This is my fifth Best of list for this category, and it's the biggest. The good news is that sofa beds are getting A LOT more comfortable and the options are much better at multiple price points. The list also reflects a great deal more intelligence because Aaron's been going to showrooms and testing a lot of sofa beds. Take a look at my list, but don't miss the comments on the past lists as well. There's a lot more meat on the bone where the comments are living. Got your own suggestion? Add it to the comments of this year's post.
WAY HIGH $$$$:
>> Mostra Sofa Bed by Ligne Roset ($5655) - New last year and designed by Didier Gomez, the Mostra is unassuming in presence and has one of the easiest transitions from sofa to bed we've ever experienced. It uses a patented Lampolet mechanism that takes care of the heavy lifting. Remarkably, all the cushions stay on the sofa as it transforms to a bed — meaning you don't have to have a place to store them.
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>> Soto Sleeper Sofa from DWR ($4600) - Designed by Jeffrey Bernett, this sofa bed for DWR is part of the Soto family of upholstered seating which includes a sleeper sofa, sleeper chair and storage ottoman. The Sleeper Sofa is a meticulously designed sofa bed that is one of the best we've seen and experienced.
HIGH $$$
>> Reese Sleeper from Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams ($3220 - 20% discount right now) - For a few different styles, Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams are a good option and offer 15 sleepers with a traditional spring mattress. I chose to show the Reese because it's the most unusual sleeper design I saw, as well as being very svelte.
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>> Nomade Express from Ligne Roset ($3610) - A classic design with simple action, the quilted back folds down to give you a nice big bed surface with no springs or bars.
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>> Havana Sleeper Sofa from DWR ($3500) - Aaron really likes this because it's big and low with storage.
MID $$
>> James Lounge Sofabed by Gus Modern ($1695) - The James Lounge is the only convertible sofa from Gus Modern. Similar to the classic George Nelson daybed, it's a simple design that is a quick transition from armless sofa to twin sized mattress.
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>> Natasha Comfort Sleeper by American Leather ($2599) - Not just about leather anymore (though they do have plenty if you want it), AL has made a name for themselves in the sleeper category with the patentedTiffany 24/7 platform sleep system, which removes the springs and bars to create a totally even sleeping surface. It can also be topped with Tempurpedic foam. There are eight other designs in their Comfort Sleeper line.
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>> Pierce Sleeper at Room & Board ($2699) - Room & Board offers some exclusive designs with the Comfort Sleeper platform system which is made by American Leather.
>> Twighlight Sofa from DWR ($1880) - A very popular solution, this daybed design is slim and modern, without any fuss.
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>> Metro Sleeper from Room & Board ($1899) - A classic design that can be customized with fabric or stain and a more affordable air coil inflatable mattress: "The mattress features a combination of supportive coils topped with an inflatable air chamber for customizable comfort."
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>> One Night Stand from Blu Dot ($1799) - This is a great new solution, which takes mid-century styling and has it fold open to make a bed in a cool way.
LOW $
>> Flat Out Sofabed by Blu Dot ($1099) - Blu Dot's other sofa bed option — Flat Out — combines the company's felt-like upholstery and straightforward, modern aesthetic into a multipurpose piece at one of their lowest price points for a sofa.
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>> Flex Sofa from CB2 ($999) - Similar to the Nomade, but at a fraction of the price, this is a nice budget solution.
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>> Troy Sleeper Sofa from Crate & Barrel ($1399) - Very traditional design with a bi-fold innerspring mattress. It consistently gets high marks.
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>> Manstad Sectional Sofa Bed & Storage from IKEA ($899) - MANSTAD packs a lot of punch — it's a (1) small scale sectional sofa that's also a (2) bed and (3) storage. While there are options for sectionals with built in beds, few are this small, this inexpensive and few are designed to take advantage of the full footprint.
PREVIOUS POSTS
• Sofa Sleeper of the Week - Reviews by Aaron
• Best Sleeper Sofas & Sofa Beds - 2009 - 23 Comments
• Best Sleeper Sofas & Sofa Beds 2008 - 2008 - 26 Comments
• Top 10: Sleeper Sofas / Sofa Beds - 2007 - 44 Comments
OTHER SOURCES:
• Ikea!!
• Pottery Barn
• Sleepers in Seattle
• Jennifer Convertibles
• Bo Concept
• Sleepersofa.com
• Lofasofa.com
10 No-Fail Decor Tricks & Tips for Small Spaces
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
i like the havana but because its just a twin sized bed its not an option. I seen the bluDot one and really like it, but do not like the idea that its made in China. guess my search continues.
