ARE SOFA BEDS WORTH IT?

Considering buying a sofa bed? Wondering if a plain old sofa might be wiser? In case you needed convincing, we've come up with the best reasons to buy a sofa bed not a sofa.

If you're looking for reasons to buy a sofa bed rather than a sofa, search no further: this feature will tell you all you need to know. Most of the reasons why a sofa bed is better than a sofa are lifestyle-related, but there are a few things about modern sofa beds that you might not know, and which might just swing you in their favor. Once you've decided which option is best for you make sure to check out our guide to the best sofa beds available right now to find an option that's stylish, practical and on budget.

MODERN SOFA BEDS ARE JUST AS GOOD LOOKING AS SOFAS

Gone are the days when sofa beds were lumpy, heavy pieces of furniture you felt you had to reinforce the floor for. Many, particularly contemporary sofa beds (see our buyer's guide for the best), are as chic and svelte as they're non-bed sofa counterparts.

SOFA BEDS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

Sofa beds used to be narrow two-seaters at best. Now, there are beds in a box, loveseats, two-seaters, three-seaters and L-shaped, all of which can be easily converted into sleep surfaces to suit your space and guest numbers.  Function-wise, there's plenty of choice, too, from pull-out sleeps surfaces to sofa beds with backs that fold backwards to provide an instant double bed. Choose one that suits you best: pull outwards and you'll need plenty of floor space in front of the sofa bed; fold backwards, and you'll need to pull out the entire sofa before you can push the back down.

SOFA BEDS CAN MIMIC TRADITIONAL SOFAS 

If yours is a traditional home, you'll want to be browsing traditional sofa beds to complement it (jump to our guide to see our pick of the best around). Well, the good news is that all your favorite traditional sofa styles, including the mighty Chesterfield, are now available as sofa beds, too.

SOFA BEDS COME WITH CLEVER, SPACE-SAVING FEATURES

We know what you're thinking: if you've got a sofa bed, you'll need somewhere to stash all that extra bedding. Well, the good news is that many sofa beds come with hidden storage. And if you don't want to keep bedding in there, they may be great places to stick all that household clutter you've gathered and don't have a place for.  Storage in a sofa bed doesn't stop there: some now come with pull-out tables to hold food and drink, too.

A SOFA BED IS AS COMFORTABLE TO SIT ON AS A SOFA

Sofa bed fillings include foam (for a firmer, smart-looking seat); fiber (for soft support); or plump feathers (for a soft, squashy looking sofa). Sofa beds do tend to feel firmer than sofas, so picking one with a combination of softer cushion types.