Step1
Consider what size sleep-sofa works best for you. Ask yourself who will be most likely to use the bed (a couple or an individual), what size sheets you already own, how large the room is (it may not be able to accommodate a queen-size sofa bed), and so forth, before you shop.
Step2
Examine the fabric to be sure that the pattern on the cushion (plaid, floral, stripe) aligns with the front platform (or rail) of the sofa.
Step3
Turn over the sofa and make sure the legs are screwed in. The frame should be wood with corner blocks and glue; don't buy a sofa with nailed, stapled or unbraced joints - these will loosen and wobble.
Step4
Sit on the center cushion and an end cushion for several minutes to make sure both spots are comfortable, and lie on the sofa as a sofa if you will do so once the piece is purchased. Is it comfortable as a sofa?
Step5
Remove the sofa cushions and look inside the sofa. You shouldn't see any wood, just smooth, upholstered surfaces.
Step6
Pull out the bed. If it doesn't pull up and out smoothly, keep shopping.
Step7
Insist on large-diameter steel tubing for the skeleton of the bed frame for adequate strength.
Step8
Check the mounting plate, which is the heavy-gauge steel structure that attaches to the sofa's wood frame. It should be bolted, not screwed on.
Step9
Choose a coiled, inner-spring mattress. Shop with a large companion who can test the mattress for at least 5 minutes. A heavier person will sometimes feel the uncomfortable support bar through an inferior mattress - ouch!
Step10
Look to see that there's a headrest that locks in place easily for nighttime reading or TV viewing.
Step11
Ask the salesperson whether the bed can be made up with sheets and a light blanket while the sofa is closed. This can be a great do-ahead convenience factor when you're expecting overnight guests.
Step12
Tell your salesperson that you'll be making an extended at-home test of the sofa and bed for a couple of weeks, and that you will return it if the furniture flunks. If he or she has a problem with this, look elsewhere.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 I've found that the 3 stage fold-out frame sofa beds are pretty much rubbish all round. A couple of months later, the cushions will sag, and they wear out quickly. The style with the back that drops down are far more comfortable as a sofa and as a bed, and will last many times longer.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Although I find I like the contemporary styling of two-cushion sofas, it's no fun sitting on the crack! Bear in mind if your sofa sleeper is meant to be used as a serious piece of day furniture.