Pull out and velvet describe two different things: one is how the sofa becomes a bed, the other is what it is covered in. So the real decision is which matters more to you. If sleeping comfort comes first, prioritise a pull out mechanism with a proper mattress. If the look and feel of the sofa comes first, prioritise velvet. Many sofa beds offer both, and that combination often gives the best of each.
People often compare the two because they are the features that stand out most when browsing. Understanding what each brings, and where they overlap, makes it much easier to narrow down our modern sofa beds UK sale range to the right shortlist.
A pull out sofa bed hides a folded mattress inside the frame, usually beneath the seat cushions. To open it, you remove the cushions, pull the mechanism forward and unfold the mattress onto a metal frame or slatted base. Some designs slide a mattress out flat from underneath the seat instead.
The advantage is that the guest sleeps on a real mattress rather than the upholstery. That mattress may be foam, sprung, or pocket sprung with comfort layers, and it can be made up with a fitted sheet just like a normal bed. Pull out designs are generally the most comfortable sofa beds for regular or longer stays.
The trade offs are space and weight. A pull out bed extends well into the room when open, and the mechanism adds weight to the frame. The seat cushions also need to be stored somewhere while the bed is in use.
Velvet is an upholstery with a short, dense pile that catches light and gives colour real depth. It feels soft and slightly warm, and it lends a sofa a tailored, polished look. Deep shades such as emerald, navy, rust and plum look particularly rich in velvet, while softer tones like blush or dove grey feel calm and elegant.
Modern velvets are often made from polyester, which makes them more durable and easier to clean than traditional cotton or silk versions. Many have a finish that helps spills bead on the surface if blotted quickly. Velvet does show pile marks where people sit, which some love as part of its character and others find distracting.
If you like the idea of velvet but are not sure about it on a sofa bed, it helps to see how the same fabric looks on a standard sofa. Our wider collection of modern sofas UK includes velvet designs that show how the material behaves on different shapes.
If the sofa bed will be slept on often, by family visiting for a week or by a lodger or student returning home, the mechanism is the more important choice. A pull out with a good mattress will be noticeably more comfortable than a design where the guest sleeps on seat cushions.
In this case, choose the mechanism first and then look at fabric. Velvet, woven fabric and faux leather are all available on pull out frames, so you can still have the cover you like. Pay attention to mattress depth and the base beneath it, and remember that pull out beds need more floor space than most people expect.
If the sofa bed lives in your main living room and is slept on only a few times a year, it is being used as a sofa almost all the time. Here, how it looks and feels every evening matters more. A velvet sofa bed can lift a room and make it feel finished, especially in a period property or a room with good natural light.
For occasional guests, a click clack or fold down velvet sofa bed may be comfortable enough, and it will usually be slimmer and lighter than a pull out. If you want velvet and still want a proper mattress, look for a velvet pull out, which combines both.
When velvet covers a pull out sofa bed, a few practical details are worth knowing. The seat cushions come off each time the bed is opened, and velvet cushions can show pile marks where they are handled. Brushing them gently when replacing them keeps the surface even.
Velvet also shows creases where fabric folds. On a pull out, the outer upholstery does not fold, so this is rarely an issue. The mattress inside is covered in its own ticking, so guests sleep on a mattress rather than on velvet.
On fold down or click clack designs, the velvet becomes part of the sleeping surface. Sheets may slide slightly on smooth velvet, so a fitted sheet or a mattress topper helps keep everything in place.
A pull out mechanism benefits from occasional attention. Open the bed every few weeks even when no one is staying, so the mattress can breathe and the springs or foam can recover. Check that fixings are tight and that nothing is catching on the fabric as the frame moves.
Velvet needs a different kind of care. Vacuum it gently with a soft brush attachment, and brush the pile in one direction after heavy use to keep the surface even. A handheld steamer held a short distance away lifts flattened areas. Keep a velvet sofa bed out of strong direct sunlight where you can, since deep colours can soften over long exposure.
If you choose a velvet pull out, the two routines simply sit side by side, and neither takes more than a few minutes.
A pull out sofa bed usually needs the most room when open. Measure from the back wall to the foot of the open mattress and add a clear walkway beyond it. Plan where the coffee table will go when the bed is in use, and where the seat cushions will be stored.
A velvet sofa bed with a slimmer mechanism takes up less floor when open but may offer a smaller sleeping area. In a compact room, it may be the more practical choice, even if comfort is slightly reduced.
In either case, choose occasional furniture that moves easily. A lightweight table at one end of the sofa gives guests a surface for a lamp or a phone. Our collection of modern side tables UK includes slim and round designs that can be moved to the bedside when the sofa is open.
Pull out sofa beds create an extra storage question: the seat and back cushions need somewhere to go. A storage ottoman nearby solves this neatly, holding cushions while the bed is open and bedding while it is closed. It also gives guests somewhere to sit while dressing. Our range of ottomans UK includes velvet designs that pair well with a velvet sofa bed if you like a coordinated look.
Velvet cushions are best laid flat rather than piled up, to avoid marking the pile. A clean, dry surface such as an ottoman lid or a bed is ideal.
Whatever you choose, sit on the sofa and lie on the bed if you can. For pull out designs, check whether a bar or frame edge can be felt through the mattress, and how easily the mechanism opens and closes. For velvet sofa beds, notice how the fabric feels against bare skin and whether the seat holds its shape. Before ordering either type, our article on open sofa bed dimensions for UK homes will help you confirm the bed fits once it is fully extended.
Mattress type matters a great deal on pull out designs. Foam, sprung and memory foam mattresses all feel different, and some sofa beds allow the mattress to be upgraded later. Our guide to sofa bed mattress types in UK homes explains how each behaves in a folding frame.
Ask yourself two questions. How many nights a year will someone sleep on it? And how much do you care about the sofa being a statement piece? If the answer to the first is many, choose a pull out and pick whichever fabric you like. If the answer to the second is a lot, choose velvet and pick the mechanism that suits your space. If both matter, look for a velvet pull out.
We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes on our sofa beds, and product pages list closed and open measurements as well as fabric details. You can browse sofa beds, ottomans and occasional tables together at Furniture in Fashion.
Yes. Velvet is available on many pull out frames, giving you the soft, rich look of velvet with the comfort of a separate mattress.
Generally, yes, because guests sleep on a dedicated mattress. Comfort still depends on mattress depth and the base beneath it.
Good quality polyester velvet is durable. The pile may show marks where people sit, which can be eased with gentle brushing.
A pull out usually needs more floor space when open, since the mattress extends well forward. Click clack designs open closer to the wall.
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