Good Questions: Affordable Flip Out Sofa?

Hello AT,

My sister has a small, ratty, foam flip-out couch that she adores. Unfortunately, it's starting to fall apart and become decrepit. Her friends and I would like to get her a replacement for less than $500, but the only ones that we can find that are not toddler sized (or emblazoned with Disney characters) are through Sears Canada, who do not ship to the US. Where can we find an affordable flip out sofa/love seat that will ship to Philadelphia?

Thanks! jolly

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
editor(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
Link To All Good Questions

Dear Jolly,

WE JUST FOUND A LINK TO AN ARTICLE TWO WEEKS AGO IN THE NYTIMES H&H SECTION:

PERSONAL SHOPPER; Stowaway Sleepers

Here's our best two links:

Pietro Arosio's Flipper Bed
Apt: Exactly Suitable

Anyone else????

Comments (12)

The Ikea Murbo, maybe?

I had one for years that I LOVED from JC Penny. They delivered it from Jersey to my tiny apartment in Manhattan, and with the delivery was about $500. It was a nice dark blue denim color. I'd try your local department stores, they always have random furniture surprises like that. Also, Pier 1 usually has a few of those love seat sized roll outs in gray, black or blue. Good luck!

Is the LL Bean couch/sleeper comfortable? Does anyone have one? It says its made out of high density foam ---that can be code for also your ass feels like its sitting on a brick.

Go to Apt only if time is not a consideration. I ordered their "Duo" at the beginning of Feb. and I am still waiting for the tray top to arrive. The ottoman did not arrive until the middle of April. I went to the store on a Sunday morning to pick up the ottoman. So that I could easily find a parking space in Soho, I arrived promptly at 11 o'clock. No staff person showed up until 11:30 (store hours begin at 11) and I was not allowed into the store until 11:45.

If it were me, I'd probably just get her an Aerobed for $200 and shop with her for a "normal" sofa from CL, Ikea, etc.

Sometimes the dual-purpose stuff gives you the worst of both worlds...

Stay away from the LL Bean sleeper!! When the cushions unfold they don't align so the sleeping surface is not flat. It's so uncomfortable that it's not usable as a bed. As a sofa, it's so cheap and poorly constructed, that it started visibly sagging to one side only a few months after we purchased it. It's a joke.

I would strongly recommend against buying one from Pier 1. My girlfriend had one, and we had to toss it, because the seat kept slipping forward taking us with it. It was an absolute nightmare and a waste of money.

I ordered a folding sofa for a client from Urban Outfitters that was really nice.

I would highly recommend the Ikea Solsta sofa bed. It's exactly the style described, love seat size, and $129. We're poor college students, and we bought this about 8 months ago, so far it's been great. It's comfy for sitting and napping in when folded in, and fairly comfortable for sleeping on (the mattress rests directly on the floor, so no sagging pull out frames). We've piled a bunch of pillows on it, because the sides of the arms are not very padded, and this has worked well. It only seems to come in one color - Ikea calls it gray, but it's really a very dark navy blue. I've seen it in the catalogue and in stores, but not online, so I'm not sure if it ships...Sorry to rave so much about it, but we've been so surprised by how well it's worked out, given how little it cost!

Rosie, would you reccommend the solsta for every night use?

Aylaaa - Absolutely - don't buy the Solsta! It is two thirds foam and one third wood. Your feet and calves are literally resting on a piece of wood covered by fabric. I'm having trouble returning mine because I threw out the receipt before I actually slept on this thing. It's really junk, and in my mind false advertising by Ikea to call it a sofa bed. It's not!