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11 Chair Beds For Stylish Hosting In Even The Most Bijou Space
Chic and useful multipurpose furniture at its finest.
Gone are the days that our spare room was kept handy solely for weekend guests. In our new hybrid working lives, these spaces have, more often than not, seen a repurposing as a permanent home office. Big double beds have been replaced in favour of chic home office desks or healthier standing options, meaning our guest room essentials must now look equally at home in an office space as a bedroom.
So, what's the solution? Well, it's a chair bed. A smaller cousin to the ubiquitous boxy sofa bed, these armchairs give you a place to sit and curl up to read your book while providing room for one (or two, at a pinch) guests to kip on when folded out. Many chair beds we've found will fit smartly in the corner of your living or spare room without that bulky, boxy look that gives many sofa beds away, which is also good news if you're living in a small flat and want to keep it in your main living space.
Indeed, when it comes to aesthetics, there are plenty of stylish options from our favourite furniture brands. These aren't your basic boxy sofa beds of the Noughties – Made.com, Loaf and Snug all offer chair beds in a variety of lush fabrics, modern shapes and beautiful shades. Expect rich velvets, trending boucle and even corduroy options with plush, properly comfy cushions that you'll genuinely enjoy curling up in. Just add a floor lamp, side table and a plant or two to style to perfection.
Here are 11 of the best chair beds we've found for your living room, spare room or home office as, let's be honest, nobody wants a spare bed in the background of their Zoom calls any more.
From British brand Willow & Hall, the cushions in this minimalistic armchair themselves fold out to become the mattress, to reduce boxiness when it's upright. It's available in a huge range of colours and fabrics, and it's got coasters to help you move it about with ease (and avoid scratching your precious floors).
Dimensions: H84 x D90 cm
Sofa bed length: 192 cm
You'll know Snug as the brand for flatpack sofas that still look chic and stylish – a lifesaver for city dwellers, those in small flats or living on the top floor (no 'pivot' moments, here, for sure).
Its curvy, marshmallow-esque chair bed offering is available in four colours and can be customised to come with or without arms and with additional storage, so you can keep your guest bedding tucked inside it to save on room in your airing cupboard.
Dimensions: W116 x D103 x H98cm
Urban Outfitters does bohemian style so well so, if you're into that relaxed, easy breezy vibe, this is a good option. Pair with bright rag rugs, lots of house plants and either rattan or dark wood furniture to finish the look.
Really, the more eclectic, the better – and it looks rather comfortable, as a bonus.
Sofa dimensions: W150 x D106 x H78cm
Sofa bed dimensions: W150 x D130 x H32cm
This pared-back grey number is unassuming – but that just makes it super versatile. If you prefer a Scandi aesthetic, this will fit right in with pale or painted furniture if finished with monochrome throws and a shearling cushion or two. If your tastes tend to lean towards the vintage, we think this would work surprisingly well mixed with your more modernist furniture pieces, if dressed properly.
Dimensions: H78.5 x W77 x D86cm
Sofa bed length: 184cm
Another chair bed here in this classic fold out shape. Habitat has several colours on offer, but our pick is this rich olive green in a velvet finish. Add a couple of jewel-toned cushions and a patterned throw and it'll make your space look a little more sophisticated.
Dimensions: Size H81 x W100 x D90cm
Sofa bed length: 190cm
Is this the most stylish option on the list? No. But, on the plus side, it is compact enough to fit in your airing cupboard until it's needed.
That means that, if you're living in a tiny flat, this makes a good option for guest bedding in a pinch – there's no need for it to stay out on display all the time. Just double up if you need room for two.
Dimensions: H45 x W66 x D66cm
Sofa bed length: 198cm
Here's another more basic one but it's neutral enough, so if you're just looking for something to keep handy in your spare room, it's worth considering. It's also very reasonably priced at just under £100, so if for a quick and easy way to ensure you're ready to host the occasional guest, this is a good option.
Dimensions: H76 x W76 x D78cm (pictured, but there are various sizes available)
And here's a similar option, which would fit in well in a child's bedroom, for all those fun sleepovers.
Dimensions: W75 x D90 x H75cm
Sofa bed length: 185cm
Boucle has been all over the interiors world the last couple of years and it's not going anywhere in 2022. This Made.com offering marries form with function here – it's cosy, useful and wouldn't look out of place in your living room.
Dimensions: H78 x W77 x D86cm
Sofa bed length: 182cm
This is one of the priciest options in our round-up, but if you're looking for a chair bed that really doesn't look like one, this is the one to invest in. Tufted upholstery, smooth, a range of sumptuous fabric choices (including chenille, corduroy, velvet and even leather) and those sophisticated bolster cushions? Multipurpose furniture never looked so chic.
Choose from three seat cushions, three mattresses and a huge range of colours.
Dimensions: H80 x W142 x D90cm
Sofa bed length: 228cm
Every time we find ourselves snuggling up on a Loaf sofa it's like sinking into a cloud, so we don't imagine this will be any different. Another one that doesn't deserve to be hidden away in the spare room, this has those lovely Loafish curves, deep rich colours and super-soft fabrics we know and love – with the added bonus of making somewhere cosy for your guests to get some shut-eye when they come to visit.
Dimensions: W137 x D109 x H89cm
Sofa bed length: 232cm
Charley is former Homes Ecommerce Editor. During her time at Hearst UK, Charley wrote over 300 buying guides and reviews, getting her hands on as many new launches as possible to help you find the best products for your home.
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