used as an alternative sleeping option. Sofa beds often come with a mechanism that allows you to either pull out to reveal your bed or open up your sofa sleeper.
As a whole people refer to most similar products such as a sleeper sofa or a futon as a sofa bed, which is not fully wrong. However, sleeper sofas and futons are slightly re-imagined versions of a sofa bed that have subtle differences and can make them more or less appealing depending on what a buyer is looking for.
Where people can often become confused with both sofa bed looks and sleeper sofas because a traditional sofa bed does not come equipped with a mattress. Therefore, within the mechanism of the furniture piece, there is no built-in mattress.
Sofa Bed Benefits
Space Saving – Sofa beds are incredibly space efficient and are therefore perfect for individuals who live in smaller spaces such as small apartments or homes. They offer the perfect alternative sleeping space for people who do not have the space for a spare room but regularly have guests that visit and stay the night.
Comfortable – Sofa beds and sofa bed mattresses are not just incredibly convenient, they are also incredibly comfortable. High-quality sofa beds make sure that both practicality and comfortability are at the forefront of their design processes. You can also make your sofa beds even comfier by adding toppers, pillows and so much more.
Easy To Construct – The transformation process of a sofa bed is incredibly simple and can be done in no time at all. This makes it extremely easy to use, practical and perfect for quickly erecting and putting away in a living room, office spare room or anywhere else you may want.
Durability – More often than not sofa beds are made from extremely durable and strong wood or metal frames. This means that they will be able to easily withstand the general wear and tear that both sofas and beds take in everyday life. Whether that be kids sitting on armrests and jumping on the beds, or constantly pulling out and putting away, you can be sure they will last.
What Is A Sleeper Sofa?
People often confuse sleeper sofas with sofa beds. However, there are a few distinct differences that separate the two from one another. Being aware of these differences can help you to make a much more informed decision on what you need within your home.
A sleeper sofa is a sofa that efficiently turns into a bed, similar to a sofa bed. However, a sleeper sofa has its mattress/sleeping surface and frame concealed within the convertible sofa for ease of use. While this is incredibly practical it does bulk out the size of the sofa and seat cushions and is therefore not the best for small spaces.
Sleeper Sofa Benefits
Versatility – Sleeper sofas are incredibly versatile. As they have in-built mattresses for their bed section and amazing cushioning for their sofa sessions they can live in any room and work amazingly as either a bed or a sofa.
Space Saving – Similar to sofa beds they are an incredibly space-efficient way of creating alternative sleeping options for any guests that you may have to stay. Because of their ability to easily fold out and fold away, they can be used in any space, no matter how small.
Convenience – Sleeper sofas are incredibly convenient as they are all-in-one convertible sofas. Within the wood frame or metal frame of the sofa is a mattress that folds out with the bed. This means that you do not have to have any extras to experience extreme comfort. This means that all you need to do is pull out the bed and add your duvets, it’s as simple as that.
Aesthetic – Sleeper sofas come in a huge range of styles and upholstery looks. This, therefore, means that you can easily find a stunning sleeper sofa that will perfectly match your home interior and look phenomenal. Sleeper sofas are not just about practicality, they can help to add style and character to your interior.
What Is A Futon?
A futon is a traditional Japanese style of bedding. However, in the Western world, the term futon is often used to describe a certain style of sofa bed. A quality futon differs from your traditional style of the sofa bed as it has a far more simple one or two-click mechanism that allows the sofa’s futon frame to be very quickly turned into a bed.
Unlike a sofa bed or a sleeper bed the cushioning of the sofa sitting position is the very same cushioning used as a futon mattress when the futon is in its sleep position. This can mean that the comfort level of the bed and mattress size is slightly compromised for its practicality.
Futon Benefits
Space Saving – Futons are incredibly space-saving and are therefore perfect for use in areas and homes where space can be a problem. Futons are also the most space efficient when the bed is laid out due to the fact that they have no headboards, armrests or any other excess features.
Ease Of Use – Futons are incredibly easy to use thanks to their one or two-click mechanisms that allow you to set your bed up in seconds. They are also just as easy to put away and are therefore perfect for busy households and amazing for cleaning up.
Affordable – Futons are definitely the most affordable option out of the three. Because of their very basic mechanics and basic look, futons are a very cost-effective option for alternative home sleeping options.
What Are The Main Differences Between The Three? And Which Is The Best?
Although to many people they all will just fall under the bracket of a sofa bed, there are a lot of differences. These differences should always be taken into account when shopping around to ensure that you get the very best value for money out of your new piece of furniture.
The most dramatically different of the three would be the futon. This is the most basic form of sofa bed on the market and does not fully conform to the traditional style of a normal sofa. Futons do not feature any armrests and have a very basic mechanism that essentially just folds the back of the seat down to make a simple bed structure.
On the other hand, sofa beds and sleeper sofas can be far more difficult to tell the difference. They both have very similar aesthetics when in a sofa style and come in a huge range of different styles and upholstery. However, the main difference between the two would be the fact that a sleeper sofa has a built-in mattress.
While this, in theory, sounds like a plus, the mattress is designed to be folded and if you do not get a high-quality sleeper sofa can be very flat and uncomfortable. While traditional sofa beds do not come with a built-in mattress they will typically come with a mattress topper. These are normally thicker mattresses than you will find within sleeper sofas.
The answer to the question as to which is best is a difficult one as it is very subjective. it is very important that you know exactly what you are looking for. All three of these styles can be perfect for the correct customer. So ensuring that you do your research will ensure that you get the very best product.
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