The holidays are a time for cozy gatherings, full houses, and—if you’re the host—creative sleeping arrangements. If your sofa sleeper doubles as your guest room, you might be wondering how to make it as comfortable as a real bed. Whether it’s for family, friends, or yourself in a smaller space, a few thoughtful upgrades can turn your sofa sleeper from “temporary” to “totally relaxing.”
How to Make a Sofa Sleeper More Comfortable
Note: Though the terms are often used interchangeably, sleeper sofas and sofa beds have a few key differences. It’s essential to understand these differences before selecting one or purchasing items to enhance it.
Add Layers for Better Support
Adding a mattress topper is an excellent way to enhance the comfort of a sofa sleeper or sofa bed. Toppers help even out pesky lumps and creases, providing some padding over metal parts. You can choose from options like memory foam, feather, latex, and even micro coils. Pick a topper tailored to your sleep style needs—more softness, more support, more temperature control, you name it!
If you’re on a tighter budget, try layering a plush mattress pad over a fitted sheet or even stacking a couple of soft blankets under the bottom sheet for extra padding. A fitted mattress protector can also help smooth out uneven spots, giving your guests a more stable sleep surface.
Get a New Mattress
If you have a sofa sleeper and your current mattress feels more like a folded pancake than a place to sleep, it may be time to upgrade your mattress. Many sofa sleepers can accommodate replacement mattresses, often available in memory foam or hybrid styles designed specifically for pull-out frames. These updated options provide far better support and motion isolation than older coil designs. But note: when shopping, measure the frame carefully. Sofa sleeper mattresses aren’t one-size-fits-all. Look for one that folds smoothly without bunching or creasing.
And if replacing the mattress alone doesn’t solve the comfort issue, upgrading to a rent-to-own sofa sleeper from Rent-A-Center can be a smarter long-term move. Modern designs combine supportive cushioning, sleek style, and built-in mattresses that deliver real-bed comfort for all of your overnight guests.
Add a Support Board
Another trick for how to make a sofa sleeper bed more comfortable is to reinforce its foundation. If you’ve noticed sagging or the infamous “bar in the back” phenomenon, adding a support board to the bed frame may be helpful. You can find these boards, created specifically for sofa sleepers, at many big box retailers and online marketplaces. Or, you can slide a sheet of plywood between the frame and mattress. This added support distributes weight more evenly and helps eliminate that mid-back dip.
For a quick fix, even a few strategically placed yoga mats or thick blankets can add a touch of extra firmness. Your guests may not notice the engineering behind it, but they will notice the restful sleep that follows.
Invest in High-Quality Bedding
While great bedding can’t fix every problem, it can certainly help create a more comfortable sleeping situation, even in the middle of your living room. Outfit your sleeper sofa or sofa bed with soft, breathable sheets, a plush duvet, and plenty of fluffy pillows to make it feel more cozy and inviting.
Don’t forget to clean the mattress and topper, along with all of your bedding, regularly. Skin cells accumulate in bedding and on sleep surfaces, creating an unhygienic situation over time and exacerbating the breakdown of your mattress.
Think Beyond Bedding
Comfort isn’t just about the mattress. Small touches go a long way. If your guests are staying multiple nights, set out extra blankets for warmth and a tray with water, tissues, and a phone charger — thoughtful details that make them feel at home.
Lighting also matters. If your sofa bed lives in a common space, consider dimmable lamps or blackout curtains so guests can rest undisturbed, even if the household stays up late.
Why Sofa Sleepers Can Be Uncomfortable
Use these tips to learn how to make a sofa sleeper bed more comfortable.
Lumpy, Uneven Mattresses
Because a sofa sleeper mattress needs to fold up when tucked away, it can develop ridges and creases over time. Most are also thinner than standard mattresses, so they can fit inside the sofa frame, meaning your guests might feel every dip, bump, and uneven spot throughout the night.
Flimsy or Overly Firm Mattresses
Finding the “just right” balance of firmness can be tough with sofa sleepers—some designs use low-density foam that quickly flattens out. Sofa beds, on the other hand, typically rely on stiff couch cushions that don’t flex enough for sleeping comfort. Either way, guests may toss and turn trying to find the sweet spot between too soft and too firm.
Uncomfortable Bars and Hinges
Unlike a standard bed frame, a sofa sleeper’s fold-out mechanism includes metal bars and joints designed for compact storage. Unfortunately, those same bars can press right through the mattress—especially thinner ones—creating uncomfortable pressure points that interrupt rest.
Lack of Overall Support
Between thin padding, folding frames, and limited space for a thicker mattress, sofa sleepers often fall short in full-body support. Guests may wake up with stiff necks or sore backs—not exactly the warm holiday welcome you had in mind.
Upgrade Your Sleeper Sofa for a Long-Term Solution
Sometimes, no amount of fluffy feather toppers or 500-thread-count sateen bedding can improve your sofa bed sleeping situation, and any more upgrade attempts are destined to become sunk costs. If your sofa bed has exceeded its lifespan, upgrading to a more comfortable, modern sleeper may be the most economical and enduring solution.
Tired of fighting with an uncomfortable sofa bed? With Rent-A-Center’s rent-to-own option with flexible payment options, you can upgrade to a rent-to-own sofa bed that actually feels like a real bed. Explore cozy, guest-friendly options that deliver comfort without compromise at your local Rent-A-Center today.