What about the Cameron Sleeper from Crate & Barrel? Does anyone have comments on that sofa bed?
Does anyone have any input regarding the comfort of these sofa beds?
Does anyone have any experience with ottoman sleepers? I've been looking at the Bo Concept ottoman sleeper - didn't know what people thought of it and if there are any less expensive alternatives.
Check out the sofa beds at www.carolinachair.com. You can get the Air Dream mattress as an upgrade. It's awesome. They use all hard wood frames and they make everything in the USA.
That Ikea sofa is fabulous - great find!! I have to get one for my daughter's room and it is the perfect solution! Thanks!
We're in the market for a family room sectional. We are ready to purchase Crate and Barrel's Axis sectional (armless full sleeper bound by a left arm and right arm chaise for $3900) and would love some feedback. We're attracted to the styling, sustainable hardwood frame and soy based polyfoam cushions. We have asked them to get back to us on whether the fabric is free of flame retardants, but we think it's a good buy. Feedback?
I have the American Leather sofa. It's may be comfortable to sleep on, but it fails as a comfortable sofa. Our family finds the cushions too firm and the seat isn't deep enough. No one likes it.
We bought it wanting a sofabed for the guest room that would be good for my 82 year old dad. I guess we didn't spend enough time lounging on it before we ordered it. And paid too much attention to the good sofa bed reviews.
The Cooper by G. Romano is great-looking and very comfortable. All our overnight guests rave.
We're a fan of our Karlstad sofa bed from Ikea. Has the added bonus of removeable, washable, replaceable slipcovers that don't look like slipcovers and fits in with mid-century modern chic. Do wish we could get tufted back pillows for it though.
bonaldo has some nice options.
I am not sure which American Leather we have but we bought it at Bloomies and we love the tempurpedic mattress. The sofa itself is also comfortable and love the leather version. Ethan Allan also sells it in the fabric line. After returning a natuzzi we love this one.
I really like the Hagalund from Ikea. I had a small space in my sewing room and really wanted to have the flexiblity of making it a guest room from time to time. http://sewbeeit.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/my-bliss/
Good foam mattress, not super but who wants their guests staying too long?!
Room and Board - $899 / The Encore - it offers a lot of flexibility and seems very easy to raise and lower the back - similar to the Ligne Roset but 1/3 of the price. Only problem is the size is neither twin nor full - but somewhere in between. I like the red option.
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=3090&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=room&menuSubcategory=201196
Check out the Bolero and the Ottoman from Hollandia International. I have the Ottoman-bed for a while now and it is great.
www.hollandiainternational.com
On youtube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TKIWhtHgm4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGwgjXDGMPw
i have the manstad from Ikea in the guest bedroom. My guest have never complained and i use the storage for bed linens.
In regards to the Crate Barrel Axis couch - Sleeper was comfortable atho' that part wasn't used a lot. I loved it until my bad kitty started using it as a litter box when she got stressed out. I only tell you this because the microfiber (I had the mocha color) is very durable - I spot cleaned it, had it professionally cleaned a few times and then resorted to removing the cushion covers and putting them in the washing machine (after about the 3rd time the material started to pucker a little). I even took the cushion outside and hosed down/let dry in sun and they looked great but they're only so much you can do after awhile. Cons: Cushions are down feather so while they hold their shape they are expensive should you need to replace ($350 a cushion) and make sure you measure doorways/stair as this model is very wide heavy. I now own a sale-priced floor-model Jennifer Convertible sectional (non-sleeper) yeah, it's not as luxurious but it looks good it's actually quite comfy - I even got it in an ivory color since it was 1/4 cost of the C C.
I love my Mitchell Gold Bob Williams Sleeper! I purchased the Reese last year from their store in SoHo and couldn't be happier. I was nervous about making the purchase, but after seeing the design of the sofa, experiencing the comfort of the mattress, and the service at the store, I was sold.
In Los Angeles for a super budget sleeper sofa, you might try Palace Decorators in Culver City. I purchased this Delray Microfiber sofa which is fairly comfortable for $175 delivered. It came in a huge box and I had to screw the legs on but that was easy. Beats spending $1k on a sofa I probably won't keep more than a year or two.
http://palacedecorator.com/a5736.html
I have the American Leather Natasha sleeper in Twin (regular/non-tempurpedic). Purchased towards the end of last year. Still fantastic! I haven't had problems with the sofa cushions being too firm, but maybe I just like it that way.
