Super Smart Sofa Beds For Small Spaces
Think you don't have room for an extra guest bed? One of these solutions could help
Victoria Harrison
6 August 2017
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
While it would be lovely to have a dedicated guest room with a full-size bed waiting for guests, many homes just don’t have the room to spare, particularly in smaller properties where every area needs to work hard. If you’re challenged for space, a smart sofa bed (or one of its close cousins) could be just the ticket for accommodating visitors. Here are some of the cleverest ones on Houzz. They’re stylish and utilised in super-smart ways.
Use a corner
This little living room nook could easily have become a wasted space in this city apartment, but by slotting in a contemporary-style sofa and lining the wall behind with a bespoke bookcase, it’s been transformed into a snug retreat. If you have a similar space, popping in a multi-functional sofa bed would make the nook even more hard-working, acting as a perch during the day and a guest bed at night.
The bookshelf behind could double up as a bedside table, and hanging thick blackout blinds at the window would ensure the living room can be darkened when it’s time for bed.
Browse through these images of sofa-cum-beds
This little living room nook could easily have become a wasted space in this city apartment, but by slotting in a contemporary-style sofa and lining the wall behind with a bespoke bookcase, it’s been transformed into a snug retreat. If you have a similar space, popping in a multi-functional sofa bed would make the nook even more hard-working, acting as a perch during the day and a guest bed at night.
The bookshelf behind could double up as a bedside table, and hanging thick blackout blinds at the window would ensure the living room can be darkened when it’s time for bed.
Browse through these images of sofa-cum-beds
Make it armless
If space is at a premium, like in this studio, look for a streamlined sofa bed shape without a bulky frame or side arms. When folded up as a sofa, this one tucks neatly into the space alongside the staircase, but still allows access to the storage cupboards behind.
While it’s structurally compact, this design is no shrinking violet thanks to the cheery upholstery, which brings plenty of personality to the space.
If space is at a premium, like in this studio, look for a streamlined sofa bed shape without a bulky frame or side arms. When folded up as a sofa, this one tucks neatly into the space alongside the staircase, but still allows access to the storage cupboards behind.
While it’s structurally compact, this design is no shrinking violet thanks to the cheery upholstery, which brings plenty of personality to the space.
Keep it modern
Choose a minimalist-style sofa bed like this one, which simply folds flat when required, and you won’t have to compromise on style or space.
Because this style of sofa bed is less bulky than some traditional models, and has no need for a mattress, the frame is minimal and you can see right underneath. This feature is perfect for a small study, where you want a sofa bed to visually take up as little space as possible.
Choose a minimalist-style sofa bed like this one, which simply folds flat when required, and you won’t have to compromise on style or space.
Because this style of sofa bed is less bulky than some traditional models, and has no need for a mattress, the frame is minimal and you can see right underneath. This feature is perfect for a small study, where you want a sofa bed to visually take up as little space as possible.
Hide it in plain sight
At first glance, this looks like a spacious living room with a regular sofa in the centre. Look again and you’ll notice the sofa is actually placed in front of a mirrored wall, which creates the effect of a much larger room.
As the sofa was so central to the room scheme, the designer –Olga Alexeeva of Black and Milk Interior Design – was keen to choose a sofa bed that was as beautiful as it was practical. “The sofa was the anchor for the scheme,” she says. “Then it was quite an organic process of building up the look. There is a large mattress underneath which pulls out. It has a slightly French look to it and it’s also incredibly practical.”
At first glance, this looks like a spacious living room with a regular sofa in the centre. Look again and you’ll notice the sofa is actually placed in front of a mirrored wall, which creates the effect of a much larger room.
As the sofa was so central to the room scheme, the designer –Olga Alexeeva of Black and Milk Interior Design – was keen to choose a sofa bed that was as beautiful as it was practical. “The sofa was the anchor for the scheme,” she says. “Then it was quite an organic process of building up the look. There is a large mattress underneath which pulls out. It has a slightly French look to it and it’s also incredibly practical.”
Raise it up high
The problem with some guest beds and sofa beds is that they take up a lot of valuable floor space. If square footage is limited, make your sofa/bed multitask by raising it up high and using the space underneath as storage.
