Sofa beds are an undeniably useful piece of furniture to own, especially if your house is on the smaller side.
It creates extra space to bunk overnight guests, whether it’s in the living room or set up in a spare bedroom that you like to use for other functions when you’re not hosting.
But if you’ve ever slept on one, you’ll know firsthand that they’re not always the most comfortable things to kip on.
Depending on your perspective, this isn’t always a drawback, especially if dealing with a houseguest you’d like to move on in a few nights. If you’re looking for something that ageing relatives will find comfortable, you need to find ways to make sofa beds as cosy as a traditional design or face the prospect of offering up your own bed instead.
The lesser evil here is to invest in bedding that ups the comfort levels of an existing sofa bed. Most come with notoriously slim and lumpy mattresses as part of the design, which can easily be helped by a mattress topper.
Square cushions can double as pillows - just swap the covers for something that feels nicer against the skin, like linen, silk or cotton. Packing away just the covers means less of a burden for your storage areas too.
Depending on the time of year, you can get away with a thick quilt or throw instead of a traditional duvet, which can be more of a challenge to store. Keen camper? Why not invest in a duvet-like sleeping bag that can stand in for a warm cover when you’ve got people staying over?
If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve drawn up a list of must-buys that will make your sofa bed the nicest in your circle.
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Simba Hybrid Essential Topper - double
Best for: Goldilocks comfort
Simba’s bed-in-box mattresses are some of the best around, but they don’t come cheap.
Get a slice of the action with its memory foam Hybrid Essential Mattress topper which incorporates 1500 Aerocoil springs to support as you sleep in any position. To stop you from feeling hot and uncomfortable, there’s also a layer of open-celled Simbatex to manage climate levels incorporated into the sleep accessory.
In a test, our reviewer said: “The Goldilocks feel leans to the firmer end of the spectrum but will satisfy those looking to sink right into their bed frame. This ensures you are getting the support for your muscles and easing potential back pain without sacrificing snugness.” The cover can be removed and thrown in the washing machine to keep your bed feeling fresh.
Buy now £299.00, Simba
Silentnight Airmax mattress topper - double
Best for: budget buy
Students and city dwellers on a budget, this one’s for you. The Silentnight Airmax mattress topper is the perfect choice for those who want to rejuvenate their existing mattresses without a hefty price tag.
Ideal for renters and those not ready to splash the cash on a swanky top-notch mattress of their own, it’s a great option for peeps looking for instant relief from exhausted springs. Thanks to its 3cm thick dual-layer air mesh walls, the topper is designed to keep you cool no matter the season.
Although it’s noticeably thinner than all the other toppers we tested, it still provides support and is super soft to the touch. The Airmax is also machine washable at 40 and comes with a two-year guarantee for added peace of mind. Its hollow fibre is also vegan-friendly – yet another reason to buy it.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Bed Threads Lavender 100% French Flax Linen Fitted Sheet
Made from flax linen sourced from France, Bed Threads sheet sits snugly across corners. The breathable texture is warming in winter but will keep you cool in summer, making it the perfect bedding for year-round use. Best of all, there are 24 pretty colours to choose from, making it simple to pair with existing bedding and interior schemes.
Buy now £110.00, Bed Threads
The White Company Savoy Deep Fitted Sheet
For that five-star hotel feeling, your first port of call must be The White Company. This is the bestselling fitted sheet from the label and it’s clear why. The quality style is made up of a 400-thread count but has a lovely smooth feel. It is part of the Savoy collection and as such has a premium finish.
Was: £55
Buy now £65.00, The White Company
John Lewis Natural Collection Goose Feather & Down Square Pillow, Medium
Size: 63 x 63cm
Though slightly smaller than a standard Euro pillow at 63 x 63cm, this luxurious natural goose feather and down option is perfect for those with smaller double beds who are looking to elevate their sleep-scape. Crafted in John Lewis’ partner textile factory in Lancashire, the ‘Nomite’ fill allows those with dust mite allergies to enjoy a plush, natural filling.
