Sofa Convertible

Studios and small rooms

Making a sofa bed work in a small space

In a small room the sofa bed is often the largest piece of furniture. Planning around it from the start keeps the room usable day and night.

Compact studio flat with a dark green sleeper sofa under a large window and lamps lit

Types that suit small rooms

  • Click-clack: opens along its own length, so it needs little extra floor depth.
  • Chair bed: fits a corner of a study or bedroom; one sleeper.
  • Daybed: sits against a wall and doesn't need to open at all, with a trundle for a second sleeper.
  • Wall bed with sofa: uses wall height rather than floor area; good in studios where the bed would otherwise take half the room.

Pull-out sofa beds work in small rooms only if there's a clear run of roughly 215 to 240 cm (85 to 95 in) from the wall. Mark it out with tape first, as described in the measuring guide.

Layout ideas

  1. Put the sofa on the longest wall. It leaves the most room in front for the opened bed.
  2. Use moveable tables. A side table or nest of tables can move aside when the bed opens; a heavy coffee table becomes a problem every night.
  3. Avoid blocking doors and radiators. An opened bed in front of a radiator can block heat and get too warm to sleep against.
  4. Light both modes. A wall-mounted reading lamp works for the sofa and the bed without a bedside table.
  5. Use a rug that marks the bed area. It defines a living space by day and a softer floor by night.

Storage

Bedding is bulky. Plan where it lives before you buy:

  • Storage chaise or under-seat drawer
  • Ottoman with a lid, used as a footstool by day
  • Vacuum bags for spare duvets, kept under the bed or high in a wardrobe
  • A shelf or cabinet beside a wall bed for pillows

Scale and colour

Raised legs that show the floor beneath make a sofa look lighter. Slim arms give more seat and bed width for the same closed size. A colour close to the walls makes a large piece recede; a deep colour such as forest green or charcoal works as a single strong piece if the rest of the room is quiet.

Rented flats

Wall beds must be fixed to the wall, which may need the landlord's permission. Freestanding types avoid that. If you move often, check that the sofa comes apart and will go through a standard door, and keep the assembly instructions.

For a longer list of things to confirm, see the questions to ask before buying.