The bed is an integral attribute of the bedroom. This furniture is designed to create the most comfortable conditions for relaxation. In turn, a high-quality folding sofa will provide a comfortable and spacious sleeping area, further saving space in the room. A large bed looks great in a spacious bedroom, and a compact sofa will decorate a living room, guest room or children's room.
When choosing a sofa or bed, you will have to take into account the budget, room dimensions and specific design requirements (linen storage box, orthopedic mattress). Both options have advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes the buyer's choice is based on restrictions that, due to various circumstances, cannot be overcome.
The bed is healthier for sleeping
The bed gives a healthy sleep, as it provides an orthopedic position of the body during rest.
It is exactly what is suitable for decorating a full-fledged ideal bedroom. When buying a mattress, focus on the condition of your spine: there are several types of filling and levels of hardness for each case. There are also sofas on sale with an independent spring block in the mattress, but it is much easier to make a mistake when choosing such a product.
Today you can find a huge variety of sleep furniture items on the market. Most often we pay attention to beds and sofas. They are present in most modern homes. However, which is better, a bed or a sofa?
Beds
A bed is a piece of furniture intended for sleeping and is a wooden or metal frame with supporting elements stretched across it: metal mesh, wooden slats, rubber or fabric belts. A mattress is placed on the bed of the bed, on which the person actually sleeps. Thus, the quality of sleep depends more on the quality of the mattress than on the quality of the bed.
An important advantage of the bed is that if the mattress becomes dented or deformed over time, it can very easily be replaced with a new one. Thus, the bed, no matter how old it is, will perform its functions efficiently. In addition, if something in the mattress becomes unsatisfactory for you, or you need a harder or, on the contrary, softer bed, then everything can be changed by simply replacing the mattress. In general, these pieces of furniture are quite comfortable, which makes them very popular. In addition, they are quite large, especially the double ones, and are comfortable to sleep on.
The disadvantages of beds include the fact that they take up a lot of space. In multi-room apartments, where you can allocate one of the rooms for a bedroom, a large bed is not a problem. But in small one-room apartments it immediately takes up almost all the free space left after installing cabinets, a TV and a coffee table. There are hardly any advantages that can overcome this disadvantage. True, in this case you can purchase a rising bed and the problem will be partially solved.
Sofas
A sofa or sofa bed is a piece of furniture intended for sleeping, which can take two positions - completely unfolded (then the sofa looks like a bed) and folded (for relaxing in a sitting position).
The visible advantage of the sofa is its foldability and functionality. In fact, by folding such a sofa, we free up a huge amount of space in the room. The sofa not only does not interfere, moreover, it plays the role of a chair. You can sit on it while watching TV or just relax. Thanks to this, you can eliminate the need for armchairs in the room, which also frees up space. As for the bed, it is undesirable to sit on beds, especially spring ones. The fact is that while sitting, quite high pressure is applied to the edge of the mattress, which can lead to displacement or uneven deformation of the springs and covering materials. As a result, the mattress will deteriorate relatively quickly without serving its intended duration.
The disadvantage of sofas is that their orthopedic properties leave much to be desired. In addition, the surface on which they sit is pressed very hard over time. In this case, sleeping on it is uncomfortable and even harmful. The properties of a sofa can be restored, but this is much more difficult than a bed. To restore a sofa, you need to remove its upholstery and completely replace the insides, at least damaged or deformed. It is quite expensive and often people in such cases even go to buy a new sofa, believing that it is more profitable than repairing the old one. You also need to take into account that the upholstery of the sofa can get dirty, stretch and tear over time, which will also require expensive repairs.
The ideal solution for owners of small apartments is to purchase sofas with a pull-out unit. Such a block is a folding metal frame with a mesh or jumpers. This frame is completely identical to the bed, except that it folds and easily slides into the sofa body along the guides. A mattress is installed on the frame, just like on the bed. Moreover, special orthopedic mattresses that can be folded several times are often used for this purpose. After assembly, a block with foam filling is placed on the sofa, which serves as a seating area. The mattress does not suffer at all.
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The bed “eats up” the area
When the room is small, every centimeter counts. Having a bed, especially a double bed, significantly reduces the functionality of the room.
This reason is one of the most common for refusing a comfortable sleeping place, since owners of small apartments also need a storage system, a TV zone or a work office.
We weigh the pros and cons
What to choose, sofa or bed? We weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each bedroom candidate.
Advantages of a sofa
- It will fit even in the most modest room.
- Make a spacious, comfortable and soft bed.
- It is easy to divide the space into zones: it can be placed not only against the wall, but also in the center of a spacious room.
- It folds up quickly, freeing up space for other things.
- Thanks to the topper (sofa), you can easily adjust the hardness of the bed.
