The Surprising Rule Designers Have for Buying a Living Room Sofa

"I sat on what I'd consider the gold standard of sleeper sofa brands, and I didn't find it all that comfortable for sitting. Sure, the "bed" (essentially the mattress) was way better than any pullout I had ever slept on. But the sofa itself was kinda bulky, and the seat cushions felt stiff and dense, probably because they're made to downplay the sofa's mattress-folding mechanism (and often aren't constructed the way non-sleeper sofa cushions are with layers of foam and springs)."

"So I settled on the exact same Article Sven Sofa I had in my NYC apartment, only smaller to better fit the dimensions of my current living room. The lesson here, though, isn't to not try a new style of sofa when you're in the market for something new or ready to invest in this key piece of furniture. But quite a few furniture salespeople, brand execs, and designers do follow a simple rule when it comes to sofa shopping:"

Sleeper sofas commonly offer a better mattress experience than standard pullouts, but their seating performance often suffers. Seat cushions on many sleepers are stiff and dense to accommodate folding mechanisms, and overall frames can feel bulky. Non-sleeper sofas frequently use layered foam and springs for more comfortable lounging and everyday use. Furniture professionals advise reserving sleeper sofas for spare rooms, home offices, or occasional-guest situations rather than primary living room seating. Choosing a regular sofa optimized for sitting can improve daily comfort, while reserving a sleeper for secondary spaces balances guest needs with long-term loungeability.

Read at Apartment Therapy