The only thing is I like to use my laptop or do some reading in bed, and the design of the bed doesn't give you a back support for that. But I just layer some pillows and it works out ok.
Oh, and if you live in an old building with really narrow halls or doorways, the moving in and out of the sofa will require a bit of disassembling and reassembling. It's not a petite piece of furniture.
But I think it's pretty reasonably priced for the dual function of sofa and bed, comfort and durability.
I have the DWR havana sofa in brown and I love it. Sometimes our twins take over our bed and my husband or I will go sleep the rest of the night on the sofa (occasionally we both end up on it) It is seriously comfortable and I think it is a bigger than a twin. I love it, though it has a very low profile which means that artwork above my sofa is hung a little low.
I love, love, love my havana.
Has anyone tried any of the JC Penny sleepers? I'm looking for a small love seat and was thinking of getting the
I guess my comment got cut off. I wanted to say i was looking at the Napa Twin Sleeper and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts.
Any word on the CB2 Vincent sleeper? I was considering it but wasn't sure how comfy it was.
I've got to agree about the Hollandia International sleepers - the mattresses are just too good. Very innovative products.
www.hollandiainternational.com
There is a showroom in downtown Philly.
I'm so in love with the ligne roset nomade express, but I cannot believe how expensive it is! Especially since part of what draws me to it is the casual, burlap-sac-thrown-on-a-barn-floor (in bright red) part of the look...
Maybe I could figure out a way to make one instead...
The Neils Bendtsen. Surprised it's not here.
I love the look of the Reese sofa—I think it's by far the most attractive sleeper sofa with arms. I really, really wanted it.
But cost was a big consideration for us, as we were outfitting an entire apartment. We ended up getting the Kensington sofa from Macy's, which, at $1100, was one third of the price of the Reese. It's also elevated (I hate the skirted look), it's not offensive, it's comfortable, and with a bit of spicing up (nice textiles and throw pillows, and other interesting pieces in the room), it's just fine. I still find it the most boring piece of furniture in the apartment, but my partner was not wiling to consider $3-4k for a sofa (the price of the Reese really depends on which fabric you get).
If you're looking for something comfortable, decent-looking, solidly made, and budget-friendly, it's an option. http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=347563&CategoryID=37839
By far the American Leather sleeper sofas are the most comfortable on the market because of their patented method uses no metal springs. The king size is awesome.
What about even cheaper options? Broke college kids need space for when their friends stay over.
Also, @Energynet, while wood frames are amazing as far as sturdiness goes (really, they're great), have you ever tried to move one? Nightmare.
We have the Troy sleeper sofa from Crate and Barrel. We slept on it for a couple of nights after we got it, just to know what we'd be subjecting our guests to;) Turns out, it's quite comfortable! Added bonuses are that it's compact and readily in stock. The (slight) downsides are that the sofa coushins took a little while to break in and it's definitely a "cozy" sofa - if you like to stretch out length, it's probably not for you. We got it for our study/guest bedroom and have been really happy with it.
We have the C&B Troy in sand. We haven't had it very long but so far it seems quite comfy for a sofa bed for both lounging and sleeping. Happy to see it made this list.
Actually, it seems American Leather makes 12 Comfort Sleeper styles. I just bought a Kristina (essentially identical to the Natasha, but w/o the buttons) for my son in New York. I bought from sleepersinseattle.com and I think they have the best shipping offer anywhere. $35 got the CS delivered and set up in Jason's teeny weeny apartment!
We have the manstad from Ikea. I believe that it is just $699 now which is a steal! I love that the bed is exactly full size and it's nice and supportive. It is also nice as a movie couch with the bed pulled out. Our guests have commented on how comfortable it is.my only complaint is the non-removable cover. Hopefully Bemz will come out with covers soon!! I highly recommend the Manstad!
I would love it if reviews included sofa comfort. I've found that most modern looking sofa beds are not comfortable (Blu Bot, I'm looking at you...)
I mean to say- most modern sofa beds are not comfortable as a sofa...
just bought a room and board sleeper sofa after seriously considering the blue dot one night stand. soooooooooo glad we went with the room and board... the air/coil combo matresses are unbelievably comfortable!!
What about Carlyle? I can't believe these aren't included....
Just to give you an update on the price of the Ikea Mansad sofa sleeper is $699.00 not $899.00, which makes it a much more affordable option. I think this will work just fine in my home office. Storage in my condo is in short supple.
Carlyle 's sleeper sofas are beautiful, well made and so comfortable (we got the Orleans twin size). Service was great--they came to check out our doorway before I placed order...
