Picking the right sofa bed is a crucial way to maximize space, provide a comfortable stay for guests, and encourage repeat bookings. Keep reading to see our list of the best sofa beds for Airbnb!
Why Get a Sofa Bed for Your Vacation Rental?
A sofa bed or futon is an excellent way to increase sleeping capacity in an Airbnb without taking up additional space. You can add a daybed with a trundle to a children’s or spare room and instantly double your occupancy in your Airbnb.
Futons and sofa beds are great options for maximizing utility while still prioritizing comfort. These furniture pieces serve two purposes by providing both a bed and a couch depending on the needs of your guests.
What to Look for in an Airbnb Sofa Bed
Ultimately, choosing a daybed or futon can come down to personal taste and a number of factors such as durability, price, style, material, size, ease of cleaning, and warranty policy. As Airbnb Superhosts, we have put together some of the factors we consider when choosing sofa beds for our rental properties.
Sofa Bed Vs. Futon
While similar in function, there are slight structural and mechanical differences between sofa beds and futons. Both sofa beds and futons are able to convert between a seated couch to a bed.
However, a sofa bed is generally constructed like a couch that has a metal or wooden frame underneath that you can pull out and unfold to create a bed. On the other hand, a futon is a couch whose back can recline to create a bed.
Durability
All Airbnb hosts know that rental furniture gets put through the wringer. Furniture with movable pieces like futons and daybeds are particularly prone to sustaining more than usual wear and tear.
Therefore, choosing an option that is well-constructed, sturdy, and designed with a durable material is crucial to protecting your investment. Because guests will be potentially changing the set-up of these items, changing them from sofa to couch and vice-versa, you will want to make sure that what you buy is well-made and easy to use.
Choosing a material that can withstand heavy use, repel stains, and resist tears can ensure your daybed lasts a long time.
Price
Rental furniture is a big investment for an Airbnb host, and a daybed is no exception. Because a sofa bed serves a dual purpose and can increase the capacity of your home, it is a high-value item.
Generally, high quality is associated with a high price. Luckily, for Airbnb hosts on a budget, we are always looking to balance quality versus cost and have some excellent and affordable options to get you started.
Ultimately you will want to make a choice that won’t break the bank if you need to replace it but is high enough quality that it’s less likely to need replacing.
Style
Personal design choices can be an important factor when selecting furniture for your Airbnb. Whether traditional or modern, ornate or simple, the furniture you choose can impact your ratings, reviews, and repeat rentals.
Unfortunately, when many people think of futons, they think of poorly constructed and uncomfortable dorm room staples. However, futons and sofa beds have significantly improved in quality of construction, design, and appearance over the past several years.
Luckily, there are many stylish options to choose from that will enhance the look of any Airbnb property.
Material
As we mentioned before, the material of your sofabed is important to consider when determining how durable the piece is. Opting for a stain-resistant option that is unlikely to pull or tear can ensure the longevity of your furniture.
Additionally, you will want to consider your guest’s comfort. Some of the more durable options, like leather or canvas, are going to be less comfortable to sit and sleep on than softer, more delicate options such as microfiber, cotton, and suede.
Size
While not everyone is a master of feng shui, as Airbnb Superhosts, we can certainly vouch for the importance of arranging a room correctly.
One of the most advantageous benefits of a sofabed is its utility. Even your smallest guest room can be a viable bedroom with the correct sofa bed. Because futons and sofa beds are convertible, they can serve in tighter spaces as a couch and only be turned into a bed in the evening when the guests are ready for bed.
Additionally, you should consider who the sofa bed is intended for when choosing a size. Adults will require a larger size sofa bed than children.
Ease of Cleaning
Providing your guests with a beautiful and clean vacation home is perhaps the most important factor in securing repeat customers.
Therefore, ease of cleaning is an important factor to consider when buying a statement piece such as a futon or sofa bed. As mentioned before, certain materials might be easier to clean and maintain than others.
You also want to consider the differences between the sofa bed and the futon here. Whereas sofa beds might require more effort to clean beneath, additional sheets for laundry, and separate pillows, futon have the gap between the back and the base where crumbs might collect.
Also, futons can usually be fitted with a removable and washable cover. This may increase durability, make it easier to keep clean, and provides the option of changing up the design if you want.
Free Returns and Warranty
Finally, when purchasing a large ticket item like a futon or sofa bed, you will want to review the return policy and consider the warranty.
Because these particular types of furniture are versatile, you will want to ensure that all mechanical aspects and design components are in working order, simple to use, and are not easily breakable.
Several of the options we have reviewed have warranty policies that give a purchaser more peace of mind and a window in which to return if necessary.
Here are the Best Sofa Beds for Airbnb
With all of the above factors in mind, we have selected several options that have served us well in the past. Read on for our shortlist of excellent sofa bed and futon options.
Our Top Pick: Novogratz Brittany Futon
The Novogratz Brittany Futon is an elegant and impactful statement piece. As previously mentioned, ease of cleaning is a top priority as an Airbnb Superhost. One of my favorite things about this daybed is that the faux leather finish makes cleaning up a breeze.
Also, the Novogratz Brittany Futon is incredibly easy to convert between a sitting, lounging, and sleeping position.