- Often equipped with a box for storing bedding.
- Suitable for receiving guests if the room is also used as a living room.
Cons of a sofa
- One way or another, you have to disassemble and reassemble every day.
- When disassembled, it is not always perfectly level.
“Most transformation mechanisms (except for the accordion) involve combining parts of the sofa. Although a good sofa (topper) can easily correct the situation and level the surface.”
Benefits of the bed
- Can be of any width (from single to double).
- You don't have to go to bed every night. Remove the sheets and the bed is ready for sleep.
- It will become an area for individual recreation.
- Complete with a high-quality mattress that provides comfort for the spine.
Cons of the bed
- Significantly eats up space.
- Not suitable for receiving guests.
Sofas have a wider range
They are distinguished by a huge selection of models in terms of functionality and appearance, so choosing a product for the interior will not be difficult. The designs have a variety of folding mechanisms, upholstery, design, and vary in size and shape.
For spacious rooms they produce corner sofas, for small ones - laconic straight ones. Some examples have shelves and even minibars built into the armrests.
The bed is more difficult to move
Due to its impressive size, the product is difficult to move to another part of the room, rearranging it and changing the appearance of the room. If the bedroom is narrow, the structure will occupy almost the entire width of the area, making it difficult for a second person to approach, and when turning across, it may simply not fit.
Be sure to look at the recommendations for the proper placement of the bed.
The sofa breaks down faster
Daily use of the transformation mechanism gradually wears it out: extraneous noise appears (creaking, crackling), the sofa may require repair. If the manufacturer skimps on the material, the pillows can quickly lose their shape, “sag,” and the upholstery can wear out.
The bed, while remaining static, lasts much longer, and often only the mattress is replaced.
The bed is more expensive
But in order for the product to last for many years, choose models with an orthopedic frame and mattress from reliable, trusted manufacturers. An economical purchase may be pleasing at first, but later result in new costs for repairs or replacement.
An even more expensive option are built-in beds made to order. And since they are part of the overall structure, they make rearrangement impossible.
Materials for making furniture
The quality of furniture always depends on the materials used by the manufacturer. Let's discuss what the frame and upholstery for the ottoman are made of.
Frame
The frame for an ottoman is most often made of solid wood. To produce budget models, coniferous species are used: spruce or pine. A base made from such raw materials can withstand changes in humidity well and rarely crack.
The frame for premium models is made from noble tree species: cherry, beech, ash, oak. Manufacturers choose raw materials with unique natural patterns and high strength values. Before starting work, the materials are thoroughly dried so that the frame does not crack or lose shape during use.
A rare option is a metal frame. Manufacturers mainly use steel. In terms of durability, ottomans with such a base are the leaders, but they do not fit into all interior styles.
The most budget-friendly solution is ottomans with a chipboard frame. Such products have a relatively short service life. But there is an advantage - low price. This option is suitable if you often change furniture.
Upholstery and filling
The upholstery of the ottoman should be made of high-quality natural or synthetic materials. The main requirement is that the fabric should not cause allergic reactions. Options:
- Leather.
- Leatherette.
- Velours.
- Flock.
- Velvet.
- Chenille.
- Jacquard.
Loose fabrics and raw materials with a rough texture are not suitable for upholstering an ottoman. Also, manufacturers do not use materials that fade during washing and wet cleaning. Be sure to rub the upholstery with your hand before purchasing. If there are traces of paint on your palm, refuse to purchase.
Important! The upholstery of a new ottoman may smell sharp at first, even if it is of high quality. Find out how to get rid of furniture smell.
Spring blocks are most often used as filler for ottomans. The second popular option is polyurethane foam. These materials are able to follow the shape of the body and keep the spine in an optimal position during sleep.
You can store things in the sofa
And in the bed too - it all depends on the chosen model. Sofas are often equipped with special compartments for linen and storing seasonal items. But you can also find a suitable design for the bedroom: with a folding top or roll-out drawers.
Both types of products have low legs, so cleaning under them is much more difficult than under lightweight pieces of furniture.
If your goal is to ensure healthy sleep and relieve back pain, choose a full-size bed. If the main goal is to save space and money, give preference to a folding sofa. Or perhaps you can combine both options using a transforming bed built into the closet.
Table
Sofa | Sofa bed |
What do they have in common? | |
The design of the sofa bed generally corresponds to a regular sofa | |
Sofa beds can be classified into the same categories as sofas | |
What is the difference between them? | |
Designed primarily to accommodate seated people | Can be used to place people lying down in a position that is comfortable for sleeping |
Typically smaller than the average bed even when unfolded (if foldable) | Can be comparable in size to a bed when folded and, as a rule, equal to it when unfolded (if we consider them within the same category - for example, single or double) |