Sofa beds have come a long way – these are the best designs to upgrade your space
The space-saving and versatile features of sofa beds have made them a feature in Australian homes of all shapes and sizes. In fact, they’re so popular that Australians now make around with around 90,500 Google searches for ‘sofa bed’ every month.
As interest has grown, so to has the range of designs and innovations. So while it used to be hard to find a sofa bed that wouldn’t break the bank (or your back), these days there are plenty in Australia to suit different budgets, styles and spaces. Now, the best sofa bed can turn an ordinary living room or space into a versatile one, appearing both stylish and comfortable as a sofa and as a bed.
BHG’s edit of the top sofa beds
- Best sofa bed for everyday comfort: Koala Wanda sofa bed, $3290 at Koala
- Best sofa bed for sophisticated style: Eva Slideaway sofa bed, from $2550 at Eva
- Best sofa bed with a hybrid mattress: Ecosa Rio sofa bed (queen), $2240 ($1790 member price) at Ecosa
- Best leather sofa bed: Barret leather sofa bed, $6199 $4649 at Freedom
- Best Australian-made and designed sofa bed: KING sofa bed, $899 at King Living
- Best for small spaces: Koala sofa bed in gum leaf (double), $1790 at Amazon
“Contrary to popular belief, sofa beds can look great and be extremely comfortable to curl up on after a long day at work,” says Temple & Webster’s style team. “A plush sofa with plenty of cushions will have you in disbelief that beneath your seat is a metal frame.”
I had an experience like this years ago when I was staying with family overseas. They had a tiny apartment and I was dreading the sofa bed, until lay down, fell asleep and slept for eight hours. I was so impressed by their sofa bed I actually tried to find the same one in Australia (I got close, but after 12 years it’s now due for an upgrade).
So if you’re also on the market for a sofa bed for your lounge room, spare room or another space, here we’ve rounded up some of the best sofa beds in Australia for every budget, based on factors including the design, comfort, style and customer reviews.
Best sofa beds in Australia 2026
The newest version of the Koala Wanda Sofa Bed has been upgraded for even more comfort
Best for: Everyday comfort
The new version of the Koala Wanda sofa bed has subtle but valuable comfort upgrades, including an ergonomic tilt when lounging and more generous proportions. From sofa to daybed and queen-sized bed – it’s the ultimate space-saver without compromising on style or comfort. It even includes a movable chaise with hidden storage, like the original version.
But what sets the Wanda apart from a lot of other sofa beds is that it includes foam wedges to fill the cushion gaps when it’s set up as a bed, as well as a mattress topper made with the same technology as Koala’s famed mattresses. That’s enough to make me seriously consider this for my next sofa bed.
“Best sofa bed ever,” one verified customer said in a recent 5-star review on the Koala site, where the Wanda sofa bed has a 4.8 star average from over 270 reviews across both 1st and 2nd gen models.
“This is hands down the easiest and fastest piece of furniture I’ve ever put together — no tools required at all. It comes with a mattress topper, the bed is genuinely comfortable, and the quality of the fabric is outstanding,” another verified customer said.
And if you want a Wanda sofa bed without paying full price, the previous version is currently discounted by $494 to a clearance price of $2749 (while stock lasts).
Sizes: 3.5 seater, queen
Colours: blush sunset, paperbark, penguin parade and green wattle
Materials: FSC-certified wood, steel, foam, TENCEL fabric, solid ash and polyester
Key features:
- Soft, deep seats with a reversible chaise
- Elevated bed for ease getting in and out of it
- Upholstered in luxe, eco-friendly demi-bouclé fabrics
- Hidden storage for all your essentials
- Built with steel and FSC-certified wood for durability
- Includes a Kloudcell mattress topper for added comfort
- 120-night trial with free returns in metro areas
Eva's slideaway sofa bed in terracotta is one of the best sofa beds in Australia for sophisticated style and an innovative design.
Best for: Sophisticated style
This award-winning sofa bed combines contemporary design with comfort as a sofa, daybed or as a generously sized bed for two sleepers. The innovative slide-out wooden base makes it fast and easy to transform your living room into a bedroom oasis that you and your guests may never want to leave.
It also has removable, machine washable covers in a range of fabrics – with the most recent addition a luxe French linen that would elevate any room.