2 used from $302.04
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- Stylish upholstery with ribbed tufted cushioned back with slanted oak colored wooden legs
- Multi-functional split-back design that independently reclines between three positions: sitting, lounging and sleeping. Perfect piece to add to your living room, guest bedroom or home office to accommodate overnight guests.
- Sturdy wood frame construction that is stable and durable. Comfortable polyester and foam filling.
Color Selection of the Novogratz Brittany Futon
In addition to the stylish design, this futon also comes in a variety of trendy colors and materials. The color options you can order include both neutral and bright options such as:
- Camel Faux Leather
- Black Faux Leather
- Dark Gray Linen
- Green Linen
- Light Blue Linen
- Orange Linen
- Pink Linen
Overall Thoughts on the Novogratz Brittany Futon
Overall, this futon is an affordable, stylish, and versatile option. Also easy for guests to use and available in a variety of colors; you even have a choice of materials. However, we do suggest one of the faux leather options as they are the easiest to clean.
If a daybed isn’t quite right for your Airbnb, you might want to consider a regular sofa, a sectional, or a sleeper sofa. Check out this article that features the nine best couches for a vacation rental.
Check out our master list of Airbnb Essentials for hosts here…>>
The Runner up: The Serta Rane Convertible Sofa
The Serta Rane Convertible Sofa is incredibly easy to assemble and the perfect addition to any small space.
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- COMFORT: Serta, the first name in comfort, makes Serta-comfortable, sensibly priced, elegant living area seating. The contemporary, convertible Rane sofa provides premium comfort and style. You'll enjoy the Rane for years.
- BEAUTY: This futuristic, convertible sofa has a sleek silhouette with high-density foam, tufted seat and back, and modern chrome legs. This beautiful and versatile sofa is easy to assemble with the tools included.
Features
The Serta Convertible Sofa has several features that make this bed stand out from other daybeds and trundles on the market. Just a few of these notable features include:
- High-density foam cushion
- Finger Guard protection
- Solid hardwood frame
- Convertible recline
One feature that I really love about this bed is that it is so easy to assemble. Additionally, the vegan leather makes it easy to clean and sleekly stylish.
Cons of the Serta Rane
Although this sofa is an easy-to-assemble option that is well-suited to small spaces, heavier guests may challenge the structural integrity of the Serta’s sleek design.
Modern and Adjustable: DHP Nia Upholstered Sofa Bed
If you’re looking to add sleeping space to a room with a touch of comfort, the DHP Nia Upholstered sofa bed is an easy-to-assemble value find.
1 used from $345.79
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- Mid Century modern design upholstered in faux Leather with a Tufted Back and tapered wood legs.
- Multi-functional piece ideal for small living spaces with a split back design that provides multiple positions of comfort. Converts quickly and easily into a lounger and Sleeper.
- Sturdy wood Construction with wide track arms to provide extra comfort.
- Ships in one box. Assembles quickly. Also available in Blue velvet or grey velvet. Pair with the matching Nola modern chair.
This daybed is available in a Camel faux leather and is sure to match the décor in any Airbnb guest room. I love the way it stands out but also matches everything.
This bed is full of positive features but does have some drawbacks.
Pros:
- Button tufted pattern
- Faux leather for easy clean up
- Matching chair available
- Sturdy wood construction
- Easy to assemble
Cons:
- More expensive than other daybeds on the market
- Firmer than some would like
- Longer than average shipping time
Overall Thoughts on the Nia Upholstered Modern Sofa Bed
This bed will enhance any room with its button-tufted headboard and warm neutral tone. It is more expensive than some other daybeds on the market, but it is a sturdy, high-quality piece of furniture. You could add this daybed to any room in your Airbnb to provide extra sleeping accommodations that will look stylish and add a touch of comfort.
Mid-Century Comfort: Zinus Benton Sofa Couch
For a cozy and durable addition, look no further than the Zinus Benton Sofa Couch. I’ve found that the tool-free assembly and easy cleaning make this a high-value purchase for my Airbnb properties.
You can even choose from the following timeless colors and fabrics:
- Stone grey linen
- Beige linen
- Cognac faux leather
- Grey velvet
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- Note : To ensure proper assembly, please follow all steps provided in the installation manual (provided in pdf below)
- Dimensions: 76.43 x 30.71 x 33.9 in. Weight: 91.7 lbs
- TIMELESS COMFORT - Made to stand out and feel cozy with its sophisticated grid tufting, subtly rounded arms and dense yet supportive foam seating, the Benton refines a room with ease
- DURABLE DESIGN - A naturally-strong frame is wrapped in supportive foam cushioning and a durable, polyester fabric; seats a maximum weight capacity of 750 lbs; cushions are secured to the frame and are not detachable
Features
Unlike most daybeds, the back cushions are washable, making cleanup a breeze. Moreover, even taller or heavier guests will find this option a comfortable fit as it has a 700+ pound weight limit.
Pros:
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Great value
- Quick and easy assembly
- Various colors and materials to choose from
Cons:
- Fabric options may snag
- Pocket spring rather than memory foam
Choosing a Sofa Bed or Futon for your Airbnb
Whether you are looking to maximize occupancy, furnish a smaller space, or both, a stylish and comfortable sofa bed is a great choice. By balancing cost, design, and durability against ease of assembly and ease of cleaning, we have found that these options will meet just about any need.
To finish furnishing your rental, make sure and check out all of our Airbnb living room essentials here…>>
