Guide to choosing the right convertible sofa

The convertible sofa is useful both for hosting friends, as well as for furnishing a studio or a house. It represents a significant investment which requires thinking about your needs in terms of sleeping space , space to unfold the bench and interior design .

It is part of the mechanical furniture whose origin dates back to the first patent filed by Albert Ducrot, inventor of the convertible sofa. Learn more about the article on convertible furniture from yesterday and today i . The range of convertible sofas has expanded enormously, thus offering the possibility of having custom-made bedding and a designer convertible sofa.

I. TYPES OF SOFAS

The sofa bed is one of the mechanical pieces of furniture that makes life easier. In one movement, it becomes a 2-in-1 piece of furniture that can serve as a bed in a pinch or as an everyday sleeping space. Today, the sofa bed mechanism is so advanced that it can be done in the blink of an eye, effortlessly, and safely. There are several models, the features of which we will discuss below.

• The sofa bed

Unlike the sofa bed (clic-clac and BZ), the basic sofa encloses the mattress in the lower part. The sofa has a seat and backrest that are independent and well separated from the mattress. The sofa bed for small spaces is the ideal product, especially for city dwellers.

The sofa bed for everyday sleeping

More and more people are sleeping on a sofa bed every day. Why? While it's possible to save space in a small space, it's also discreet . It's available in all colors and materials, including leather.

For comfort, choose a convertible sofa bed that unfolds in the blink of an eye, opens easily, and whose cushions remain firmly attached to the sofa's frame. For daily use, the sofa bed should have a mattress approximately 15 cm thick .

A sofa bed for everyday sleeping must be chosen carefully. Choosing the wrong mattress or bed base will not make your sofa bed comfortable. A cheap sofa bed is generally not designed for everyday sleeping.

The sofa bed for occasional or regular sleeping

For extra sleeping , it is possible to turn to the 3-fold sofa, that is to say the mattress is folded into 3 parts. Only the back cushions can remain in place.

It unfolds by pulling on the mattress placed under the seat, in a single movement. Why can it only be used occasionally ? Because its mattress is generally only 6 cm thick , with a low density around 30 kg/m3.

Although you can sleep in it frequently, it still doesn't offer the comfort of models for everyday sleeping.

The meridian

Of Baroque influence, the chaise longue appeared in Antiquity and became a fashionable piece of furniture from the 18th century. It is distinguished by the presence of its single armrest and its inclined backrest , unlike the récamière which has a foot and a bedside table of identical height.

On-trend, it comes in dark colors like black, purple, violet, burgundy, and gray. Brighter colors will fit into younger interiors. Made from short pile velvet, the chaise longue retains its old-fashioned feel, with upholstery, studded edges, and Louis XV legs.

As a convertible, the chaise longue retains its asymmetry. Considered a daybed for one person , once unfolded, it transforms into a 120 x 200 mattress, for “one and a half places” or 140 x 200 for 2 people.

• The convertible bench seat

Inexpensive and practical, the convertible sofa is a must-have piece of furniture. What's the difference between it and a convertible sofa? The folded mattress of the convertible sofa constitutes the very structure of the sofa, including the seat and backrest.

The click-clack

Ideal in a studio or a guest room, thesofa bed is the ally of small spaces , with its sleeping area perpendicular to the wall.

The sofa bed has a fairly simple system: you have to tilt the seat and move it forward to hear the hinge mechanism click. When you unfold the mattress, the seat folds down, which makes a clicking noise, hence its name.

The convertible sofa bed can be folded out into a bed, a semi-reclined lounge position, or a classic sitting position. When folded, this convertible sofa takes up more wall space because its length matches that of the mattress.

The BZ

With a bed parallel to the wall, the BZ sofa unfolds like an accordion. Once folded, the mattress takes the shape of a 3-fold Z, hence the origin of its name. Quite compact, the BZ does not take up space lengthwise on the wall .

Once transformed into a bed, it takes up more space in a room than a sofa bed. Simply pull the seat towards you to turn the bench into a bed. To fold it up, simply push the mattress frame towards the wall, lifting it slightly.

The futon

With its exposed slatted structure, the convertible futon is very distinctive. Most models offer several positions: sitting, relaxing, or lying down. The bed is very low, in keeping with Japanese tradition. It has a very firm mattress, with a thickness of more than 10 cm and a density between 60 and 80 kg/m3.

While futons often have two seats, it is possible to get a single futon. Thanks to its folding armrests, the futon can be used as a sleeping area for one person.

• The pull-out sofa bed

Ideal for a teenager's bedroom , who wants to give the room a studio feel, the pull-out sofa bed offers a suitable additional sleeping solution.

Under the sofa, the mattress is tucked away in the lower section, perfectly hidden. In the blink of an eye, the sofa transforms into a bed. Simply open the rolling drawer containing the mattress. It can also be used as a storage drawer.

