Sleeper sofas are a terrific way to add sleeping space to a smaller apartment or home. A sofa that can double as a makeshift bed is an excellent alternative to having a separate guest room for when you have company staying overnight.

There are some considerations that you should consider carefully prior to buying one of these convenient pieces of transformational furniture. There are several styles of sleeper sofas. It is important to determine how much space you have before moving one of these couches into your home. You will need to consider the space that is required when the sofa bed is in use, as this will add to the space requirements considerably.

Determine how often you will be using your new sofa sleeper prior to purchasing one. It is one thing to only use the hidden bed every once and a while when unexpected company stays overnight as opposed to needing to use the bed every night due to not having enough sleeping space for each family member. These handy sofas are typically intended for occasional use. Opening and closing the sofa bed on a regular basis will add to the wear and tear on your couch over time.

Consumers should first test out the sleeper sofa to get an idea of how comfortable the couch will be when it is in the sleeping position. Some sofa beds have thinner mattresses that are not of high quality and may not be as supportive or as comfortable as a regular bed mattress. However, there are many models of sofa mattresses that do promise a supportive and very comfortable mattress that should hold up over time.

Determine how comfortable the couch is when the sofa mattress is not being used. Lower-quality sleeper sofas may not be as sturdy or as comfortable to sit on even though the price of the sofa is considerably higher. Make sure the couch cushions and upholstery are made to last before spending your hard-earned money on an inferior couch that will usually disappoint.

Additional considerations prior to making a sleeper sofa purchase include firmness of the sofa mattress, type of mattress, and mattress comfort levels. These mattresses come in gel or regular memory foam, latex, polyurethane foam, innerspring coil versions, and hybrid mattress options. Most foam/memory foam mattresses used in sleeper sofas will need to be replaced at least every eight to 10 years.

A sleeper sofa should also match your room decor style. This furniture option is usually less expensive than buying a regular guest bed and takes up less space. Consumers are urged to test out the sofa and mattress in person. Take note that sleeper sofas are often less expensive when ordering online from a reputable furniture retailer.