“The innovative design of the Slideaway Sofa Bed offers a high level of comfort in every function and meets modern furniture standards in terms of aesthetics and sustainability,” the Red Dot Design Awards jury said when it won an award in 2024. It’s also won a gold Good Design Award and a ProductReview.com.au award.
“The Slideaway sofa is amazing for what I need, a place for me to chill out and for visitors to stay. The quality of fabric is exceptional and the comfort factor is right up there. I put it together myself quite easily & it’s bringing me joy,” one verified customer shared in a 5-star review on the Eva website, where it has a 4.8-star average from over 230 reviews.
Sizes: 3-seater, double
Colours: Terracotta, oatmeal, olive and moss green in classic weave; rose and slate in chenille; sand and pistachio in chunky weave; and cashew, lavender, plum, fern and smoke in French linen
Materials: Combination of solid American Ash timber and plywood with American Ash veneer and eco-friendly foam
Key features:
- Three-seater capacity
- Three modes to rest; sofa mode, daybed mode and bed mode
- Choice of four fabric weaves: classic, chenille, chunky and French linen
- Machine washable covers
- Adjustable plushness
- Five-year warranty
The Ecosa Rio Sofa Bed in Papyrus is made from the same premium cushioning as Ecosa's popular mattresses, making it one of the best sofa beds in Australia.
Best for: hybrid mattress design
This lounge is designed to be comfy whether you’re sleeping, lounging, or doing a bit of both. It features a built-in hybrid mattress with steel pocket springs and foam – the same materials as best-selling Ecosa mattresses. Plus you can simply lift and transform your sofa into a bed in an instant.
“Ummed and ahhed about buying an Ecosa sofa bed for about 2 years. Finally decided to go ahead with the Rio and SO glad that we did. It is a super comfy sofa, and lovely to sleep on,” one customer shared in a recent 5-star review on Ecosa, where it has a 4.6-star average from over 1050 reviews.
“Super comfy and roomy loved by everyone in the house including the pets,” another customer shared.
Sizes: 1.5 seater armchair, 2.5 seater double, 3 seater queen, 3+ seater and 3.5 seater king
Colours: Cloud grey, slate, winter grey, latte, ivy green and papyrus
Materials: 100% polyester fabric, steel pocket springs and polyurethane foams
Key features:
- Three-seater capacity
- Available in five colourways
- Durable structure and fabrics
- 100 night trial
- Five-year limited warranty
sofa bed
Best for: Pure leather elegance
After a chic and functional sofa bed? This one from Freedom has natural leather upholstery, a supportive high back, pillow cushions and armrests. The quality timber frame holds a metal-framed pull-out bed and features spring suspension and a memory foam mattress for comfortable support.
“Extremely comfortable as a sofa and sofa bed,” one customer said in a 5-star review. “Classic style and the warmth of the colour suits any home. I’m in love with this addition to our home.”
While any leather sofa is an investment, customers generally seem impressed with this one: it has a 4.8-star average from over 25 reviews, and most of them are for a full 5-stars.
Colours (leather): Memphis cumin, Lucia ocean blue, Lucia black, Lucia dark olive, Lucia graphite, Lucia pumice, Memphis cognac, Memphis black, Memphis dark chocolate, Memphis caramel, Lucia frost, Lucia pecan brown, Lucia charcoal grey and Lucia optic white. Plus 14 colours for fabric instead of leather material.
Size: 3 seater
Materials: Leather, foam and sturdy timber frame
Key features:
- Three-seater capacity
- Available in 14 leather colourways
- Also available in fabric with 12 colourways
- Natural leather softens over time and develops a unique patina
- Memory foam mattress
- Optional leather care five-year protection packation for $183
KING sofa bed in natural white from King Living
Best for: Australian-made design
King Living’s upgrade on their original 1977 sofa bed design combined sophisticated style with impressive, modular versatility. This sofa bed has a 4-in-1 design – you can set it up as a sofa, chaise, queen bed or twin single beds, so it’s perfect for all kinds of lounging and hosting.
The fabric covers are also machine washable and, while it looks very lightweight, the curved back-and-side cushion contains a steel frame for stability and durability.
“So functional being able to use it as couch or single or double bed and so easy to move. Great for baby and toddler situations where you need to bunker out in their room. I use it every night and it’s very comfortable. Looks good too,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on the King Living website, where it has a 4.7-star average from over 60 customers.
