Updated 1 November 2026 · By the 10Grains team
Above: five Christmas guests, five sofa beds, and one paper-cutout friend who has been all of them at some point.
Came here from our "Which Christmas guest are you?" video? All five sofa beds are below. You can also search GUEST321 on 10grains.co.uk to see them side by side.
The short answer: match the sofa bed to the guest who will actually sleep on it, and check the bed length before anything else:
- 1The in-laws (a big sofa with storage): L-shaped pull-out sofa bed with storage under the chaise.
- 2Home from uni for a month (small room, one sleeper): 4-in-1 velvet sofa bed, 183 × 98.5 cm bed.
- 3Asleep by four (a back that drops flat): 120 cm two-seater with a 3-position back.
- 4Brings the snacks, stays up till two (the biggest bed here): pull-out sofa bed with cup holders, 190 × 126 cm bed.
- 5The couple with different bedtimes (a back that splits in two): 189 cm split-back velvet sofa bed.
Every family has them. The in-laws, who arrive with more luggage than nights. The student who comes home "for Christmas" and stays until the middle of January. The one who is asleep in an armchair by four o'clock. The night owl with the snacks and the board games. And the couple who have never once gone to bed at the same time.
If you don't have a spare room, a sofa bed is the whole plan. But sofa beds vary a lot: some fold into a single, some pull out into a double, and some are shorter than the person who'll be sleeping on them. The numbers that matter are the sleeping length, the width, and how much floor you lose when it's open.
We've matched five of ours to five Christmas guests, with the sizes, the honest catches, and a real product photo next to each scene. Or take the quiz and we'll match your guest for you.
Christmas Guest Finder: which sofa bed do you need?
Three taps and we'll point you at the right one.
Everything we recommend
1 In-lawsL-shaped sofa bed
2 Uni kid4-in-1 sofa bed
3 Napper3-position sofa bed
4 Night owlCup-holder sofa bed
5 Split backSplit-back sofa bed
How we matched them
We're the retailer, so we're not pretending to be neutral, and we haven't slept on these ourselves. What we did was read every listing: sofa size, bed size, back positions, weight limits, storage and what comes in the box. Then we asked which of those matters most to each kind of guest. Every figure below comes from the supplier's published specifications, and every pick gets a "worth knowing" section.
1The in-laws: an L-shaped pull-out sofa bed with storage
Two nights. Three suitcases. A bag of presents, a bag of "just in case" and a pillow they've brought from home. The in-laws need a proper bed and somewhere to put all of it that isn't your hallway.
L-Shaped 3-Seater Pull-Out Sofa Bed with Storage – Light Grey
A three-seater L-shaped sofa whose base pulls out into a bed, with storage under the chaise.
See it at 10GrainsWhy it suits them
A sofa all year, a bed when they visit. The lower frame pulls out to make the sleeping area, then slides back in when they go home.
Somewhere for the luggage. The chaise lifts up to reveal a storage compartment, handy for spare bedding the rest of the year.
Fits your room either way round. The chaise can go on the left or the right, so it works with the door and the window wherever they are.
Worth knowing
It's big. At 232 cm wide and 141 cm deep across the chaise, it needs a proper living-room wall. Measure before you fall for it.
No stated bed size. The listing doesn't give sleeping-area dimensions. The photos show the pulled-out base and the chaise making one wide sleeping area across the sofa.
Assembly required. Allow time to put it together before the guests arrive.
Key specs
Size: 232 W × 141 D × 85 H cm · two-seat section 126 × 52 cm · chaise 75 × 107 cm
Seat height: 43 cm · Fabric: linen-look polyester · Max load: 150 kg per seat
2Home from uni for a month: a 4-in-1 velvet sofa bed
They arrive with a bag of washing, leave three weeks later with a bag of clean washing, and spend the time in between on a laptop with the door shut. A spare room is ideal. A box room with one small sofa bed is fine.
4-in-1 Velvet Double Sofa Bed with 5-Position Back – Blue
A compact velvet sofa bed that works as a loveseat, recliner, floor settee or bed.
See it at 10GrainsWhy it suits them
Four modes in one small footprint. Loveseat, reclining two-seater, floor settee and bed, all from a sofa just 102 cm wide.
Five back positions. The click-clack back goes from 100° upright to 180° flat, with 120°, 140° and 160° in between.
Easy to keep fresh. The two pillows have removable, washable covers, which after a month of uni-kid visiting is not a small thing.
