So I am thinking of buying a sleeper sofa, but sometimes those things aren't

[GreenPartyVoter]

comfy to sleep on because of the metal bar that runs across them. Do you think buying an extra memory foam topper to lay over the mattress would help?

[Kali]

1. no

get a futon

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Thanks, but I've had those before and didn't really care for them. They aren't very

comfy for sitting on, which will be the main function I need this thing for. But I figure on the rare occasion I have company sleeping over I ought to try to make them more comfy.

[Kali]

3. just get a good sofa then

it will be more comfortable than the dreaded "bar" for one person, and for two get an air mattress in a bag with an inflator - they are around $50 at wallyworld for a queen.

I have slept on a number of sofa beds, they all suck - better to sleep on the floor in my opinion.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I do have air mattresses for when young company comes but

I have a family member who can't possibly sleep on the floor, and I think she may be a bit large to sleep on a regular couch, hence the debate :( (And I can't give her the kids' beds because they have platform ones which would be too high for her and hard to get in and out of.)

Meh. Maybe I should just give her my bed and I'll sleep on the air mattress. LOL

[carlyhippy]

6. That is what I would do if it were me ha

The sleeper sofas are expensive, really heavy to move around, and are uncomfortable to sleep on. If you have company regularly, I guess one could be an investment.

[Kali]

10. check these out

this one is deluxe with a remote $160:


Product Description
The Grey Easy Riser Queen Size High Rise PillowTop Air Bed with Remote Control offers the ideal sleeping solution for your guests, children, friends and camping excursions. The Easy Riser High Rise Air Bed ensures a calming and comfortable slumber, with its ingenious, adjustable comfort-level design and high rise surface. Rest and relax the whole night through with Easy Risers orthopedically-designed comfort coils. Skip the back pains and disturbed sleep that other inflatable mattresses cause! With the Easy Riser remote controlled bed, you select your ideal comfort-level for a totally personalized sleep experience. The patented motor with hand-held Air Controller allows you to adjust the firmness of the bed, both harder and softer, for back and body support that is spot on! With a sleep surface that is 25 inches off the ground, you avoid drafts and move easily in and out of bed! Older users love this safe and helpful feature. Also, this exceptional bed quietly inflates in 30 seconds for the ultimate in simplicity and convenience. Whether youre sleeping under the stars or under a roof, accept nothing less than the safety, comfort and support of the Easy Riser High Rise Pillow Top Air Bed!


bunch more in that style with the inflatable base here: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=queen+raised+air+bed&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3997441735&ref=pd_sl_7nfaj9prhb_b





but this actually looks like a nice comfortable bed! It says you have to have enough room to insert the already inflated mattress into the case, but I wonder if you couldn't rig it to do the inflation after or partially. If you already have a queen mattress this is what I would get! $105 http://www.comforthouse.com/footfancutbo.html

[Bossy Monkey]

14. You can also get a collapsible metal frame

It's basically two cot frames with bars connecting them. Comfortable under an air mattress; not so much under a futon. Comes in a box, though I can't say it would fold up small after use, unless you like taking things apart and putting them back together. (Not that that's much of a chore; no tools required.) Kmart says $90: http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_021W193503110001P?keyword=Sleep+Master&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

[struggle4progress]

5. May depend on what futon you get. I have several, some of which are quite tolerable

as sofas and some of which are not. And the comfort of a futon for sleeping depends substantially on the quality of the pad: I have a futon that makes a great sofa but the pad stinks for sleeping: I've gotta bite the bullet and buy a thicker pad

I think you may have similar issues with a sleeper sofa: the comfort for sleeping will depend on the mattress and support spring system, and quality there may vary

[CreekDog]

7. Sleepers aren't comfy and they weigh about the same as a Volkswagen

I would get one of those tall Aerobeds --I've slept in them and they are comfortable, more than a sleeper.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. what about a daybed w/ a trundle unit ---

[hippywife]

18. That's what I have in my guest room.

When it's pulled out, the trundle comes up to the same level as the day bed. It's a very small room so this was really the only answer.

:hi:

[LeftinOH]

9. One word: Futon. They're much more comfortable- for either sitting or sleeping.

[TK421]

11. Definitely! I've had mine for six years now and they're easy to move around

[zipplewrath]

12. Boards

I find that a good board works the best. You can just get some 1/4 inch ply wood if you want, or some place sells some folding ones that store easier. Put them under the matress and over the springs and bars.

[Gormy Cuss]

13. Yes,count on buying extra padding like a foam topper

or see if you can find folding cardboard bed boards. Once when I had to sleep on a crappy pull out for weeks I used them and it made a huge difference.

Before that though the key is to look carefully at as many sleep sofas as you can before buying and try them out in the stores -- lie on it for five minutes, move around a bit, etc. The metal bar problem is really an issue of the thin mattress and lack of a foundation. These days some sleep sofas are better built with a mind to minimize that issue.

Futon sofas can be a better choice if you're furnishing a spare room but even futons don't guarantee a better sleeping surface if the sofa gets much use as a sofa. I've slept on futons where one side, the upright portion when it was set up as a sofa, was comfy but the other side (seat) was hard as a rock.

[joeybee12]

15. I would think the brand has something to do with how comfortable it is...

...I have an IKEA one that is very comfortable...the the mattress is pretty thick.

[TommyO]

16. I haven't seen these personally, but on an episode of Divine Design

Candice Olsen used a sleeper sofa that featured an air mattress top. It might be worthwhile searching for these and seeing if they fit your budget.

As for a memory foam topper, I use one over a standard mattress, I don't think that it would significantly reduce the feel of the metal bar.

[quakerboy]

17. Alternately, just get a good couch.

a good couch is far more comfortable to sleep on than any sleeper sofa I have ever encountered. Plus you avoid having to move a sleeper. Or you avoid inflicting moving a sleeper on your loved ones or paid help. Any way you slice it, a nice couch is a better option for you and for others.

[ThomasQED]

19. I loved this one

Slept on it recently at a friend's place, and it was just as comfortable as a bed. The frame rolls out a the bottom and the couch cushions unzip in half to form the mattress, so the resulting bed is lower than a normal bed.

And I see these on Craigslist on occasion for very reasonable prices.

Tylosand