Sofa beds furniture and futons are great for smaller spaces (both can be converted into a bed), for example for someone who lives in a loft. Let’s say you need extra sleeping space for relatives, friends or guests but don’t have any rooms, a sleeper sofa furniture or a futon could be the answer to all your problems. The dual purpose of these pieces can be used in an office, or play room that can be converted into a guest room at night and save you a whole lot of space.
The question is which one do you choose? Which one would be more suited to your needs and which one is ultimately the best choice for your home. I’ll go over the pros and cons of both bed sofas furniture and the futon bed and hopefully make your choice a little easier.
Futons: Pros & Cons
Futons unlike sofa beds, usually come in different mattress sizes which means greater comfort. The thickness of the mattress also varies from soft, medium and firm, and the sizes come in standard bed sizes so they can fit more than two people comfortably depending on what size you choose. Because it is usually light in weight, futon can be moved around easily making this ideal for when you need to pull it out for guests. And best of all, futon beds are usually budget friendly and more affordable than the average sofa bed.
The common downside to a futon is that when it is in a couch position it usually is not very comfortable to sit on; they can be quite lumpy sometimes and even hard to get out of which do not make them ideal lounge room furniture. There is no confusing this piece with a real sofa or couch as they are also not the most visually appealing pieces of furniture and can sometimes look cheap. A word of advice, if you don’t opt for a thicker mattress it can sometimes even make sleeping on a futon uncomfortable which would defeat the whole purpose of buying one.
Sofa Beds Furniture: Pros & Cons
The main advantage of sofa beds furniture is that unlike a futon, no one will know that it is in fact a sofa bed as it looks like a regular sofa. Finding a stylish one to match the rest of your furniture is easy as it blends in and does not stick out as is the case with a futon. There are many more options when it comes to formal or informal looking sofa beds, where as a futon will always look more casual.
The cons of sofa beds is that they are usually more expensive than a futon, so if you’re on a budget, a sofa bed is probably not your best option. After all, you’re looking for quality, right. There are also less mattress choices when it comes to sofa beds, and the mattresses are usually pretty thin. So sleeping on one may feel comfortable at first but the more you use it, the more worn out the mattress gets and the more you will be able to feel the metal bars or wooden slats underneath you, which could make for some restless nights. Sofa beds are heavy, so transporting them or moving them around is pretty difficult, which means putting one out every time a guest stays over could be challenging. Sofa bed mattresses may also lose there shape over time and may sag from being folded up all the time.
So if you’re looking for more of an occasional bed for guests that could double as a pretty nice sofa in the living room then a sofa bed is definitely the way to go. I would recommend spending a little extra when buying one, maybe adding some extra padding to make it more comfortable. If you need a space for guests that visit more frequently, I would suggest getting a futon, it won’t lose its shape and is definitely more comfortable. The choice really should be based on the size of your home, what your sleeping needs are for you and your guests, and whether you’re going to use it as a centre piece in your living room. My tip is browse online stores to compare models and prices, you might find something you like.