Worth knowing
It's a single, whatever the name says. Opened out, the bed is 183 cm long and 98.5 cm wide. That's a roomy single, not a double.
One person. The maximum load is 120 kg, so it's a bed for one guest.
Low to the ground. The seat is 37 cm high and the bed 26 cm, lower than a normal bed.
Key specs
Sofa: 102 W × 73 D × 81 H cm · Bed: 183 L × 98.5 W × 26 H cm
Back: 5 positions, 100° to 180° · Fabric: velvet-feel polyester · Max load: 120 kg
3Asleep by four on Christmas Day: a two-seater with a 3-position back
Turkey, pudding, one more chocolate, and by four o'clock they're gone: paper crown over one eye, mouth open, missing the film everyone picked. You may as well give them somewhere comfortable to do it.
120 cm 2-Seater Sofa Bed with 3-Position Back – Light Brown
A compact two-seater whose back goes upright, reclined or flat, with pockets on the side.
See it at 10GrainsWhy it suits them
Three backrest angles. Sit at 105°, lounge at 130°, or drop it to 180° to make the bed.
Springs, not just foam. High-density foam sits on serpentine springs, on a eucalyptus-wood frame.
Pockets for the remote. Two side storage pockets, two pillows, and pillow covers you can take off and wash.
Worth knowing
Check the length. The bed is 178 cm long and 101 cm wide. Tall guests may want number 4, which is 190 cm long.
Compact means compact. As a sofa it's 120 cm wide: a cosy two-seater rather than a lounging sofa.
Assembly required. It arrives flat-packed.
Key specs
Sofa: 120 W × 84 D × 86 H cm · Bed: 101 W × 178 L × 44 H cm
Back: 105°, 130°, 180° · Fabric: snow flannel · Max load: 240 kg
4Brings the snacks, stays up till two: a pull-out sofa bed with cup holders
They turn up with crisps, a board game and "just one more round". At 2am they're still going, and they'll be sleeping wherever they happen to be sitting. Which, ideally, is a sofa that becomes a proper double.
2-Seater Pull-Out Sofa Bed with Cup Holders – Charcoal Grey
A two-seater that pulls out into a 190 × 126 cm guest bed, with cup holders and side pockets.
See it at 10GrainsWhy it suits them
A proper bed for two. The base pulls out into a 190 cm long, 126 cm wide sleeping surface, with a 250 kg maximum load.
Somewhere for the drinks. There's a cup holder in each arm and four side pockets for the remote, phones and cards.
Three ways to use it. A three-position back gives you a sofa, a lounger and a bed.
Worth knowing
It needs floor space when open. Pulled out, it's 190 cm deep, so clear the coffee table before bedtime.
Bigger than it looks. As a sofa it's 157 cm wide and 90 cm deep.
Assembly required. Leave time to build it before the first visitor.
Key specs
Sofa: 157 W × 90 D × 91 H cm · Bed: 157 W × 190 D × 48.5 H cm
Sleeping surface: 190 × 126 cm · Extras: 2 cup holders, 4 side pockets, 2 pillows · Max load: 250 kg
5The couple with different bedtimes: a split-back velvet sofa bed
One of them is asleep by ten. The other is on chapter twelve and nowhere near done. A sofa whose back folds down in two separate halves means nobody has to compromise.
189 cm Split-Back Velvet 3-Seater Sofa Bed – Green
A three-seater velvet sofa bed whose back folds down in two halves, independently.
See it at 10GrainsWhy it suits them
Two backs, two moods. Each half of the split back moves on its own through 105°, 130° and 180°, so one side can lie flat while the other sits up.
Thick seat. The seat cushion is 19 cm of foam, on wooden legs with a metal support in the middle.
Velvet-feel green. A deep green that looks good the other 51 weeks of the year too.
Worth knowing
Short when flat. The flat surface is 168 cm long and 104 cm wide, so it suits shorter guests, older children or a nap. For tall adults, choose number 4.
Wide sofa. At 189 cm wide it's a full three-seater.
Assembly required. It arrives flat-packed with the legs to fit.
