A fold down back sofa bed, often called a click clack, converts by lowering the backrest flat rather than pulling a frame out across the floor. That single difference is why it works so well in UK homes: the footprint barely changes when it becomes a bed, so a narrow terrace lounge, a box room or a home office can hold one without losing its walkway. Conversion takes seconds, it can be done by one person, and there is no heavy metal frame to drag forward.<\/p>\n
The trade off is the sleeping surface. You are lying on the same upholstery you sit on, at a lower height than a conventional bed. For occasional guests, a home office that doubles as a spare room, or a teenager’s room, that is a reasonable exchange. For someone staying a fortnight, it is not.<\/p>\n
Below are ten styles worth looking at, grouped by what each one does best. You can see current availability across our modern sofa beds UK sale<\/a> range.<\/p>\n The most recognisable format: a simple two seater with a back that drops flat into a small double. Compact, light and straightforward, it suits studies, box rooms and first flats. Look for a three position mechanism, which adds a reclined lounging setting between sitting and flat.<\/p>\n A corner arrangement with a fold down back on the longer section. It gives you generous everyday seating and a bed without a separate piece of furniture. Best in square rooms or open plan spaces where the corner can sit away from the main route through.<\/p>\n A click clack with a lifting or drawer storage base underneath. This is the format that solves the bedding problem, and in a flat with no airing cupboard it justifies itself immediately. Check the internal depth, since some bases are shallower than they appear. If you need more capacity, pairing it with an modern ottomans UK sale<\/a> piece covers duvets and pillows comfortably.<\/p>\n No arms, or very low ones, with a back that folds flat to create a continuous surface. Visually light, easy to place under a window, and useful where a full sofa would overwhelm the room. It also suits a reading corner, since the reclined setting makes a proper lounging position.<\/p>\n Same mechanism, richer material. Velvet upholstery in deep teal, green or charcoal gives a click clack piece a more finished look, which matters if it sits in a main living room rather than a spare space. Velvet also resists creasing where the back folds, which some flat weaves do not.<\/p>\n A visible wooden frame around the upholstery, usually with matching legs. The advantage is practical as well as visual: when the back is down, the timber sides give the piece a deliberate shape rather than leaving raw mechanism on show. It suits modern rustic and Scandinavian influenced rooms.<\/p>\n A click clack back paired with a chaise section, giving a longer lounging surface by day and a wider bed by night. Ensure the chaise runs along a wall rather than into the room, especially in narrow spaces.<\/p>\n Wider than an armchair, narrower than a two seater, and it folds down into a generous single bed. This is the answer for small home offices, nurseries turned guest rooms and awkward alcoves where nothing standard fits.<\/p>\n Faux or bonded leather with a click clack action. Easy to wipe clean, which suits households with children and pets, and it holds a crisp shape through repeated conversion. If you prefer the real thing, our modern leather sofas UK sale<\/a> pages show how hide behaves differently in weight and finish.<\/p>\n Arms that fold as well as the back, producing a flat surface from one end to the other. This removes the ridge that arms can create at the head and foot of a click clack bed, which is the most common complaint about the format. Worth seeking out if the bed will be used more than occasionally.<\/p>\n Two position models sit up or lie flat. Three position models add a recline. The extra setting is genuinely useful for lounging and costs very little more.<\/p>\n Where the back meets the seat, some models leave a slight dip or ridge. Press along that line when the bed is flat. A well made piece feels continuous.<\/p>\n The back has to travel somewhere. Most click clack designs need a small gap between the sofa and the wall, often around ten centimetres. Measure this or the bed will not lie flat.<\/p>\n Loose cushions slide when the back drops. Fixed or tethered cushions stay put. In a piece used regularly, this small detail saves a surprising amount of irritation.<\/p>\n Sit on the flat surface and lie on it if you can. A topper improves almost any click clack considerably, so plan storage for one.<\/p>\n Keep the floor clear in front, even though the footprint barely changes. Getting in and out of a low bed needs space beside it, not just in front.<\/p>\n Use light, movable surfaces. A nest of tables or a compact side table serves better than a large fixed coffee table, and something from the modern side tables UK sale<\/a> range gives a guest somewhere to put a glass and a phone.<\/p>\n Add a lamp within reach of the bed, and a hook or a small chair for clothes. These details cost little and make a temporary sleeping space feel properly thought through.<\/p>\n1. The classic two seater click clack<\/h3>\n
2. The corner click clack<\/h3>\n
3. The storage base fold down<\/h3>\n
4. The armless daybed style<\/h3>\n
5. The velvet fold down<\/h3>\n
6. The timber framed fold down<\/h3>\n
7. The chaise fold down<\/h3>\n
8. The compact one and a half seater<\/h3>\n
9. The leather look fold down<\/h3>\n
10. The convertible with adjustable arms<\/h3>\n
What to check before buying a fold down back sofa bed<\/h3>\n
The mechanism positions<\/h3>\n
The gap at the fold<\/h3>\n
Clearance behind<\/h3>\n
Cushion behaviour<\/h3>\n
Sleep comfort<\/h3>\n
Making the room work around it<\/h3>\n