Sleeper sofa: comfy, non-ugly.

January 17, 2011 8:21 PM

I found an awesome sleeper sofa: comfortable and compact. Also: ugly as sin. Help me find another with a similar mechanism?

The sofa in question is this one. But it doesn't seem to be made by either Serta or "Lifestyle Solutions"...

Any pointers to sofas with a similar mechanism, instead of just a single hinge, air mattress, or the old-school lever/frame/spring/folding process? NYC-area and teacher-compliant budget preferred.

posted by piro to home & garden (11 answers total)

can you throw blankets over it or add some pillows to make it less ugly? i don't find it horrible but can understand that it may not go well with your decor. if you're willing to pay a couple hundred bucks I'm sure you can have it reupholstered if you don't htink that you'll be able to find one as comfy elsewhere.
posted by 2003girl at 8:38 PM on January 17, 2011

There are several different sofas on that website that operate on a similar mechanism.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say. What appeals to you?
posted by SLC Mom at 9:07 PM on January 17, 2011

When it says it has a "click-clack" mechanism, that means something in particular about the fold/hinge/catch/release and is actually a reasonable search term (or klik-klak) in sofa-shopping. Have you tried that and found nothing to your taste?
posted by aimedwander at 9:18 PM on January 17, 2011

BoConcept has an ottoman with a similar mechanism. http://www.boconcept.us/Sofa_beds.aspx?ID=83494&imageid=994
posted by asphericalcow at 10:56 PM on January 17, 2011

I sleep on one of these every night:

Comfort Sleeper by American Leather

It comes in about twelve different styles, hundreds of different fabrics.

Highly recommended.
posted by macinchik at 11:01 PM on January 17, 2011

I have one almost exactly like that in my home office except the upholstery is darker. I'm not sure why you say it's ugly; it looks fine to me. As aimedwander says, it's called a click-clack sofa. Go into any furniture store and ask for it. They will probably have several designs.
posted by kindall at 11:22 PM on January 17, 2011

Click-clack mechanisms all seem to be a single hinge in the middle, leaving an uncomfortable joint right down the middle of the sleep surface. What I liked about this one was the spacing of the gaps was nicer for sleeping. Just like the American Leather ones, only not $2500.
posted by piro at 6:30 AM on January 18, 2011

It's not exactly like the one you pictured, but I have a sleeper sofa from Room and Board that is similar--check their "comfort sleeper" selection; they have a few different styles. Unlike your link, the cushions are removed for the sleeping setup, but the mattress is a firm tri-fold thing that is infinitely more comfortable than any regular spring couch mattresses I've slept on. I also like it better than R&B's air mattress sleepers.
posted by Jemstar at 6:53 AM on January 18, 2011

have you looked IKEA... all of these have plenty of slipcovers to add.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49874302


http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49843749

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49840656

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80126091

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70087108
posted by fozzie33 at 8:04 AM on January 18, 2011

I have this one from IKEA as my living room sofa. It's very firm, so I don't know how it would be to sleep on every night, but it's really great as a guest bed. Plus the chaise opens up to store things!
posted by MsMolly at 9:48 AM on January 18, 2011

I've got the BoConcept sleeper ottomans that asphericalcow mentioned. MeMail me if you've got questions.
posted by evoque at 10:35 AM on January 18, 2011