How much do you want to spend? And are there any space restrictions?

Wow, you are really brave!

I would pick comfort over looks in this situation, because sleeping on a bad bed can seriously impact your health and wellbeing. Room and Board sofa beds have nice foam mattresses inside, but are very expensive. Maybe a good quality futon? I know some people who prefer them to normal spring mattresses.

I'd love to hear suggestions in the $1,000-$1,500 range. Right now we're struggling with this same question.

Top contenders are--

1) The Encore from R&B http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=3090&catalog=filter&menuCatalog=room&menuSubcategory=201198

and

2) The Flex from CB2
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/good-questions/where-to-find-a-comfortable-sofa-bed-good-questions-149142

I love love love the Case Study Day Bed from Modernica, but we need something closer to a full than a twin (http://modernica.net/case-study-v-leg-day-bed.html)

I would suggest a daybed with a good twin mattress, rather than a sofa bed. If you are going to be sleeping on this nightly, you really need to be concerned about the quality of the mattress on which you will be sleeping. You can also get a trundle daybed, if you want the space for a guest; alternatively, you can use the space underneath for storage.

Maybe go Japanese-Ryokan style with the futon mattress on the floor and roll it away when you aren't using it? It's a lot more comfortable than it sounds.

I lived in studios for many, many years. Back then, I arranged my queen bed parallel against the wall with lots of pillows so that it looked like a daybed. It saved a lot of space because it wasn't jutting out into the room, but I still got the benefit of a "proper" bed.

Is this something you'd consider doing with your double bed? It could be a back-saver! You could forego the box spring and put your mattress on this bed frame (which I have and LOVE) that provides OODLES of storage space underneath:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Black-Steel-Full-size-Mattress-Bed-Frame/3228843/product.html

We have this one from Crate & Barrel http://www.crateandbarrel.com/search.aspx?query=allerton in the full-sized option which isn't online, but can be ordered in the stores. The bed is actually really comfortable and not the typical sofa bed. I can't say I sleep on it every night, but did for a week and was perfectly happy with it!

We have this bed in grey... It's amazing. It has a storage area for you quilt and everything. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59889124

I like the look of this stacking bed that was on AT recently but I have no idea about the long term comfort. http://marketplace.apartmenttherapy.com/features/10-out-of-the-ordinary-convertible-beds

I vote daybed, good mattress, and decently big pillows so that it isn't a crap sofa when you need it to be.

We have this one from IKEA: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70125723
Been sleeping on it every night since January & are quite happy with it. We use a memory foam mattress topper to make it a bit more comfy. It's actually more comfortable than the bed we used to have!

Ahahaahaa! Comfy sofabed. Oxymoron.

Thanks for the suggestions! As far as size/price restrictions, I'd like something around the size of a twin bed for under $1000 (around $700 would be ideal). I just moved this week and my current full size bed takes up 75% of the bedroom. I might end up downsizing to a twin, but I was thinking daybed so it would be a nice piece of furniture that could move with me when/if I get a bigger place. I realize it's tough to find a daybed comfortable enough to sleep on every night!

This is the bed I have right now.

@citygirlsf's It will definitely be loaded with pillows to be styled as a daybed while I continue my search.

@Asticat I considered a roll away option and also this elevated cushion from Urban Outfitters. I think I want something a little higher off the ground.

I also vote daybed. You can get proper mattresses for them, and dress them up during the day with a bedspread or textile of your choice.

Check out Jennifer Convertibles. The couches are within your price range and they offer an option to swap out the standard mattress with an air mattress, which is extremely comfortable. Yes, you'll have to blow it up every night, but it saves you from having to feel the bars from the frame in your back every night.

That Lubi is the most uncomfortable thing to sleep on. My daughter has one and it's in "my" room. I hate it....anyway, not sure of your style but this is what I did..scoured used furniture stores, bought 2 identical foot-boards for twin beds, footboards because they are smaller and have a finished look on both sides, put slats and a twin size mattess, and lots of throw pillows...it is the most comfortable daybed I've ever had. I did splurge and buy a daybed cover from West Elm, linen and it gives it more of a sofa look.

Two options that I've used:

* Lucy Au, these are absolutely the most comfortable I've ever slept on (because of the full slat back support compared to just 3-point metal back support typical of fold-out beds), these are ottomans that convert to twin - full - or - queen beds.

* Flying Beds is another and there are multiple versions of this type on the market: http://www.flyingbeds.com/07.Sofa-Bed/Lodge.htm

Otherwise I'd go for a proper twin bed size, with headboard and footboard, that's made to be used as a daybed. I once took two identical headboards from a used furniture store, used them as the side panels and had fill pieces made for the high back and low front to finish it off, with a pop-up trundle underneath. It was in my guest room and was usable as a twin bed; with the trundle two twin beds; or if the trundle was popped up to its highest a bed that was roughly queen size.

BTW that last option, the homemade daybed, the parts were attached to a standard "Hollywood" bedframe (free on Craigslist or $25 at mattress shops and the pop-up trundle cost just $49).

