Even with the most ascetic design of a living room, there is always a sofa in it. Often this piece of furniture performs two functions: during the day it serves as a relaxation area, and at night it turns into a sleeping place. If you need to buy just such a folding sofa, choose it not only by the color of the upholstery.
Durability largely depends on which transformation mechanism is used. If you plan to constantly lay out the sofa, then it should be a comfortable, simple and reliable design. Almost all models that can be bought can be divided into main types of sofas according to the type of transformation. Based on these criteria, you need to make an initial choice, and then decide on the color scheme and texture of the sofa upholstery
Transformation mechanism for the sofa “Book”
One of the oldest designs, on the basis of which other sofa folding mechanisms were developed. The book sofa is a time-tested classic at an affordable price, which still remains one of the most popular.
Pros: reliable mechanism that can be used often without damaging the components. Easy to use and almost instant layout.
How to put the mechanism into action: everything is very simple. The seat rises up until there is a characteristic click, then falls down. The back and seat of the sofa form one horizontal plane. The reverse transformation follows the same principle.
What to pay attention to: it is impossible to move the sofa close to the wall, because due to the design features, a small gap is needed between the wall and the back.
Read more about sofas with book mechanism
Advantages and disadvantages
- Suitable for everyday use due to its ease of transformation and comfortable sleeping position.
- Reliability. The mechanism is durable because it is made of quality materials. If you notice that something starts to creak, lubricate the mechanism at the joints (a couple of drops of machine oil is enough).
- Availability of storage boxes. They can be folded into bedding, blankets and pillows. Removable accent pillows can also be tucked in there at night.
- Variability of design. There are straight, corner and modular models, with and without armrests, with headrests and ottomans.
- Force. Withstands weight up to 240 kg.
Relative disadvantages include the depth of the folded seat.
Sofa transformation mechanism “Click-clack”
This is one of the modernized varieties of sofa-book. The mechanism earned its unusual and funny name thanks to the sounds that arise during unfolding. Unlike most folding sofas, the click-klyak can be transformed into three positions: a regular sofa, a bed and a reclining position.
Pros: Ideal for small rooms. It is convenient to sleep on it, since when unfolded it is completely devoid of any joints.
How to put the mechanism into action: the mechanism is very similar to the one in the sofa-book. The seat is raised to a certain level, then lowered.
What to pay attention to: even the shortcomings of this design are similar to those of a book sofa. For free use, you need to leave some free space near the wall.
More information about sofas with a klyak klyak
Upholstery materials - which one to choose
A variety of materials are used to upholster a sofa. Choose a finish taking into account all the characteristics of the fabric:
- velor is an excellent pile fabric, very beautiful, soft and pleasant to the touch. Difficult to maintain and wears out quickly;
- jacquard is a dense, smooth fabric for upholstering furniture made from natural and synthetic fibers. Very strong, durable and extremely versatile in design;
- matting is a fabric made of linen, cotton and artificial fibers in triple pair weave. Extremely durable and pleasant to the touch;
- flock is a non-woven textile designed for high loads and abrasion resistant. An excellent option for a sofa for daily use;
- leather - rarely used for finishing a sofa book. Synthetic or eco-leather is more often used. It is inferior to natural material in beauty and wear resistance, but is also durable and keeps cool in the summer.
Which option is better depends on the operating conditions. If a cat or dog lives in the house, you should not buy a sofa upholstered in velor, velvet or silk.
Transformation mechanism for the sofa “Accordion”
A sofa with an accordion folding mechanism can be found in any store, because this is one of the options in demand among consumers. The name “accordion” means that the parts of the sofa are assembled and laid out like an accordion.
Pros: the bed is wide and high, and when folded the sofa does not take up much space. Can be placed close together.
How to put the mechanism into action: the working surface consists of three parts. In the sofa position, one of them serves as a seat, and the other two form the backrest. The sofa folds forward in one motion. All three parts are laid horizontally, forming a continuous berth.
What to pay attention to: transverse joints can cause discomfort while sleeping, especially after using the sofa for several years.
