How to choose a sofa bed online
A sofa bed can dramatically enhance your space. Adding a sofa bed to a home office or a spare bedroom will convert the room into a dual function space. Finding the right sofa bed online can be a daunting and overwhelming process.
Being based in Sydney and having clients all over Australia, we understand ordering a sofa bed online can be a challenge without being able to see it in person. The key is to know your needs.
Our guide will help you with what to consider when shopping for sofa beds online.
Measure your space
Before you start looking, you’ll want to size up your space to determine the size of sofa bed you can get. Then decide how many people you want to seat. A 3 seater will give you a queen mattress and a 2.5 seater will give you a double mattress. Consider the length, depth, and height of the sofa bed when it is closed, but also how much space you’ll need in the room when it is opened.
But don’t stop with the overall dimensions. Look at the interior dimensions including seat depth and cushion height. Consider the intended use of the sofa bed when it is a sofa. If the sofa is for lounging then consider a deeper sofa bed. However, if you have shorter legs, you’ll want to go for a shallower seat.
If you have an empty room, we recommend using measuring tape and newspaper to mark out the sofa bed’s layout. Compare the dimensions of the sofa bed with your current sofa to see if the seating depth and cushion height is similar to what you’re used to.
Also, don’t forget to assess the size of your passageways, stairways, and elevators to avoid the nightmare of an oversized purchase. We always suggest to our clients to send through these measurements, so we can give a green light that everything will fit with minimal “pivot” action.
Types of Sofa Beds
Most sofa beds will fall into one of three categories: pull-out sofa beds, click-clack sofa beds and slide out sofa beds. The pull-out sofa beds are designed primarily for everyday sofas. The mechanism lets you open the sofa bed by pulling on a handle to reveal the mattress hidden inside. Comfortable mattresses range from 13-15cm depth and should have innersprings or pocket springs for ultimate comfort.
The click-clack sofa beds is the most basic fold-out mechanism available in sofa beds, where the backrest folds back to transform it into a bed. Essentially, what you sit on is what you sleep on. Our sofa beds with this mechanism are the Danish designed sofa beds that feature modern and contemporary designs. These sofa beds feature individual pocket springs of varying depths, which ultimately leads to a better quality of sleep for two people.
Lastly, the slide out design allows you to slide the main seating area outwards like a drawer mechanism. Our slide out sofa beds feature timber slats and a high density foam mattress. High density foams can be incredibly durable and last a long time. However, they tend to be quite firm, so you can add a plush mattress topper for a softer feel. It is also worth noting that it could be challenging to sleep on a foam mattress for an extended period of time.
Sample your fabric options
Choosing a fabric can be the most daunting stage when it comes to choosing a sofa bed. The fabric you choose needs to stand the test of time, so it’s important to consider the rub count of the fabric. Most fabric companies measure their rub counts with the Martindale rub test, which is a method that stimulates natural wear to show the durability of the fabric. We suggest our sofa beds be upholstered in fabric with over 30,000 Martindale rubs, as anything over is considered heavy duty.
It’s also a good idea to order fabric swatches so that you can see the fabric’s colours and feel the textures in person. You’ll also want to see how well the fabric swatch goes with your carpet and walls, and even other furniture you may have in the room.
Unfortunately, not all sofa beds are created equally. The idiom ‘you get what you pay for’ is especially true when it comes to sofa beds, because if the price seems too good to be true, it most likely is. So remember to do your research before handing over your credit card details. Thanks to the internet, you can easily find verified customer reviews. Reviews reveal all sorts of information about the business including the quality and service.
