Which sofa bed should you choose for everyday sleeping?

No standard defines the dimensions of a sofa bed: the benchmarks below follow mattress sizes sold in France and practical guidelines, described as such. The dimensions of the models mentioned are those written in their title, in our sofa bed collection. For Innovation Living, a dimension such as '160-200 cm' reads as a sleeping area of 160 x 200 cm.

Sofa bed

A sofa bed is measured three times: closed, for the wall that receives it; open, for the sleeping area; and once unfolded in the room, for the passage space that remains. Depending on the type, the sleeping area unfolds along the length of the sofa (clic-clac, futon: the sleeping area runs the length of the sofa and extends 130 to 160 cm) or perpendicular to the wall (quick opening: the bed extends 200 cm or more). In both cases, allow 60 cm of passage space around the open sleeping area.

2-seater sofa bed

A 2-seater sofa bed generally offers a sleeping area 120 to 140 cm wide. For two adults, 140 cm is the minimum, as with a bed: that's 70 cm per person. Below this, the sleeping area suits one person or two children. Karup Design's Lean (130 x 200 cm) and the Hooked (135 x 200 cm) sit just below this threshold; Innovation Living's Cubed 02 is available in 140 and 160 x 200 cm.

2-seater sofa bed with mattress

For sleeping every day, the practical guideline is a mattress of at least 12 cm, independent of the seat cushions. A sofa bed whose sleeping area is formed by the unfolded seat and back is suitable for occasional use; a model sold with its own mattress, placed on a bed base, is closer to a bed. The title sometimes indicates the mattress (Karup Design's Roots and Lean: 'linen mattress'); the thickness appears on the product sheet, to be checked before purchase.

Double sofa bed

A double sleeping area is chosen like a bed: 140 x 190 cm minimum, 160 x 200 cm for comfort. For a person over 1.80 m, a length of 200 cm is essential, the practical guideline being the sleeper's height plus 15 to 20 cm. Innovation Living's Sigmund, the Cubed 02 in 160 and Karup Design's Roots 160 offer a sleeping area of 160 x 200 cm.

200 cm corner sofa bed

A corner sofa bed generally unfolds its right-hand section, whilst the chaise longue remains fixed. The sleeping area is therefore that of the right-hand section: Innovation Living's Akello states 143-200 cm, meaning a sleeping area of 143 x 200 cm. Check that the chaise longue doesn't block the opening and that 60 cm of passage space remains at the end of the bed. The table below summarises dimensions by use.

An occasional sofa bed is used a few nights a year and remains a sofa the rest of the time. A sofa bed for daily sleeping is primarily a bed, which must also make a decent sofa. Four points separate the two.

The mattress

For occasional use, a sleeping surface formed by the seat and back cushions is sufficient: you can sleep well on it for three or four nights. For daily use, insist on a separate mattress at least 12 cm thick, with no join in the middle of the sleeping surface. A join, even a fine one, can be felt after a few nights; this is the main drawback of sleeping surfaces formed from two or three foam blocks.

The support

A mattress placed on slats breathes and keeps its shape; placed on a fabric base or solid panel, it compresses more quickly and retains moisture. For daily use, ask for a slatted base or an open wooden structure, and check this on the product page.

The opening action

A sofa bed that is opened every evening must open in less than a minute, without removing all the cushions or moving the coffee table. Try the action in the shop or watch the manufacturer's video: if opening requires two people, it will eventually not be done, and the sofa bed will become a sofa on which you sleep badly.

Seating comfort

A good bed sometimes makes a firm and deep sofa. Check the seat height and depth as you would for a standard sofa: our sofa guide gives the benchmarks. A daily sleeping surface of 140 or 160 cm generally requires a sofa of 180 to 240 cm, like the Guest by Bolia (240 cm). 2-seater models are brought together in 2-seater sofa beds.

The clic-clac

The backrest folds flat and aligns with the seat: the sleeping surface is formed by the two foam blocks. Simple and quick, it requires pulling the sofa a few centimetres away from the wall to fold out, and leaves a join in the middle of the sleeping surface. This is the family for occasional use and small budgets.

The BZ

Two frames unfold accordion-style towards the front, with the folded mattress forming the seat. The sleeping surface is continuous, without a join, and the bedding can often remain in place. The seat is firmer than that of a standard sofa.

The express opening

The mechanism, on a metal slatted frame, unfolds from the seat after removing the cushions and brings forward a proper mattress, independent of the seat. This is the family closest to a bed, and the heaviest: it requires 200 cm or more in front of the wall. For daily sleeping, this is the first family to consider.

The futon and the wooden sofa bed

A futon mattress, in cotton alone or combined with foam, latex or coconut fibre depending on the Karup Design models, rests on a pine structure that folds into a bench. The sleeping surface is firm, without a join, and the mattress can be changed without changing the structure. See wooden sofa beds.

The convertible armchair and the daybed

For one person, an armchair that unfolds into a 75 × 200 cm sleeping surface (Hooked by Karup Design) or 90 × 200 cm (Cubed 02 by Innovation Living), or a daybed that remains a 180 × 70 cm sleeping surface (OW150 by Carl Hansen & Søn), are sufficient for an office or guest bedroom. See daybeds.

The futon is the most represented family in our catalogue, with pine structures and mattresses by Karup Design. It meets two specific requirements.

2-seater futon

A 2-seater futon should be at least 140 × 200 cm for two adults, on a structure that folds into a sofa. The Roots by Karup Design is available in 90, 140 and 160 × 200 cm, the Flip Raw in 140 × 200 cm, the Lean in 130 × 200 cm. The pine structure, black lacquered or natural, remains the same; it is the mattress that provides the comfort.

