A sofa is fit for everyday sleep if, unfolded, it gives a level sleeping place with no steps in height, has a dependable mechanism that does not wear you out every evening, and a filling that holds its shape for years. In shops a sofa is called “orthopaedic” when, instead of a simple layer of foam rubber, it has a full mattress unit — sprung or of dense foam. So look not at the word in the name but at what is inside. Below are the four things to weigh.
1. The folding mechanism
If a sofa is unfolded every day, the mechanism matters more than the colour of the upholstery. It has to work in one or two movements, without effort and without the sofa having to be moved away from the wall.
| Mechanism | How it unfolds | Example and sleeping place |
|---|---|---|
| Eurobook | The seat rolls forward and the back lies down in its place | Chester New Sofa — 1610 × 2040 mm |
| Click-clack | The back tips backwards until it clicks; there are intermediate positions | Samba New Sofa — 1420 × 2040 mm |
| Walking mechanism | The seat rises and “walks” forward without rubbing on the floor | Deni Sofa — 1400 × 2000 mm |
The Eurobook is the simplest construction, with almost nothing to go wrong. The walking mechanism is kind to the floor and the carpet. The click-clack lets the back be fixed half-reclined: the Mark Sofa, for example, has three back positions.
One honest caveat: on nearly every folding sofa the sleeping place is made of two parts, and there is a join between them. The join itself is not a fault. The fault is when the parts differ in height or firmness. That is exactly what has to be checked lying down.
2. The base and the frame
A mattress unit has to rest on something. The best option for everyday sleep is a slatted base: flexible wooden slats spring under weight and let air through. In the Samba New sofa the Veneto Family Style Plus Mattress lies on a slatted base — a medium-firm model on a unit of independent springs that is also sold separately — and the frame of most Veneto folding models has solid wood and beech slats.
What to check: sit on the edge of the unfolded sofa, then in the middle. The frame should not creak, and the sleeping place should not bow downwards under the weight of one person.
Note the bedding box too. If the bedding has to be put away somewhere every morning, a box under the seat saves a shelf in the wardrobe. The corner Richard New Sofa has two such boxes: under the seat and under the armrest.
3. What is inside: springs or foam
The same rules apply here as for ordinary mattresses.
A unit of independent springs. Every spring stands in its own pocket and compresses separately. The surface adapts to the body, and one person's movements are passed on less to the other. In Veneto sofas this unit is called Multi Pocket Spring TPS. It is a sensible choice for a couple and for those who sleep on the sofa every night.
A Bonnell unit. The springs are linked to one another, so the surface is springy and even, but follows the contours of the body less precisely. It suits a sofa that one person sleeps on, or one used more often for sitting.
Some models are made with either of the two units to choose from: Chester New, Deni and Richard New are built this way.
Springless filling. The Mark sofa is put together without springs: dense Ecofoam foam and a layer of Memoryfoam that slowly takes the shape of the body and recovers just as slowly. Such a filling has no springs that could begin to creak over the years. Memory foam is not to everyone's taste: some find it cosy, others find it hot or hard to turn over on. It really has to be tried.
If you have a diagnosis to do with the back, discuss the firmness of the sleeping place with a doctor. A sofa helps the body lie level, but it does not replace treatment.
4. The size of the sleeping place
Look not at the overall dimensions of the sofa but at the size when unfolded.
- For one person a sleeping place about 1200 mm wide is usually enough; choose more precisely by build and sleeping habits. Mark, for example, has a sleeping place of 1220 × 2000 mm.
- For two what matters is that each has enough room of their own: as a guide, from 1400 mm in width, more comfortably from 1600 mm. The sleeping place of Chester New, for example, is 1610 × 2040 mm, and of the corner Richard New 1600 × 2000 mm.
- Length — choose with a comfortable margin over your height; a practical guide is 150–200 mm more.
Measure the room with the sofa unfolded: there should be a way through between the edge of the sleeping place and the wall or wardrobe. And check that you will not have to move the coffee table every evening.
Straight models are gathered in the straight sofas collection, and all of them together with the corner ones in the sofas collection.
What to check in the showroom
- Unfold and fold the sofa yourself, without the consultant's help. If it is hard in the showroom, it will be harder every day.
- Lie on the unfolded sofa for 5–10 minutes: on your back, on your side, across the join.
- Run your palm along the join: the parts should be on one level.
- If two of you will sleep on it, lie down together and have one of you turn over.
- Ask exactly which unit is in the display sample: on models with a choice of filling the feel differs.
- Open the box and judge whether your duvet will fit in it.
Care
A sofa that is slept on needs regular care. Before folding it, it helps to leave the sleeping surface uncovered for a short while to air. Put the bedding into the box dry. If the join can still be felt, or you want to spare the upholstery, lay a topper on top — a thin mattress 40–70 mm high from the toppers collection. Vacuum the upholstery with a soft nozzle, and clean stains as the manufacturer of the fabric advises. The warranty conditions are on the warranty page.
In short
- A sofa for everyday sleep is a mattress unit on a dependable base, not the word “orthopaedic” in the name.
- The mechanism has to work easily and without moving the sofa from the wall: Eurobook, click-clack, walking mechanism.
- Independent springs for a couple and for everyday sleep; Bonnell is simpler; memory foam has to be tried.
- For two, choose a width at which each has enough room (a guide is from 1400 mm, more comfortably from 1600 mm); check the sleeping place in its unfolded state.
- In the showroom unfold the sofa yourself and be sure to lie on the join.
Frequently asked questions
Can a sofa be slept on every day instead of a bed?
Yes, if there is a full mattress unit on a slatted base inside and the sleeping place is level. A sofa with a thin layer of foam rubber will not do for this.
Which mechanism is better for unfolding every day?
There is no universally most reliable mechanism: what matters is the construction of the particular model, the quality of the fittings and how convenient it is day to day. In the showroom unfold and fold the sofa yourself several times.
Is a spring sofa or a springless one better?
There is no single answer. Spring and springless models can feel different, and ventilation and noise depend on the particular construction, materials and base. What decides it is how you lie on the particular model.
Does a sofa need a topper?
Not necessarily. It is useful if the join can be felt, or if you want to protect the upholstery from daily contact with bedding.
