How to Make a Sofa Bed More Comfortable

Are you visiting grandma for the holidays? If so, you might be looking forward to some comfort food and memory-making. However, one thing you’re not so pumped about is the backache you’ll have after spending a couple of nights on the sleeper sofa! We’ve all been there. That’s why we’ve gathered tips on how you can make a sofa bed mattress more comfortable — whether you’re visiting family or hosting friends from out of town.

Clean and flip the sofa bed mattress after every visit.

As living room staples, sleeper sofas get a lot of wear. After all, their “day job” is being a couch, which means people sit, eat, and lose their change in them. Though your sofa sleeper couch may look clean, chances are some crumbs and pennies are hiding in the crevices between the cushions. Spread out your sofa bed mattress and vacuum it thoroughly, make sure not to miss any nooks and crannies. Then, spritz it with fabric refreshing spray for that clean-linen scent!

Next, get a friend to help you flip the mattress over and clean it following the same process. Cleaning and flipping the mattress helps achieve two things. First, it gets you closer to achieving that fresh-made hotel bed experience. Second, it helps prevent pressure imprints from forming on the cushion. (Sofa bed mattresses tend to be thinner than regular mattresses, which means guests’ imprints can easily get stamped into their surface.)

Do this after every visit — it’ll help you keep your sleeper sofa in good shape for many visits to come!

Use a mattress topper.

A relatively thin mattress pad can make a big difference on almost any surface. Once you’ve cleaned and flipped your mattress, add a topper for maximum comfort.

If you live in a city with relatively hot weather, consider getting a breathable mattress pad made of cotton, microfiber, or gel-infused foam. If your town (or your place) is a little chillier, get a memory foam topper to help keep guests cozy. Make sure to use the mattress pad’s elastic ties or a fitted sheet to prevent it from moving around while your guests sleep.

Use fresh sheets every time.

Nothing beats falling asleep in the dryer-warmed comfort of freshly-laundered linens. Elevate your sofa bed experience by using clean bedding every time.

Pro tip: If the sheets are laundered, but they don’t smell fresh, throw them in the dryer for ten minutes along with a dryer sheet. They’ll come out feeling warm and smelling lovely.

Whip out your best bed-making skills.

Just because it’s half-sofa and half-bed, doesn’t mean you can make a half-baked effort when making it. When you’re prepping for overnight guests, straighten out the bedclothes like you would on a plush memory foam mattress. It’ll make the room look more inviting and make your loved ones feel extra welcome. Extra points for hospital corners!

Pro tip: Don’t forget to keep spare bed pillows handy. Accent cushions are cute, but they sure aren’t comfy!

Set the sleepy mood.

A comfy sofa bed, soft lighting, an oil diffuser, and a white noise machine can help you turn any room into an on-demand guest room (without requiring a fancy bed frame). Style your living room with lamps that give off soft, natural light that invites guests to relax. Then, infuse the air with relaxing aromas like lavender and eucalyptus. Lastly, consider providing a white noise machine for your guests to use if they want to cancel out the sounds of your neighborhood’s hustle-and-bustle.

Recognize a bad sleeper sofa when you see one.

Sofa beds are like two pieces of furniture in one, so it’s not surprising that they can get worn down almost twice as fast! There’s a lot you can do for a sofa bed mattress that isn’t comfy, but the only way to “fix” a broken or outdated sleeper sofa is by replacing it. Here are some signs that your current sofa bed needs an upgrade:

• You hear loud creaking sounds when you sit or lie down.
• Rust in the moving parts makes it hard to fold the sofa bed mattress up or down.
• The mattress or sofa fabric is frayed, stained, or just outdated.
• It doesn’t “support” your back the way it used to — in both the bed and sofa setting.
• It has a bad smell that you can’t get rid of no matter what.
• You feel itchy after sitting on it (if so, you may have a pest problem).
• Your style has changed, and you want your living room to reflect that.

Whether it’s an interior design choice or a functionality decision, getting a new sofa bed at Rent-A-Center is a home upgrade you won’t regret. After all, we can help you get the furniture you need when you need it, without having to open up a line of credit. Shop affordable rent to own furniture online or at your local Rent-A-Center for low prices, flexible payments, no-credit leases, and free delivery and set up!