Sizes: 3-seater sofa, queen or twin single bed
Material: Premium high-density foam, steel frame in weighted back cushion, boucle fabric
Key features:
- Australian designed and manufactured
- Three-seater capacity sofa
- Converts to a queen bed or twin single beds
- Patent-pending bolster frame provides stable wall-free support
- Sustainably designed with recyclable components, backed by a 10-year warranty
a
Best for: Small spaces
Previously known as the Cushy, the Koala Sofa Bed comes in seven stylish shades and folds out into a bed in seconds. As the winner of a Product Review Award for 2025 and the recipient of over 1.4k five-star reviews, this is a cult favourite sofa bed.
“Super easy to assemble and move,” wrote a reviewer. “It is a super comfy couch (have fallen asleep on it many times) and an equally comfy pull out bed! Very impressed!”
It also offers a 120-night trial – and if you’re on a tighter budget, you could also consider the OG Sofa Bed, which is similar but at a slightly lower price (from $1590 for a 2.5-seater double).
Sizes: 1.5 seater single, 2.5 seater double and 3 seater queen
Colours: Gum leaf, ink, tinny, vanilla, fig tree, paperbark and penguin parade
Materials: Recycled polyester fabric (Luxe option), CertiPUR-US foam & FSC certified wood frame
Key features:
- Two and half seater
- Winner of Product Review’s 2025 award for Best Sofa Bed
- Kloudcell topper provides superior support and durability
- CertiPUR-US Certified; meets strict safety standards and crafted with non-toxic materials
- Five-year warranty
Also available at:
- $2190, Koala
The Freedom Sorrento fabric sofa bed 3-seater design in Alpha Natural.
Best for: A modern pull-out sofa bed
Freedom’s Sorrento fabric sofa bed combines the classic pull-out sofa bed design with modern detailing, including foam and fibre-filled cushions, a latex mattress and a solid metal frame for the bed, which includes space to store the sofa’s cushions when it’s being used for sleep.
“Our sofa bed is not only comfortable, it looks stylish too,” one customer shared in a five-star review on the Freedom website, where it has an average rating of 4.8 stars from over 35 verified buyers. “The quality is excellent and when used as a bed is extremely comfortable. The latex mattress allows a good nights sleep without the usual feeling of a metal bar under your back. The Sorrento fabric looks classic and classy.”
Sizes: 3 seater sofa bed
Colours: Nathan cloud, alpha natural (pictured), washed canvas stone, nathan wheat, washed canvas graphite, nathan grey, washed canvas ivory
Materials: Fabric, foam, fibre, springs, metal, plastic
Key features:
- Three-seater sofa bed
- Timeless low-back design with generous side cushions for the sofa
- Foam and fibre-filled cushions
- Slim, space-saving arms
lounge lovers sofa
Best for: Casual comfort and game rooms
Ideal for guests after a long relaxed day of catching up, this floor sofa bed is adjustable in four positions in a minimalistic design.
“Perfect fold out sofa bed that looks stylish and is comfy as well,” said a reviewer who left five stars. “Love the colour and the quality of the fabric. Exactly what we were looking for.”
Size: 2 seater
Colours: Omega grey, wind anthracite, wind copper and wind forest green
Materials: High density foam mix, 100% polyester fabric, steel frame and metal legs
Key features:
- Two-seater capacity
- Three possible sofa arrangements
- Available in a range of upholstery
- Two-year warranty (frame) one-year warranty (cover)
Homary 2060mm King 3-Seater Velvet Convertible Futon Sofa Bed in white.
Best for: Versatile, space-saving design
This futon sofa bed from Homary is elegant and versatile, with four different configurations to take you from sofa to day bed or sleeper bed, with the help of the detachable bolster pillows and elegant buckle straps. Its premium, soft velvet upholstery is designed for long-lasting luxury, and the stainless steel frame is both sturdy and sleek.
“Absolutely love this futon sofa bed. It’s so soft and well-made was simple to put together. The fabric is really nice and it’s super comfortable to sleep on. I would definitely recommend,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on Homary, where it has a 4.8-star average rating from over 60 verified customers.
Sizes: 3 seater lounge, king size bed
Colours: White
Material: Velvet fabric, stainless steel frame, foam fill
Key features:
- Three-seater capacity
- Four configurations to suit different spaces and occasions
- Comes partially assembled
- One-year warranty
Drake 3 Seater Sofa Bed in Coco Spice colourway.