I took some of the advice above and elsewhere, and called Sleepers In Seattle after I heard they have the best 'landed' pricing. I live in NY, and needed something in a matter of like 4 days, not weeks :/
They told me they have multiples stocked of about 100 different 'best sellers', which could be delivered in 3 biz days...so I took a gamble and ordered one.
Right now my new apartment has a table and an air-bed...so I hope this works out. I'll keep ya'll posted!
Oh My..I love my Natasha! After looking for awhile online, it was significantly smaller than any other sleeper sofa I could find. (I got the Queen- 69"). In fact, most fulls I saw were even a bit larger..
As for buying from Sleepers In Seattle, wow again. I ordered on Friday, got what I wanted in my apartment on Tues. Pleasant Surprise!
Haileybailey82 - Do you find that "Natasha" sofa-bed comfortable? (Both as a bed and a sofa?) I'd be worried about buying without trying it, but those "American Leather" sofa beds do get good reviews.
Katherine,
Comfort as a bed is undeniable. Best sleeper sofa sleep ever!
As a couch, I think this is more personal/subjective. The Natasha Comfort Sleeper sits a bit firmly, which my bf and I prefer. I would have rather had larger arms, something like the Owen, but more importantly I needed a Queen and really couldn't go much larger than 69 or 70 inches. This I really think is the key. This sleeper is our bed every night.. and we're very happy with it. Hope this helps!
The best sofabed ever is the Samoa bed from SuiteNY . My clients recently asked me where I'd gotten it for them, as everyone who slept on it wanted one too! It seems to have been removed from the website? if anyone knows where else I can get this I'd appreciate the heads up!
THE MOST COMFY? UNDER $1000? - Finally got mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyVgVtPrfDQ
I was told it was coming out in March but finally just got it in June-
Real bed coils (like 600 or something)
Recliner Feature (LOVE that!)
& easy to make (I'm 118 lbs and do it easy)-
and Covers can come off for cleaning (although haven't done that yet)
Looked West Elm, Ikea, DWR & Room & Board -
Found these guys in a Design WH in Berkeley.
It is 62" FULL size but they said they are making a Queen
Is the Manstad a full or queen sleeper--or is it an odd size making it not quite either?? I am stuck in a lease for 7 more months in a 1 bedroom before leaving NYC and have a second child on the way. We are considering a sleeper sofa for sanity, in case we need to let the toddler have our room to herself. So with a temperpedic matress pad a sleeper sofa could be a doable escape route. Can anybody tell me what size the Manstad is when folded into a bed? Also, does anybody have a suggestion for a sleeper that would be cozy enough to sleep on regularly?
I'm intrigued by the UA (Upholstery Arts) promo on their products. Worth a look. Made in Vancouver. Makes sense to me to sleep on something non-toxic and made from renewable resources. Nice style. Sleeper has no bar - thin foam but flexible surface. I saw some demos in store but can't find specs on their website. I'd love to hear a review from someone who has one!
http://www.upholsteryarts.ca/news/Greenwash-This
I need some help! I have a sofa bed set in an alcove that is 74" wide, so that's the space I have to work with. I have been to many of the places and looked at websites mentioned in this discussion, but have had no luck. It seems this size is no longer common, but this is what I have to work with. I am very willing to get something custom made. I live in a studio apt in NYC, and since this is my main piece of furniture, I'm willing to spend a nice amount of money for a high quality sofabed/sleeper for a style I love. I'm looking for something that is a deco style. I love what I have from Lambert, (they're out of business), it's a rounded camel back with black lacquer arms, but I really need a new piece. Does anyone have any suggestions?
I'd like to recommend that everyone who is thinking of buying a sofa from Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel or Restoration Hardware first read the Smart Money article from 2006, "Pottery Barn Unstuffed".
I'm not looking for a sofa bed, just a regular sofa. I'd love to see a new list of sofas as well.
@April Jess, you might want to check out the sofas at Nathan Anthony dot com. I believe that you have to go through a designer to order them but, they are very well made. I ordered a beautiful sofa that I was able to design using Duralee velvet fabric and it's an apartment sized sofa. I just didn't take enough time to make my decision. (I have two cats and velvet attracts cat hair like glue. I've also discovered that my boyfriend is allergic to feathers and I made the mistake of ordering an all feather/down sofa.) It's a really lovely and stylish sofa and I'd definitely use them again. I believe that Nathan Anthony would be quite flexible in working with your requirements and I think you'll easily be able to find a reasonably priced designer to place your order if you can't order with them directly. HTH!
