How to Make a Sofa Bed More Comfortable for Guests
By Alex at SOFGO ·
A sofa bed can give guests a genuinely good night's sleep. Most of the difference comes from how it is set up rather than the frame itself: a level base, a sensible topper, bedding that actually fits and a room that is dark, quiet and the right temperature.
This guide walks through each of those in order, so you can make a sofa bed more comfortable to sleep on in an evening — whether you already own one or are choosing a new sofa bed for the spare room or living room.
Start with a flat, level base
Comfort starts underneath. Before you add anything on top, open the bed fully and check three things.
- The floor. A sofa bed on a thick rug or uneven boards can rock or tilt. Stand at the foot of the open bed and look along it. If one corner sits lower, move it onto a flatter patch of floor or slide a thin, firm furniture pad under that foot. Do not stack loose books or folded towels under a leg — they shift during the night.
- The mechanism. Open the bed exactly as the instructions describe and make sure it has locked into the bed position. A click-clack back that has not dropped all the way, or a pull-out section that is not fully extended, leaves a ridge or a slope. Our guide to click-clack vs pull-out vs electric sofa beds explains how each type opens.
- The seams. Run your hand across the sleeping surface. Most sofa beds have a join where the seat meets the back or where a pull-out section meets the main frame. Note where it falls — it tells you where a topper will help most.
You can see the principle on the Nessvale above: when the back lies flat, the seat and back cushions form one sleeping surface, with a join running across the middle. That is normal for a click-clack style sofa bed, and it is exactly where a topper earns its place.
Finally, give the bed a quick refresh before guests arrive. Vacuum the seat and the crease where the back meets it, and let the fabric air for an hour with a window open if the room has been shut up.
Toppers and mattress protectors
A mattress topper is the single most useful addition to a sofa bed. It smooths over seams and buttoning, adds a softer layer on top of a firm seat, and can be rolled away when the bed folds back into a sofa.
Choosing a topper
- Size it to the sleeping area, not the sofa. Check the sleeping area on the product page and buy the nearest topper size, or one slightly smaller. A topper that hangs over the edge slides off and makes the edges feel unstable.
- Go for medium thickness. A very thin topper may not hide a join; a very deep one can feel wobbly on a sofa bed and is harder to store. A medium-depth topper is usually the practical middle ground.
- Pick the feel your guests expect. Memory foam softens pressure points; a fibre or microfibre topper feels more like a soft hotel bed and is easier to wash. Either can work — what matters is that it covers the whole surface evenly.
- Think about storage. If it needs to live in the sofa's storage compartment between visits, check the compartment size on the product page and choose a topper that rolls or folds to fit.
Use a mattress protector too
A fitted, washable mattress protector over the topper keeps it clean, holds it in place and gives you something to wash between guests. Fitted styles with elasticated skirts grip better than flat pads. Never fold the sofa back up with the topper or protector still on unless the instructions say you can — it strains the mechanism and creases the topper.
Bedding that fits
Bedding that is the wrong size is one of the main reasons a sofa bed feels uncomfortable. Sheets that are too big ruck up under you; sheets that are too small pull the topper out of shape.
Start with the sleeping area listed on the product page. For example, the Fairhaven Corner Sofa Bed With Storage M84 (£1,199) lists a sleeping area of 123 × 193 cm, and the Pemberly below lists 128 × 180 cm. Then compare that with standard UK bed sizes:
| UK bed size | Typical mattress size |
|---|---|
| Single | 90 × 190 cm |
| Small double | 120 × 190 cm |
| Double | 135 × 190 cm |
| King | 150 × 200 cm |
Many sofa beds fall between a small double and a double. In that case:
- Fitted sheet: choose the size that matches the width most closely, and a deep-pocket style if you are adding a topper, so the corners stay tucked.
- Duvet: a double or king duvet is fine — it just needs to cover the sleepers, not tuck in. A slightly larger duvet also helps cover the join at the edge.
- Flat sheet option: a large flat sheet tucked firmly under the topper is a good fallback if your sofa bed is an unusual size.
