Choose a click clack sofa bed if you want the slimmest possible footprint, a very quick conversion and a seat that is happy to be moved around. Choose a small sofa bed with a fold out frame or pull out base if you want a softer, more traditional sofa by day and a separate mattress for guests by night. Click clacks suit studios, home offices and occasional sleepovers. Small conventional sofa beds suit living rooms where comfort for sitting matters as much as sleeping.
Both styles appear throughout our sofa beds UK collection, and both are designed with compact UK rooms in mind. The difference lies in how they are built and how they feel to use.
A click clack sofa bed has a backrest hinged to the seat. To convert it, you lift the seat slightly until the mechanism clicks, then lower the backrest flat. The seat and back together form a single sleeping surface. To return it to a sofa, you lift again until it clicks and push the back upright.
Most click clacks are armless or have slim arms, sit on metal or wooden legs and are upholstered in a single piece of foam or a sprung unit. Many also offer a reclined middle position, which turns the sofa into a lounger for watching films.
Because there is no separate mattress, the conversion takes seconds and there is nothing to store or unfold.
A small sofa bed in the conventional sense looks like a standard two seater sofa. Hidden beneath the seat cushions is either a folding metal frame with a mattress, or a pull out base that slides forward. You remove the seat cushions, pull the frame or base out and the bed unfolds onto the floor.
These sofa beds usually have full arms, separate seat cushions and a more upholstered appearance. They look and feel like a regular sofa, which makes them easy to use as the main seating in a living room. Our wider modern sofas UK sale collection shows how closely many of these designs resemble fixed sofas.
In compact UK rooms, a few centimetres can make the difference between a comfortable layout and a cramped one.
Measure both the closed and open positions before deciding, and remember to allow walking space around the bed once it is made up.
Small conventional sofa beds generally feel more like a traditional sofa. The separate cushions, padded arms and deeper seat make them comfortable for long evenings.
Click clacks tend to be firmer and more upright, because the same upholstery has to work as a mattress. Many people find them entirely comfortable for everyday use, particularly if they enjoy a supportive seat. Adding cushions along the back softens the feel and makes the seat a little shallower.
If daytime comfort is your priority and you only need a bed occasionally, a conventional design or even a non converting sofa may suit you. Our modern two seater fabric sofas UK are worth comparing if guests visit only rarely.
Here the comparison becomes more nuanced. A click clack provides a continuous, even sleeping surface without bars or gaps. For a night or two, many guests find it comfortable, especially with a mattress topper.
A small conventional sofa bed with a fold out frame has a separate mattress, which can feel more like a real bed. However, the mattress is usually thin enough to fold, and some guests notice the frame beneath it. Pull out base designs vary widely, from firm cushioned platforms to sprung mattresses.
In practice, the quality of the upholstery or mattress matters more than the mechanism type. Check the depth and filling described on the product page.
Click clacks are the quickest to convert. There are no cushions to remove and nothing to unfold. This makes them handy in a studio or home office, where the sofa might be turned into a bed regularly.
Conventional small sofa beds take a little longer. You need to remove seat cushions, clear the floor in front and unfold the frame. Once you are used to it, the process is straightforward, but it is less spontaneous.
If the bed will be used often, think about where seat cushions will go overnight and whether the coffee table is easy to move.
Click clack sofa beds are often lighter, because they lack a full metal folding frame. Many come with removable legs and arrive in a single box, which helps in flats with narrow stairs or small lifts. They are also easier to move between rooms.
Conventional small sofa beds are heavier, and the mechanism adds weight to the base. Check the boxed dimensions and weight if access is tight, and make sure there is a clear route from the front door to the room.
Click clacks have a distinctive look: clean, flat and often minimal. They suit modern interiors, Scandinavian schemes and spaces where a light visual footprint is wanted. Tufted upholstery and contrasting legs are common details.
Conventional small sofa beds look like any other sofa, which makes them easy to blend into a traditional or classic living room. If you want guests to be unaware that the sofa converts at all, this is usually the better choice.
Whichever type you choose, a few nearby pieces make life easier when guests stay. A nest of tables UK sale gives you flexible surfaces that can be split up beside the bed and tucked away again in the morning. A lamp within reach and a basket for spare bedding also help.
Before you finalise the layout, our guide to sofa bed open dimensions in UK rooms sets out how to measure for both types, including the walking space needed around the bed.
It is worth thinking beyond the first few weeks of ownership. A sofa bed is used daily as a seat, and the way it ages depends partly on its construction.
A click clack sofa bed has one main moving part: the hinge between the seat and back. If it is opened and closed gently, this mechanism tends to stay reliable. The upholstery does double duty, so it may show wear sooner in the centre of the seat, where people sit and sleep most. Choosing a durable, tightly woven fabric and flipping any loose back cushions helps the surface wear evenly.
A small conventional sofa bed separates the seat cushions from the sleeping mattress. That means the cushions you sit on every day are not also being slept on, which can help both last longer. The fold out frame has more joints and hinges, so it benefits from occasional checks and a light tightening of fixings. The mattress can usually be replaced on its own if it softens over time.
Cleaning is another consideration. Click clacks often have fixed upholstery, so spot cleaning is the usual approach. Conventional sofa beds may have removable cushion covers, which makes it easier to refresh them. A throw over the seat is a simple way to protect either type in a busy home with children or pets.
Run through the following scenarios to see which fits your home.
We stock both click clack and conventional small sofa beds in a range of fabrics and colours, with closed and open dimensions shown on every product page. You can compare the styles side by side at Furniture in Fashion and choose the one that suits the way you live.
Many people find them comfortable for occasional use, as they provide a continuous, even surface. A mattress topper improves comfort further for longer stays.
Yes, a small gap is usually needed behind the sofa so the backrest can recline. Check the product details for the recommended clearance.
Small conventional sofa beds generally offer a softer, more traditional sit, thanks to separate cushions and padded arms. Click clacks are firmer and more upright.
Click clacks are usually lighter and slimmer, and many have removable legs, which makes them easier to carry up stairs and through narrow doorways.
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