Solving sofa bed — A sofa bed that’s uncomfortable for guests is a common problem with cheap fixes. Our team’s seven practical ways to make a sofa bed sleep like a real bed.
Priya on our team has nursed three different sofa beds back to comfort with under-$200 fixes, before her current Koala Sofa Bed retired the issue. Here’s the playbook.
1. Add a mattress topper (Solving sofa bed)
The single most-effective fix. A 5 cm memory-foam topper ($120–$250) can transform a 10 cm sofa-bed mattress into something genuinely sleepable. Roll it up and store under the sofa when not in use.
2. Reverse the mattress
Many sofa beds have a smoother, less-worn underside. If your sofa bed has been used heavily on one side for years, flipping it can revive a year or two of comfort.
3. Add a bed board
If guests complain about feeling the metal frame underneath the mattress, a thin plywood board ($40 from Bunnings, cut to size) under the mattress eliminates the bar feel completely.
4. Layer two mattress protectors
An extra layer of quilted protector adds about 0.5 cm of cushion at virtually zero cost. Combined with a topper, it can add 6 cm of total cushioning.
5. Replace the original mattress
Many sofa beds (IKEA Friheten, Brosa Murray) accept aftermarket replacement mattresses sold separately at $300–$500. A real foam mattress in a sofa-bed frame transforms it into something close to a guest bed.
6. Use a thicker fitted sheet
A flannelette or jersey fitted sheet adds warmth and takes the edge off the worn fabric. Cheap, surprisingly effective.
7. Replace the springs (if applicable)
Some pull-out frames have replaceable spring units that fail before the rest of the frame. King Living and Brosa supply parts for many of their pieces.
If none of this works
A genuinely comfortable sofa bed costs more new — see our round-up of the best sofa beds in Australia. The Koala Sofa Bed and Ecosa Convertible are the two we recommend most.
For independent guidance on sleep and wellbeing, the Sleep Health Foundation is a good starting point.
