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The best way to have the best sleep on a couch

There are many reasons why a person might end up spending the night on a couch. Whether it’s staying at a friend’s house after a night out, having a fight with your other half, or even just falling asleep during Crimewatch, there are many reasons why somebody might end up forsaking their own bed in favour of a night on the living room sofa. Unfortunately, a night spent on the couch is not always the best night’s rest in the world, but there are a couple of little tricks that can help to make the experience more pleasant...

The first tip is obvious—be sure to choose the most comfortable sofa in the vicinity! Ideally, the sofa should be long enough for you to lie out straight, or at worst force you to curl up slightly. You also want to check that the couch is not too lumpy or hard – whilst at the same time, making sure it doesn’t sag in the middle. These are usually decisions best made before a beverage, as once judgement is impaired, finding an appropriate place to sleep may not be at the forefront of your mind...

The second step is to properly prepare the couch. Remove the back cushions to give yourself more sprawling space. Perhaps place them on the floor by the couch in case you happen to roll over and fall off the couch in the night. Next you should try to arrange any throw cushions into a pillow-shaped-mound. If you are fortunate enough to be given blankets, duvets or proper pillows by your gracious host, then your life is made easy. If however you are not the recipient of such extravagances, then try to locate a coat or jumper for a cover and fold up miscellaneous clothes to form a pillow. If nothing else is available, then the arm rest will have to suffice and fortunately some are more comfortable than others.

All that’s left to do now is climb aboard. Removing jeans or uncomfortable clothing is advisable, especially if you do not have a change of clothes for the next morning. Then try to find yourself the most comfortable position and snuggle down. Try to remain in the same spot, as tossing and turning all night will likely make the sofa cushions slide out from beneath you.

Finally – get 40 winks, and wake up feeling more refreshed than the unprepared sofa-sleeper!