If you have guests a few nights a year, a sofa bed is the best all-rounder: a sofa every day and a bed in seconds. If you already have a sofa you love, choose a folding guest bed on wheels. It stores upright in a cupboard and has a proper 10cm mattress.
Hosting at Christmas raises two questions: where does everyone sleep, and where does everyone sit? This guide answers both, from a 3 seater sofa bed to a set of folding chairs for the dinner table.
Click-clack, pull-out or folding bed?
- Click-clack sofa bed: the backrest drops flat to make the bed. Quick, with no mechanism to pull out. The bed is the depth of the seat plus the back.
- Pull-out sofa bed: a bed frame slides out from under the seat. Usually a bigger sleeping area, and often storage underneath.
- Folding guest bed: a separate bed with its own mattress that folds away when Christmas is over.
Sofa beds, guest beds and extra seating compared
| Product | Width × depth × height | Sleeps / key spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Seater Sofa Bed with Hidden Storage and Pull-Out Bed, Dark Grey | 152 × 101 × 78cm | Pull-out bed 198 × 132cm; storage under the seat | £381.95 |
| 3 Seater Sofa Bed with Click-Clack Reclining Back, Grey | 196 × 90 × 89cm | Back lies flat at 180°; each side reclines separately | £372.95 |
| 3 Seater L-Shaped Corner Sofa Bed with Pull-Out Bed and Storage, Light Grey | 232 × 141 × 85cm | Pull-out bed; storage under the chaise; chaise fits left or right | £538.95 |
| 4-in-1 Velvet-Feel Click-Clack Sofa Bed, Light Grey | 102 × 73 × 81cm | Bed 183 × 98.5cm; 2 pillows included | £177.95 |
| Single Folding Guest Bed with 10cm Mattress on Wheels | 200 × 80 × 42.5cm | Folds to 80 × 30 × 115cm; takes 150kg | £140.95 |
| Set of 2 Cushioned Folding Chairs, White | 45 × 46 × 78cm | Folds to 9cm thick; no assembly | £38.95 |
| 3 Piece Breakfast Bar Table and 2 Stools, Rustic Brown | Table 120 × 60 × 95cm | Stools tuck under the table | £79.95 |
2 Seater Sofa Bed with Hidden Storage and Pull Out Convertible Bed 152 x 101cm Dark Grey
4-in-1 Velvet-Feel Double Sofa Bed with Click-Clack Recliner and 2 Pillows 183cm Light Grey
Set of 2 Cushioned Folding Chairs with Padded Seat and Back Steel Frame 45 x 46 x 78cm White
How to choose where they sleep
Two adults in the living room: a pull-out sofa bed. The 2 seater with hidden storage pulls out to a 198 × 132cm bed, close to the 135cm width of a standard UK double. The storage compartment under the seat takes spare cushions, throws and bedding for the rest of the year.
A big family sofa that also sleeps guests: a corner sofa bed with storage. The L-shaped corner sofa bed seats three with a chaise, pulls out into a guest bed, and lifts up to reveal storage under the chaise. The chaise can go on either side to suit your room.
A 3 seater sofa bed with a click-clack back. The grey velvet-feel 3 seater drops its back to 180° to lie flat. Each side can recline on its own, so one half can be a lounger while the other stays a sofa. It has wheels and pull handles for moving it away from the wall. It's delivered in two boxes, which may arrive at different times.
One guest, small room: a compact sofa bed. The light grey 4-in-1 is a 102cm-wide loveseat that opens to a 183 × 98.5cm bed for one.
No room for another sofa: a folding guest bed. It rolls out on four wheels (two lock), has a 10cm mattress with a washable cover, and folds upright to 80 × 30 × 115cm to go in a wardrobe or under-stairs cupboard. It's BS5852 fire-safety tested.
Camping beds and a double camping bed for the overflow
More guests than beds, for a night or two: camping beds. A folding camping bed (camping cot) costs a fraction of a guest bed and packs into a carry bag. It keeps your guest off the floor without needing an air pump. Our camping beds start at £32.95:
- Double camping bed: 193 × 125 × 40cm, takes 136kg in total, and folds to 97 × 15 × 25cm. From £54.95, in grey, green, blue or black.
- Single camping cot: 190 × 68 × 52cm with a side pocket for a phone, takes 150kg, and folds to 104 × 21 × 16cm. £32.95.
They're steel-framed with an Oxford-cloth sleeping surface. Add a mattress topper or a thick duvet underneath for a softer night.
Extra seating for Christmas dinner and beyond
Extra dining chairs you can hide: the white folding chairs have padded seats and backs, take 120kg each and fold to 9cm thick. They need no assembly, so they can come out of the cupboard on the day.
A breakfast bar and stools for the overflow: a breakfast bar gives guests a perch in the kitchen while you cook. The rustic set's table is 95cm high and its stools are 65cm, and both stools tuck under when not in use.
Seating that stores the spare bedding: a storage ottoman (£74.95, 102cm long) seats an extra guest and holds blankets in a 92 × 31 × 22cm compartment.
Storage Ottoman with Padded Linen-Look Seat and Steel Legs 102 x 40 x 44cm Light Grey
Before you order
- Measure the room with the bed open. A pull-out bed nearly doubles the sofa's depth. Leave space to walk round it.
- Measure the way in. Check doorways, stairs and tight corners against the box sizes as well as the sofa.
- Order early. Sofa beds are large items and most need assembling. Check the delivery estimate at checkout rather than leaving it to December.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a click-clack and a pull-out sofa bed? A click-clack sofa bed lowers its backrest flat to make the bed. A pull-out sofa bed slides a bed frame out from under the seat. Pull-outs usually give a wider bed, and ours have storage underneath.
Can two people sleep on a sofa bed? On a pull-out, yes. Our 2 seater pull-out opens to 132cm wide. Our 4-in-1 loveseat (98.5cm wide) is for one person.
Where do you store a folding guest bed? Ours folds to 80 × 30 × 115cm, so it fits in a wardrobe, a hallway cupboard or under the stairs. It rolls there on its own wheels.
Is a camping bed comfortable enough for a Christmas guest? For a night or two, yes, especially with a topper or duvet on top. Our double camping bed is 125cm wide and takes 136kg; for longer stays, choose the folding guest bed with its 10cm mattress.
What height bar stools do I need for a breakfast bar? Leave about 25–30cm between the seat and the worktop. Our breakfast bar set has a 95cm table with 65cm stools, a 30cm gap.
