Sleeper sofa

What is a sofa bed?

The history of the sofa bed

Sofa comes from Arabic – suffa – and means resting bench. The French canapé is derived from the Latin conopeum, which means canopy bed. Couch, as the English counterpart, is also derived from the French: couche translates to bedding.

The sofa in ancient Greece

Even in ancient Greece, there was a piece of furniture for sitting and resting, the so-called kline (Greek for resting couch). It played a significant role not only in private daily life but also when dining with guests and in large company. In the 6th–7th century BC, klinai were made from marble, ivory, wood, or metal.

Sofa bed in the 17th century

From the 17th century, sofas were first manufactured in England and Germany and were exclusively reserved for the nobility, as they were expensive luxury furniture. Initially, the wooden furniture was very massive, later much more elaborately decorated and covered with noble upholstery fabrics, for example, the opulent furniture at the court of Louis XIV. In the Rococo period, the style of sofas became increasingly delicate, with floral design elements being decisive. The function of the sofa in the 17th century was limited to lying down and resting during the day. Gradually, different types of sofas developed, such as the chaise longue (French for long chair) and particularly the “fainting couch.” This served women in the 19th century for recovery after a fainting spell. Sofas with spring cushions and backrests for leaning while sitting only appeared in the 19th century and became mass-produced during the Industrial Revolution. In the 20th century, the sofa evolved into a piece of everyday furniture for everyone and became increasingly affordable. Sets of several upholstered furniture pieces were found in most households.

Arten von Schlafsofas

Various systems have established themselves for sofa beds: There are sofa beds whose backrests and/or armrests can be folded down to create a flat sleeping surface (so-called side sleepers). Additionally, a sofa bed can also be pulled apart like an accordion, with the sleeping surface being pulled forward (so-called floor sleepers). In floor sleepers (couch to pull out), a slatted frame is usually integrated. In other sofa beds, the mattress is hidden in the furniture body and must be unfolded or pulled out. Some sofa beds have flexible back and arm cushions that can be removed or integrated into the sleeping surface with a few simple movements. The constructions and conversion mechanisms vary from sofa bed to sofa bed. The best way to find out which sofa bed suits you is through personal trial sitting and lying. But be careful, as not only do the conversion mechanisms in the sofa bed differ. The dimensions of the sleeping surfaces do not necessarily have to correspond to the common mattress sizes.

Advantages for side sleepers sofa bed

  • Space-saving
  • Quickly converted
  • Easy handling
  • With slatted frame and mattress: Comfortable bed replacement

Disadvantages for side sleepers sofa bed

  • Armrests can be constricting
  • Wall can interfere when folding

Advantages of stomach sleepers sofa bed

  • Space-saving
  • Quickly converted

Disadvantages of stomach sleepers sofa bed

  • Little comfort and a lot of space
  • Full-fledged bed replacement is more expensive

The corner sofa

Typically, a corner sofa includes a so-called ottoman. The term ottoman refers to a part of the sofa that either has no backrest or only a side armrest. The great advantage of an ottoman is that you can place the corner sofa under a low windowsill. Furthermore, the ottoman creates an additional sleeping and lounging area, provided you have chosen a corner sofa with a sleeping function.

The sectional sofa

A sectional sofa consists of a large U-shaped sofa – often combinable with a matching ottoman or armchair. Since sectionals take up a lot of space, you should ensure that the room where it is to be placed is large enough. For the sectional to not only be functional but also visually appealing, it needs plenty of space around it.

Lying and sitting comfort

Sitting and lying comfortably is a basic requirement for a good sofa bed. If this is not the case, you will have the following result: Either you constantly slide back and forth during the evening movie, or your guest is writhing in back pain at the breakfast table in the morning. Both are unpleasant and thus wasted money. Usually, sofa beds are a bit firmer in the seating and lying area. This is partly due to the dual function – nevertheless, they can be comfortable. Test the seat and also lie down on the sofa bed of your choice. If you want to buy online, inform yourself about the reviews of other buyers. If your sofa bed convinces as seating furniture, but the lying area could be a bit cozier, you might be able to compensate for it with a topper, known from the box spring bed. "As you make your bed, so you lie" – is a well-known saying and gets to the heart of the matter – if not even the mattress core. And that brings us to the dilemma of the sofa bed. It is best to sleep on a proper mattress. You can certainly get this with a sofa bed. However, these models are at least two meters long and often do not look like a classic sofa. More often, you will find sofa beds with a foam core. Today's cold foam upholstery is usually produced to a high standard and also has good seating and lying behavior. The back also finds relief here if you pay attention to quality. For fans of a simple style, there is also the futon variant among sofa beds. A hard, thin mattress that can be flexibly rolled up or folded.

Sofa bed with slatted frame

The high comfort of modern sofa beds is due to their construction, which is based on conventional bed systems. This includes the slatted frame or a similar underframe, for which customers can order different mattress toppers. Manufacturers typically offer pocket spring cores and cold foam, but sometimes also latex or even futon. A sofa bed with a slatted frame definitely provides comparable sleeping comfort to a classic bed, and manufacturers pay attention to the still easy handling – a sofa bed with a slatted frame must also be characterized by its smooth mechanism. The high-quality slatted frame ensures that optimal body stability is guaranteed even with prolonged use. At the same time, the sofa bed with a slatted frame is a design-oriented alternative to the classic guest bed.

