Sofa Sleeper???

[sjams]

I posted this on the Community Board but didn't get many responses...

We are in need of some more sleeping for guests. We have guests frequently but no extra bedroom. So we are looking at getting a sofa bed and have gone out looking. No furniture stores around here have them on the floor so that we can try them out. How do know what is a good one and would be reasonably comfortable? I know they aren't the best to sleep on but I am just in need of something.

Any advice on how to pick or a good company to buy from since apparently we won't know what it is like until we get it home!!!

 

[Princess Stitch]

The only advice I can give you is that traditional sofa beds with metal pull out frames like this one : http://www.customshouseinc.com/sofabed-001.jpg tend to be really uncomfortable and also loud and squeeky. Not to mention the couch is HEAVY!

If you go with a model like this :
http://www.kids-sofa.co.uk/images/styles/SnoozeFoam1.jpg
No metal bars in the middle of the back, no squeeking in the middle of the night, much lighter to move around!

Wooden futon beds are also a good choice if you don't need a traditional looking couch.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What about an Aero-bed? They have a huge variety, including some that are like the mattress and box-spring together, and they inflate in a minute or so, and deflate about as fast (when you want them to).

 

[sjms71]

We recently have been looking for a sofa bed too. I came across this, lazyboy makes a sofa bed that is part bed and part airbed. They did have one in their showroom here in NC. and of course we didn't sleep on it but we tried it and it was very comfortable.

 

[Allabtprincesses]

My experience....No one wants to sleep on our sofa bed. And yes, they are heavy. I've even had people take the mattress off of the sofa bed and put it on the floor to sleep. People are much more comfortable on our Aerobed. Our first one lasted about 4 years, and did eventually get a hole in it (from someone who had never slept in it, and who has a BIG engagement ring....my brother and sister-in-law had been sleeping on it for years, and they are not petite people.). We are now on our second, and obviously even having purchased two it is MUCH cheaper then buying a sofa bed!

 

[sjams]

We recently have been looking for a sofa bed too. I came across this, lazyboy makes a sofa bed that is part bed and part airbed. They did have one in their showroom here in NC. and of course we didn't sleep on it but we tried it and it was very comfortable.

There is a Lazy Boy store here in town. I will check it out!!!

I too like the AeroBed ideas. I am open to all ideas at this point!!!

I don't want it to be too comfortable as it would be for my in-law!!

 

[englishteacha]

We used to have a sofabed and it was OK to sleep on, but not particularly comfy. I much prefer an airbed of some kind! I spend many nights sleeping on an inexpensive airbed and found it to be very comfortable.

 

[disneyleslie]

I bought the queen aero bed at sams and everyone loves it - you pop it up when you need it and it is super comfy!!!

Leslie

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We too have a lot of company. That's one of the perks of living in FL. We do have an extra room, but that's still not enough sleeping space on holidays. We bought a matching sofa bed & reclining couch. Most everyone thinks it's pretty comfortable. I've never heard any complaints anyway. It definitely doesn't squeak. I'm not sure what brand it is, or what type. I'll ask my DH when he comes in & get back to you. I do know we bought it at Montgomery Ward, & I don't think they're in business anymore. You may be able to get the same brand elsewhere though.

 

[ncbyrne]

We have a queen size sofa bed that we purchased second hand from a neighbor who was moving. The mattress that came with it was not very comfortable. We bought the thickest, albeit most expensive, hide-a-bed mattress from a local mattress dealer. We also layer a thick quilt between the spring frame and the mattress, and now it's as comfortable as a bed.
However, I agree 100% about the aerobed! They can be inflated to the firmness desired by your guest. (Don't buy the wannabe brands, Aerobed is by far the best and most comfortable). We have a queen size deluxe model and it sets up very quickly.

 

[sjams]

We too have a lot of company. That's one of the perks of living in FL. We do have an extra room, but that's still not enough sleeping space on holidays. We bought a matching sofa bed & reclining couch. Most everyone thinks it's pretty comfortable. I've never heard any complaints anyway. It definitely doesn't squeak. I'm not sure what brand it is, or what type. I'll ask my DH when he comes in & get back to you. I do know we bought it at Montgomery Ward, & I don't think they're in business anymore. You may be able to get the same brand elsewhere though.

Thanks! I would love to know the brand!!

 

[ducklite]

We have three sofabeds in our house. One came from Macy's, one from Ethan Allen, and one from La-Z-Boy. They are all heavy. Ethan Allen offers a choice of matresses, we chose the midrange one, and after I added a thickly quilted mattress pad, it's actually quite comfortable. A friend of mine has the thickest one, and she says it's like a regular bed.

The La-Z-Boy is the least comfy, although it's only a double, so that might play into it.

My son has a queen futon in his room, it's got a regular innerspring mattress and is very comfortable.

Anne

 

[pjlla]

FWIW, I would avoid a sofa bed if at all possible. Aerobeds are cheaper and easier to move around if necessary. Sofa beds are TERRIBLY heavy. And usually only marginally comfortable.... even the better ones. My parents did some redecorating and re-arranging and ended up buying a Lazy Boy sofa bed for when my family is there overnight. I have spent several nights on it over the last 2 years and it is reasonably comfortable, but only reasonably. I don't have a terrible bar in my back, as I have had on other sofa beds. I have also slept on an Aero bed and a Coleman air mattress and prefer them to the Lazy Boy sofa bed. ...........................P

 

[sjms71]

The lazy boy we were looking at wasn't a traditional mattress sofa bed. It had a mattress that folded out then it had an air mattress on top of that in which you blow up with the pump like an aero bed on top of a mattress.

 

[disykat]

I wish we had a hideabed. We have a futon that is very comfortable. However, once we fold it down and make it up with bedding we leave it up. We have a bed in our family room for the duration of the visit. With a hideabed you just fold it right up.