Sofa Bed vs Sleeper Sofa: 6 Differences Explained
Not everyone is a furniture designer guru. So, most of us often get confused over the different names of similar types of furniture. Take sofa beds and sleeper sofas, for example. Who would not think they are the same furniture? But believe it or not, there are many differences between the sofa bed and a sleeper sofa.
Sofa beds are similar to futons. You can lay them flat and form a bed. However, they don’t have a traditional mattress. Sleeper sofas, on the other hand, have a buried mattress that lies within their frame. You can fold or unfold this mattress whenever you need to.
However, there is more than just one difference between the sofa bed and a sleeper sofa. In this article, I am going to explain 6 differences I found between these two items.
So, read the article to find out the differences. You can then decide for yourself which one is the most suitable option for your household.
What Is Sofa Bed?
A sofa bed is a clever and versatile piece of furniture. It is basically a sofa or couch. You can fold out its seats and turn them into a bed. It is budget-friendly and space-saving, as well as highly comfortable to sit on. It can be a great addition to small apartments for everyday use.
What Is Sleeper Sofa?
A sleeper sofa is a piece of furniture that includes an extra mattress within its frame. You can pull it out and convert it into a bed. The mattress mostly stays hidden. You can fold and unfold it whenever you need to. A sleeper sofa can save you a lot of space by serving the dual functions of both sitting and sleeping.
Now let us see how these two pieces of furniture are different from each other.
6 Differences Between Sofa Bed And Sleeper Sofa
A sofa bed and a sleeper sofa can be differentiated from each other based on their use of mattress, size and weight, the level of comfort they provide, as well as their cost range and durability.
1. Difference In Terms Of Mattress
The main difference you will find between a sofa bed and a sleeper sofa is in terms of mattress.
A sofa bed doesn’t come with any additional mattress. It lays flat and forms a bed, kind of like a futon. Instead of a mattress, a sofa bed has cushions. However, if you want to make your sofa bed more comfortable, you can buy an extra mattress topper for it separately.
Though with a sleeper sofa, no such extra purchase is needed. A sleeper sofa comes with a hidden mattress. You can pop out or fold out the mattress when converting it into a bed. With a sleeper sofa, you are sure to get a proper night of sleep along with a good sitting area.
2. Difference In Size
The most obvious difference found is their difference in size. Basically, a sleeper sofa is much bigger than a sofa bed.
You can get sleeper sofas in queen size. This way, you can get a whole mattress on which more than one person can sleep quite comfortably.
However, sofa beds mostly come in twin sizes. It offers a smaller space in which a single person can sleep comfortably.
Moreover, when you are opening the bed, a sleeper sofa will need much more space than a sofa bed. So, for a small room, a sofa bed would be the smart choice.
3. Difference in Comfort level
Both the sofa bed and the sleeper sofa are very comfortable. However, their level of comfort will vary depending on how you use them.
You can use both sofa bed and sleeper sofa for sleeping, napping, and sitting. But for the purpose of sleeping, a sleeper sofa is the more comfortable option. Because, after all, a proper mattress is always much more comfortable than cushions.
The lack of a traditional mattress and a larger space makes sleeping on a sofa bed a little bit uncomfortable. In fact, if you use a sofa bed for sleeping for a consistently long term, it can also be quite unhealthy for you. Therefore, a sofa bed performs better as a couch rather than a bed.
4. Difference In Durability
When talking about their durability, you have to consider how these two pieces of furniture are manufactured.
A sleeper sofa has a hidden mattress. The mattress is long-lasting and more enduring. A sofa bed, on the other hand, has a collapsible innerspring. This innerspring can collapse over and malfunction when used for a long time.
The reason behind the better durability of a sleeper sofa is simple. The mattress of a sleeper sofa is much stronger and sturdier than the feather-back cushions and fiber seats of a sofa bed.
If you want a more numerical answer, well, on average, a good sleeper sofa has a lifespan of 15 years at best. With sofa beds, the lifespan is a bit shorter, approximately 7 to 10 years.
5. Difference In Price
Comparatively speaking, there isn’t a big difference between the prices of a sofa bed and a sleeper sofa. But remember, these two pieces of furniture come in different sizes. A sleeper sofa is normally bigger than a sofa bed.
Therefore, a sleeper sofa will naturally cost you more than a sofa bed.
Besides, as we have already established, a sleeper sofa is much more comfortable and qualitative to sleep in than a sofa bed. And we all know the higher the quality, the higher the cost.
6. Difference in Weight
As a sleeper sofa is bigger in size, it is not surprising that it would be heavier in weight than a sofa bed.
So, if you have a multi-story home, or have apartments higher up in a tall building, consider the issue of weight before deciding which one to get. Remember hauling up the heavy furniture all the way up will not be an easy task.
To Sum Up
A sofa bed and a sleeper sofa both can be used for their double functions. A sofa bed is smaller in size and price and is great for a small living place. It is, however, better for sitting than for sleeping.
On the other hand, a sleeper sofa is bigger, pricier, and more durable. It is also more comfortable to sleep in than a sofa bed.
In the article, I discussed all these differences in detail. I hope you will find the discussions informative and use them to find the perfect furniture to suit your need the most.
