Hide a Bed Sofas, Reinvented: Which Koala Sofa Bed Is Right for You?

If you grew up calling it a hide-a-bed sofa, you probably remember the ritual: heave off the cushions, wrestle a squeaky metal frame, and spend the night feeling a support bar through a thin fold-up mattress. Good news — the hide-a-bed sofa grew up. Today's designs convert in seconds, with no clunky mechanism and real foam comfort built in.

A hide-a-bed sofa — also called a sofa bed, bed settee or sofa-bed settee — is a sofa with a bed concealed inside its frame. Modern versions replace the old metal pull-out with fold-flat designs, full foam sleep surfaces and tool-free assembly.

Koala makes one sofa bed, the Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen], in three sizes. Here's how those sizes compare, how the FlipBed™ mechanism actually works, and how to pick the right one for your room.

What Is a Hide-a-Bed Sofa? (And What It's Called in the UK)

A hide-a-bed sofa is a sofa with a fold-away bed hidden inside the frame. The name began life as a mid-20th-century trademark that stuck as a catch-all term for any pull-out sofa. In the UK, the same piece is also sold as a sofa bed, bed settee or sofa-bed settee — different names for one idea: a sofa by day, a bed by night.

They're still made — they've just got much better. Instead of a thin innerspring mattress folded over a metal frame, modern designs like Koala's use a full-size open-cell foam sleep surface and a simple fold-flat mechanism, so there's no bar to feel and nothing to wrestle.

Which Koala Sofa Bed Size Is Right for You?

The Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] comes in three sizes. They share the same FlipBed™ mechanism, Kloudcell™ mattress, fabrics, 120-day trial and 5-year warranty — the difference is the sleeping surface and the footprint. UK "seater" labels describe the sofa; the figures below are the sleeping surface you actually get.

1.5-Seater (Single) — Best for small rooms and solo guests

Opens to a 121.9 cm sleeping surface — a small-double equivalent — from a compact footprint. It's the most affordable way into the range and the natural choice for a home office, box room, studio or one-bed flat where floor space is tight. Comfortably sleeps one adult (or two children at a squeeze).

• Sleeping surface: 121.9 cm wide (small double equivalent)

• Best for: compact rooms, solo overnight guests, occasional use

• Price: from £1,250 at the time of writing (a £200 saving is currently running — see current pricing)

2.5-Seater (Double) — Best all-rounder for two guests

Opens to a 162.5 cm sleeping surface — wider than a standard UK king (150 cm) — while still fitting most living rooms. As a sofa it seats two adults with room to lounge; as a bed it gives two guests genuine space over a multi-night stay. If you're not sure which size to buy, this is usually it.

• Sleeping surface: 162.5 cm wide (wider than a UK king)

• Best for: couples, regular overnight guests, versatile living rooms

• Price: from £1,395 at the time of writing

3-Seater (King) — Best for maximum comfort

Opens to a 178 cm sleeping surface — close to a UK super king (180 cm) — the most comfortable option for two adults sleeping regularly, and the roomiest sofa of the three. Needs the most space: allow 222.5 cm of total depth when the bed is fully out.

• Sleeping surface: 178 cm wide (near super-king width)

• Best for: larger living rooms, two adults, frequent use

• Open depth: 222.5 cm

• Price: from £1,495 at the time of writing

Note on length: Koala confirms standard UK fitted sheets fit every size, so bedding is easy — no specialist sheets required.

Note on pricing: Prices shown are starting figures at the time of writing and vary by size and fabric. Koala runs regular sales throughout the year, so always check the current price on uk.koala.com before you buy — you may find a live discount on the sofa bed you want.

How a Hide-a-Bed Sofa Works: FlipBed™ vs Pull-Out vs Click-Clack

The mechanism matters more than any other spec — it decides how much effort conversion takes and how long the hide-a-bed sofa lasts. Here are the three you'll meet in the UK.

FlipBed™ (Koala's design)

The backrest flips forward in one smooth action to lie flat with the seat, creating a continuous sleeping surface with the full-size Kloudcell™ mattress already on top. There's no separate frame to pull out or lift, no tools, and it can be done in seconds — in the dark, on your own. It's a simpler mechanism, with less to go wrong. This is what the Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] uses.

Pull-out (fold-out)

A dedicated mattress is stored folded on a hinged steel frame beneath the seat cushions; you pull it clear and unfold it flat. This is the classic hide-a-bed mechanism — comfortable enough when the mattress is deep, but heavier to operate and hungry for floor space when open. (Our pull-out sofa bed guide covers this style in more detail.)

Click-clack

The backrest tilts back through a locking mechanism until it lies flat, so you sleep on the upholstered cushions with no separate mattress. Simpler and cheaper, and fine for occasional use in a spare room — but not built to be a primary bed. See our click-clack sofa bed guide for how they stack up.