The trundle sofa bed offers a real space saver . Depending on the model, it is possible to leave the sheets and duvet permanently , for unbeatable speed of installation. The trundle bed can take the form of a camp bed. However, forget the bed with rudimentary comfort, military version! The latter can have a slatted base and a mattress whose thickness depends on the height of the drawer.

• The sofa bed-wardrobe

A complete piece of mechanical furniture, the sofa bed cabinet is ideal for small rooms, to optimize space and benefit from significant space savings. The sofa is a perfect addition to the interior design of a studio, integrated into the bed cabinet.

At first glance, it looks like a sofa with a decorative shelf above it. How does it work? Simply remove the back cushions, which can be stored in the box under the seat, and pull out the shelf to activate the mechanism.

Hidden in the box that served as a support for the sofa, the Murphy bed tilts and the shelf becomes the foot of the bed, without having to remove the objects or books placed on it.

In just a few seconds, the bed is in place. The base of the sofa bed is the board, which serves as a support for the backrest. To put the bed back in place, simply lift this board in a single movement. See a wall bed in action with this video:

• The footstool/bed warmer

For extra space, the convertible armchair and ottoman are perfect for those on a budget . With a deplimousse system, they allow you to benefit from a bed with a foam mattress that is the very structure of the seat. The characteristic of the deplimousse is that the mattress is directly on the floor.

Folded up, the pouf is just a raised square cushion . Once unfolded, it forms a bed for one person. The system of the armchair is identical, except that it can form a double bed depending on its dimensions and that its low back can be used as a pillow. The unfolded sofa, meanwhile, has a 3-fold mattress, which allows you to sleep on the floor.

The deplimousse is to be reserved for occasional use, due to the absence of a base, the thickness of the mattress less than 10 cm and the low density of the foam around 30 kg/m3.

Discover all our benches

II. THE MATTRESS

Although hidden, the mattress is the centerpiece of the sofa bed . It can have different dimensions and materials , depending on the desired quality, use and budget. The density of the mattress is also adjustable , depending on the desired density. To know how to choose the best mattress , follow our advice.

It can be difficult to find linens in the right size in stores that only sell standard sizes. However, it's easy to find a wide selection online.

• The material of the mattress

The choice of mattress depends on its material. However, it is important to consider the top layer of the mattress, which covers it. Whether it's wool or cotton, this filling, which varies in thickness, can provide additional comfort. Memory foam.

Memory foam

On a latex, pocket spring or foam mattress , memory foam is recommended for anyone who wants optimal comfort and maximum support.

This type of bedding is therefore recommended for back pain or lower back pain. Indeed, memory foam is viscoelastic, which allows it to absorb the person's weight and regain its shape immediately.

For sleeping, it absorbs shocks , as soon as the person changes position during the night. The shape memory allows good sleeping independence, when sleeping as a couple. Thermoactive, it reacts to the temperature of the body and the room. Less breathable, it is not recommended for people who sweat a lot at night.

Polyurethane foam

Firmer than polyether foam recommended for occasional sleeping , polyurethane foam is the ideal material for combining firmness and flexibility.

Light and airy, it can provide satisfactory support , while remaining soft, thanks to its cells. Polyurethane foam can be highly resilient (it regains its initial properties after being deformed).

To ensure perfect body alignment, the foam structure can be different depending on the body part: softer at the extremities and firmer at the pelvis, to support the lumbar region. High resilience foam must have a density of more than 26 kg/m3 and a thickness greater than 10 cm.

Latex

When it comes to bedding, latex is the gold standard for firm mattresses. Although it only ranks third in mattress sales, latex is a widely used material for sofa beds.

Hypoallergenic, this porous material allows good ventilation and expels moisture, especially if the base is slatted and allows air to circulate . As specified by the 60 million consumers website, latex is a strictly regulated term. A mattress must have as its main component, what is called its core, 100% latex, with a minimum thickness of 10 cm.

• The thickness of the mattress

Thickness is a key factor in comfort. The thicker the mattress, the more regular use and optimal body support it will provide. For an occasional bed, a 6 cm mattress is sufficient . If you sleep frequently, it is important to choose a mattress thicker than 10 cm. For everyday use, a mattress thicker than 15 cm is ideal for quality equivalent to a traditional bed.

Choosing a mattress based on your size and weight:

Firmness is based on the density of the mattress, which should be between 60 and 85 kg/m3. As indicated in the table above, published in this article, it should be chosen according to your body shape.

Between 60 and 75 kg/m3, the support is soft. It is suitable for smaller builds. Qualified as medium, firm support corresponds to a density between 75 and 85 kg/m3, ideal for average builds. If you want a hard mattress, are tall and/or overweight, very firm support is necessary with a density of 85 kg/m3.