Don't go for the elevated cushion from Urban Outfitters - the reviews of it on their site are not favorable.

I was going to buy two "Case Study" daybeds from DWR. My thinking was that I could easily push them together and convert my den into a third bedroom for guests. But they were so uncomfortable. I ended up getting two day beds from West Elm. They aren't quite as stylish, but are soooo comfortable and a lot cheaper than most of what's out there.

@Catherine325
If you are fine with a twin-size bed, then just get a daybed. Did you really mean a daybed, or are you really seeking sofabed suggestions? If you go the daybed route then you can surely get a mattress that you will find comfortable, since that is an issue even with normal beds that don't moonlight as couches.... You can put most of your budget towards the mattress and wait for a nice-looking frame to pop up on craigslist or something. Like overlapping squares, yay!

thanks, @lepidoptery. That daybed looks nice and would go with a lot of my furniture. I'm just trying to get ideas for the small space and have been looking at everything from sofabeds to daybeds. I think I'm leaning towards a daybed since it will be used more for a bed and I don't really want to be pulling out a sofabed every night.

I currently live in 232 sq. ft. and sit and sleep on the same Ikea sofa bed as @Paisleypetals: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90125722#/80126091/
I'm absolutely in love with it, especially the storage under the chaise and how comfortable it is to sleep on (it's firm, so be prepared). At $699 you can't go wrong - and trust me, I usually hate buying Ikea furniture. I'm also in love with dual purpose furniture, so this ties in with the whole theme of my flat. Congrats on living small. I love it.

Form over function again. Clothes and closets are nice, but humans need decent beds, no? A Real Bed is the one thing I would never, ever give up. I suspect that this is a very young person's game?

There is a best selling model of sofa bed called the Daytona. In the UK one of the stockists is Comfy Living http://www.comfy-living.co.uk however I am certain if you search Google.com for Daytona Sofa Bed you will find a seller in the US.

All of my guests have loved my Crate and Barrel Troy Queen Sleeper, but I don't know if they would have loved it if they had to sleep on it every night.

We slept on one of these full time for three years: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S89874376 and if our roof hadn't leaked and ruined the mattress we'd probably still be sleeping on it.

Ridiculously comfortable for a sofa bed.

I have a sofa bed and am looking to replace the matress. I slept on an air matress that was part of a pull out sofa at a friend's house and found it pretty comforable. Since we're going to be using it every night for several weeks, I'd love some recommendations for what I should look for or if anyone has a tip on brands, it would be appreciated.

I've seen recommendations for the IKEA Manstad, but hows about the Kivik? It would fit my space a little better, but costs more. Any opinions?

I have the lubi and fall asleep on it everynight.

@Catherine325 - given your budget, a really high-quality twin bed turned into a daybed would be my recommendation. I agree with everyone who said you shouldn't compromise on sleeping quality.

I also like the idea of getting a trundle bed with either another twin mattress (for guests) or drawers underneath. IKEA has the drawer options and Craigslist is packed with the first kind. All in your budget!

@Catherine325
I am in my mid-20s, and have in the recent past slept on a (not brand new) beddinge resmo for about 3 months and a (used) beddinge murbo for about 1.5 years. Both felt fine to me, though I suppose I am not so picky. The advantage with the beddinge, if you don't mind a twin size in the first place, is that you don't actually have to put it down to sleep on it. However, it's not the most attractive sofa around, despite a range of slipcovers which are not at all evident online. Also, you already said you were willing to spend quite a bit more, in which case there's no need to compromise aesthetics or comfort, if the latter's an issue for you.

I admit I'm curious about your bedroom/walk-in closet! Are you foregoing dressers and keeping your clothes out in the open? I was going to use my bedroom as a dressing room, until I realized the main room of my apartment was a cave, the bedroom was bigger than I remember from the tour, and that I actually had a walk-in closet. ^^;;;

@embryoconcepts - we bought the IKEA Kivik b/c it looked nicer as a sofa than the Mansted, but after sleeping on it for a week when my family was visiting, I have to say it's not so comfortable -- REALLY firm, and that's considering that I usually like firm mattresses AND we piled on multiple blankets and sleeping bags to add cushioning. It might be better if you added an actual memory foam topper.

@Catherine325, I recently tucked a simple IKEA twin-bed-as-daybed in a window niche in my living room. I ordered a simple, straight "daybed" cover from BEMZ.com, but it would not be hard to make if you had the time to sew it. Bemz does full size too and has a lot of great fabrics. I made a bunch of comfy pillows, including 2 big Euro squares on either end for tandem reading parties. My family and visitors fight for lounge space on it, fall asleep on it, and wonder, "why is this couch so comfortable? Oh yeah--it's an actual bed." For us, best decision ever. Here's a AT picture of a twin bed presented in a fancy way:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/living-room/a-twin-bed-as-sofa-141268

Check out sofa beds at iqmatics.com in Schaumburg. They have wide selection European imports starting at around $900 and up. My favorite one is probably large Space but they have smaller ones as well:

http://www.iqmatics.com/webstore/productdetail.aspx?prodid=340&depid=11