Making a Sofa Bed

A sofa bed in the guest room serves double duty.

A sofa bed should fold up smartly when it is not in use, providing its owner with extra seating when it's not in use. If your sofa bed is not properly made, loose or bulky blankets may interfere with the bed's ability to collapse properly. Choose quality linens and blankets for your sofa bed, but make sure they are not so thick they will hamper the bed from tucking neatly away.

Things You'll Need

• Sheets
• Blanket
• Bedspread
• Pillows

Instructions

For Storage

1. Place the fitted sheet on the sofa bed mattress. Pull each sheet corner around the corner of the mattress. Tuck in any excess material around the top, sides and bottom.

2. Spread the flat sheet over the mattress. Align the top of the sheet so it is 2 or 3 inches down from the top edge of the mattress.

3. Tuck in all extra sheeting material at the bottom only. Make a "hospital corner" by neatly tucking in the sheet at each side, starting at the end. Pull the sheet taut before tucking it under and make sure the fold is crisp. Repeat on the other side.

4. Add a warm, thin blanket to the bed and tuck it in hospital style as you did the sheet. Make sure all the extra material is neatly tucked under the mattress so it will not interfere with closing the bed.

For Use

1. Unfold the bed from the sofa and smooth out the sheet and blanket. Untuck enough fabric along the sides so your guest can get into it.

2. Add a bedspread for warmth. Lay the bedspread on top of the blanket. Align the top of the bedspread with the top of the sheet. Fold down 2 to 3 feet of the bedspread from the top for a cozy, inviting look.

3. Place pillows in pillowcases at the top of the bed. Remove the pillows and bedspread when folding the bed back into the sofa.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a large, rectangular basket with a lid or a decorative trunk as a coffee table in front of your sofa bed. It will be easy to move when you need space to unfold the bed and you can store extra linens and pillows there.