A comfortable and practical chair-bed is an excellent example of a furniture transformer that is equally good in a spacious room or a small room. And for a small apartment, this is an opportunity to save free space and organize an additional sleeping place with the maximum level of comfort. All that remains is to figure out how to choose a chair-bed for daily sleep, and what features deserve attention.
How to choose a chair-bed
Convertible chairs stand out for their practicality, practicality, ergonomics and versatility. They can be used as part of the interior of a living room, office, or small bedroom. In order for this furniture to work for a long time and correctly in each of the specific cases, it is necessary to approach its choice as fully as possible.
The main criteria for choosing such a piece of furniture include:
- size.
This criterion includes both the size of the chair and the room itself. It is logical that in a small bedroom of 10 square meters, volumetric models with wide armrests would be inappropriate. Conversely, in a large living room, a lonely small standing chair will look out of place. When purchasing such a piece of furniture, you also need to consider how it will fit into the room once opened. The size of the sleeping area is also important, especially if this furniture is purchased for an adult and for everyday use.
- transformation mechanism.
The most common mechanisms are: accordion, roll-out, dolphin, clamshell, book, eurobook, etc. each of them has its own pros and cons. The main thing is that the transformation process is in the power of those who will use it. Below we will look at each of them in more detail.
- frame material.
The design of the chair-bed can be made of chipboard, wooden beams or metal pipes. The first option is characterized by lower cost, the second by strength, and the third by simplicity of design. Regardless of what the frame is made of, the quality of its components and proper assembly are more important. When purchasing, you should check how the furniture is assembled and disassembled, whether there are any extraneous sounds, friction, etc.
- filler.
When choosing a filler, you should decide how often the chair will be used as a sleeping place. If every day you should pay attention to fillers with orthopedic properties. The best option in this case would be a combination of a spring block and polyurethane foam (PPU).
- upholstery.
The quality of the upholstery largely determines how long the furniture will retain its aesthetic appearance. Most often, manufacturers use velvet, flock, matte, artificial or natural leather. Each of these materials is not only beautiful in its own way, but also easy to care for. In addition, manufacturers often give the buyer the right to choose not only the color, but also the upholstery material, which greatly helps to make the right choice.
In addition, when choosing the transformation of furniture, you need to pay attention to the height of the surface of the bed and the presence of unevenness on it, the presence of a linen drawer, and removable coverings.
Let's consider the most popular models of sofa beds with various transformation mechanisms.
Location Tips
Regardless of which room the small chair and bed will be located in, it is worth considering several factors:
- the sleeping place should not be located in the aisle or next to the doors;
- it is necessary to take into account the presence of drafts;
- Do not place the sleeping place next to radiators and radiators;
- When choosing a seat, you must take into account that the chair-bed when unfolded is larger in size - nothing should interfere with unfolding.
Often, owners try to place a chair-bed away from not only artificial, but also natural light sources. In this case, it is better to solve the issue individually; some people, on the contrary, like to wake up with the rays of the sun.
When assembled, the chair should be located comfortably enough so that the person sitting on it can watch TV or reach the bookcase with his hand. Here are a few more options for placing a bed chair in a small room:
- If space in the kitchen allows, a dining area with upholstered furniture is often located in the corner farthest from the stove. In a small room, folding chairs, if necessary, become a bed for guests;
- In the living room bedroom, the best place for a seating area is away from the TV and main light sources. Sometimes the bedroom is decorated in more modest colors in contrast to the guest area. To prevent noise from disturbing the sleeper, the chair and bed can be separated by a light shelving unit or at least a curtain;
- if the room has a niche of sufficient size, this is an ideal option for a sleeping place. In some cases, the size of the niches is large enough that they can be closed with sliding frosted glass partitions or a small corner for relaxation can be arranged there;
- a chair and bed can be useful in a nursery, especially if there are two children. In this case, the second sleeping place is located under the bunk bed, where you can also place small shelves for things or a compact wall for books.
