We tested this year's best click-clack and pull-out sofa beds for making the most of your living space. Copy link. twitter. facebook. whatsapp. The best sofa beds promise a handy two-in-one solution; both a sofa for relaxing and entertaining and a comfortable bed for guests. Historically, though, they have been neither. They seemed to be too firm and unyielding as a sofa and uncomfortable and creaky as a bed. That’s a surefire recipe for back pain.

But today’s sofa beds have evolved, according to interior designer Katy Raywood of Howson Design Interiors. “They used to be poorly sprung, uncomfortable additions,” she says. “They are now comfortable, practical and easy to function.” You can also order sofa beds flat packed now, for easy home delivery. Raywood does still only recommend them for occasional use, rather than to replace a bed full-time. This is because the mattresses are much thinner than on standard beds. But for an overnight or weekend visitor, it’s great to have the multi-functionality of a sofa and bed in one.

A sofa bed is a great solution, but with different styles available from Loaf to Dreams to IKEA, it can be hard to know which is best for you. I spent a week testing sofa beds of various sizes around London showrooms. I tried click-clack sofa beds, where the back folds down to create a flat surface and pull-out sofa beds, which conceal a hidden mattress. (There’s more on the difference between them in our FAQ section.) You can read my full reviews below, but if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:.

If you’re looking for a more comfortable sofa to sit on, choose a click-clack sofa bed, says interior designer Naomi Astley Clarke. “A really comfortable sofa would have a spring base, then cushions. If the base contains a pull-out mattress instead of that spring base, it’s going to be less comfortable to sit on.”. However if you’re looking to prioritise the comfort of the mattress, choose a pull-out sofa bed. The mattresses themselves are generally pocket sprung or foam, like a bed mattress, compared to the padded sofa cushions you will be sleeping on with a click-clack sofa bed.

“The comfort of the mattress is key – even when choosing beds for clients, the base isn’t the expense, it’s the mattress,” says Astley-Clarke. As the resident of a small flat in London (I prefer bijou), I have a vested interest in finding a sofa bed that’s durable and comfortable enough for entertaining and evenings spent in front of the TV and spacious enough to host weekend guests. So, I set out to remedy the sofa bed’s disrepute and test the best models on the market. I tried everything from John Lewis to Ikea, corner and chair sofa beds.

Due to the aforementioned small flat, I was unable to trial each sofa bed at home. But I could persuade shop assistants in furniture shops to let me have a shameless lie down. Across three days, I visited more than 20 showrooms, including all the big names – John Lewis, Heal’s, Loaf etc – to try the bestselling sofa beds out for myself. I was testing them for fabric, style, features, comfort, quality and the ease of opening out the sofa beds. Here is what I found, starting with my favourite….

From £1,440, sofa.com. Best sofa bed overall, 10/10. We like: the raised legs mean it looks like a regular sofa. We don’t like: only the velvet and cotton are easy-clean. The Bluebell sofa bed is interior designer Katy Raywood’s high street pick, thanks to its ability to fit into any modern or contemporary home and the customisation available. “It’s a classic design with a timeless feel and I love that there are a vast range of fabrics and colours to choose from,” she says.

Sofa.com offers the choice of more than 80 fabrics including “smart” cotton or velvet, which is stain resistant and can be cleaned with a damp cloth. It’s ideal for families with young kids or pets. You can also choose from the House herringbone weave, various linens, weave, cottons, velvets and leathers and a new boucle. You might be buying one of the most popular sofas on the market, but the variety means you’ll come out with something bespoke to you. You can even choose between oak or mahogany legs.

The cushions are made from feather-topped foam and are a little firm with the mattress underneath, although you can upgrade to the Bluebell Premium Comfort Sofa Bed which sits lower, allowing more cushioning between you and the pull-out mechanism. The pull-out mechanism is easy enough for one person. You simply remove the bottom cushions then fold out the hidden mattress. The frame actually has numbered step-by-step instructions inside for ease. The back cushions can stay in place, for a squishy headboard.