We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sleeper Sofa at Joybird

Shopping for a sofa is hard enough, but shopping for a sleeper sofa can be a real challenge. Not only do you need to choose a comfortable sofa for everyday seating, but you also want to ensure that the sleeper part will keep your overnight guests happy. Plus, sleeper sofas tend to be more expensive and heavier than regular couches, so buying one is a big investment in more than one way.

That’s why we’re focusing on Joybird’s sleeper sofas for this iteration of our Personal Shopper series, where we visit the showrooms of popular brands and test out their products in person. We’ve already covered Joybird’s sofas and sectionals, so now it’s time to take a look at its sleeper sofa offerings, including larger sleeper sectionals and small space-friendly twin sleepers. 

Joybird was one of the early direct-to-consumer furniture brands that entered the market in the 2010s (it was founded in 2014). It specializes in custom-designed mid-century modern furniture, particularly seating, that is priced in the middle of luxury and budget. It’s designed with millennials in mind, and has sections on its website for small space and apartment furniture, plus pet-friendly and kid-friendly fabrics.

Joybird now sells furniture and decor for the entire home, including the living room, bedroom, dining room, and home office, as well as outdoor spaces. It also stands out for its limited lifetime warranty on furniture frames and foundations. We’ve written about Joybird for years, and Apartment Therapy editors have Joybird products in their own homes, like this comfy sectional. 

We judged every Joybird sleeper sofa based on the following criteria:

• Overall sit: What posture does the sofa best support? How deep or shallow are the seats? Are the cushions soft or firm on the back and arms?
• Seat firmness: How soft or firm are the seat cushions? How do they contribute to overall posture and comfort?
• Customizability: Does it come in different varieties? How many colors, finishes, materials, or sizes is it available in? How granular can you get when customizing the sofa?
• Comfort: How comfortable is the sleeper part? Is the mattress thick enough to hide the feel of bars and wires? 
• Multifunctionality: Does it have storage capacity? What else can the sofa do or help with?
• Sturdiness: Is the frame made from durable, high-quality materials? Does the sofa wobble or creak when you’re on it?
• Appearance: What style does it best suit? Does it lean more traditional (i.e., deep hues, busy details, flanged edges) or more contemporary (i.e., clean lines, low profiles, mid-century modern design elements)?

Every Joybird sleeper sofa was tested by me, Emma Dangel. I have been part of the Apartment Therapy team since 2022, and became the style editor in 2025. I’m an expert at scouting out new home products and brands, and I love embarking on DIY projects. I visited Joybird’s Manhattan and Brooklyn showrooms to write this article, which carried a total of four sleeper sofas between them. I evaluated each sleeper sofa on its design, construction, assembly, and customization. 

My favorite thing about this mid-century modern sleeper is its size. Small apartments aren’t exactly conducive to sleeper sofas, but this one would have fit perfectly in my tiny East Village walk-up. I had exactly 80 inches for a couch, and no room for an air mattress. The Briar is exactly 80 inches long and still feels luxurious, plus you have the option to add a matching ottoman, which I appreciate.

Speaking of luxury, the upholstery of the model in the store is undeniably beautiful. The fabric is a soft velvet in the color Royale Peacock, a blue-green jewel tone that has a luxe appearance. Surprisingly, it’s stain-resistant and pet-friendly, so while it looks fancy it’s actually a pretty good option for busy households and high-traffic rooms. Plus, it comes with cute bolster pillows that come in handy for blocking the gaps when the bed is open.

The cushions are definitely on the firmer side, but are still comfortable to sit on. I’m personally not a huge fan of the tufting on the bottom cushions, although they are fairly common for this style. I was seriously impressed by the mattress, though — I don’t usually like Tempur-Pedic mattresses, but I love this one. (It’s also available with a standard foam mattress that’s a bit cheaper.) It’s firm enough that you don’t feel the support bars underneath at all, and the queen size is perfect. 

The sofa uses a classic pull-out mechanism, which is easy enough to figure out and involves removing the seat cushion. Plus, the entire piece is sturdy enough that there’s no way I could pick it up by myself. This is a common feature of sleeper sofas, since they have extra hardware and a mattress hidden within the cushions. It’s a good thing if you want something solidly built, but a bit of a con if you’re a renter who moves a lot. (Joybird offers white glove delivery, so you won’t have to worry about initially getting it into your space.)

The size, upholstery, and convenience make this one of the most versatile sleeper sofas I’ve seen, especially since it’s available in tons of colors and fabrics. The more compact size is ideal for apartments and houses alike, and the mid-century style will feel right at home with various decor schemes.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a sleeper sectional, sleeper storage sectional, twin sleeper sofa, sleeper sofa + ottoman
• Dimensions: 79x36x35 inches
• Bed Size: Queen
• Upholstery: 78 fabrics/colors
• Frame: Engineered wood
• Mattress Type: Standard or memory foam

If you already have a couch or just want an extra bed that won’t take up too much room, then a twin-size sleeper should do the trick. I really loved testing the Brooks, which is more of a chair-and-a-half than a sofa at 51 inches long. It’s very comfortable — the back is supportive and angled comfortably, while the seat cushions sink in just the right amount. 