Folding chair frame - types and features
To make the frame, manufacturers of transformable chairs use materials such as:
- Chipboard or plywood;
- wooden beam;
- metal;
- aluminum.
Products with a frame made of chipboard and plywood belong to the budget category. When choosing an inexpensive model, you should pay attention to the quality of material processing; chipboard panels must be treated with special impregnations, jointed or laminated.
The wooden frame has a long service life and can withstand daily loads. The furniture market offers affordable models of chairs with a frame made of coniferous wood and luxury furniture made of expensive lumber. The undoubted advantage of wooden frames is the environmental safety of the products. However, it should be remembered that wood is a rather extravagant material; wooden furniture cannot be used in rooms with high humidity.
Steel bases are highly durable and ideal for everyday use. The metal base of the chair-bed must be treated with special compounds that protect the material from mechanical damage and corrosion.
The advantage of aluminum tubular frames is ease of use and low weight. But constant loads negatively affect the strength and service life of the product.
The ideal option would be furniture with a frame made from a combination of different materials.
Rating of the best models in the Art Nouveau style
Relax Rio
This is a high-quality design with a reliable folding mechanism. The filler is pleasant and soft and does not shrink over time. Height - 90 cm. Sold in different colors, which allows you to choose the most suitable interior option. Made in Art Nouveau style. The upholstery is non-electrified fabric, which guarantees ease of use.
Average price 22,000 rub.
armchair-bed Rio Relax
Advantages:
- high-quality frame;
- beautiful upholstery;
- comfortable;
- simple layout mechanism.
Flaws:
- no critical problems found.
Stolline Remix 1
This inexpensive model is created in a beautiful style for adults. The upholstery was artificial leather and fabric. Comfortable armrests of medium hardness are provided. The filler is high quality and durable. The construction is very durable and comes in 5 colors.
The average cost is 15,000 rubles.
stolline Remix 1 chair-bed
Advantages:
- beautiful performance;
- convenient location;
- does not need a mattress, as it is comfortable to sleep without one;
- affordable price;
- durable frame.
Flaws:
- not identified
SMART Toronto
This is a comfortable option with durable upholstery and quality padding. The transformation mechanism is an accordion. It's simple and reliable. Planning takes a minimum of time and does not require much space. The frame is resistant to frequent use.
Sold at a price: from 17,000 rubles.
chair-bed SMART Toronto
Advantages:
- high strength indicators;
- good folding mechanism;
- high-quality upholstery;
- high reliability of installation.
Flaws:
- Not found.
Lyon Nadezhda
Hygienic polyurethane foam in a mattress Country Russia Average price: 9320 rub.
Score (2021): 4.2 A number of manufacturers strive to provide products with decent back support at a low price. The choice of material in this case is obvious - it is polyurethane foam, the demand for which is always high. The raw material is a product of petroleum refining; porous synthetic materials mainly consist of an inert gas phase. Our fellow citizens are closer to the name “Porolon” - a brand of elastic polyurethane foam from Scandinavian countries. The best feature of the material is its successful resistance to moisture and microorganisms.
According to consumers, this filler has ideal hygienic parameters. It does not grow mold, does not gather dust and does not cause allergies. The model presented by the Lyon factory is very comfortable, as it is softened by foam rubber: durable and at the same time airy, soft and elastic, following the shape of the body. The substance is superior to many analogues in sound and heat insulation. There is one minus: there is no headboard.
Wally Tolly Milena
Medium level of hardness. Availability of an orthopedic pillow Country Russia Average price: 21,000 rubles. Rating (2021): 4.3
The core idea of the brand comes down to the accessibility of designer furniture to improve everyday life. The DS Group design bureau is working on a recognizable appearance for furniture products. The functional chair-bed “Milena” looks bright and may well become an accent, a bright point of attraction in the room. A whole series has been developed with sofas and armchairs, so you can put together a complete ensemble. The average level of hardness is achieved through the use of a layer of polyurethane foam applied to a metal frame. In addition, it is proposed to change the filler for an additional 6 thousand rubles for an independent spring unit (only in the seat area).
