If you're keen to up your hosting game, a chair bed is a great way to accommodate visitors. Essentially a single sofa bed, a chair bed doubles up as both an armchair and a bed. With room for just one person to sleep, chair beds are perfect for small living rooms or spare rooms that lack the space for a sofa bed. They also make for lovely bedroom features, or reading chairs, and are a hassle-free way to provide a more comfortable alternative to the sofa or floor when a surprise guest arrives.
As always with chairs and sofas, there's a wide selection of styles, material and layouts on the market, at a range of price points too. If you're not sure what to go for, jump to our short buyer's guide for more on what to consider when buying a chair bed.
We've scoured our favourite online stores and found nine lovely chair beds. Read on and find a perfect match for your home.
For more stylish seating, check out the best retro chairs and the best bean bags.
Best chair bed
Vesgantti 6-in-1 Sofa Bed Chair
Best for versatility
Opting for a colourful chair bed is a lovely way to add some vibrancy to a room, and the rich green exterior of this Vesgantti design really caught our eye. A budget-friendly choice, and available from Amazon, the Vesgantti sofa bed chair is all about versatility. There are six different positions to try out, from an upright chair, to a flat bed - and everything in between. So whether you're snoozing in front of the TV and fancy a slight recline, or want to make a bed up for the night, you're covered.
We love the elegant appearance of this chair bed too - ideal for a contemporary home, plus the armless design gives it a laid-back, unfussy feel.
If your garden could also benefit from some new seating, explore our hanging egg chair buyer's guide.
Habitat Roma Single Velvet Chairbed
Most stylish design
- Buy now from Argos (£255.00)
A pop of orange is always a fun look, and velvet too, what not to love? Habitat's Roma single velvet chair bed is a winner for us. Gorgeous velvet seat by day, easy-to-set-up bed by night. The chair uncurls to become a flat bed, and thanks to the wooden legs, you've got some height too.
Pair with blue home furnishings for an on-trend look. Find inspiration in our guide to the best blue and orange styling ideas.
Single Futon Chair Bed
Most unique cover
A chair bed for the leopard print enthusiasts amongst us. Futon style sofa beds and chair beds, with their wooden slats and cotton covers, offer a relaxed feel. Great for playrooms and bedrooms, and a perfect way to host big family events and sleepovers.
While the futon design has remained fairly classic over the years, this funky cover helps add a contemporary and bold twist. This chair bed is as fabulous as it is practical, and you're sure to have visitors going wild over it.
Grayson Grey Chair Bed
Best for classic design
- Buy now from Dunelm (£244.30)
In the market for a more subtle chair bed that'll work with different interior styles? The Grayson chair bed from Dunelm offers a timeless shape and classic grey cover. For a splash of colour, decorate with your favourite cushions and throws and create a cosy haven.
This design is a lot more solid than some of the other models on the market when folded out as a bed, so it's one to consider if you're worried about flimsy structures.
Pudding Love Seat Sofa Bed
Best for comfort
- Buy now from Loaf (£2,215.00)
If you're a fan of Loaf's Pudding Sofa (which has seemed to have gained celebrity status) you'll be delighted to know there's also a mini version.
While Loaf's chair bed is certainly on the expensive side, this design is far more similar to a traditional sofa bed in that it features a fold-out design (rather than a cushion that flops out). So you're investing in quality, and a very comfortable bed for your visitors.
Swyft Model 08 Single Sofa Bed
Best designer chair bed
For a particularly chic chair bed, Swyft's 08 is a beautiful model. The striking lines and inviting cushions are hard to resist, and your guest will have plenty of sleeping room as it folds out to make a standard UK single.
There are over 20 fabulous fabrics and colours to choose from, including linen, velvet and boucle, so you're spoilt for choice!
Dylan Single Fold Out Sofa Bed
Best clic-clac chair bed
- Buy now from Marks and Spencer (£329.00)
We love a yellow sofa here at YourHomeStyle, so we were rather taken with this ochre single sofa bed. This is a Marks and Spencer design, and it's at the more affordable end of the scale. The chair bed's simplicity makes it an appealing option. The clic-clac mechanism means in just two movements you'll have the bed out and ready to go. Easy.
Buttram Chair Bed
- Buy now from Wayfair (
£297.99£229.99)
Perfect for a light room, this boxy, fuss-free chair bed from Wayfair is ideal for spontaneous visitors. The design flops out and becomes a mattress on the floor, so while it may not suit fussy sleepers looking for a bed, it's a more comfortable alternative to a blow up bed (that'll likely deflate during the night).
With the help of some lovely bedding, and a cushion or two, you're sorted.
HOMCOM 2-in-1 Single Sofa Bed
Best for an office
Boasting a smart aesthetic, we'd say this sofa bed chair is well suited to a home office. The suede is ideal for adding a touch of sophistication, and unlike many chair bed models, the bed is risen from the ground when folded down so you've got more of a typical bed structure. A nice option if you've got someone staying for more than one night.
This HOMCOM chair bed features an adjustable backrest for when you're reading, or watching a film, and sponge padding for added comfort. The pillow comes with the design too so you'll have your visitor's bed made up in no time.
Find a new desk chair for your office too with our roundup of the best on the market.
What to consider when buying a chair bed
Types of chair bed
- Foldable chair beds are the most hassle-free of chair beds, as the seat cushions simply fold, or flop, out to create a mattress-style bed base. The lack of tools and mechanisms involved make for a straightforward setup. The downside however is the lack of structure, and if your guests require more support when they sleep, we'd advise a chair bed with a frame.
- Pull out chair beds, just like pull out sofa beds, feature built-in bars which pull out to make a bed frame. The seat's backrest stays upright to form a headboard. Pull out chair beds are typically more expensive, but you're paying for comfort as the bed is risen from the floor, and you can find models that are as big as a standard single mattress.
- Clic-Clac chair beds are renowned for their simplicity - the seat and backrest cushion fold flat to become the bed. This style of chair bed is ideal for those tight on room, as the chair itself can be fairly slimline and neat as there's no bulky mattress or mechanism built in to the structure.
Frame quality
If your chair bed is frequently used, it's worth investing in a quality frame. Metal frames secured with bolts and screws are a solid choice, as they can provide a sturdy structure that'll see you through many years. Wooden frames are another option - typically found on futon beds - and it's best to opt for a hardwood, such as oak or beech. Hardwood should enhance your chair bed's longevity, and it can also offer a more natural, rustic look which is favoured by many.
Material
Chair beds come in an array of materials and fabrics, including velvet, linen and cotton. Velvet chair beds are a popular choice as you can have the luxury of a beautiful accent chair, matched with the practicality of a spare bed. It's not the easiest fabric to keep clean however, so if you're a pet owner, or you're planning on placing the chair in a playroom, a more robust material such as leather may be more suitable.
Linen and cotton are ideal for a relaxed vibe, and can look particularly lovely in beige tones, but you may prefer a darker colour - a slate grey or navy - that'll do a better job at hiding imperfections.
If it's storage you're after, check out the best divan beds. You can also explore our favourite storage mirror ideas.