I’m also a big fan of the armrests, which have a stylish design and provided natural support for my arms. Plus, the seat depth was perfect for my 5’4″ height. I could sit all the way back and the cushions ended right at my knees, with my feet still touching the floor.

The model I saw was upholstered in a chenille weave in the color Plush Mist, a nice light blue. While chenille isn’t my cup of tea for aesthetic reasons, I can see how the weave helps disguise dirt, pet hair, or stains, and I certainly love the supersoft feel of it. The wood legs also get style points — not only are they sturdy, but the tapered design and dark finish add a bit of sophistication.

Unlike the Tempur-Pedic mattress on the Briar, the Brooks had the standard mattress, which I still think is pretty comfortable. The support bar is more noticeable compared with the Tempur-Pedic, but I wouldn’t say it’s uncomfortable. In fact, it’s still more comfy than most sleepers I’ve tried. 

One thing I noticed was that all of Joybird’s sleeper sofas have the same pull-out mechanism, and they were all easy to figure out and use. Just keep in mind that obviously the twin size is smaller than the typical sleeper queen, although I found the length to be fine for me (again, I’m 5’4″).

Overall, I think this is the perfect sleeper for solo visitors. It’s too small to be the main sofa in your living space (unless you live in a truly tiny apartment), but it makes perfect sense for a second bedroom, home office, basement, or as secondary seating in your living room. 

Specifications: 

• Dimensions: 51x36x36 inches
• Bed Size: Twin
• Upholstery: 78 fabrics/colors
• Frame: Solid and engineered wood
• Mattress Type: Standard or memory foam

The Wilder is my favorite of the bunch, and I love pretty much everything about it. (We’ve written about the non-sleeper Wilder Sectional too!) For starters, it’s definitely the most comfortable option I tested, thanks to its plush cushions. While sitting on it, I felt like I was sinking into the back cushions, but not in a negative way. There was no flattening of the seat cushions when I got up, and I would describe them as hitting the perfect sweet spot between firm and soft. 

I love a sectional with a wide chaise, and this one fits the bill. It’s a big sofa with very deep cushions, so it’s certainly designed for lounging. Because of the deep seat, it was a little tougher for me to get up compared with the others, but it wasn’t that bad. I also appreciate that it comes with two throw pillows for even more comfort, and the armrests themselves are angled in at the base, making them super comfy to lean your back against, too.

The model I saw was upholstered in a slightly different chenille than the Brooks, but I really loved how the French seams looked. This specific model had the same standard mattress as the Brooks, and it felt exactly the same — the bars were somewhat noticeable, but nothing too uncomfortable. And again, the pull-out feature was super easy to use. The best part about this sleeper sectional, though, is the chaise, which can be used as a sort of makeshift nightstand or extra sleeping space. 

Unsurprisingly, this couch is sturdy. I could probably push the individual sections around, but I definitely could not lift it at the corner by myself. The legs are mostly since the couch itself is so low profile, but they look pretty sturdy as well. I think this is a great couch for large living rooms and basements, but those living in smaller spaces should choose something else (or opt for the Wilder twin sleeper option instead).

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a twin sleeper sofa
• Dimensions: 123×60.5×37.5 inches
• Bed Size: Queen
• Upholstery: 78 fabrics/colors
• Frame: Engineered wood
• Mattress Type: Standard or memory foam

The Eliot is similar to the Brooks in that it’s a twin sleeper — and honestly, I doubt there are very many twin sleepers on the market that are as good-looking as the ones from Joybird. This one is slightly smaller than the Brooks, with a lower height and somewhat shorter seat, but I didn’t notice. My feet touched the floor, and I could lean back comfortably, although the armrests were a little too short for my liking.

I know I said that I typically dislike tufting on sofa seats, but I actually liked the tufting on this model because it carries up onto the back cushions, so I didn’t notice it as much. The cushions are all pretty thick and firm — I would say thicker than the Brooks’, but equally as firm. Overall, it’s comfortable and supportive, and easy to lounge on since the seat is pretty wide compared with a regular accent chair.

Other than the style, everything else about this sleeper was similar to the Brooks. The standard mattress felt more comfortable than what I’ve experienced on most sleepers I’ve tried in the past, and it was easy enough to open. While the twin size is only large enough for one person, its length was perfect for my 5’4” frame, and it didn’t feel any less sturdy than a larger sleeper. 

As with any twin sleeper, I wouldn’t recommend it as your primary couch unless you were really crunched for space. The size and mid-century style, though, make it a useful addition to a guest room, home office, or basement. 

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a sleeper sofa, sleeper sectional, bumper sleeper sectional, sleeper sectional with storage
• Dimensions: 51x35x33 inches
• Bed Size: Twin
• Upholstery: 78 fabrics/colors
• Frame: Engineered wood
• Mattress Type: Standard or memory foam