A sofa bed is one of the few pieces of furniture that can justify its footprint in a small flat. Most days it is the sofa you sit on. A few times a year it is the bed your in-laws sleep on, so you don't have to give up the study or put anyone on the floor.
It is also easy to get wrong. People measure the sofa, forget about the bed, and find out on delivery day that the fold-out reaches the TV console. This guide covers what to measure, which size suits which room, and the trade-offs between fabric and faux leather in Singapore's weather. We've used models from our sofa bed collection as examples.
Measure the bed, not just the sofa
A sofa bed has two footprints: the sofa, and the bed once it is open. The open bed is the one that causes problems. Most of ours open out to somewhere around 190 to 195 cm in length, which is a lot of floor in a living room that also has to fit a dining table.
Before you order:
- Mark both footprints on the floor with masking tape, and leave the open-bed outline down for a day. You will quickly find out whether it blocks the way to the balcony or the bathroom.
- Leave around 60 cm to walk past the open bed. Any less and nobody will want to use it.
- Check the lift, the corridor and your front door. Sofa beds are bulky and heavy even before they are out of the box.
- If you plan to recline the backrest, leave a few centimetres of space behind the sofa instead of pushing it flat against the wall.
Which size suits which space
Here are five models from the range, with the dimensions from their listings.
| Model | Price | Sofa width | Opens to (L x W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Sofa Bed with Adjustable Backrest | S$569 | 85 cm | 195 x 85 cm |
| Cosy Brown Fabric Sofa Bed | S$559 | 120 cm | 195 x 120 cm |
| Modern Blue Fabric Sofa Bed | S$699 | 150 cm | 195 x 150 cm |
| Pet-Friendly Fabric Sofa Bed (Blue / Charcoal Grey) | S$849 | 150 cm | 190 x 150 cm |
| L-Shaped Fabric Sofa Bed | S$1,299 | 204 cm | 173 x 173 cm |
The width is the number to focus on. At 85 cm, the Compact is really a single bed, which makes it a good fit for a study, a home office or a narrow corner. The Cosy Brown at 120 cm is comfortable for one adult and a squeeze for two. If two adults might ever share it, look at the 150 cm models, which are close to queen width. The L-shaped model is the one for a living room where the sofa is also the main seating. It takes up far more floor than the straight models, so measure carefully before you commit.
Always check the product page for the exact dimensions before you buy, as sizes can vary slightly between colours and batches.
Fabric or faux leather in Singapore's climate
Fabric is more comfortable in a warm, humid country. It does not stick to bare legs, and it comes in more colours, including teal, olive and blue. The downside is that spills need wiping up quickly, so choose a tightly woven fabric if you have kids.
Faux leather wipes clean in seconds, which is why families with young children like it. It is warmer to sit on, though, and in a room without air-conditioning it can feel sticky by afternoon. If your living room is usually cooled, this matters less. The Modern Pet-Friendly Leather 3 Seater Sofa Bed (S$549) is the one to look at.
If you have a cat, avoid loosely woven fabric, because claws catch on the loops. Tightly woven fabric and faux leather both hold up better, although a determined cat can still mark faux leather.
What a sofa bed will not do
A sofa bed is not a replacement for a proper bed. The mattress is thinner and the mechanism means it will never feel quite like the real thing. For guests who stay a few nights, that is fine. If it is going to be someone's bed every night, you are better off with a storage bed frame and a proper mattress, and a regular sofa for the living room.
Before you buy: a quick checklist
- Measured the sofa and the open bed, and taped both out on the floor
- Left about 60 cm to walk past the open bed
- Confirmed the lift, corridor and front door are wide enough
- Picked a width that matches who will actually sleep on it
- Chosen fabric or faux leather based on your room, your kids and your pets
Frequently asked questions
What size sofa bed fits a small HDB living room?
A straight sofa bed between 120 and 150 cm wide is the most practical choice for most small living rooms, as long as the open bed does not block a walkway. Measure the open-bed footprint rather than the sofa alone.
Can two adults sleep on a sofa bed?
On the 150 cm models, yes, for a night or two. The 85 cm and 120 cm models are better suited to one person.
Are sofa beds good for everyday sleeping?
They work best for guests and occasional use. For nightly sleeping, a proper bed frame and mattress will be more comfortable.
Which is easier to keep clean, fabric or faux leather?
Faux leather is quicker to wipe down after spills. Fabric needs a little more attention but feels better in humid weather.
See the full range
You can browse every model in our sofa bed collection, or look at our fabric sofas if you don't need the bed function.