Futon bed 160×200

At 160 × 200 cm, the futon becomes a proper double bed for everyday use, provided you choose a thick mattress. Karup Design offers its futon mattresses by composition: cotton only (Basique, Traditionnel), cotton and foam or coconut fibre (Confort), cotton and latex (Triple Latex). The more latex or foam the mattress contains, the closer it is to a standard mattress; cotton only remains the firmest. The mattresses are in mattresses and futons.

Caring for a futon

A futon mattress should be turned and aired regularly, especially in daily use: the cotton compresses where you sleep. Leave it unfolded for a few hours a week near an open window and avoid leaving it permanently folded under damp bedding. See Karup Design bedding.

Measure the room, not just the wall

Mark out on the floor, with masking tape, the open sleeping area: 200 cm or more from the wall for an express opening mechanism, 130 to 160 cm for a clic-clac or futon. Add 60 cm clearance. The coffee table must be easy to move: a lightweight table or nesting tables, as recommended in our coffee table buying guide.

In a studio flat

The sofa bed is used every night: daily sleeping required, mattress 12 cm or thicker, quick opening mechanism. Storage for bedding avoids keeping it in a cupboard: the Base by Karup Design (244 × 110 × 72 cm) incorporates storage.

In a guest bedroom or study

A few nights a year: a 2-seater sofa bed for occasional use, a convertible armchair or daybed is enough, and leaves the room free to serve as a study for the rest of the year. Provide a socket and a lamp within reach of the open sleeping area. See 2-seater sofa beds.

A sofa bed wears out faster than a sofa: you sit on it, sleep on it and handle it. Corduroy (Sigmund by Innovation Living) and bouclé (Newilla, Zeal) hide friction marks but trap pet hair. Linen and cotton (Hooked, Roots and Lean mattresses by Karup Design) breathe well, an asset for daily sleeping, but crease. Recycled polyester, common at Innovation Living, cleans easily. Leather and wool (OW150 by Carl Hansen & Søn) are best reserved for daybeds, where you lie down more than you sleep. In all cases, a cover or mattress protector extends the life of the bed. Find sofa beds by colour in brown sofa beds and blue sofa beds.

Karup Design (Denmark) makes sofa beds and futons in solid pine, from convertible armchairs to 160 × 200 cm sleeping surfaces, and sells its futon mattresses separately. See the brand Karup Design.

Innovation Living (Denmark) specialises in sofa beds with clean lines, with or without armrests, in sleeping surfaces from 70 to 160 × 200 cm. See Innovation Living sofa beds.

Bolia (Denmark) offers the Guest, a 240 cm two-and-a-half-seater sofa bed in fabric on oiled oak legs, and the Pira in three-seater. See the brand Bolia.

Gervasoni (Italy) offers its Ghost collection as a sofa bed, in natural fabric or linen. See the brand Gervasoni.

Carl Hansen & Søn (Denmark) publishes the OW150 daybed in soaped oak, a 180 × 70 cm sleeping surface for one person. See the brand Carl Hansen & Søn.

A 25 m² studio flat, sleeping for two every night

You need a 160 x 200 cm or at least a 140 x 200 cm, an independent mattress of 12 cm or more, and an opening mechanism that takes one minute. A Sigmund or a Cubed 02 in 160 x 200 cm from Innovation Living meet the sleeping requirements; a Base from Karup Design adds storage for the duvet. Measure the open sleeping area with masking tape before choosing.

A 9 m² guest bedroom used as a study

Two or three weekends a year: a Hooked from Karup Design (135 x 200 cm) or a Newilla from Innovation Living (145 x 200 cm) are sufficient. For a single guest, a convertible armchair frees up even more space for the study.

A family living room with regular guests

The sofa bed must first and foremost be a good sofa: a 240 cm model like the Guest from Bolia, or a corner sofa bed like the Akello from Innovation Living, maintains everyday seating comfort and provides double sleeping at the weekend. See all sofa beds.

Mattress: air it once a week in daily use, turn it over if the manufacturer allows, protect it with a mattress protector. Mechanism: open and close without forcing, never sit on the half-unfolded bed, and check the tightness of the screws once a year. Upholstery: vacuum with a soft nozzle attachment every week, spot clean with soapy water on fabric, never use abrasive products. Futon: unfold and air it regularly to prevent the cotton from compacting. Replacement mattresses and futons are in the mattress collection.

What The Cool Republic orders placed between January and September 2026 show in the Sofa beds collection. Shares are counted by number of orders, not quantities, so that a large purchase doesn't weigh more than another.

What's most ordered in 2026

• Colours: beige (34%), green (13%), brown (13%).
• Materials: pine (26%), cotton (17%), polyester (9%).

The most requested brands

By share of orders: Karup Design (90%), Innovation Living (8%).

The most ordered models since January

• Roots 140 ecru solid pine sofa bed, Karup Design
• Buckle-up beige cotton convertible futon sofa 140x95x60cm, Karup Design
• Hippo beige cotton convertible sofa 140x122x70cm, Karup Design
• Folk light pine and sorbet pink corduroy velvet sofa bed, Karup Design
• Chico Sofa flax cotton futon sofa, Karup Design

• Buying a spare sofa bed for daily sleeping: a mattress made of foam blocks with a seam will be felt after a few nights.
• Choosing a 120 cm mattress for two adults: a minimum of 140 cm is needed, i.e. 70 cm per person.
• Choosing a length of 190 cm for a sleeper over 1.80 m tall: the length is calculated as height plus 15 to 20 cm.
• Measuring the wall without measuring the open bed: an express opening extends 200 cm and more.
• Forgetting the coffee table: if it doesn't move easily, the sofa bed will no longer be opened.
• Leaving a futon folded permanently under damp bedding: the cotton compresses and deteriorates.