Key specs
Sofa: 189 W × 80.5 D × 78.5 H cm · Bed surface: 168 W × 104 D × 44 H cm
Back: split, each half 105° / 130° / 180° · Fabric: velvet-feel polyester · Max load: 300 kg (sofa)
The five side by side
| Pick | Best for | Sofa (W × D × H) | Bed (L × W) | How it opens | Max load |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 L-shaped pull-out | Big living rooms, lots of luggage | 232 × 141 × 85 cm | Not stated | Pull-out base + storage chaise | 150 kg per seat |
| 2 4-in-1 velvet | Small rooms, one guest | 102 × 73 × 81 cm | 183 × 98.5 cm | Click-clack back, 5 positions | 120 kg |
| 3 120 cm two-seater | Nappers, compact rooms | 120 × 84 × 86 cm | 178 × 101 cm | Back folds flat, 3 positions | 240 kg |
| 4 Cup-holder pull-out | Two guests, tall guests | 157 × 90 × 91 cm | 190 × 126 cm | Pull-out base, 3-position back | 250 kg |
| 5 Split-back velvet | Lounging, shorter guests | 189 × 80.5 × 78.5 cm | 168 × 104 cm | Split back, each half 3 positions | 300 kg (sofa) |
Figures are the supplier's published specifications. All five need some assembly. Scroll the table sideways on a phone.
Pull-out, click-clack or split back: which sofa bed do you need?
There are three main ways a sofa becomes a bed, and each suits a different room and a different guest:
- Pull-out sofa beds (numbers 1 and 4): a lower frame slides out from under the seat to make the bed. You usually get the biggest sleeping area this way, but you need clear floor in front of the sofa when it's open. Number 4 opens to 190 cm deep.
- Click-clack sofa beds (number 2): the backrest clicks down in stages until it lies flat. Quick, compact and good in a small room, but the bed is only as wide as the seat.
- Fold-down and split backs (numbers 3 and 5): the back drops to 180° to make a flat surface. A split back, like number 5, lets each half move on its own, so one side can be a bed while the other is still a sofa.
Rule of thumb: for a guest who'll be staying more than a night or two, go for the longest and widest bed your room can take. For the occasional nap or a short stay, a compact click-clack or fold-down back is plenty.
Three things to check before you buy a sofa bed
Bed length
Our five open to between 168 and 190 cm long. Allow your guest's height plus a little extra for the pillow: tall guests need number 4.
Floor space
A pull-out bed needs clear floor in front of it. Measure from the wall to the coffee table, and plan where the table goes at bedtime.
Who sleeps on it
Weight limits range from 120 kg (number 2, a bed for one) to 250 kg (number 4) and 300 kg for number 5 as a sofa.
Other good options
The same 4-in-1 in beige. Our 4-in-1 velvet sofa bed in beige has the same five back positions.
The cup-holder pull-out in light grey. The 157 cm 3-in-1 pull-out sofa bed has the same 190 cm sleeping length in a lighter colour.
The L-shape in dark grey. The L-shaped pull-out sofa bed in dark grey hides the mess a bit better.
What we left out, and why
Air beds and camp beds. We don't sell them, and they don't double as seating the rest of the year.
Sofa beds for every-night sleeping. These five are made for guests and occasional use. If someone will sleep on it every night, a proper bed is the better buy.
Armchairs. If your napper just needs somewhere to nod off, see Which armchair are you?
Want to browse more? See all our sofa beds or the wider sofas and seating range.
Sofa beds for Christmas guests: frequently asked questions
Which sofa bed has the longest bed?
Number 4, the 2-seater pull-out sofa bed with cup holders. It opens to a 190 cm long, 126 cm wide sleeping surface and takes up to 250 kg.
Is the 4-in-1 velvet double sofa bed really a double?
Not in bed terms. Opened out, it's 183 cm long and 98.5 cm wide, which is a roomy single, and its maximum load is 120 kg, so it's for one guest.
Which sofa bed has storage?
Number 1, the L-shaped pull-out sofa bed, has a storage compartment under the chaise. Number 3 has two side pockets, and number 4 has four side pockets and two cup holders.
What is a split-back sofa bed?
The backrest is in two halves that move separately. On our 189 cm velvet sofa bed each half goes to 105°, 130° or 180°, so one side can be flat while the other stays upright.
How much space does a pull-out sofa bed need?
Allow for the full bed depth in front of the wall. Our cup-holder pull-out is 90 cm deep as a sofa and 190 cm deep as a bed.
Do these sofa beds need assembling?
Yes. All five arrive needing some assembly, so build it before your guests arrive.
Are these sofa beds suitable for every night?
They're designed as sofas that convert for guests and occasional sleeping. For someone sleeping on it every night, a proper bed is a better choice.
We're a small UK team who read spec sheets so you don't have to. Which Christmas guest are you, or got a question about one of these sofa beds? Leave a comment below and one of us will reply.
