Anyone who lives in a small space can tell you that multi-functional furniture is the unsung hero of the living area. One of our favorite examples? A small sleeper sofa, which, by day, is a cozy place to curl up with a book and, after sundown, can transform into a bed. Here’s the catch: Sleeper sofas for small spaces aren’t known for being the most comfortable—or at least, that’s what we thought. We made it our mission to find the best small sleeper sofa on the market, one that out-of-towners would actually want to spend the night on. Let us just say, we were pleasantly surprised.
From a Novogratz loveseat that comes with a memory foam mattress to a midcentury modern-inspired alternative that unfolds into a queen-size bed, our top picks may even rival the bed in your primary sleep space. Plus, we know that both sofas and beds are generally big financial investments, so we scoured the Internet in search of affordable options that don’t skimp on style or comfort. Plenty of our favorite sofa beds for small spaces are under $500. Otherwise, feel free to splurge on worthy discoveries from Birch Lane, Wayfair, and Williams Sonoma, to name a few.
So if you plan on hosting a few houseguests this spring, now is the time to find your small sleeper sofa. Here’s why we love them: When they’re closed, you’d never know that they perform more than one function. In other words, they’re cleverly disguised as beautiful pieces of living room furniture, which is more than okay if you ask us.
This sofa bed by the Novogratz design duo is one of our favorites because it comes with a plush memory foam mattress that is specially designed to conform to your body's curves and distribute weight evenly. We'd suggest opting for small throw pillows when you're using the Brittany as a loveseat, letting the channel tufting shine.
Available in four colors and two fabrics, including velvet and chenille, this affordable find is one of the best sleeper sofas for small spaces. For starters, it comes with two detachable side pockets for everything from television remotes to water bottles. It also opens up to reveal a 78-inch-long bed, making it ideal for children and adults alike.
Folded up, the Henry looks like a traditional sofa, but with a little elbow grease, it transforms into a queen size bed with room to comfortably sleep two. If your short on space, though, opt for the twin size, which folds up into a loveseat. Did we mention that it's completely customizable when it comes to the fabric? We'd consider that a win in our book.
Not many sleeper sofas come with a five-year protection plan, free in-home delivery, and more than 60 fabric options, but this Birch Lane find does. As a plush armchair, it's an ideal spot to curl up during the day, and as a twin bed, it's a cozy little oasis. Either way, it's a top contender. Plus, the cushions are both removable and reversible.
If you're really tight on space, this flared arm sleeper sofa is the piece for you. It clocks in at just under 50 inches wide (47.64, to be specific) and comes in a few punchy shades, but it's selling out fast, so snag it for your space before it's gone for good.
Setting up a sleeper sofa, which is usually a lot heavier and more difficult to maneuver than a traditional couch, can be tricky. Luckily, this Joss & Main one comes with free in-home delivery, so all you have to do is supervise. It's also made in the U.S., so it will ship directly to your front door within a matter of days.
On sale for nearly 50% off, the Adamina sleeper sofa deserves a spot on our list. It doesn't include a mattress, but it doesn't really need one because the foam cushion unfolds into a queen size bed. All you need is a set of sheets and pillows, et voila. It's also made on a kiln-dried hardwood frame, giving it the ability to support up to 875 pounds.
It's rare that any type of multi-functional furniture requires no assembly, but there's an exception for everything, and Etta Avenue's Elizabeth is it. As a chair, it's pretty low-to-the-ground and as a twin size bed, it's basically a mattress (albeit a very comfortable one) on the floor. So it's not exactly ideal if your guests will be staying with you for days at at time, but for a night or two, this is a great find. Plus, it's basically $200, which is a steal for such a comfortable small sleeper sofa.
Available in multiple fabrics, colors, and mattress types
Made in the U.S.
Free in-home delivery
Cons
Expensive
This channel-tufted sofa may look like a typical chair and a half, but there's way more than meets the eye: First, unfolds into a full-size bed. Second, and perhaps equally important, it's available in more than 50 color and fabric options. You can also choose between a classic innerspring mattress and a memory foam alternative. If you order it in the next 12 days, you can score an additional 18% off—no code needed.
Another sleeper sofa for small spaces that has plenty of customizable options? The Addison from Williams Sonoma. So if you're not into the idea of a crisp white couch, you can opt for any of the 40 additional fabrics and colors. As for the other customizable details? You can choose the size (twin, queen, or king size), with or without nailheads, the leg finish, and the cushion fill (down blend or standard foam).
While the price makes this sleeper sofa more of an investment than some of the others on our list, we can guarantee you won't regret the splurge. First, choose from over 50 fabrics, which range from pet-friendly performance velvets to sustainably made linens. It's also so comfortable as a sofa that you may be tempted to take a quick cat nap without even unfolding it into a bed.
Crafted by hand in the U.S., this made-to-order small sleeper sofa leads with both quality and comfort. From the down-fill cushions to the thick memory foam mattress, your guests will feel like they're right at home.
This adorable sofa may not be ideal for your adult houseguests, but if you have kids, this 65-inch long pull-out couch will become the sleepover oasis. And at just 25 pounds, it's also easy to move around. The best part? It comes in eight colors and fabrics, including this dreamy blue chenille tweed.
Sink into a cozy, chenille sleeper that has a drop-down console, cup holders, and other neat nooks for cleverly hidden storage. Bonus: The geometric accent pillows are included.
This 72-inch-long sofa bed includes a useful fold-down armrest with two cupholders, but when you close the armrest and fold the back cushion down flat, you've got yourself a twin bed.
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What is a sleeper sofa?
House Beautiful
The terms "sleeper sofa" and "sofa bed" are often used interchangeably, but there's a major difference between them—here's what you need to know.
Sleeper sofas are sofas that have a mattress tucked inside (so you can also call them a pull-out couch!) underneath separate couch cushions. To create the bed, you remove the cushions, pull out the mattress, add sheets, and you're ready to count sheep. You typically need a bigger room for this type of sofa, but sleeper loveseats and oversized chairs with pull-out mattresses also exist for tinier spaces.
A sofa bed folds down and transforms into a bed on your floor. The "mattress" is from the cushions you sit on. All in all, it's more like an oversized floor pillow.
How to make a sleeper sofa feel cozy?
Depending on the filling of your sofa, you might need to incorporate reinforcements to ensure a blissful night of sleep. You can add a mattress topper for more comfort and height or a plush pillow.
Why trust us?
House Beautiful
When it comes to all things sleep, the House Beautiful shopping editors are experts at picking the perfect products to give you a restful eight hours. We found the best sofa beds for small spaces at a range of prices, so there's something for everyone and every space.
Medgina Saint-Elien covers everything your home needs. She writes about exciting new product launches, hands-on reviews, and the "lightbulb" moments in every maker's story. In overseeing key HB editorial franchises, including the Live Better Awards, Saint-Elien champions the work of BIPOC entrepreneurs in the design and beauty industries. In addition to House Beautiful, her work has been published in Byrdie, Snapchat, and more. Outside of work, the writer and poet can be found documenting her travels on social media and saving memes for future use.