Sleeper Chairs
A chair during the day and a bed at night.
A tremendous idea for a small room at home where a sleeper couch just won't fit, the sleeper chair satisfies two essential needs: a comfortable seat for you or a friend, and a cozy twin bed for one, lucky guest. And for the office, you can use it at work during your lunch hour for a midday power nap.
Buying Guide
Chloe is a highly-regarded expert in all things vintage and antique. She’s excited to share her vast knowledge with readers and clients wishing to infuse their homes with a mixture of old-time warmth and modern comfort. In addition to her design work, Chloe regularly volunteers at her local community center, teaching DIY projects to adults and kids.
Your pull-out sleeper chair can be a valuable addition to your living room or your comfortable camping equipment. It can serve as a daybed, a comfortable place for a child to nap, for you to get in a power nap after lunch, or just a place to lounge with a good book. It can even provide an added place for an unexpected guest to sleep. Yet, when your pull-out sleeper chair is not being used as a bed, it looks just like an ordinary armchair.
Pull-out sleeper chairs are great space savers
A pull-out sleeper chair can be a great space-saver in a dorm room, small apartment, or tiny house. An area that’s a living room by day can quickly and easily be transformed into a sleeping space at night. All you have to do is pull out the sleeper feature, get the blankets and sheets out of the storage footstool, and settle down for a good night’s rest.
Pull-out sleeper chairs can be taken for camping
How can you take a pull-out sleeper chair camping, you might ask. Air mattresses aren’t the only things that come as inflatables – you can get an inflatable armchair that has a pullout sleeping feature. If you are hosting a camping event, such as a medieval reenactment or family reunion, inflatable seating can be a handy thing to have – especially if some of your guests find sitting on the ground or on hard benches uncomfortable.
When selecting your pull-out sleeper chair, you might want to consider the following:
- Style of your other furniture. This might dictate whether you want a pull-out sleeper chair that looks like a regular easy chair, a foam chair, or an inflatable. If it doesn’t match your other furniture, can you add a slipcover or throw to pull the look of your room together? The answer is probably yes, but not all designs work well with slipcovers.
- Weight and height of the person most likely to sit or sleep on the chair. If you are likely to have a petite guest, an inflatable or foam chair should be fine. However, if you expect a large-size person, a sturdier chair might be indicated.
- Portability. If the chair needs to get packed up with your tent, then an inflatable pull-out is a good option. Inflatables are also a good way to quickly add furniture to a dorm room or a first apartment. They are not, however, a good choice if you have pets – especially cats or dogs with claws.
- Quality of the mattress. Too many “pull-outs” have thin mattresses and bars that impact your back. Look for a thicker mattress, sturdy construction, or even a pull-out sleeper chair that makes more of a pallet on the floor than a bed. Consider keeping a foam topper on hand to make up for a thin mattress.
- Sturdy construction. Even if you are buying an inflatable chair for camping, good workmanship will extend the life of your pull-out sleeper chair.
The right pull-out sleeper chair can enhance your living room or turn your tent into a gracious living area.
Chairs that fold out into a twin-sized bed are often called sleeper chairs. The designs are so diversified that one of these chairs can fit almost anywhere. Perfect spots can include a quiet loft, a noisy teen's room or in the living area of a small apartment.
Not all pull-out beds are found in sofas. Sleeper chairs are compact for small spaces. They also offer so much more in modern design and originality. Look for other names like futon chair, chair bed, or convertible chair.
Durable and easy-to-clean materials make sleeper chairs practical and wearable. Some of the best choices for sleeper chairs include:
- Fabric - Any imaginable fabric is used in creating a sleeper chair. Cotton, polyester, linen, fake fur and microfiber are a few of the choices available for personal preference. Animal prints and kids' favorite colors and characters can also be found.
- Leather/Leatherette - Leather or leatherette is a favorite material for use in a single chair. Simple contemporary styles allow movement to different areas of the home. Wherever an additional bed is needed, leather fits right in.
- Metal - Legs and arms are often made of stainless steel or metal of painted matte finish. Frames that hold a pull-out sleeper are also metal and adhere to national safety guidelines for durability and weight standards.
- Pull-Out - A pull-out sleeper module can be indiscrete until bedtime. What can look like a seat cushion on a base can turn into a pull-out bed. The base shell hides the lower half of the bed beautifully. The cushion folds over to complete the mattress top. Vintage models that pull up and out to extended metal legs are still also available. Fabrics that reflect today's styles make sleeper chairs a great addition at reasonable prices.
- Fold-Over - New to the furniture scene are the fold-over cushions that fold down on secure arm rests to deliver an amazing twin bed. Models that sit close to the floor simply fold over without having to have aid from armrests. Smaller models are perfect for a child's room for when they have friends over. Fun colors in fur or patterns of cotton/polyester blends are perfect for casual use.
- Adjustable Back - A chair can have up to 7 different adjustable levels for the back. From a sitting position to a lying flat posture, a bed is instantly available. The adjustable back also comes in handy for a propped up bed position while watching TV.
The styles available in sleeper chairs are sleek and modern. Rounded or square upholstered arms and back are appropriate for contemporary or minimalist decors. Taller chairs with pencil legs fit in with urban industrial or modern designs with ease.
Casual sleeper chairs should be vacuumed regularly. Spot clean with an upholstery cleaner when needed. If a mattress is included, wipe down with a damp cloth and disinfect it after each use. Read the manufacturer's care manual for any specific cleaning instructions.
