Sleeper Sofas Hide Your Bed And Mattress In Plain Sight

As a kid, I loved visiting relatives, but spending the night was a real pain in the back. The mattress on the sleeper sofa was, and I'm being nice here, horrible.

And as a young adult, spending the night on a pull out sleeper sofa practically guaranteed one or more trips to the Chiropractor just to get the impression of the two vertical bars out of my back.

Ah but the wonders of modern technology have changed things for the better. The sleeper sofas and mattresses being produced now are nothing like their seemingly ancient counterparts. Sleeping on the couch is no longer the pain it once was thanks to a good mattress and support system.

Ironically, those older sleeper sofas were not only uncomfortable to sleep on, they could be tough to sit on as well. The frame that is so important for supporting the sleep system is not exactly a proper foundation for sitting. Those metal bars that were used for decades are being replaced by frames with wooden slats. And newer foam and materials made from softer upholstery make it so some models are as comfortable as a regular sofa.

Another common problem with those old sleeper sofas is the mattress that is typically way too soft. If you've ever wondered what it's like to sleep on a quilt set on top of a cold, metal bar, then just lay down on an old sleeper sofa. Basically, there's nothing between you and that awful bar that just so happens to run the whole width of the bed. Ouch. We all know how much improvement has been made in conventional mattresses, and the better news is that many of those innovations have been brought over to sleeper sofas as well.

The four inch mattress that used to come standard on a sleeper sofa has been replaced with a much thicker model. And no longer are the mattresses strictly made of foam. Now you can get a real sleep system with an innerspring mattress. The drawback is that these mattresses a heavy, and moving a couch becomes a bit of a challenge.

But technology hasn't stopped with putting an innerspring mattress on the sofa bed. Now you can even get a tempurpedic foam (memory foam) mattress. These are made with a tempur material that responds to heat and weight. The result is a mattress that responds and gives support in all the proper places, giving you a more restful night of sleep. As a bonus, a memory foam mattress weighs less and moves easier than innersprings.

If it is the ultimate in comfortable sleep on a sleeper sofa that you are looking for, check out the Sleep Number Sleeper Sofa by Select Comfort. These have a deflated air mattress on the inside. When folded out, they will inflate by simply pressing a button. Best of all, you adjust how much it is inflated to meet the comfort level that is best for you. And since these mattresses are not inflated all the time, this particular sofa is lighter and easier to move. The only drawback? Electricity is needed to operate the pump so it needs to be placed near an electrical outlet.

And if you're thinking you can tell a sofa bed by simply looking at one, think again. True all it used to take was a quick glance to spot the sleeper sofa in a room full of sofas, but not any more. Major advances have been made in appearance and sleepers are now available many fabrics, materials and shapes. You can even get a leather sleeper now. In fact, they're quite popular. Finding one to fit your decor is now a snap.

So forget those days when thoughts of sleeping on a sofa bed would bring fear into the hearts of weary travelers everywhere. Those days are gone, replaced by the modern sleeper sofa, complete with a real mattress and support system, and in a look that is elegant enough for all demands.