This solution would work well in a spare room where there isn’t space for both a wardrobe and a sofa. Choose a design with large under-bed drawers and you can use those to store clothes, shoes and bedding instead.
The problem with some guest beds and sofa beds is that they take up a lot of valuable floor space. If square footage is limited, make your sofa/bed multitask by raising it up high and using the space underneath as storage.
This solution would work well in a spare room where there isn’t space for both a wardrobe and a sofa. Choose a design with large under-bed drawers and you can use those to store clothes, shoes and bedding instead.
Be flexible
This clever sofa bed was designed as a bespoke solution for this tiny urban flat and is a great example of multi-functional design.
When arranged as above it functions as a snug sofa with a small niche in the wall next to it serving as a side table for drinks and books.
Take a look at some dos and don’ts of designing a small bedroom
This clever sofa bed was designed as a bespoke solution for this tiny urban flat and is a great example of multi-functional design.
When arranged as above it functions as a snug sofa with a small niche in the wall next to it serving as a side table for drinks and books.
Take a look at some dos and don’ts of designing a small bedroom
But in a matter of moments it can be transformed into a good-size double bed by pulling out the base and adding pillows and a duvet. The wall niche behind can then be used as a bedside table.
And when it’s not in use as either a sofa or a bed, the entire structure glides away out of sight beneath the raised kitchen floor. The addition of a couple of bar stools converts the space into a smart breakfast bar.
Create a window seat
This neat seat is more of a ‘bed sofa’ than a sofa bed, as it utilises a bed frame but transforms into a sofa when required.
It’s a clever solution for this room, as it makes a virtue of the narrow space. By positioning the bed frame across the full width of the room, the wall behind doubles up as a sofa back. With the addition of a few large cushions it transforms into a cosy sofa with a view, but can quickly turn back into a bed when required.
This neat seat is more of a ‘bed sofa’ than a sofa bed, as it utilises a bed frame but transforms into a sofa when required.
It’s a clever solution for this room, as it makes a virtue of the narrow space. By positioning the bed frame across the full width of the room, the wall behind doubles up as a sofa back. With the addition of a few large cushions it transforms into a cosy sofa with a view, but can quickly turn back into a bed when required.
Double up with a trundle
Perfect for a compact kid’s room, a sofa/bed with a pull-out trundle bed can be quickly made up into two single sleep spaces and is ideal for facilitating sleepovers and midnight feasts. You just neatly tuck the trundle bed away when you need to claim the room back.
A bespoke model like this is a good way to maximise space in a compact room, but you can also get lower-cost versions on the high street if you have enough room for a standard-size bed.
Read more:
10 Multipurpose Furniture Pieces Perfect For Compact Homes
Tell us:
Have you found a good sofa bed or do you have a bed that acts as a sofa, too? Tell/show us in the Comments section.
Perfect for a compact kid’s room, a sofa/bed with a pull-out trundle bed can be quickly made up into two single sleep spaces and is ideal for facilitating sleepovers and midnight feasts. You just neatly tuck the trundle bed away when you need to claim the room back.
A bespoke model like this is a good way to maximise space in a compact room, but you can also get lower-cost versions on the high street if you have enough room for a standard-size bed.
Read more:
10 Multipurpose Furniture Pieces Perfect For Compact Homes
Tell us:
Have you found a good sofa bed or do you have a bed that acts as a sofa, too? Tell/show us in the Comments section.
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I too like the Batiik design that slides under the kitchen floor. Very clever!
I must say I'm gonna stick with a sofa when I get one but sleeping on it will also be possible. Will also invest in one of those Z beds that pack down to nothing yet inflate in minutes with an extendable concertina frame and blown-up mattress.
Getting a truly elegant sofa bed which also has soft seat pads is a real problem! There are many high income people living in high spec small apartments in city centres who are prepared to pay a good price for a lovely elegant sofa most of the time which becomes a bed just occasionally to put up the occasional guest. The priority today seems to be comfort for the bed at the cost of comfort for the sofa; the seat cushions are rock hard! Please can anyone tell me where to find a comfy, smart, "sofa-first-bed-second"?