When we sleep, we look for comfort and support. Typically, we have beds in our bedrooms to sleep on. But some homes and apartments have small rooms, and a full bed can make it a tight squeeze to fit anything else in the space. And sometimes there’s more than one person to set up for the night and only one bedroom. It’s not always practical to have a bed behind the couch in the living room, or in the home office. A bed can throw off a room’s decor as well. A piece of convertible furniture would be ideal in these cases, such as a futon or a sofa bed. Like furniture superheroes, by day they are a couch that adds to your decor and style, and by night they transform into a comfortable bed. Both of these types of alternative beds have countless options and sizes. But which one is the right choice for you? Let’s look at some of the benefits of each.
Futons are first and foremost, a space saver. They are lightweight and smaller than a full sized couch. Often there are no armrests, so they can be arranged into tight spaces very easily. They come in a variety of colored mattresses and mattress covers. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to store. If you don’t need it out or in use all year long, you can put it away in a garage, shed or storage room with ease. There are quite a few types of couch futons, and many of them are very comfortable to sit and sleep on. Converting a futon from a couch to a bed is quite simple, there’s usually a catch mechanism that unlocks the back rest. One simple motion and the mattress will unfold, ready for a blanket and pillow. Placing some baskets underneath the futon will add to the room’s decor and hold your pillows and blankets for sleeping.
Sofa Beds look just like regular sofas, so they can hide right in plain sight. They come in a variety of frame sizes, so you can choose what you like to fit in with the rest of your decor. Sofa beds are great for larger rooms that need some signature pieces, such as large living rooms and open concept spaces. Many sofa beds are partial-convertibles, meaning you can have multiple arrangements out of the same piece of furniture. And some come with hidden storage so your pillows, blankets and sheets can be hiding right inside, ready to use when the sofa’s turned down for sleep. Sofa beds are easy to unfold as well, and with so many new styles available today, you can choose exactly the style that fits your home.
So in the end, both futons and sofa beds are great options for convertible furniture. It depends on what your personal needs are. Are you looking to add a little sleeping nook into your home office for when your nephew visits? A futon may be the best option for you, in which case make sure to check out our futon reviews. Or are you trying to take advantage of a large space in your home, like the living room? Trading out your couch for a sofa bed is a perfect fit. In either case, there is a way to add extra beds into your space that won’t look out of place or clutter up your home. Alternative sleeping doesn’t have to be for your guests either. Maybe you’re looking for a way to freshen up your bedroom. Or maybe you’d like to make your bedroom function as an office as well. Trade out your bed for a fashionable futon or sofa bed. The possibilities are endless.