Keep one complete set — protector, fitted sheet, duvet cover and two pillowcases — washed and ready. If your sofa bed has a storage compartment, that is the obvious place for it.
Pillows and support
Sofa beds usually sit a little lower and feel a little firmer than a full bed, so pillows matter more than you might expect.
- Offer two pillows each — one medium and one softer — so guests can adjust for side or back sleeping.
- Do not use sofa cushions as pillows. They are designed for seating and are usually too firm and too wide; put them aside for the night.
- Mind the head end. If one end of the bed sits against the sofa's arm or back, put the pillows there so the sleeper's head is supported and there is no gap to slip into.
- Add a spare blanket. A folded throw at the foot of the bed lets guests add warmth without searching for it.
- Think about getting in and out. Leave enough floor space beside the open bed for someone to sit up and stand without climbing over the frame.
Room comfort: light, heat, noise
A comfortable bed in an uncomfortable room still makes for a poor night. If the sofa bed is in a living room, a few small changes make it feel like a guest room.
Light
- Close curtains or blinds fully. A sofa bed under a window, like the Pemberly above, benefits from blackout lining or a simple blackout blind behind existing curtains.
- Switch off or cover standby lights on the TV, router and chargers.
- Leave a small lamp or plug-in night light within reach so guests can find their way without the main light.
Heat
- Keep the bed out of direct contact with radiators and away from draughty doors.
- Living rooms often cool quickly overnight once the heating goes off. Leave an extra blanket out rather than turning the heating up.
- In warmer weather, a lighter duvet and an open window (if it is safe to) are kinder than a heavy winter duvet.
Noise
- Tell guests about anything that might wake them — an early alarm, the boiler, a pet that wanders.
- A sofa bed in the living room is close to the kitchen and hall, so try to keep early-morning noise down, or offer earplugs.
Small touches
A glass of water, a spare phone charger, a hook or chair for clothes and a clear surface for glasses make guests feel looked after. For more ideas on hosting over the festive period, see our guide to choosing a sofa bed for Christmas guests.
If you are still choosing, our guide on how to choose a sofa bed for a guest room covers mechanism, size and storage, and our corner sofa bed for everyday use guide helps if the sofa will be sat on every day too. You can compare compact options such as the Verity Corner Sofa Bed With Storage M84 (£779) or browse all corner sofa beds with storage.
FAQs
How do I make a sofa bed more comfortable to sleep on?
Open it fully on level floor, check the mechanism has locked flat, then add a topper sized to the sleeping area with a fitted mattress protector over it. Use bedding that matches the sleeping area, offer two pillows per person and make the room dark and quiet.
Is a mattress topper worth it for a sofa bed?
Usually, yes. A topper smooths out seams and buttoning, softens a firm seat and is easy to remove and store. Choose one that matches the sleeping area and is not so deep that it feels unstable or will not fit in storage.
What size sheets fit a sofa bed?
Check the sleeping area on the product page and match it to the nearest UK size. Many sofa beds fall between a small double (120 × 190 cm) and a double (135 × 190 cm). A deep-pocket fitted sheet helps if you are using a topper.
Can I leave a topper on when I fold the sofa bed away?
Only if the manufacturer's instructions say so. In most cases it is better to remove the topper and protector, roll them and store them separately, so the mechanism closes properly and the topper does not crease.
How can I stop the gap in the middle of a sofa bed?
Make sure the bed is fully opened and locked flat first. Then lay a topper across the whole surface so the join is bridged, and add a fitted protector to hold it in place.
Where should I store bedding for a sofa bed?
If the sofa bed has a storage compartment, keep a complete bedding set and the rolled topper there, checking the compartment size on the product page first. Otherwise, a vacuum bag on a shelf or under a bed nearby keeps everything clean and together.
Getting a sofa bed ready for guests? Message our team with your room size and how often the bed will be used, or email support@sofgo.co.uk, and we will help you compare sleeping areas and storage. You can also browse all corner sofa beds with storage.
Alex at SOFGO