10 best sofa beds tried and tested – comfortable, stylish, and versatile

The best sofa beds – tried and tested two seater, three seater, and corner sofa beds from Habitat, John Lewis, Heal's, and more

The best sofa beds tried, tested, and reviewed by Ideal Home on a blue background
(Image credit: Future)

The best sofa beds can help you to transform your home by conjuring up overnight sleeping space for guests in the living room, or allowing you to convert a guest bedroom into a home office or playroom without sacrificing the ability to host friends and family occasionally.  

However, finding a sofa bed that's stylish, affordable and comfortable is a tall order –  trust us, we've walked multiple miles around multiple sofa showrooms in search of the best sofa beds, and unearthed plenty that don't hit the mark in terms of sitting or sleeping comfort – so we know just how difficult finding a good one can be.

Thankfully we've compiled all of that first-hand testing experience into this guide, rounding up the best sofa beds from John Lewis & Partners, Habitat, Darlings of Chelsea, Heal's, Swyft, Dunelm, and many more, so you can jump straight to the Ideal Home team's top recommendations.

And whilst most sofa beds are going to feel a little firmer for sitting on than one of the best sofas, we're confident this selection offers the cream of the sofa bed crop, including some great multifunctional options that will allow you to maximise your living space and add versatility to your home.

Sofa bed deals

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may officially be over, but there are still some good sofa bed deals to be found in the extended Cyber Week sales. We’ve rounded up today's best sofa deals below.

Bromley Sofa Bed | was from £2302

Bromley Sofa Bed | was from £2302 now from £1496 at Darlings of Chelsea
It's an investment, but this is one truly multifunctional sofa bed that's just as comfortable as everyday seating as it is for hosting guests – a rare find! Shop it today and you can still get 35% off in Darlings of Chelsea's sale.

Habitat Roma Sofa Bed | was £230

Habitat Roma Sofa Bed | was £230 now £184 at Argos
The Argos sale is still running and includes up to 20% off Habitat furniture, including the stylish and affordable Roma sofa bed. Just use discount code FURN20 at the checkout to apply the deal.

Habitat Kota Large Sofa Bed | was £525

Habitat Kota Large Sofa Bed | was £525 now £420 at Argos
Still well under £500 thanks to the Argos sale, the bestselling Kota sofa bed is a good value buy that's recently had an update to offer some new on-trend upholstery options. Use discount code FURN20 to apply the 20% off discount at the checkout.

The quick list

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best sofa beds. You'll find more information on each sofa bed and why we recommend it if you keep on scrolling.

Best sofa beds of 2023

Why you can trust Ideal Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best sofa bed overall

The Darlings of Chelsea Bromley sofa bed in a living room with panelled walls - tried and tested review

(Image credit: Darlings of Chelsea)

1. Darlings of Chelsea Bromley sofa bed

A sofa bed that's comfortable enough for everyday use

Specifications

RRP: from £2365
Type of sofa bed: pull-out mattress
Widths available: 150 / 170 / 190 / 210cm
Extended length: 220cm
Sleeping area dimensions: 83 x 190 / 116 x 190 / 137 x 190 / 158 x 190cm
Mattress depth: 12cm
Mattress type: pocket spring or memory foam
Upholstery options: 175+
Average lead time: 6-8 weeks

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable enough for everyday use as the main seating
+
Easy to transform into a bed with single action roll out and no need to store seat cushions
+
Four sofa widths available
+
Extra-long 12cm deep pocket spring or memory foam mattresses
+
Can be delivered flat-packed and assembled in situ if you have awkward access
+
Wide range of upholstery options

Reasons to avoid

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An investment, although look out for fairly regular sales
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No matching furniture

It may be an investment compared to other options in our edit, but if you have a little more budget to play with then the Bromley sofa bed from Darling's of Chelsea offers a lot of bang for your buck. It manages to nail the holy grail of the sofa bed search; a sofa bed that's comfortable enough to use as your everyday seating as well as providing overnight guests with a decent night's sleep.

There are four frame widths available, all with a single roll-out action mechanism that makes the transformation from sofa to pull-out bed a super simple affair. And as the seat and back cushions remain attached to the frame there's no need to find somewhere to store them whilst your guests are snoozing (although that does mean you can't flip the seat or back cushions over like with some other pull-out models).

The roll-action design also means this model is able to offer a longer mattress than most pull-out sofa beds, with a 190cm length sleeping area that taller guests will appreciate. And, at 12cm, the mattress is one of the deepest that pull-out sofa beds can be equipped with, also offering options of pocket spring or memory foam construction for enhanced comfort. 

Seat comfort can also be tailored to your preference with a choice of fibre-wrapped foam or feather-wrapped foam seat cushions for low-maintenance squish-factor, and there are a whopping 175+ upholstery options to choose from.

