Small folding sofas: what are they and how to choose?

Most typical apartments in multi-storey buildings cannot boast of a large number of square meters, which is why homeowners have to look for furnishing options that, on the one hand, will correspond to the required functionality of the premises, on the other hand, they will not create a pile of furniture in the space. Small folding sofas can be a good solution. In our article we will talk about what they are and how to choose the optimal model.

Mini sofas by their design belong to transformers - when folded they are compact, and when unfolded, they provide a place for a full and comfortable sleep. Such furniture is a good ergonomic solution for small rooms.

In recent years, it has become a good tradition to install mini sofas not only in the living room, but also in other functional areas: on the veranda, as well as in the hallway. Very often, such furniture is used instead of a small corner in the kitchen. For example, if a dining room set takes up almost all the free space, then thanks to a small mini-sofa, you can always equip a comfortable dining area - such products will be a good alternative to benches and chairs. And in the event of a visit from unexpected guests, you can always arrange for them a sleeping area.

A sofa of compact size will be optimal in a children's room, especially if it is made in bright and colorful colors and decorated with funny drawings. A sleeping place on such sofas is more suitable for a child in height than full-size models. Moreover, the sofa can be laid out only at night - during the day, the nursery should be as spacious as possible in order to free up the child's space for active games.

Do not underestimate mini sofas: they can be placed not only in small apartments, but also in spacious living areas, especially if they are decorated in a modern minimalist style. This approach is often demonstrated by the owners who value the abundance of light and air in the house, prefer the laconic furnishings. This is very relevant these days.

Like any other item, these sofas have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Pros.

• The main advantage is their compact size, thanks to which the sofas can be installed in rooms of any size, while they will fully fulfill all their tasks.
• Such furniture is functional, it can be used for daytime relaxation with a book or in front of the TV, for chatting with friends, and at night it can be laid out like a bed.
• Stylish design. The models are distinguished by their aesthetic appearance, so they can organically fit into any interior.
• Small dimensions allow you to install mini-sofas in rooms of any purpose: in the living room, children's room, as well as in the bedroom, in the kitchen and even in the hallway.

However, there are also disadvantages, which should not be forgotten.

• You always run the risk of purchasing a product with a low-quality transformation mechanism, therefore, when choosing a model, you need to make sure that all working elements are in good working order.
• Sofas are not suitable for large people.
• Disassembled, they take up a lot of space. This must be taken into account when thinking over the furnishing of the room as a whole.
• When disassembling the mini-sofa, a berth is formed for only one person, it is unlikely that two of them will be able to fit on it.

Let's take a closer look at the most popular types of mini sofas.

Models with a roll-out transformation mechanism usually provide a metal frame, and this is an undoubted advantage of products, since the service life of such furniture is quite long.

When parsing the sofa, you need to roll it to the side, then you get a double bed.

Disassembling this sofa involves several steps:

• first, you should remove all the pillows located on the sides;
• then you need to push the seat forward until it stops;
• the back is placed in the vacated space.

As a result, you get a level and comfortable place to relax.

Folding models are considered the simplest and cheapest, and the way to transform them is the most common for compact sofas.

Features of the model:

• the design has a small folding bed built into the lower half of the sofa;
• when disassembling the product, lift the lid, remove and then unfold the clamshell;
• the berth consists of three sections;
• the collapsible mechanism is simple, so even children can cope with the work.

When choosing a sofa, it is extremely important to pay special attention to the upholstery - the material from which it is made largely determines the durability and practicality of the entire sofa.

The most expensive option is leather. Furniture with this upholstery is suitable for expensive interiors in a classic design, it is chosen by people who want to show their status and financial situation.

Leather has many advantages over other options:

• increased strength;
• long period of wear;
• ease of use;
• ease of cleaning.

Of the shortcomings, it can be noted high cost. Besides, over time, the material may crack.

The most environmentally friendly option would be cotton upholstery. - It is a non-toxic and hypoallergenic material that is widely used to tighten all types of upholstered furniture. Among its advantages are:

• naturalness of the composition;
• the ability to pass air;
• long service life.

Jacquard is often used to stretch mini sofas. The canvas is considered one of the most practical for this type of furniture due to its exceptional properties:

• dense wear-resistant structure;
• the fabric does not fade under the influence of sunlight;
• stylish look;
• long service life.

Tapestry have been used for the manufacture of furniture for several centuries. The advantages of tapestry include:

• rich look;
• long period of operation;
• tear and abrasion resistance;
• completely natural hypoallergenic composition.

As a rule, compact sofas are made in the following dimensions:

• length varies from 145 to 180 cm;
• the width of such sofas is about 85-95 cm;
• height - 75-85 cm;

Small folding sofas can be made in different shapes.

• Straight. These sofas are traditionally made with a "book" or "accordion" transformation mechanism. Here, soft armrests are provided, which, after unfolding, can function as a backrest.
• Corner. Such models are suitable for placement in the kitchen or in the living room, the model is ergonomic and versatile.
• Couch. Mini sofa with decorative headboard and elongated seat.
• Cubes. This is, perhaps, the most unusual mini-sofa of a square shape, armrests are usually absent here, a folding mechanism is a "Eurobook".
• Standard. The straight and corner sofa is designed for a couple of sleeping places. Cubes and couches are a little smaller, as they are most often used in the kitchen, in the hallway, or in the children's room. Their dimensions are limited to 70-80 cm.

In order to purchase a suitable model of a compact sofa for your home so that it is functional and will serve for many years, it is necessary to pay attention to certain basic criteria.

• Frame. It is advisable to choose products in which the frame is made of wood or plywood. These materials provide a long service life.
• Upholstery material. Be sure to feel it on the trading floor, the fabric should be very strong, dense, no protruding threads, sloppy seams and discrepancies are allowed.
• Transformation method. When folding and unfolding furniture, there should be no difficulties, all the parts should be functional and comfortable, so that even children can cope with them.
• Filler... It is desirable to give preference to synthetic winterizer or foam latex. Foam interior is usually inexpensive, but quickly crumples and deforms - a sofa like this has a very short lifespan.

Depending on the features of use, mini sofas can be made in several versions.

Kitchen furniture must meet the following requirements:

• compactness - products for this functional room are usually installed near the dining table, so they must have appropriate dimensions;
• multifunctionality - in the daytime, the sofa should perform the function of a seat, and at night - a full-fledged place to sleep;
• ease of transformation - everything should be assembled and disassembled easily and simply;
• stylish design - products should correspond to the general stylistic and color scheme of the kitchen furnishings.

As a rule, mini-sofas in yellow, beige, gray, brown, as well as white and other monochrome colors are picked up in the corridor.

For sofas in a children's room, safety and decorative requirements come to the fore. They must be soft, hard corners and complex transformation mechanisms are not allowed. Children's mini sofas should be made of the most environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic materials, so preference should be given to models with a frame made of wood. But the upholstery is better to choose wear-resistant with the possibility of quick cleaning, at the same time, it should be bright and beautiful.

Compact sofas look harmonious in small living rooms.

However, they will always be appropriate in spacious rooms.

Compact furniture will be the best solution for a children's room.

Not so long ago, kitchen sofas have become fashionable.

The owners of country houses can always place a small sofa on the veranda.

For information on how to choose a sofa, see the next video.