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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Abha Shah

Best guest beds: Fold out and other options for your guest room

Christmas is nearly here, and along with decorating the tree and finding the best gifts to wrap up for your friends and family, many folks will also be juggling hosting duties.

Whether they’ve flown in from overseas, travelled from across the country or just need a bed to crash in after a raucous festive party, finding the space to put loved ones can be a challenge, to say the least - especially for those without a spare room. 

While a sofa bed is perfectly serviceable for two guests, having more people over means coming up with new options to ensure they’re comfy for the night. 

Luckily there are plenty of folding, rolling and pop-up beds that work for all sorts of rooms and homes, often at prices that won’t break the bank - a welcome thing in these squeezed times. 

These marvels of design quite literally spring into action when needed and can be folded for compact storage when your houseguests leave, giving you back precious floor space.

From temporary beds and trundle designs to blow-up mattresses that are perfect for kids and teens, we’ve scoured high and low across the internet to bring you an edit of the very best. Before you buy, take care to measure up the intended space to ensure your new purchase fits.

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Dunelm Beatrice Matte Velvet Snuggle Single Sofa Bed

Covered in luxe navy-coloured velvet, this chair bed wouldn’t look out of place in a swanky B&B. The snuggle sofa design is slightly wider than a standard armchair at 89cm, unfurling to reveal a single bed. The piped-edge design also comes in olive and bottle green tones as well as a brighter peacock blue. Comes with a five-year guarantee.

Buy now £599.00, Dunelm

Yawn Double Air Bed

It will take just five minutes to get this spectacular air bed up and running, and while it’s rather heavy, your hard work heaving it in and out of the cupboard will be rewarded when it’s time for bed.

It looks and feels like a proper bed standing 45cm high, and comes complete with a headboard to stop your pillows from tumbling off. Carrying a maximum load of 200kg, the built-in motor inflates and deflates quickly while the flocked top means guests won’t slip and slide across the top. An impressive design for the price.

Buy now £79.99, Amazon

COSTWAY Folding Sofa Bed with Mattress

So you've already invested in a smart sofa bed but still need more sleep options for all your visitors? Head to Amazon where you can find this frankly genius ottoman bench from which pops out a bed frame made of solid alloy steel.

The compact look includes a soft mattress with a removable cover, which can easily be cleaned in the washing machine. Finished with soft-touch linen in a choice of blue, pink or grey it's an excellent example of multifunctional furniture that we can't get enough of.

Buy now £268.95, Amazon 

Swoon Editions Munich Sofa Bed

This sleek and contemporary sofa bed marries style with comfort thanks to its simple lines and sumptuous upholstery. It can comfortably seat three people, and tucked away in its minimal base lies a decadent sprung king bed, poised for action when the need arises.

As with all Swoon’s sofas, you can choose from a selection of colours and fabrics. Delivery is in two boxes and the sofa weighs 100kg.

Buy now £2769.00, Swoon

Jay-Be Retro Small Fabric Chairbed - Mink

A chair bed on steroids, this is the most robust-looking frame and sofa design we’ve seen, something that’s reflected in the price tag. With a deeper seat and generous width, it’s more of a loveseat than an armchair, which means more room when you roll it out into bed format too.

The strong frame can support sleepers weighing up to 250kg and the design comes with a deep-sprung mattress so all you have to add is bedding. A five-year frame guarantee is included.

Buy now £1400.00, Argos

Homary Modern Light Grey Cotton Linen Upholstered Convertible Sofa Bed with Storage

This three-seater sofa bed unfolds like a concertina into a flat bed with the bottom section able to lift up to reveal a roomy compartment to store clothes, pillows, books and shoes. Plus there’s extra storage in the side pockets on each end of the armrest.

The upholstery is available in a light or dark grey as well as khaki and blue, and you can make monthly payment installations thanks to Klarna if the RRP is too much to fork out in one go.

An ideal option for a spare room or study as well as the living room.

Buy now £1079.99, Homary

Urban Outfitters Greta Two-Seater Yellow Corduroy Sofa Bed

Wrapped in a soft corduroy, this mustard yellow floor sofa will make an excellent addition to any teen or young adult's bedroom.

The student style is inspired by the iconic Ligne Roset sofa design - itself inspired by a squashed tube of toothpaste - and makes a comfy one-nighter for younger friends and family after pushing the backrest flat. The cushions are supported by a strong metal frame that can be adjusted to just the right level of lounging.

Buy now £499.00, Urban Outfitters

JAY-BE® Vitality Folding Bed with Foam Free Smart Fibre Mattress, Small Single

If you've got friends or family staying over for longer periods, you'll need a spare bed that's high on comfort. Jay-Be's Vitality option comes with a smart-fibre, foam-free extra-long mattress that's both supportive and comfortable.

Unfurling from a strong and secure hinge, the frame drops down to support the mattress while durable high-tension springs ensure there are no dips across the entire base. It's a single-bed design, so perfect for adults and kids weighing 160kg or less.

Buy now £135.00, John Lewis

Lark Manor Leonardo Daybed

This elegant steel-frame daybed hits the sweet spot if cottagecore is your dream aesthetic. Use it as a comfy perch to watch telly during the day and transform it into a bed once it’s time to head to the land of nod.

You can buy a matching trundle bed that slides into the bottom to maximise your sleep offering. Mattresses are not included.

Buy now £115.99, Wayfair

ReadyBed Double Inflatable Camping Air Bed and Sleeping Bag

We’re all for anything that makes our lives easier, and this airbed with an integrated sleeping bag has won us over for streamlining the camping experience. The top-rated design offers plenty of room with double bed-size proportions and can inflate in 60 seconds with the help of a pump (not included).

As well as an attached XL sleeping bag, pillows are included too! Less things to pack means less chance of forgetting something crucial. Comes with a carry bag and repair kit.

Buy now £75.00, Argos

Verdict

Offering bags of style as well as a place to spread out at night, Dunelm's chair bed is our favourite guest bed option. That said, not everyone can welcome a new piece of furniture, so second place goes to the Yawn air bed which feels like the real thing despite the fact you can pack it away into a cupboard.

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