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How to make room for guests even in the smallest of Homes

Christmas is the most important time of year for family get-togethers and, while it is wonderful to have loved ones to stay, where to put them can sometimes be a real challenge. In a house where space is at a premium, sofa beds are the perfect solution.

Furniture designers these days know that a sofa-bed has to look stylish and feel comfortable, whether being used as a sofa or a bed, and many retailers offer a good selection with something to suit every pocket and every house.

Many furniture ranges today have regular chairs and sofas but also include matching sofa-beds, and these are ideal in homes with just one sitting-room, especially if unexpected guests turn up. The sofa-beds are comfortable as seating and, when needed for overnight sleeping space, transform easily. They take standard bedding, too, so you don’t have the extra expense of having to buy special bed linen or duvets.

A small two-seater sofa bed will provide a bed big enough for two people without taking up too much space. They can be useful addition to a spare room, a child’s bedroom, or even a study.

Choosing a sofa-bed is simple these days. There are many different designs available so it should be possible to buy one that will blend in with existing furniture or, if not, to complement it. It’s a good idea to test the sofa-bed first to ensure that it is not only comfortable but, also, that it transforms easily from one of its roles to the other.

Once the sofa-bed has been delivered, positioning it is more important than positioning a regular sofa because you need to make sure there is enough room to allow for it to be turned into a bed without having to be moved. The last thing you would want to do late at night, with an unexpected guest looking forward to a good night’s sleep, is to have to move heavy furniture around and, because a sofa-bed consists of a mattress and the mechanism for converting it, it will be heavier than a normal sofa. You want to be able to convert it with the minimum of fuss, throw on the bedding, and know that your guest will be happy and comfortable. In the morning, you want to be able to turn it back into a sofa with ease.

Accommodating extra guests, especially at Christmas, is so much easier these days with the advent of well-made stylish but comfortable sofa beds.