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by tanakawho

A Few Myths About Sofa Beds

Everyone has ideas about sofa beds. Based on the experience of generations of travel to relatives or apartment dwelling, most people think of trying to sleep with that nasty support bar bruising kidneys or of herniated discs caused by sofa beds and stairs. But from its humble beginnings as the darling of the 1950s ranch house rumpus rooms, the sofa bed has evolved quite a bit.

One misconception based in facts of the past is that sofa beds are difficult to convert from one function to another. This myth probably stems from the early days when the mattress, along with a metal frame folded and was stored in the base of the sofa. In those days, it took the strength of Hercules to lift those out of the base and extend the frame to its full bed length. Now, through improved devices and a move away from the hide-a-bed technology, sofa beds are easier to convert.

In the past, sofa beds earned their spot hidden from daily view in the guest room or den, away from the rest of the real furniture. Their very look screamed sofa bed with heavy chunky design lines and limited upholstery choices. Again, that has changed. Many furniture designers and manufactures have embraced the functionality of sofa beds and now have applied good design principles and expanded the range of materials used in the final product to add beauty to the more practical side.

Another myth based solidly in fact is the one that states that trying to sleep on sofa beds is uncomfortable. Early hide a beds had a metal support bar roughly in the center of the space between the edge of the sofa frame and the foot of the frame that supported the mattress. This bar was positioned so that it hit the average sized adult squarely in the back, making sleeping difficult. But as manufacturers have put more emphasis on design, designers have found clever ways around that problem and now, some sofa beds do not need the support bar, but rather have the necessary support integrated in other ways.

Another factor that contributed to the myth that sofa beds are not as comfortable as real beds is the mattress. Just as with that pesky support bar, modern alternatives dispel the myth that sofa beds are inferior. Some sofa beds offer now come with mattresses made of memory foam or other high quality bedding. Though one would be hard pressed to find any manufacturer that would claim that their sofa beds offer comfort equal to a modern mattress, but the sofa beds of today are a far cry from those of the early days.

Myth number four. Sofa beds are only suitable for guest rooms, dorm rooms or minute apartments. Once this was true, but with the advances that designers have added, count flexibility among them. Sofa beds are now available in a range of sizes. From an over-sized armchair that converts to a twin bed up to a sofa which folds out into a queen size bed there are sofa beds to fit into any decor and to add the option of additional bedding to most any home. Sofa beds no longer stand by themselves in any room. Many manufacturers offer buyers matching love seats and armchairs.

Again, from the past one would believe that sofa beds must be expensive. That does not necessarily hold up to the reality of what is available today. More than ever before, the cost of furniture varies widely. With many variations in the raw materials and quality of components used to construct furniture, a bit of shopping can yield good quality at reasonable price. Companies who specialize in sofa beds that use exotic woods and high end fabrics to construct the final products do exist and are thriving. However, simple versions with more low-key components are available as well.

So forget what you knew about sofa beds, many of the myths formerly held as truths are no longer true.

Andrew Bird plays “Armchairs” to a packed house at First Avenue Mainroom in Minneapolis.
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