Choosing Your Sofa Bed Fabric

The Koala Sofa Bed comes in eight colours across three fabric ranges — Cord, Classic and Luxe. Because a sofa bed's seat is both daily seating and the sleeping surface, the fabric works harder than on an ordinary sofa, so it's worth choosing on practicality as well as looks.

If easy cleaning is non-negotiable — kids, pets, frequent guests — Classic is the pick: water-resistant and machine washable.

What to Look for in a Sofa Bed

The right choice comes down to four questions.

How much space do you have? Measure the footprint open, not just closed. The 3-Seater needs 222.5 cm of total depth in bed mode; the smaller sizes need less. Remember the "seater" label is the sofa, not the mattress — a 3-Seater gives a near-super-king sleeping surface. Tight layout or a studio? Koala's space-saving sofa beds are built for exactly that.

How often will someone sleep on it? For weekly or nightly use, prioritise the sleep surface. The Koala Sofa Bed uses a full-size Kloudcell™ open-cell foam mattress — Koala's own award-winning foam technology — with an integrated plush topper, so there's nothing extra to buy and nothing hard pressing into your back.

Who's sleeping on it? One guest in a small room? The 1.5-Seater. Two adults, or regular overnight guests? Size up to the 2.5-Seater or 3-Seater for width closer to a king or super king.

How much cleanup can you live with? See the fabric table above — Classic is the easy-clean pick, being both water-resistant and machine washable. Need somewhere to keep spare bedding? The matching Koala Sofa Bed Ottoman hides linens out of sight.

Why the Koala Sofa Bed Is a Considered Buy

One sofa bed replaces two pieces of furniture — a sofa and a guest bed — which matters in a UK flat or terrace. Koala backs it up: the frame is FSC® certified poplar plywood, Classic fabric is 100% recycled polyester, and all fabrics use PFAS-tested treatments. Koala is a Certified B Corporation and a member of 1% for the Planet. And the 120-day free trial includes free collection if you return it — with a guarantee the sofa is sustainably re-homed, not sent to landfill.

The hide-a-bed sofa grew up — meet the Koala Sofa Bed. Real Kloudcell™ comfort, sofa-to-bed in one flip, a 120-day free trial and free UK delivery. Shop the Koala Sofa Bed →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hide-a-bed sofa?

A hide-a-bed sofa is a sofa with a bed hidden inside the frame — a sofa by day, a bed by night. In the UK, it's also called a sofa bed, bed settee or sofa-bed settee; "hide-a-bed" and "sleeper sofa" are the North American names for the same piece.

Which Koala Sofa Bed size should I buy?

The 1.5-Seater (Single) opens to a 121.9 cm surface (small-double equivalent) for one adult and compact rooms. The 2.5-Seater (Double) opens to 162.5 cm — wider than a UK king — and suits most homes. The 3-Seater (King) opens to 178 cm, near super-king width, for two adults sleeping regularly. Always check the open depth against your room first.

Are sofa beds comfortable enough to sleep on every night?

Modern ones can be — the deciding factor is the mattress, not the price. The Koala Sofa Bed uses a full-size Kloudcell™ foam mattress with an integrated topper (the same award-winning open-cell foam technology Koala is known for) and is backed by a 5-year limited warranty that covers daily use. The 120-day trial lets you test-sleep at home first.

What's the difference between a click-clack and a pull-out sofa bed?

A click-clack reclines the backrest flat, and you sleep on the cushions — there's no separate mattress. A pull-out unfolds a dedicated mattress from a frame under the seat. Koala's FlipBed™ uses neither: the backrest flips flat while a full-size mattress stays on top, combining click-clack simplicity with pull-out comfort.

How much does the Koala Sofa Bed cost?

At the time of writing, it starts from around £1,250 for the 1.5-Seater (Single), £1,395 for the 2.5-Seater (Double) and £1,495 for the 3-Seater (King), with Luxe fabrics priced a little higher; a £200 saving is currently running. All prices include free UK delivery. Check the Koala Sofa Bed product page for live pricing.

The Verdict

For most UK homes, the Koala Sofa Bed [4th Gen] is the hide-a-bed sofa to beat — a sit-to-sleep FlipBed™ conversion, a full-size Kloudcell™ mattress, machine-washable Classic fabric and three sizes to fit the room you've actually got. Choose the 1.5-Seater for compact spaces and solo guests, the 2.5-Seater as the do-everything all-rounder, and the 3-Seater when two adults sleep on it regularly. Whichever you pick, there's no metal bar to fight — compare all three sizes on Koala's bestsellers page, backed by a 120-day free trial and 5-year limited warranty.

Prices and specifications correct as of July 2026. Visit the Koala Sofa Bed page for current pricing and availability.