I Test Sofas for a Living and This Sleeper Sofa Is by Far the Best

Any time I meet someone new and they ask me what I do as a shopping editor for Apartment Therapy, I tell them that I make recommendations on what kind of furniture they should buy for their apartments. Over the past year or so, I’ve looked at so many sofas I have a really solid idea of what’s out there, how to choose, and what’s truly worth buying. This includes sleeper sofas. Among all of the sleeper sofas I’ve tested, one stands out to me as the best: It’s West Elm’s Shelter Queen Sleeper Sofa.

Writing our Personal Shopper series is easily the biggest part of my job, and I’ve tested a lot of sleeper sofas for the series. So it takes a lot to make an impression on me. So believe me when I tell you, there are so many reasons to invest in this couch not only for your guest bed or spare room, but even for your living room. Keep reading to find out why.

With a lot of pull-out sofas, you either struggle to unfold them or you have to enlist the help of someone else. But with the Shelter sleeper, you’ll have no trouble removing its back and side cushions, as well as the bench-style seat, and pulling out its queen-size gel-infused foam mattress.

A sturdy frame supports the mattress, which features a high-density foam top and a breathable, moisture-wicking cover. As for the sofa’s upholstery, you have more than 100 fabric and color options, so you can truly customize the Shelter to your unique interior decor style.

Despite its relatively deep seat, you’re still able to sit upright on this sofa. And, at 84 inches long, it’s not too big for small living spaces. You’ll also be happy to learn that the Shelter is frequently on sale. The only downside is that its seat is on the firm side. If you enjoy firm seating, this won’t be a problem for you, but in general, sleeper sofas tend to have firm seats for obvious reasons.

When I call this “the best” sleeper sofa tested in our Personal Shopper series, I’m considering a few different criteria. For one, the Shelter sofa leans neither too modern nor too traditional in appearance. Depending on the fabric you choose and how you style it, the couch could blend in with virtually any home aesthetic, be it rustic or coastal or Scandi.

Second, you can’t initially tell it’s a sleeper sofa just by looking at it. This is important and a compliment in my book, as I’ve seen some dowdy sleepers that look like something you’d find in a cheap motel room.

Next, at under $3,000, the Shelter is relatively affordable, especially when you consider that it’s built to last a long time. In short, this model is extremely versatile and fits a number of lifestyles and aesthetics, which certainly can’t be said of all the furnishings I’ve seen.

An honorable mention among the other sleepers I’ve checked out is the Tuck sleeper from Design Within Reach. It has a similar bench seat, which I love, and this one was surprisingly plush and soft to sit on! But I wouldn’t consider the Tuck “the best” because its price is a little high.

Still, if my store visits have taught me anything, it’s that high-quality furniture is worth the splurge. At the risk of sounding arrogant, you can’t go wrong with any of the pieces I recommend, especially if it’s the Shelter sleeper.

Buy: Shelter Queen Sleeper Sofa, $2,499