21 of the best sofabeds with minimalist style

In today’s multifunctional homes, a sofabed is often a vital piece of furniture – a way to squeeze an occasional guest bed into a living room, a home office or a kids’ room, without taking up space that can be put to better use on a day-to-day basis. I’m now lucky enough to have a full spare bedroom, but that wasn’t always the case and I’ve relied on them in the past. I even spent several months sleeping on a sofabed as a student, when I lived in a tiny studio apartment in Paris that had no bedroom whatsoever!

Sofabeds used to be bulky, ugly things with clunky mechanisms and paper-thin mattresses, but that’s no longer the case. A number of companies have pushed the boundaries, devising innovative solutions that offer practicality and comfort without compromising on style, and I’ve rounded up 21 of the best below. I’ve included options to suit all budgets, with prices starting at just £319, and there’s a wide range of sizes from compact two-seaters to larger chaise-longue designs. There are also various opening types, with some tips on choosing the right one for you at the bottom of the post. And for those who need to sort out guest accommodation in time for the festive period, I’ve marked those available for UK delivery before Christmas 2023 with an asterisk.

1. ‘Hudson’ three-seater click-clack sofabed (converts into a large single), available in ‘Stone Grey’, ‘Off White’ and ‘Burnt Orange’, £319, DUSK
2. Northern ‘Daybe’ three-seater fold-out sofabed (converts into a small double), available in various fabrics and with or without armrests, from £3,908, Nest.co.uk
3. ‘Jasper’ three-seater click-clack sofabed (converts into a small double), available in numerous fabrics, from £2,799, British Design Shop; matching ottoman available separately
4. ‘Bragi’ three-seater slide-out sofabed with chaise-longue (converts into a standard double), available in numerous fabrics, from £2,890, Innovation Living
5. ‘Cane’ two-seater fold-out sofabed (converts into a standard double), available in ‘Natural’ only, £2,099, John Lewis* [AD – affiliate link]
6. ‘Dublexo Frej’ three-seater click-clack sofabed (converts into a very large single or a very small double), available in numerous fabrics, from £1,525, Innovation Living
7. ‘Luna’ three-seater pull-out sofabed (converts into a kingsize), available in numerous fabrics, from £2,279, Swoon Editions
8. ‘Malloy’ three-seater slide-out sofabed (converts into a kingsize), available in numerous fabrics, from £2,910, Innovation Living; matching ottoman available separately
9. ‘Oswald’ three-seater pull-out sofabed (converts into a kingsize), available in pale grey, dark grey and blue weave and ‘Forest Green’ velvet, £2,799, Heal’s*
10. ‘Model 04’ three-seater slide-out sofabed (converts into a standard double), available in numerous fabrics, from £1,499, Swyft*; matching ottoman and mattress topper available separately
11. ‘Andes’ three-seater click-clack sofabed (converts into a small double), available in ‘Pewter’ velvet and ‘Dove’ twill, from £1,839.20, West Elm
12. ‘Squishmeister’ pull-out sofabed (converts into a standard double), available in numerous fabrics and two sizes, from £3,295, Loaf
13. ‘Siesta’ four-seater pull-out sofabed with chaise-longue (converts into a standard double), available in right- or left-hand configurations in ‘Tweed Grey’ only, £2,199, John Lewis* [AD – affiliate link]
14. ‘Sophie’ loose-cover roll-out sofabed (converts into a small or standard double), available in numerous fabrics and as a one- or two-seater, from £2,079, Love Your Home; matching footstool with storage compartment available separately
15. ‘Kota’ three-seater click-clack sofabed (converts into a small double), available in numerous fabrics, £525, Habitat* [AD – affiliate link]
16. Softline ‘Madison’ two-seater fold-out sofabed (converts into a single or double), available in beige bouclé or grey felt, from £2,453, Nest.co.uk*
17. ‘Munich’ three-seater pull-out sofabed (converts into a kingsize), available in numerous fabrics, from £2,739, Swoon Editions
18. ‘Recast’ three-seater slide-out sofabed (converts into a single or a standard double), available in ‘Natural’ bouclé, dark blue, dark grey and ‘Dusty Coral’, from £959.20, John Lewis* [AD – affiliate link]
19. ‘VIMLE’ pull-out sofabed (converts into a standard double), available in numerous sizes, configurations and fabrics and with narrow or wide armrests, from £740, IKEA*
20. Softline ‘Meghan’ two-seater fold-out sofabed (coverts into a small double), available in off-white or brown bouclé and pale or dark grey felt, from £3,014, Nest.co.uk
21. ‘Beaumont’ pull-out sofabed (converts into a super kingsize), available in numerous fabrics and three sizes, price on request, Domkapa

Tips for choosing a sofabed

As well as appearance and size, the main things to consider when choosing a sofabed are the type of mechanism it has, the space it needs to open out and how it will be used. If it’s going to be your main sofa, finding something that’s comfortable to lounge on every day is key. If it’s going to sit in the corner of a home office or similar and only get used when guests come to stay, then its comfort as a bed is more important.

The classic sofabed design consists of a metal frame which emerges from within the sofa – what I’ve referred to in this post as ‘pull-out’. They’ve become a lot lighter and more sophisticated in recent years, and most have the added advantage of proper foam or sprung mattresses. The downside is that you normally have to take the seat and back cushions off first, but Domkapa’s ‘Beaumont’ model does away with some of the faff as it opens up in one seamless movement with all the cushions still attached.

Above: Domkapa’s ‘Beaumont’ sofabed, which opens out in a single motion using a discreet loop pull at the back, without the need to remove the seat and back cushions first

Even easier are the kind of sofas that Swyft and Danish brand Innovation Living do very well, where the seat simply slides forwards to form a bed, with support legs that pop out from zipped pockets underneath. I also like the look of designs such as the Softline ‘Madison’, which you can transform into a single bed by removing the back cushions and into a double by folding the upper part of the seat forwards.

Above: Innovation Living’s ‘Malloy’ sofabed with a matching ottoman to form a chaise-longue style, and opened out into a bed

Click-clack sofabeds, whose seat and back spread out to become the bed, are also very easy to operate, and they’re often the sleekest in appearance. Bear in mind that most convert into single or small double beds only and that they normally need space behind them to open, so if they sit against a wall you’ll have to move them outwards first.

Above: British Design Shop’s understated, elegant and timeless ‘Jasper’ click-clack sofabed

Keep in mind that sliding, fold-down and click-clack designs tend to be a little firmer to sleep on than traditional metal-framed sofabeds, as there’s no separate mattress and the main cushions become the bed. Many of the above brands have put a lot of effort into increasing comfort levels, but you might still want to add a mattress topper.

If space is particularly tight, a sofabed with a storage compartment where you can hide away guest bedding could prove very useful. The Heal’s ‘Oswald’ design, the ‘Recast’ from John Lewis and some of the IKEA ‘VIMLE’ options all fit the bill, while Love Your Home’s ‘Sophie’ sofabed has a matching footstool with storage inside.

Above: one of the corner configurations in IKEA’s ‘VIMLE’ series, with hidden storage in the chaise-longue section

Finally, I say this often, but double-check dimensions and make sure the sofabed will actually fit into your home! Take account of any narrow doors, hallways and staircases that it will need to pass through, too – it might be that a flat-pack or ‘sofa-in-a-box’ design from the likes of IKEA, DUSK or Swyft is your best bet.

Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly, and it helps to support the free content I share here.

All images courtesy of the respective brands and retailers