Buy now £55.00, John Lewis
TEMPUR Original Travel Pillow
Best for: spine and back health
If the mere thought of leaving your orthopaedic pillow at home is making your spine wince in protest, have no fear.
Tempur makes a travel version of its contoured pillow, giving your shoulders and neck the best chance of a proper rest when you're away from the rest of your home comforts. The half-size memory foam pillow is ideal for business trips or to take to festivals or camping, weighing barely anything.
We tried it at Glastonbury 2024 and rose each morning without the anticipated neck cricks that we had come to expect in the years before. It makes camping in the trenches much more comfortable as the TEMPUR Material (a unique kind of memory foam that supports like no other) holds your head stable and lifted off uneven ground, giving you a decent shot at getting enough kip. If you’re thinking of taking it to a similar environment, a linen pillowcase folded around the pillow will aid breathability, keeping things cool in the sweatiest of tents.
It is slightly bulky, but the travel bag helps make things more compact (and can be used as a lumbar cushion this way too).
Buy now £79.00, Amazon
Dunelm Dorma Tove Patchwork Bedspread
Looking for something with heirloom quality? Dunelm nails the brief with this patchwork bedspread quilt, which looks like something your grandmother might hand down one day. Beautifully crafted and richly patterned, the piece comes in sizes to fit double king and super king size beds although we think it’d look pretty inviting draped on the couch too.
Buy now £250.00, Dunelm
Oliver Bonas Patchwork Multicolour Velvet Bedspread
Whether it's for adding an extra layer of warmth to your bed or you plan to wander around the house under it all weekend, this bedspread is a thing of beauty. The 220 x 220cm square is cased in cotton and can be machine washed, making it easy to care for.
Find more cosy blankets to curl up under here.
Buy now £165.00, Oliver Bonas
Vango Shangri-La Luxe King Size Sleeping Bag, Shadow Grey
Perfect for overnight guests and luxury camping, this supersized sleeping bag has been made to king-size proportions. While it will drape over the double bed dimensions that most sofa beds offer, this does mean that two sharing won't be fighting over the covers: there's plenty to go around.
It's been made with organic cotton and recycled polyester, bagging sustainability brownie points too. Machine washable.
Buy now £200.00, John Lewis
Norvegr Luxury Travel Bedding Set with Leather Holdall
Is this the most luxurious bedding set... ever?
From the buttery soft calfhide leather holdall - with two zips for easy access, natch - to the 100 per cent goose down single duvet and pillow not to mention the 400 thread count cotton sateen bed sheets, this is what to pull out when your millionaire pal comes for a sleepover.
The down bedding is light but cosy since it's made from pure down - no feathers present at all. Temperature and moisture-regulating, it feels like being coddled in pure luxury. Which, being made with ultra-premium materials, it is.
The set also makes a good investment for business travellers who want to keep their creature comforts close on the road.
Buy now £1754.77, Norvegr
this works Sleep Plus + Pillow Spray
Incorporate this pillow spray into your night routine to prepare your body for bed. This plus iteration of the brand’s bestsellerc comes with a potent lavender blend - a natural remedy always associated with relaxation and calming. It works through a slow-release and motion-activated process for a less disturbed and restless sleep. The formula is 99 per cent natural.
Buy now £35.00, Amazon
Pukka Night Time Tea 20 Tea Bags
Pukka is a household name for a reason. The brand excels in its unusual but also always winning flavour combinations and this specialised Night Time tea is no different.
This caffeine-free tea combines the mild, delicate but distinctive taste of oat flower, lavender and lime flower. The soothing blend has zesty undertones and a hint of liquorice, and leaves you with a pleasantly drowsy feeling as you sip away.
The ingredients have been organically grown and ethically sourced, while the bag itself is free from any plastic.
Buy now £8.45, Amazon