Best for: Choice of fabrics and colours
This classic pull-out sofa bed has an innerspring mattress, metal frame and gives you a choice of over 50 fabrics so you can match it to any room in your home. It’s also proved popular with customers, with a 4.6-star average rating from over 330 reviews.
“I absolutely love my sofa. So happy with the fabric choice and the sofa is very sturdy and well made,” one customer shared in a 5-star review.
Size: 3 seater, double bed
Colours: Coco spice (featured), groove slate, sumba clay, dayzel grey, nappa charcoal, heather blue and up to 44 more
Materials: Fabric, innerspring mattress, metal
Key features:
- Three-seater capacity
- Australian-made
- Choice of over 45 fabric colours
- 30-day change of mind returns and quality guarantee options
Oakleigh Home Idyll 3 Seater Sofa Bed in Dark Grey.
Best for: Affordable simplicity
This futon-style sofa bed is ideal for small spaces (and budgets) and folds out to a king-single bed when it’s not being used as a sofa. It has a wooden frame, high-density foam padding and serpentine spring support, as well as three adjustable backrest positions.
“Great value, was easy to assemble and is even easier to convert to a bed,” one verified customer shared in a five-star review on Temple & Webster, where it has an average rating of 4.3 stars from over 220 reviews. “Arm rests could easily be lifted off the sides too to make it more spacious for sleeping. Good back support as well and surprisingly comfortable for the price. Overall very happy.”
Sizes: 3 seater king single
Colours: Dark grey, cream, light grey
Material: Eucalyptus wood frame, oak wood legs, polyester upholstery and cushion covers, high-density foam padding, polypropylene cotton cushion fill
Key features:
- Three-seater lounge capacity
- King single sized futon bed
- Three adjustable backrest positions
- One year warranty and the option to return within 30 days for store credit if you change your mind
What is a sofa bed?
A sofa bed is a space-saving and quick-change version of a bed that best suits apartment living or small bedrooms. However, they can also suit everyday use so long as you know what you’re looking for.
There are three main types of sofa beds you can buy in Australia:
- A traditional pull-out sofa which typically has a metal frame that is stowed away inside the sofa.
- A fold-out sofa, which is similar to a pull-out but folds out directly onto the floor.
- A click-clack sofa bed, which is where you can simply push the back of the sofa down until it lies flat.
There are also other creative and low-maintenance alternatives. One option is a modular sofa, which can be arranged into a bed. Or why not try a stacked style sofa bed, which is where the firm seat cushions become the mattress. You can also get a futon sofa bed (often variations of click-clack sofas).
Both sofa beds and sleeper sofas can double as seating or a bed, and these terms are sometimes used interchangeably. But in general, a sofa bed that folds out or has a click-clack futon design can be great for living rooms and spaces where you may only need a guest bed every now and then, while a sleeper sofas with a pull-out mattress tends to be sturdier and more suited to spaces with pets, or where you want guests to feel as though they’re sleeping on an actual bed (or the next best thing).
Some people also prefer sofa beds because they offer spring-free mattresses and have more flexibility for space-saving designs when used as a bed, while others find pull-out or sleeper sofas better for staying above the floor, and are happy to add a mattress topper for a more premium sleep experience.
Sofa beds are much more common in Australia and tend to be a better option when you want a good choice of designs and styles that offer seating, sleeping and sometimes even storage solutions. In comparison, a Murphy bed – which is built into the wall or cabinet and folds away when it’s not in use – can be one of the best options for tiny homes and micro apartments where every space needs to be as multifunctional as possible.
But Murphy beds do typically have more limitations, such as needing to be fixed to a wall, limited pre-designed options and potentially high costs for custom-made designs. So if you’re renting or have a limited budget, it’s likely you’ll find a greater range of options among sofa beds than Murphy beds in Australia.
The design, size, materials and where the sofa bed is made are four major factors that influence price. If you’re on a budget, choosing a smaller sofa bed can be a way to keep the cost down and still get a comfortable, stylish sofa bed. For example, the Ecosa Rio double sofa bed is $230 less than the queen sofa bed, and the Koala Sofa Bed single is $400 less than the double based on the recommended retail prices. So thinking about how big you need the sofa bed to be, as well as shopping around, can help you find one that’s the right style and the right price.
