If you’re looking for the ultimate all-in-one furniture piece, you should choose a pull-out bed. Pull-out beds are great if you want to invite guests over but don’t have a lot of room in your home. These beds are easily camouflaged and can be altered to turn into a bed.
Pull-out beds offer many benefits; they’re just as comfortable and aesthetically pleasing as a traditional sofa. With so many types of pull-out beds, there are now more options than ever.
But how do you choose the best pull-out bed? For this guide, we’re focusing on two types of pull-out beds: the sofa bed and the Murphy Bed. Here’s how to choose the best one for both.
Murphy Bed
A Murphy Bed (also called a wall bed or hideaway bed) can lay down flat but can also stand up vertically. They’re often hidden inside a cabinet or a closet to better disguise themselves.
Murphy Beds come in all shapes and sizes. The two most common types of Murphy Beds are the standard wall bed and the side-tilt wall bed.
Standard Wall Bed
The standard wall bed is the most common type of Murphy Bed. The standard wall bed looks like a cabinet and you extend the bed down when you want to set up it. Most standard wall beds are very sturdy and easy to operate. Some wall beds also double as extra storage space.
Side-Tilt Wall Bed
The main difference between a standard and side-tilt wall bed is the side-tilt wall bed faces the side rather than the front. You can easily place the cabinet in a room corner, where the bed will be parallel to the wall. Your bed will take up less space and looks just as aesthetically pleasing.
Side-tilt wall beds have many of the same benefits as a standard wall bed. Most are sturdy and easy to use. Some can double as extra storage space. But a side-tilt wall bed is best if you’re putting the bed in a small room or you only want a bed that’s big enough for one person.
How to Choose the Best One
After you decide if you want a standard or side-tilt Murphy Bed, your work isn’t over. First, you’ll have to look at mechanic preferences. Piston lift mechanics are of the best quality and often include lifetime guarantees. Spring lift mechanics require some maintenance on your part.
Some Murphy Beds are freestanding and others are built-in. If you’re renting or only need the bed temporarily, you should choose a freestanding Murphy Bed. If you plan on staying in your home for a long time, opt for a built-in Murphy Bed.
Next, consider the type of bed you want. You can find Murphy Beds in all sizes, ranging from twin to king-size. Side-tilt Murphy Beds are often smaller. There are even some Murphy Beds that turn into bunk beds and others that specialize in pet beds.
Sofa Bed
Is a Murphy Bed not right for you? Sofa beds are popular for many reasons. They’re versatile pieces and are perfect to keep out in the living room. Your guests always have a place to sleep and you may want a sofa bed that’s perfect for napping. But how do you choose the best one?
Know the Mechanism
All sofa beds have various mechanisms to take the bed out of the sofa. The ideal mechanism should be smooth so you can lift up the bed and place it back into the sofa with no problems. But you should still know the basics of the mechanism. For example, does the sofa bed have a locking mechanism?
All of the internal mechanisms should be smooth. This ensures your sheets and blankets won’t break. It’s also a good practice to remove all sheets when closing the bed back up.
You’ll also want to check the quality of the mechanism to ensure the bed won’t break. This is especially important if you’re buying a used sofa bed.
Sturdy Frame
Your sofa bed should also have a sturdy frame. The best frames are usually made out of hardwood or a similar variation of it. Don’t buy a sofa bed with a soft bed, especially not one that’s made of pine.
Check the Mattress
In addition to the mechanics of the sofa bed, you should also take a look at the mattress. The mattress should be comfortable enough to support the sleeper’s hips, shoulders, and lower back.
At the same time, understand that everyone has different needs when sleeping. For example, some people feel more support when sleeping on a firm mattress while others prefer sleeping on a soft mattress. Because of this, you may want to purchase a mattress pad for guests with unique needs.
Know the Bed Size You Want
As with the Murphy Bed, you can find sofa beds in all sizes — ranging from small sectional beds to large king-size beds. Always know what size you want before buying a sofa bed. Consider certain factors, such as how often you have guests over, how many you have over at a time, and the size of your room.
Choose the Best Pull-Out Bed
A pull-out bed is a versatile piece of furniture. You can either buy a Murphy Bed for extra storage or a sofa bed for extra room. When you decide which type of pull-out bed you want, you can start looking into these other factors so you buy the perfect bed.
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