Read more about sofas with accordion
How to collect a Eurobook?
Another popular variation of sofas is the Eurobook. It is very similar to a regular book, but this option is easy to assemble and disassemble, as well as reliable. Let's see how to assemble such furniture yourself.
Step 1. First of all, the sofa delivered to your home needs to be unpacked, freed from film and cardboard. It is important to inspect its elements and make sure that everything is intact and has no defects or damage.
Unpacking the sofa
Step 2. Next, you need to move the sofa seat forward - inside you will find a box in which all the other small parts of the structure lie.
The seat moves
Step 3. Now you need to install the armrests. First you need to decide which side is the inner side. In this case, it has a protrusion. The armrest must be installed in its intended place and secured with a bolt through a pre-made hole. First, you need to tighten the bolt with your fingers and then tighten it with a wrench.
The armrest is screwed on
One armrest installed
Step 4. Then you can install the backrest. It must be installed on an open box so that the hinges screwed to it are at the bottom. Now you need to screw the hinges to the box using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. The lower screws are tightened first, and then the upper ones.
Installing a sofa back
The hinges are screwed on with self-tapping screws
Step 5. It remains to make sure that the sofa is functioning correctly and all its mechanisms are working.
At the end, the functionality of the sofa mechanisms is checked
Mechanism for transforming the sofa “Roll-out”
A roll-out sofa consists of armrests and three moving parts connected to each other. The very first part, which just pulls out, is a wooden roll-out frame that serves as a seat or base for the legs. The other two parts unfold after the first, taking their position.
Pros: simple, convenient, reliable. When folded, it takes up little space.
How to put the mechanism into action: you just need to pull the seat towards you, the other parts will also begin to move. The remaining free space, depending on the design, is filled with pillows or a sofa backrest.
What to pay attention to: After unfolding, the height of the bed becomes lower. For tall people, a roll-out design is not the best option, as it is uncomfortable to sit on the bed.
Read more about sofas with a roll-out mechanism
Types of armrests
Armrests are an optional part of a sofa or frame. The most compact models do not have them. There are 2 varieties: hard and soft.
- Rigid ones are part of the frame. They are made of chipboard and covered with the same fabric as the seat. The top can be softer if filler is placed here. It can be even more rigid if a wooden panel is placed here. The hard armrest is comfortable to lean on; here you can place a glass of tea, a book or a TV remote control. For such purposes, the armrests are specially made wide.
- Soft - a kind of pillow, but denser than for sleeping and upholstered in the same fabric as the sofa. The soft armrest is usually not secured.
There is also an option for a hard armrest as a shelf. The module is an open niche that is integral with the armrest. The top is often made entirely of chipboard or MDF and serves as a tabletop.
- For daily use, choose a model whose dimensions correspond to standard bed sizes.
- It is better to choose a sofa with an orthopedic base, as this is a more comfortable place to sleep.
- The filler is selected taking into account the health status of the person sleeping on the sofa. A teenager needs a hard filler - coconut guillemot, hard polyurethane foam; an older person needs a softer option: lycra, spunbond.
If there are animals in the house, hard fabric is suitable for upholstery: tapestry, jacquard, flock.
We offer distribution panels at a competitive price.
Transformation mechanism for the “Dolphin” sofa
Most often, corner types of sofas are found with such a mechanism. In them, the second berth is located in a box that is hidden under the seat.
Pros: after adjusting the mechanism, you get a full-fledged double bed.
How to put the mechanism into action: to unfold the Pelican system sofa, you need to pull the block that is hidden in the seat. When it comes out all the way, you need to move the second part of the bed up and down.
What to pay attention to: the basis of the design is wood, the durability of the sofa will depend on its quality.
Read more about sofas with dolphin mechanism
Mechanism for transforming the sofa “French folding bed”
This option has proven itself well in the last century and remains just as popular today. One of the explanations for this is the affordable price. There are both corner models and regular ones. The French clamshell mechanism provides for transformation in three stages.
Pros: when unfolding, it is impossible to scratch the floor covering.
