sofa beds

[Elvis]

Can anyone recommend a place to buy a sofa bed. Having slept on other peoples I want one with a good mattress, but cost is also an issue! We live in North London, but I know there are loads of adverts in the back of the Sunday magazines etc. Anyone got any recommendations?

A futon is pretty comfy - we got ours from Ikea, it is a metal based one so pretty strong with a dark blue futon mattress - we have it is the spare room cum play room - sofa for playstation etc and bed when we have visitors. My mil & fil stayed with us for nearly six months in between houses (another long story!!!) they slept on it every night while they were here and were quite impressed by it.
I suppose it depends on how much it will be used - if it is every day then you should get a good sprung one but if for only occasional visitors then the futon or similar should be fine.

We got ours from Ikea. It is a very comfy sofa, which pulls out to a double bed. there is a sprung layer, and it has a 3/4 inch thickness matress on top of that. It is fine for occasional use, is comfy but wouldn't do for daily use. I also have a futon, but the sofa bed is easier to get into/out of if some guests are a bit athritic/ pregnant etc.

Hmmmmm..... A futon possibly CAN be comfortable - but don't bank on it - I have slept on 2 different ones and both were extremely uncomfortable - so lie before you buy!

Elvis - this has been covered before if you're interested - on the Products thread, last posted 28th Feb 02. Lots of good suggestions - including my own!!!

I find our metal framed futon sofa bed far more comfortable for sleeping than either of the (expensive) pull out ones that I've tried. If you're in North London, are you anywhere near Stroud Green or Kentish Town? If so, I got my futon one from Stroud Furnishers who have branches in both places, I got the most expensive model - only £199!

Elvis

I have bought a Futon Matress from the Futon Centre in London and I can very happily recommend then. They are a little pricy but the quality is very very good and the customer service is excellent.

www.futoncentre.co.uk/

They also do sofabeds.

I hate our Ikea futon - I dont know why we don't just buy a bed of nails and be done with it. It's the most awful thing in the world.

we have a futon in our spare bedroom, it is really comfy and when my ds is ill we both sleep in the "sick bed", it came from argos or index and was only 149 quid. good value and it comes in either black or silver frame, and the mattress comes in about 12 colours. i am sure the style is called toronto. hope this helps