P.S. @April Jess, I live in San Francisco and worked with interior designer, Kress Jack. She's great and I'm sure she'd be happy to help you. If Nathan Anthony can't do it, you should easily be able to find a designer in New York who can help you find a custom made sofa that works for your space.
Has anyone tried the Ethan Allen Bennet queen sleeper (starting at $1699)?
I've had so much luck with their furniture- quality is superb and their prices are totally reasonable. The only issue I have is their style, mostly too traditional. However, the Bennet has clean lines and can work in any decor. So i'd like to know if anyone has tested the sleeper and can vouch for its comfort.
Thanks.
Here's a new sleeper sofa I found at the last High Point Market show: www.modadivan.com.
It's memory foam and electric powered by remote control or a button console on the frame. It was very comfortable with a clean modern design and a variety of color options. I was very impressed.
We looked into www.carolinachair.com based on EnergyNet's recommendation. We received our new sofa the other day and love it. With our upgrades, we paid $2500 including shipping. It's construction is comparable to a much more expensive sofa.
Because they build every sofa custom, we were able to adjust the dimensions of the sofa to fit our bodies for a minimal upcharge. We upgraded to the Air Dream mattress for just $250. We've slept on it, and it's very comfortable. Because it's part air mattress, you can adjust the firmness. They have about twelve zillion fabrics to choose from. And they have literally the best customer service I have experienced in years.
It was a little weird to buy a sofa without sitting on it, but it turns out the most important thing is the dimensions of the sofa. We sat in enough sofas to know the dimensions we wanted, and when the sofa appeared it was perfect.
We have American Leather's Kristina, which is the same as the Natasha (shown) but without the buttons. Our guests love it as a bed. As a sofa it's a little firmer than I prefer, but that's a matter of taste, and I'm fine with it.
I would buy it again in a heartbeat for two reasons: 1) The bed. It has a comfortably firm foam mattress supported on a platform. No sagging, no bars poking you in the back. It feels like an actual bed. 2) The footprint. It's in our maid's room/home office, a tiny room. We needed a sofa less than 67" wide that would fold out to less than 90" long. We got the full size. It's only 63" wide, so there's even room to reach the wall outlet and plug in a lamp. Unfolded, the total depth is only 85"--5" shorter than traditional full sleepers. And--even better--it folds out to an extra-long full mattress, the same 80" mattress length as a standard queen bed, rather than the usual 74" of a standard full, so our tall guests can sleep comfortably without their feet hanging off the end.
I'm not a big supporter of Wal-Mart, but this one is quite tempting. It's pretty slick and has high reviews. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Belle-Convertible-Futon-White/11395435
I have had an American Leather sofa for one year this month. It has been used almost nightly for that period of time. I weigh 160 lbs. The mattress was very comfortable for the first 6 months or so, but now has flattened on the side I sleep on. I plan to contact the retailer to find out how to replace the foam and will post if I was able to do so without difficulty. I believe the foam will still be under warranty - but do feel some concern about needing to replace the foam every year during the life of the sofa once warranty has expired. The sofa itself is comfortable I have the Madison), the microfiber fabric still looks brand new, the bed was very comfortable the first 6 months, and it is very easy to pull out and put away. No bars, no springs.
Hi
Love this post and the comments are super helpful - thanks everyone! I am seriously considering going the route of sleeper sofa as bed and the top of my list is the king size Natasha from American Leather.
Can anyone comment on the daily chore of folding/unfolding the bed? I live in 440sf and this will free up a lot of floor space, but the BF doesn't think it is worth it because he doesn't think it is a true gain i.e. you have to keep the 'landing' area clear if you want to open the bed, and the chore of closing may be too much for me some mornings it may not happen. Thoughts on daily life with a sleeper??
For everybody in Chicago area, you should check out modern European products at iqmatics.com:
http://www.iqmatics.com/webstore/department.aspx?depid=11
I also got my Comfort Sleeper from Sleepers In Seattle. http://www.sleepersinseattle.com/
They are the the only ones to have EVERY American Leather sleeper. I spent about 8 months deciding. Every time I called, they were super helpful-- I couldnt imagine there was so much to know about sleeper sofas! In the end, I probably bought from them because it was the lowest price I could find. Take it from someone who looked everywhere: The Comfort Sleeper is the best sofa bed out there.
Everyone should check out their 'sleeper sofa rap'! It's on the bottom of this page:
http://www.sleepersinseattle.com/content/selecting-a-sleeper.aspx
When are you going to post the 2011 edition of Best Sleeper sofas & Sofa Beds, please?