How to put the mechanism into action: first remove the cushions that serve as a seat. Under them is a mattress folded in three. The mattress unfolds and is supported by metal legs. To turn a bed back into a sofa, all steps are repeated in reverse order.
What to pay attention to: this is primarily a guest option, which is best used if you urgently need to arrange an extra bed for guests. Firstly, the mattress itself turns out to be thin and uncomfortable for daily sleep, and secondly, from frequent use it will wear out faster and become unsuitable for sleeping.
You can pre-select the most suitable option for yourself using the photos that are in the catalogs of furniture stores. It is better to buy only after checking their reliability in action in the store.
More information about sofas with a French folding
Transformation mechanism for the Puma sofa
Sofas with a folding mechanism “Puma” appeared relatively recently, but have already gained well-deserved popularity. The design principle of its operation is based on the graceful and swift movements of a puma during a jump. Such models are very easy to move and durable.
Pros: thanks to the features of the walking mechanism with a synchronizer, the loads are distributed evenly. Unfolding the sofa does not require much effort, and the process itself takes no more than three seconds.
How to operate the mechanism: it is necessary to remove additional cushions from the seat. Pull the seat towards you while lifting it. The section moves forward and is lowered onto legs or a retractable support. The hidden lower section is simultaneously lifted into the vacated space.
What to pay attention to: the design does not provide built-in drawers for linen.
Read more about sofas with Puma mechanism
Niches and storage boxes
Sofas are often called additional wardrobe. Due to its size, the pantograph fully corresponds to this name: under the entire seat there is a spacious drawer for clothes. Not only bed linen is laid here, but also pillows, rugs and blankets.
A storage niche can also be found in the backrest. Most often, a corner module is used for this. In this case, the seat is reinforced to serve as a table if necessary.
Transformation mechanism for the sofa “Venice”
A new product from furniture manufacturers with the poetic name of the “Venice” mechanism quickly gained popularity. With a few simple movements, a small comfortable sofa turns into a comfortable sleeping place of a decent size.
Pros: to expand the bed, the sofa does not need to be moved away from the wall, and the structure itself can easily withstand a load of up to 300 kg.
How to operate the mechanism: minimal effort required. Simply pull one or two sewn-in loops on the front side of the lower block. The activated mechanism simultaneously extends the top section and the hidden headrest. As soon as the sections are extended all the way, you need to pull the outermost block up to the level of the others.
What to pay attention to: When moving forward, the blocks rest on wheels, which can leave marks on carpets, parquet or laminate floors.
Read more about sofas with Venice mechanism
Transformation mechanism for the sofa “Pantograph”
Sofas with the Pantograph transformation system have long and firmly occupied their niche, being in demand among consumers. A simple and reliable mechanism guarantees long-term and impeccable service of the products, and the variety of models offered only fuels interest in this type of folding sofas.
Pros: during the transformation process, the supporting elements do not come into contact with the floor, preserving the appearance of the floor covering or carpet. The design provides for linen drawers.
How to activate the mechanism: only three steps are required. The seat is raised using special handles and pulled towards itself. After which it lowers to the floor in a smooth, arched movement. The backrest is lowered into the free space with the back side up.
What to pay attention to: on straight models with standard seat widths and backrest heights, only one person can sleep lengthwise. And the wider options are uncomfortable to sit on.
More information about sofas with a pantograph mechanism
Sofas without transformation mechanism
Fixed sofas are solid structures on a durable frame that do not have built-in mechanisms. The maximum that manufacturers offer is lifting seats, under which linen drawers are hidden. Nevertheless, often the purchase of just such a sofa is completely justified.
Pros: the absence of complex mechanisms affects the cost and characteristics. Such models, as a rule, have budget prices. They weigh less and are more compact. They have more comfortable, ergonomic backrests that support the back of a sitting person. Such products last longer, since there is simply nothing to break in them. And even after ten to fifteen years, it is enough to reupholster them, replacing the filling, so that the sofa finds a new life.
What to pay attention to: you won’t be able to sleep comfortably on such a sofa, since it is not intended for sleeping.