When it comes to the best sofa beds, you have plenty to choose from in Australia. So we turned to the experts for some insights on how to find the right one for your household.
“When shopping for a sofa bed, there are many considerations – function, comfort, size and how much you want to spend,” said Kylie Burgon, Senior Furniture Buyer at Freedom.
“Firstly, decide where it will be used – in the living room or guest room? The second consideration is comfort and finding a type of mattress that suits your needs.”
From a practical perspective, it’s helpful to focus on key features when you’re comparing and choosing sofa beds. To give you an idea, when we were choosing the best sofa beds in this article, some of the key features we considered were:
Sofa bed frames and overall design quality
Mattress and cushion quality
Ease of use when switching from sofa to bed
Fabric materials and colours
Frame materials
Warranty details
Real-world reviews
Sofa beds were invented around the start of the 20th century, with records showing one patent by inventor Rudolph Coopersmith was registered in 1904. While there are potentially earlier designs that were not recorded, it’s safe to say sofa beds have been around for over a century.
If you want to save space, have an extra bed without setting up a whole bedroom or simply want a sofa that you can really spread out on, a sofa bed could be worth it. Not only is a sofa bed perfect for slumber parties, epic family movie nights (just add popcorn and classic film) and for hosting extra guests, if you have a spare room, a sofa bed can make it multi-purpose. So it could be a study, rumpus room or crafting room by day, and a comfy guest bedroom by night. With a wide range of prices, you can compare sofa beds to find one that’s worth it – or just stick with what you’ve already got in your home.
Are sofa beds comfortable?
It’s easy to assume that sofa beds would be second-best to a traditional bed because of their more compact size and multi-purpose design but they can be surprisingly comfortable.
Over time, the sofa bed design has evolved with new game-changing materials being used. For instance, memory foam is favoured by popular brands like Koala, which released the Byron sofa bed in 2024.
“The challenge for sofa beds is that it has to be comfortable when sleeping on it, but also when sitting on the sofa bed,” said Koala’s product design team. “While the experience with most sofa beds is generally pretty uncomfortable (you hit a middle bar in the middle of the night), the Koala Sofa Bed has multiple layers for optimal comfort.”
Is it ok to sleep on a sofa bed every night?
Yes, it is generally fine to sleep on a sofa bed every night, provided it has a high-quality mattress for adequate support and comfort, a sturdy frame and reliable suspension. Opt for sofa beds with memory foam or high-density foam mattresses, ensure it has good support mechanisms and consider the size for enough sleeping space.
Investing in a well-constructed, durable sofa bed will make it a viable option for nightly sleep, but if discomfort arises, it may be worth considering a traditional bed or a higher-quality sofa bed.
What happened to the Emma sofa bed?
The cult-buy sofa bed from Emma is not available in Australia – and was actually discontinued in the UK in 2024 according to a report from Ideal Home. But it was previously on our list of the best sofa beds, so if you’re interested in using it to compare to others, here are the key details.
The Emma Sleep Sofa Bed used to be considered one of the best sofa beds in Australia but has been disontinued.
The Emma sofa bed is made from sustainably-sourced fabric and wood, comes with a 100-night trial and features built-in storage compartments. Talk about nifty multi-purpose usage.
“Super comfy couch and super super comfy fold out bed,” said one customer who it gave a five star rating on Productreview.com.au.
“Love the storage in the arm rests. Good hard wearing fabric holds up well with the dogs…perfect place for Nanna to sleep when she visits.”
Other reviewers also noted how much they loved the storage compartments, while a few reviews noted it was very firm as a bed.
Sizes: 3 seater queen
Colours: Dark grey
Materials: CertiPUR-US certified foam wrapped in OEKO-Tex fabric
Key features:
- Three-seater capacity
- Includes two complimentary throw pillows
- OEKO-Tex certified quality
- CertiPUR-US-Certified; meets strict safety standards and crafted with non-toxic materials
- Five-year warranty
Related articles:
- The best quality sofas that you won’t want to get up from
- The best ‘mattress in a box’ options for a sound sleep
- The cult-buy sofa that will become your living room’s prized possession
The post Sofa beds have come a long way – these are the best designs to upgrade your space appeared first on Better Homes & Gardens Australia.
