The sofa bed is a hugely appreciated piece of furniture for anyone, and it adapts to different situations: sometimes a sofa, other times a bed. Ideal for those who own a studio apartment as a space-saving furnishing solution, it’s also much sought-after by those who have plenty of space available: the sofa bed is practical and functional, a true extra bed at home for hosting friends or family.
But how do you choose the ideal sofa bed for our living room? In this detailed guide we try to understand why you might prefer this piece of furniture over a classic straight sofa, what types we can choose from, and the measurements and dimensions of the sofa bed.
Sofa bed: why choose it
It has happened to everyone at least once: hosting friends or family for dinner and stretching the evening so long that you suggest they stay the night. Every time it’s the same story: pulling out sleeping bags or having them make do between the old sofa and the armchair for lack of a guest room.
But today the solution exists and it’s more practical than you might imagine: the sofa bed. Choosing a sofa bed means always having a second bed available in our home, even at the last minute. Of course, before going ahead and buying a sofa bed, it’s necessary to evaluate how much space we have available for where it will go, the maximum spending budget, the expected frequency of use, and the measurements and dimensions. Let’s take it step by step and try to find out a bit more about this comfortable and stylish piece of furniture.
Sofa bed types: opening systems, seating capacity and upholstery
There are different types of sofa bed, which can vary depending on the features they have. In this article we consider 3 of them:
- opening system
- measurements and dimensions
- sofa bed upholstery
Sofa bed opening system
There can be different opening systems. Let’s look at them together to find the easy-to-open sofa bed that’s right for us:
- classic opening: you move the seat cushions away, then you pull out the mattress and the bed base, divided into three parts under the seat.
- book opening: with this system, the sofa’s backrest is pushed toward the rear, making the seat slide forward as well and thus creating a bed.
- drawer opening: you pull out the section, revealing the mattress.
- accordion opening: in this case, it’s enough to tip the sofa forward, resting it on the floor. The seat will then turn into a kind of Japanese bed.
- fold-over opening: this is the most common opening system on the market and also one of the easiest to open. The sofa’s backrest folds forward, revealing the bed legs and the double mattress.
All divani.store sofa beds have a fold-over opening, which many say is the easiest to open and close—perhaps because it’s truly convenient and doesn’t require any particular effort?
Sofa bed with fold-over opening – Lebron sofa
Read also 5 reasons why buying a sofa bed is a good idea.
Measurements of a sofa bed and dimensions
Another feature that can certainly distinguish one sofa bed from another is the measurements of a sofa bed, the number of seats, as well as the shape. These are the traits that also allow us to choose the ideal sofa bed for our apartment: 2-seater sofa bed, 3-seater sofa bed, corner sofa bed, sofa bed with chaise longue.
Clearly, the bigger the sofa, the more space it takes up in the room, which is why it’s necessary to take measurements very carefully. This isn’t a traditional sofa. The space, in fact, will need to take into account the measurements both when the sofa bed is open and when it’s closed.
A very large living room might complete the furnishing better with a corner sofa bed or one with a chaise longue.
3-seater sofa bed: sizes and dimensions
If, instead, we need to place the sofa bed in a more compact setting, it’s better to opt for a 2-seater or 3-seater sofa bed. The CHRIS 3-seater sofa bed we show in the image below can have a width of 166/186/206 cm and a length of 96/212 cm, depending on whether you choose a 2.5-seater or a 3-seater sofa bed.
3-seater sofa bed – CHRIS sofa
So we can summarise the measurements of the sofa beds offered by divani.store by number of seats as:
- 2.5-seater sofa bed: 166 x 96 x 90 cm (L x D x H)
- 3-seater sofa bed: 186 x 96 x 90 cm (L x D x H)
- 3-seater sofa bed max: 206 x 96 x 90 cm (L x D x H)
Double sofa bed or single sofa bed?