Sofa bed material surface

When it comes to materials, a distinction is usually made between dirt-repellent leather and comfortable fabric or synthetic covers. An ideal option is a removable cover that can be washed in the washing machine. A leather cover does not get dirty as quickly, but it also requires maintenance and tends to be cooler when lying down. Additionally, in summer, the skin can stick to the leather when sitting, which many people find uncomfortable. A sofa with a fabric or synthetic cover usually appears inviting. However, with children or pets, it can quickly become soiled with hair or stains.

Types of mattresses for the sofa bed: Spring mattress

The spring core offers a firm and stable seat and conforms well to the body when lying down. The classic variant is the cylinder spring core. Here, the individual springs are arranged vertically to the seat surface and connected by spirals. The Bonell spring core, which is more commonly known today, is a further development of the classic variant. The spring head is larger and can therefore respond more sensitively to different loads. Much more ergonomic, but also more expensive, is the pocket spring core. Here, the springs are sewn into individual pockets, providing better point elasticity. However, when choosing the perfect spring core, not only the variant is crucial, but also the respective quality. The number of springs per seating unit, the thickness of the wire, and the coils of the individual springs significantly influence seating comfort.

Advantage of spring core

  • Optimal spring and support strength
  • Individual alignment of the springs in hard and yielding guarantees optimal sleeping and seating comfort
  • Best ventilation

Disadvantage of spring core

  • Cavitation may occur

Bonnell spring core

The Bonnell spring core consists of individual, tempered hourglass springs that are connected to each other by means of a spiral wire. Cushion spring wires with diameters of 2.40 and 2.50 mm are used. This spring core is available in heights of 80, 90, 100, 120, and 140 mm; depending on the height, with 4 or 5 turns. The diameter of the springs is between 78 and 90 mm. Versions with 1 or 2 band steel frames or without frames are possible. 

Advantages

  • high seating and suspension comfort
  • high air permeability of the cushion
  • good price-performance ratio
  • large variety of variations

Cold foam mattress for the sofa bed

The so-called cold foam is chemically a polyurethane and consists of the basic materials polyol and isocyanate. A chemical reaction occurs between the two materials, leading to the formation of foam. This foam hardens even at low temperatures. Therefore, this foam is also called cold foam. Quality should be taken into account here. The difference between high-quality foam and cheap materials is significant. Key factors are density and compression hardness: the higher the density, the more durable the foam. With foam that has only a low density, permanent seating depressions quickly develop. The compression hardness indicates the strength level of the foam.

Advantage cold foam

  • Body perfectly supported when sitting and lying
  • Mattresses and seats made of cold foam are characterized by durability.

Disadvantage of cold foam

  • Sometimes perceived as too hard

 

Sofa bed slatted frame With the mattress finder to your perfect mattress

The Mister Sandman mattress finder is a practical online mattress consultation. In just a few steps, the important information necessary to find the mattress that is perfect for your existing sleep needs and body measurements is collected. If a mattress is being sought that will be used by two people, all information and data for both sleepers are requested and taken into account.

    Sofa bed slatted frame shipping and delivery of Mister Sandman goods

    After receiving your order, mattresses and bedding are packed by the manufacturer and then handed over to DPD. Mattresses are shipped as roll mattresses. You will then receive an email with your personal tracking number, which allows you to track the status of your order at any time. The delivery and handover by DPD takes place directly to your home or to the door of the specified delivery address. This way, you don't have to worry about the transport and delivery of your mattress or bedding.

    Sofa bed slatted frame shipping and return shipping are free for you

    Ordering mattresses and bedding accessories, such as pillows, toppers, and duvets from the Mister Sandman Shop, is completely risk-free. Shipping to all delivery addresses within Germany, including delivery to the front door, and return shipping including pickup by DPD is free of charge. For a return, you can easily schedule a pickup appointment for the mattress with our customer service.

    Sofa bed slatted frame mattress test - 30 days test sleep

    Restful and healthy sleep is important for well-being and to recharge energy. Almost a third of a person's life is spent sleeping. Therefore, the choice of the right mattress is crucial for good, healthy sleep. To assess whether a mattress is suitable for one's sleep type and needs, a few minutes of lying down in the store is by no means sufficient. Especially if the previous mattress was very worn out or did not fit the body and sleep habits particularly well, it can take some time for the body to unlearn its previous protective or incorrect posture and to get used to the new mattress and an orthopedic position. For this reason, Mister Sandman offers you the opportunity to test sleep for a full 30 days and nights to thoroughly test your new mattress. This also allows you to test the mattress in your familiar sleep environment and in conjunction with the bedroom furnishings, as furniture and bedding accessories such as pillows, blankets, toppers, and bed linen have a significant impact on sleep comfort.

    Sofa bed slatted frame Mister Sandman products – Quality claim

    It is important to us that you feel completely comfortable with each of our items, whether mattresses, pillows, toppers, or duvets. Therefore, we place special emphasis on high-quality products that meet a high standard. All products in the Mister Sandman Shop are certified with the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, product class I, identifiable by the label Textiles Vertrauen. All products with this certification meet the highest requirements for textile products and have been thoroughly tested for harmful substances. Therefore, all Mister Sandman products are also suitable for babies and toddlers without any concerns.

    Sofa bed slatted frame Mister Sandman online shop

    Mister Sandman is a young and innovative brand. In our online shop, you will find 3 different models:

    With the mattress finder, you can find the right mattress for you. If you still have questions, our customer service is also happy to assist you. The price comparison shows you the prices of other manufacturers that offer qualitatively similar mattresses as we do. In the Mister Sandman online shop, we also offer various accessories and information that will enhance your sleeping experience. In addition to pillows, you will also find toppers that will upgrade your bed and bedroom. Here you will find offers that can be well tested through the return guarantee. The reviews from our customers speak for Mister Sandman.