Sofa beds come in a variety of styles, from minimalist futons to oversized sectional couches and everything in between.

Futon. A futon is the simplest version of a sleeper sofa that you’ll find. Most are made up of a single cushion atop a metal or wooden frame; they can be folded up to serve as seating, and unfolded to be used as a bed. Futons are a popular choice for apartments given their low-profile appearance and relatively small footprint, but their no-frills look may make them too casual for some spaces.

Sleeper chair. If you’re especially short on square footage and you tend to have only one guest at a time, a sleeper chair (or two) can be an ideal option, since each chair folds out into a twin-size bed. Sleeper chairs also offer more style options than a futon; think tufted Chesterfields, shabby slipcovered versions, overstuffed easy chairs and more. Note, however, that sleeper chairs are often wider than standard armchairs.

Pullout couch. A pullout couch is the most traditional choice for a sofa bed, since it does double duty, acting as a comfortable full-size sofa most of the time, and a full- or queen-size (and occasionally king-size) bed as needed. Like a sleeper chair, these sofas can be found in almost any size and style, from petite, structured loveseats to large, casual sectionals. The most common choice for a pullout couch is a standard three-seater sofa, which accommodates a queen-size mattress.

Mattress Material

When you purchase a sofa bed, there’s more to think about than just looks. What’s inside counts, too, and it’s important to find one with a high-quality, durable mattress. Depending on the style of sofa bed you choose, you will have a number of options.

Cotton or polyester fill. This material is used for futon cushions. Cotton- and synthetic-filled mattresses (sometimes a blend of both) typically come in a variety of thicknesses; for optimum comfort, spring for one that’s at least 8 inches deep.

Foam. Foam mattresses are more popular than ever and are used for both sofa beds and futons. If you go this route, quality is key. Standard sofa bed mattresses are only 3 to 5 inches deep, so a low-density material means your guests will feel every support bar and coil in the bed frame. Opting for a superior material, such as memory foam or gel foam, can make a world of difference.

Innerspring. While traditional innerspring mattresses may have given sofa beds their bad name, they’ve come a long way in recent years, with manufacturers adding extra coils and thicker padding to ensure a better night’s sleep. The most comfortable options will be around 5 inches deep and will have steel coils and a thick, quilted cover. Note that spring mattresses tend to be noisy, so if the bed is in a shared bedroom or public space in the house, it might be best to opt for a foam version instead.

Air-over-coil. This newer option is an innerspring mattress on the bottom and inflatable air bed on top, and it has garnered rave reviews for comfort. Air-over-coil construction allows for a mattress that’s up to twice as thick as a standard sofa bed mattress, but still tucks away easily into a sofa when the airbed portion is deflated.

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