Sofa bed from 160 cm up to 180 cm
Sofa beds with a width between 160 cm and 180 cm are a perfect compromise between a compact footprint and comfort. They are ideal for medium-sized rooms, such as home offices, guest bedrooms, or the living rooms of city apartments, where every centimetre counts but you don’t want to give up the functionality of a real bed.
The sofa bed Edgar embodies the elegance of Scandinavian style with clean lines and a refined structure. Available in widths of 160 cm and 180 cm, it offers versatile solutions for smaller rooms without compromising comfort.
160 cm version: Ideal for tighter spaces, this size offers a 120x197 cm mattress, perfect for comfortably accommodating one person.
180 cm version: With a 140x197 cm mattress, this variant provides extra space, making it suitable for two people without taking up too much space in the living room.
Discover the Edgar sofa bed from 160 cm to 180 cm.
We explored the topic of 160 cm two-seater sofa beds in this article.
Another sofa that comes in sizes between 160 and 180 cm is Francy.
The Francy sofa bed stands out for its modern design and the comfort of its adjustable headrests, ideal for finding the perfect position while sitting or relaxing. Francy fits perfectly into the compact sofa-bed segment, offering a 120x197 cm mattress, comfortable for one or two people. It is therefore ideal for smaller spaces such as guest rooms, small living rooms, or multifunctional studies.
The Francy sofa bed is also available in versions from 160 cm to 180 cm.
Types of upholstery for sofa beds
The last feature we intend to talk about, and which distinguishes the various types of sofa bed, is of course the upholstery.
Sofa bed in fabric, eco-leather, velvet, or perhaps microfiber. Each of these upholstery options has different qualities, prices, and maintenance requirements; let’s look together at some of the main differences between synthetic upholstery and eco-friendly ones.
Synthetic upholstery: synthetic upholstery for sofas – we mean, for example, Alcantara, waterproof fabric, or microfiber – is certainly very advantageous because it is durable, waterproof, and easy to maintain. A damp cloth will be enough to clean the sofa of small everyday mishaps, especially if it is covered in waterproof fabric.
Beige sofa bed with waterproof fabric – LEBRON sofa
Of course, for heavier soiling it’s best to remove the cover and wash it completely, but even this is somewhat reassuring.
Also, if we have a four-legged friend with rather sharp claws, it will definitely be a lifesaver: it’s much harder for a cat to destroy a sofa in microfiber or fabric than, for example, a leather sofa.
Natural upholstery: among the most commonly used natural upholstery fabrics are cotton, silk, and velvet. The first is a very breathable material that provides instant comfort when it touches the skin. Unfortunately, cotton is also very delicate and stains easily. Silk, on the other hand, is very fine, and the cost of a sofa with this upholstery is often quite significant. It’s used in luxury interiors, but it’s less common than velvet, which is widely appreciated for its refined, glamorous style. The velvet sofa originated as furnishing for vintage- or classic-style living rooms, but today mixing multiple styles has become a trend, and it’s also used in modern-style living spaces.
Eco-friendly upholstery: divani.store uses eco-friendly fabrics to upholster its sofas. But what does eco-friendly fabric mean? Essentially, the eco-friendly fabric used to upholster our sofas is produced by recycling old plastic bottles and then converting them into fabric through several steps. For making the sofas, only FSC-certified wood is also used, purchased exclusively from companies that care about our planet.
So we’re talking about a sofa bed that’s mindful of the environment, stain-removable, and gives the living room a refined and elegant look. Discover all sofas with eco-friendly fabric.
Sofa bed upholstered in eco-friendly fabric – EVANS sofa
Sofa bed mattress sizes
To conclude our guide on the types and sizes of sofas, we felt it was only right to mention the mattress too—the heart of our sofa beds.
Our mattresses are 13, 18, and 20 cm thick, and for this reason they ensure relaxation and comfortable rest. The mattresses in our sofa beds are made of expanded polyurethane foam.
Sofa bed mattress divani.store – FLUFFY sofa bed
If you’d like more information about our sofa beds before buying one for your apartment, contact us—we’ll be happy to give you more details and help you choose.
Further reading: sofa or bed? Make the right choice.
