Sofa Bed Buying Guide Ireland: Sizes, Mechanisms and What to Check Before You Buy
A sofa bed is two purchases in one, and the second one is the one people forget to check. This guide covers what to look at before you buy a sofa bed in Ireland: the bed size it opens to, the mechanism, the mattress, how it will be used, and the delivery and lead-time questions that apply to any large sofa. Prices quoted are from our own range in September 2026.
1. Start with the bed size, not the sofa size
Ask what size the bed opens to and compare it with the standard Irish mattress sizes: a single is 90cm by 190cm, a double 135cm by 190cm, a king 150cm by 200cm. Many sofa beds open to a size between a single and a double, which is fine for one guest and tight for two. If the sofa bed will be used by a couple, look for a double or wider. Our bed sizes guide lists every standard size with the room space each needs.
2. Know the three mechanisms
- Pull-out. A folded frame with a separate mattress pulls out from under the seat cushions. Usually the most bed-like to sleep on, because the mattress is a mattress, and the heaviest to move.
- Fold-down (click-clack). The back drops flat so the seat and back form the sleeping surface. Quick to convert, thinner to sleep on, and best for occasional guests.
- Corner sofa bed. A section of an L-shaped sofa slides or folds out. You get a large sofa every day and often a storage ottoman under the chaise for the bedding.
3. Ask what the mattress is
On a pull-out, the mattress is the sleep. Ask its thickness and whether it is foam, sprung or pocket-sprung. On the Cedar L-Shape Sofa Bed in our range the sleeping base is steel-sprung, which is the detail to look for if the bed will be used more than a few nights a month. On fold-down designs, the seat foam density matters more than any mattress figure, because the seat is the mattress.
4. Decide how it will really be used
| Use | What to prioritise | From our range |
|---|---|---|
| Guest room, a few nights a month | Sofa comfort first, fold-down or pull-out | Rustic Convertible Cream Sofa Bed, €3,150; Antique Convertible Sofa Bed, €3,150 |
| Living room that doubles as a bedroom | Sprung base, thick mattress, easy daily conversion | Cedar L-Shape Sofa Bed Steel Springs, €3,680 |
| Family room needing seats and a spare bed | Corner layout with storage for bedding | Rustic L-Shape Sofa Bed with Ottoman, €4,850 |
| Small apartment | Compact footprint, convertible sectional | Mini Corner Convertible Sectional Ottoman, €1,660 (in corner sofas) |
5. Check the everyday sofa as carefully as the bed
A sofa bed is a sofa 95% of the time. Sit on it in a showroom if you can: seat depth, back height and arm height decide whether you will like it in a year. Our sofa beds are on the showroom floor in Portlaoise, open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and the Rustic Stylish Quilted Sofa Bed (€3,550) is the one most visitors try first.
6. Fabric, colour and made to order
Most of our sofa beds are made to order, so you choose the fabric and the colour rather than picking from a stock list. Made-to-order pieces take about 12 to 16 weeks; in-stock pieces are delivered in 7 to 14 working days. A 50% deposit secures the order and the balance is paid before delivery. If you are choosing between fabric types, our fabric vs leather guide covers wear, cleaning and pets.
7. Measure the route in, not just the room
Sofa beds are heavier than sofas of the same size because of the mechanism. Measure the front door, hall turns and the room door. Our sofas arrive in sections and are assembled in the room by our delivery team, which removes most of the access problems, but a very narrow stairwell is worth mentioning when you order.
Sofa bed questions
Can a sofa bed be used every night?
A pull-out with a sprung base and a proper mattress can. A fold-down design is better kept for guests. Tell us the use and we will steer you to the right mechanism.
Do sofa beds come with a mattress?
Pull-out designs include their mattress; fold-down designs sleep on the seat cushions. Ask which type you are looking at.
What is the warranty on a sofa bed?
All furniture from M&I Interiors carries a two-year warranty covering manufacturing defects and workmanship, including the sofa bed mechanism.
Browse the current sofa bed range, or call the showroom on 045 433 585 with your room measurements.