Plus, if a narrow hallway, tight corners, or tricky stairs are an issue, this sofa bed can be delivered flat-packed and built by the delivery team in situ; a real boon for those with awkward access. 

Best value small sofa bed

A white boucle sofa bed in a living room with dark walls

(Image credit: Habitat)

2. Habitat Roma sofa bed

A stylish and affordable sofa bed that's ideal for small spaces

Specifications

RRP: from £230
Type of sofa bed: click-clack
Widths available: 91 / 108
Extended length: 190cm
Sleeping area dimensions: 91 x 190 / 108 x 190cm
Upholstery options: 7
Average lead time: 2-4 weeks

Reasons to buy

+
Very affordable
+
Compact design is perfect for small homes
+
Easy to transform into a bed with simple click-clack mechanism
+
On-trend boucle upholstery option

Reasons to avoid

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Small sleeping area – better for one guest than two
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Limited upholstery options
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Lack of arms and shallow seat means it doesn't cut the mustard as a sofa for everyday use
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Contemporary design won't suit all homes
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No matching furniture

If you're looking for a small sofa bed on a budget, then the super affordable Roma sofa bed from Habitat is our top pick, combining a (relatively) low price point, stylish good looks, and perfectly acceptable comfort levels for both sitting and sleeping.

The main downside is that whilst the largest 108cm width option can sleep two guests at a push, both the chair bed and small sofa bed option are really a better option for a lone guest. However the small footprint does make this a great option for a smaller home, and, with all options well under £400, the price is hard to beat.

The click-clack sofa bed design also makes it a super simple task to transition this sofa bed from seating to sleeping, with hidden pockets (disguised by the coordinating scatter cushions) opening to reveal hinged legs, and the backrest and seat easily unfolding to create the sleeping surface. That design does mean the sleeping surface ends up pretty low to the ground, but we still found the medium-firm foam cushioning a comfortable spot to bed down for a few nights – especially if you add a mattress topper. And it's more comfortable than we expected as a seat too, with the angled back hitting just the right level of recline. 

The lack of arms and medium-firm cushioning mean we can't quite see it cutting the mustard for everyday use, but as occasional seating, it makes a great accent chair, working particularly well in a living room, bedroom, or guest room, or providing a great solution for impromptu sleepovers in a kids' bedroom or playroom. Upholstery-wise, there are seven colourways to choose from, including our favourite, the Roma sofa bed in off-white boucle.

Best budget buy

A cream upholstered wooden futon sofa bed in a cream living room

(Image credit: Dunelm)

3. Dunelm Mito Double Futon

A budget-friendly buy

Specifications

RRP: from £175 / £209
Type of sofa bed: futon
Widths available: 76 / 137
Extended length: 185cm
Sleeping area dimensions: 76 x 185 / 137 x 185cm
Upholstery options: 20
Average lead time: 1 week

Reasons to buy

+
Very affordable
+
Two width options
+
20+ upholstery options

Reasons to avoid

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Basic design
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Small sleeping area – better for one guest than two
-
Doesn't cut the mustard for everyday use
-
No matching furniture

This simple futon sofa bed may be fairly basic, but if you're after an affordable way to put up the occasional overnight guest then, at just £175 for the single chair bed and £209 for the small double, the Dunelm Mito Futon makes for a useful and budget-friendly extra sleeping space.

You can opt for the minimal Japandi vibes of the natural or pale grey upholstery, or there are multiple other colour options available, including practical darks and vibrant brights that are perfect for a teenager's lair or children's bedroom. Plus, the new patterned colourways including an on-trend watermelon-pink stripe Mito futon and a graphic abstract print futon are perfect for adding style to an otherwise bland home office.

The FSC-certified solid pine frame is fairly roughly finished – there were a few sections that looked like they could splinter on the model we tested – and, at this price point, the sleeping is a fairly firm experience. Guests also won't be that far off the floor once the futon bed is extended, which may not be ideal for less mobile visitors. 

However, whilst guests might struggle to spend a whole week on this temporary bed (which may or may not be a good thing!), if you only need a guest bed for the occasional overnighter and want a cheap and cheerful option that's a little more permanent than a roll-up or inflatable mattress, this budget option could strike just the right balance. Plus, the addition of a good mattress topper can work wonders in terms of sleep comfort.

Quick delivery sofa bed

Swyft Model 04 sofa bed in a modern living room - tried and tested review

(Image credit: Swyft)

4. Swyft Model 04 sofa bed

A quick delivery sofa bed that's ideal for homes with awkward access

Specifications

RRP: from £2095
Type of sofa bed: click-clack
Widths available: 208cm
Extended length: 208cm
Sleeping area dimensions: 135 x 190cm
Upholstery options: 10
Average lead time: 24 hours - 1 week