Discover La Maison Convertible mattresses

• Household linen

Depending on the sofa bed models, their mechanism and their cover, it is possible to leave all or part of the household linen in place on the mattress, even folded: the fitted sheet, a duvet or even blankets.

Choosing the right sheet size is essential. If the sheet is too small, it won't properly cover the mattress and will come off with each fold. If it's too large, it will tend to gape and wrinkle. The larger the mattress, the harder it will be to find linens.

The standard size for a sofa bed is 140 cm. However, you can find them in 130 cm sizes, like some sofa beds, or in 160 cm sizes, which makes it more difficult to buy linens.

The difficulty also comes from the length of the bed, which is 190 cm as standard for a bed. For convertible sofas, it is 200 to 210 cm long. It is best to turn to specialist household linen stores to find items with unusual dimensions.

III. COVERING THE SOFA BED

The cover of a sofa bed is often completely removable, allowing for simple and easy maintenance. While the must-have is still the Strips sofa bed by Italian designer Cini Boeri created in the 1970s, whose cover doubles as a duvet, the upholstery of the sofa bed can be made of cotton, linen, or even leather, like a classic sofa.

• Natural materials

A basic upholstery material, cotton can be pure, organic, woven, or blended. Highly durable, woven cotton has excellent hold, thanks to a weight of between 300 and 400g/m2, which gives it a heavy, rigid appearance.

It can be blended with linen or polyester. With a natural wrinkled finish, linen is a natural fiber, which is easy to care for . Simply wash the cover in the washing machine at 40°C and dry it, without ironing, so that the linen remains supple. In its natural state, linen has a cream color, which goes well with a light or dark wooden structure.

Leather is the most luxurious material for sofa beds . With a fine grain and a supple appearance, calfskin is not the most recommended for the multiple folding and unfolding operations of a sofa bed, due to its fragility. It is preferable to opt for cowhide leather , which is particularly popular in furniture. The most suitable remains buffalo leather , with a marked grain and rigidity, which ensure its strength.

• Synthetic materials

Also called eco-leather , imitation leather is a fabric covered with a layer of polyurethane (PUL), which gives it a leather look. This imitation is available in all colors and all leather grains. Easy to maintain, a wipe with a dry cloth is enough to dust the sofa. Microfiber is a synthetic fabric, widely used in furniture.

With increasingly fine textures, microfiber is made of polyester and can be cleaned with Marseille soap in case of stains . More delicate and very soft to the touch, with its suede appearance, alcantara is a microfiber fabric, which is a polyester / polyurethane blend. For good durability, the latter must be dusted regularly and maintained with a steam cleaner.

• The fabric provided

Do you want a sofa with a fabric that perfectly matches your interior? Today, depending on the brand, you can choose your upholstery fabric from a manufacturer.

Custom , the latter can be matched to other fabrics in the room such as curtains or carpet, which is practical when the fabric is a specific print. Made to measure, the latter can be sewn to the dimensions of the sofa bed , to make a perfectly fitted cover. Made to order, this service is more expensive than choosing a standard fabric and takes longer.

IV. THE STYLE OF THE DAY BED

While the sofa serves as a bed, it's still a modern sofa that needs to blend into the interior. Choosing a sofa obviously depends on your tastes, desires, and interior design.

Whether basic or sophisticated, the look of a living room can be in perfect harmony with the spirit of the room or a little different for a more original look. Today's sofa style can have a classic feel with fabric cushions and a rounded structure.

Discreet, the convertible sofa is not immediately recognizable. Only the sofa bed and the BZ have a specific shape, which makes them recognizable. A popular choice for furnishing a student studio, this piece of furniture is both functional and practical, while being affordable.

Design-wise , sofas are becoming less and less massive, with the absence of sills and metal legs. Contemporary style is making its way into our living rooms. Designers are riding the wave of the convertible sofa, as easily as if it were a basic sofa. Convertible sofas are no longer just an option among classic sofas.

The same sofa can also be offered in several sizes and with the option of having a bed or not. Find sofas from the greatest contemporary designers on the page The 21st Century Designer Sofa .

The Nordic trend is making a real impact on decorating. The Scandinavian-style sofa is characterized by a sleek shape , slanted legs made of natural wood, and a light- colored fabric sofa bed covering. It can be in a neutral color that can be enhanced with mesh or faux fur cushions.

Characterful colors like orange, blue, yellow, and green are popular in the Nordic style and can transform a room. The sofa bed can have exotic accents, with a woven wood frame.

Plant fibers complement a natural, Zen-inspired interior. Woven banana leaves, for example, are quite sturdy and lend a raw look to the decor.

Inspired by the Orient , the sofa can have shimmering colors , in an iridescent fabric.

Baroque style brings a retro touch to a room, like a chic and glamorous boudoir. Made of velvet , the bench is often studded, shaped like a chaise longue. Black, purple, violet, and gray are the favorite colors of this vintage trend, resolutely feminine.