Inflatable Matrress vs Cabinet Beds vs Murphy Beds vs Sleeper Sofas
I think its worthwhile to talk about the trade offs of the various types of modular sleep furniture which we hope will help you decide what works best for you.
First off, why and what is modular sleep furniture? Modular sleep furniture is furniture that change their dimensions to accommodate different environments or situations. A sleeper sofa would be a great example of a sofa transforming into a bed aka modular sleep furniture. If you have read of our other blog posts, you'll have read that modularity allows you to maximize square footage, saving you thousands of dollars, turning a room into a multipurpose room. Modular sleep systems work exceptionally well when you are accommodating guests or large family gatherings. I personally think home offices and vacation rentals are the best candidates for utilizing modular sleep furniture. Here are a few options and their trade offs:
Inflatable Mattresses
Inflatable Mattress beds are rubber mattresses that either have I use this when car camping or backpacking. The are lightweight, take up little space, but are typically stiff when fully inflated. I usually have to have them partially deflated to find them comfortable. The are great when you have tons of family coming in because they take little space, but your guests might be grouchy from a less than comfortable night sleep. I've had many nights when I wake up in the middle of the night to a deflated mattress. This is my least favorite on the list, but it is the cheapest. I'll say this, a deflated mattress will ruin a vacation.
Cabinet Beds
Cabinet Beds are beds that start as a cabinet and turn into a bed, similar to sleeper sofas. Cabinet beds typically utilize a tri-fold memory-gel-foam mattress. These are comfortable, and take a little more effort to set up before each use than murphy beds, but take about the same level of effort as a sleeper sofa. These are going to be more comfortable than most sleeper sofas, but not for everyone. Cabinet beds seem to be a great product for a formal living room or office space and don't require being bolted to any wall.
View Our Cabinet Bed Collection
Murphy Beds
I'll put my bias out right here. Murphy beds are my favorite for a few reasons. The bed is pulled down from a wall horizontally or vertically oriented. They look like closets and can turn an office into a bedroom in about 5 seconds. The closets come in a variety of designs and best of all, either come with a mattress or allow you pick your own mattress! Instantly more comfortable. Biggest downside: they require installation, and must be bolted to the wall, so they become a fixture of the house. Not the best option for those that like rearranging furniture often.
We have all sorts of great deals on made to order mattresses with our partners. Some of our mattress Brands we partner with and recommend are:
View our Murphy Bed/Wall Bed Collection
ECO TERRA BEDS
The Eco Terra Mattress is handcrafted with 100% natural latex, individually wrapped, pocketed coils, and an organic cotton cover. It is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GOTS Certified. A natural latex mattress at a price everyone can enjoy. Free shipping and returns. Free 90 night trial. 15 year warranty. 0% APR financing for 12 months.
ECOSA
EDEN SLEEP
Shop The Eden Mattress
GHOST BED
LIVE and SLEEP
$150 Off Luxury Mattress + 1 Free Pillow + Free Shipping!
NATUREPEDIC
Organic Healthy Sleep for the Whole Family!
PLUSH BEDS
PlushBeds is a leading online luxury mattress manufacturer and retailer, specializing in organic and natural mattresses and bedding. All products are handcrafted in their GOLS/GOTS certified organic production facility in California, with free shipping within the contiguous USA. It is PlushBeds’ commitment to excellence in craftsmanship and to a superior customer experience that has driven them to become America’s largest distributor of organic and natural latex mattresses that are as affordable as they are indulgent.
SAATVA
Free white glove delivery and free mattress removal with any Saatva Mattress purchase.
Sleeper Sofas
Last but certainly not least, are the sleeper sofas. Sleeper sofas are great because they can turn any living room into a two person bedroom. They typically utilize a spring mattress to allow its folding for storage. May not be as comfortable as a cabinet bed or murphy bed, but you can certainly add a mattress topper for additional comfort.
View Our Sleeper Sofa Collection
We hope this helps you as you work to find the perfect solution for you! Feel free to contact us if you need any help deciding!
Happy Sleeping!