A roll pillow with polyurethane foam crumbs inside looks very unusual. It is good for health: it ensures the correct position of the body in space, supports the neck and prevents flexion in the thoracic region. The pillow can be placed under your lower back or sandwiched between your knees, depending on your preferred sleeping position.
Dimensions of folding chairs - sleeping space parameters
The range of chair models with the bed conversion system offers a wide range of standard sizes. The smallest possible width of the bunk is 60 cm, these chairs are mainly intended for children. The average bed width is 70-80 cm, and the maximum possible size is 120 cm. The standard bed length is 190-210 cm.
The parameters of the assembled chair-bed depend on the design features. Thus, in chairs without armrests, the width of the product is comparable to the width of the bed. In models with side walls, the difference in width is 25 cm or more.
Standard dimensions of the assembled transforming chair:
- seat width - at least 60 cm;
- seat depth - from 50 to 70 cm;
- seat height - from 35 to 38 cm;
- back height - from 70 to 120 cm.
Types of upholstery for folding chairs and their advantages
An important selection criterion that affects the quality of a chair-bed is the upholstery of the chair. The key requirements for the coating material are resistance to wear, fading and abrasion.
There are many types of upholstery:
- different types of fabrics;
- artificial leather;
- real leather.
The choice of one type of coverage or another depends on the personal preferences and financial capabilities of the consumer.
The following types of fabrics are used for upholstery of upholstered furniture:
- jacquard;
- chenille;
- tapestry;
- herd;
- velours.
An armchair-bed with jacquard upholstery will decorate the interior in a classic style. The fabric is 50% natural cotton and holds its shape well. Jacquard fabric cannot be wet cleaned, so it is not recommended for families with small children and pets.
Unpretentious and inexpensive chenille is distinguished by its high density and strength. Ideal for everyday use.
The tapestry also has fairly high strength characteristics. The advantages of the material include its availability.
Flock is another type of practical material. The velvety non-woven material is pleasant to the touch and easy to clean.
The main advantage of velvet is its spectacular appearance. Despite its sufficient strength, velvet is not recommended for upholstery of everyday furniture.
Genuine leather is always in demand; efficient and reliable upholstery has excellent performance characteristics. A significant drawback is the high price of the material.
Modern eco-leather is practically not inferior to its natural counterpart in terms of characteristics and appearance. At the same time, the price of the material is several times lower.
Folding mechanism
A modern folding chair with a bed is available in a large number of modifications, styles and type variations. Practical and reliable mechanisms of the models as in the photo will make the operating process as simple as possible. Daily use of a product places certain demands on the design.
The best options for a folding mechanism for constant use are:
- accordion (accordion) - the principle of the mechanism is to transform the headboard into two sections, which are complemented by a third part - the seat. The result is a fairly smooth surface without folds or cracks. A toy chair with an accordion mechanism for a boy or girl under 10 years old can have a bright and attractive design;
- roll-out mechanism - consisting of an inverted seat and two sections. Cracks are possible, the height from the floor surface often does not exceed 30 cm. The mechanism is durable, reliable, equipped with a drawer for bed linen;
- Eurobook - a bed is formed when the seat is moved forward. The back fits into the free space. The leather chair is very compact, does not take up much space in a small area of the room, which allows you to install it close to the wall;
- click-gag - the product is presented in two versions. The first option consists of sections, the second - a solid mattress. Opening is carried out by lifting the seat until the lock is unlocked. A folding monoblock mattress with orthopedic properties with a click-click mechanism will become the optimal place for rest and sleep for adults and children under 10 years old;
- dolphin - the folding part of the bed is located under the seat, after sliding it continues at the same level. Models often do not have a laundry basket due to their small size. The product consists of sections, which is not very convenient to open.
It is advisable to give preference to domestic products, given their practicality and high performance properties. Imported furniture is often not intended for everyday use, so the strength of the structural parts may not withstand the intensity of the load. When choosing a children's chair with a built-in bed, special attention should be paid to safety, structural rigidity and environmentally friendly materials.
