The Best Kids' Sofa Bed for Bedrooms and Playrooms

Key takeaways

• The Koala Sofa Bed is the pick for a child's room: it flips from sofa to a full-size bed in seconds with the FlipBed™ mechanism — no metal bar to pinch fingers or dig into anyone's back.

• Life-proof covers are removable and machine-washable, and most finishes are water-resistant, so spills and sticky fingers aren't a crisis.

• It comes in three sizes — 1.5-Seater (Single), 2.5-Seater (Double) and 3-Seater (King) — backed by a 5-year warranty and a 120-day home trial. The matching Ottoman adds hidden storage.

Kids are hard on furniture. A kids' sofa bed in a bedroom or playroom gets bounced on, slept on by two kids at once, and wiped down after someone's spilled-drink moment. The right one handles all of that — and still looks like grown-up furniture. The wrong one is a pinch hazard and a wadded-up cover on the floor because no one can figure out how to get it back on.

Here's why the Koala Sofa Bed works so well in a child's room, how to choose the right size, and how to keep it clean.

How Do I Choose the Right Size Kids' Sofa Bed?

Short answer: Match the folded sofa footprint to the room, and the bed size to who's sleeping on it — a Single suits one child, a Double or King suits sleepovers and shared guest use.

The Koala Sofa Bed comes in three sizes. The 1.5-Seater is just 117 cm wide and folds out to a 209 × 95 cm Single, ideal for a smaller box room — browse the range of single sofa beds if space is tight. The 2.5-Seater (152 cm wide) gives a 209 × 140 cm Double, and the 3-Seater (177 cm wide) a full 209 × 155 cm King — roomy enough for two kids to sleep side by side at a sleepover. Measure the wall the sofa will sit against and leave clearance in front for the seat to flip forward into a bed.

Convertible 2-in-1 Design

Short answer: Foam-only flip mechanisms avoid the pinch points, floor scratches, and sagging that metal pull-out frames develop.

A good kids' sofa bed converts from sitting to sleeping in one motion, without tools, a second adult, or a YouTube tutorial. The mechanism matters more than most parents expect — heavy pull-out frames with metal bars are a pinch hazard, scratch floors, and tend to sag within a year of daily use.

The Koala Sofa Bed uses the FlipBed™ design: lift and flip the seat, and it transforms into a full-size mattress in seconds, with no clunky mechanism and no metal bar in anyone's back. It's simple enough for a teenager to set up solo, and it assembles with no tools at all — everything slots, screws or zips together with alignment guides and coloured tabs, so there are no Allen keys or screwdrivers to lose.

Comfy Foam Construction for a Kids' Sofa Bed

Short answer: A full-size Kloudcell™ mattress gives a real bed's comfort, not the thin, bar-backed surface of an old fold-out.

Furniture-grade foam is the foundation of a kids' sofa bed that holds its shape. Cheap fold-outs use thin foam over a metal frame, so guests wake up feeling the bar. The Koala Sofa Bed folds out to a full-size mattress built on Koala's Kloudcell™ layer with a plush integrated topper, plus deep 63 cm seats with an angled backrest and lumbar support for everyday lounging. Whether it's an everyday bed or an occasional sleepover spot, there's no separate mattress to buy — the sleep surface is built in.

Removable, Machine-Washable Covers

Short answer: Wash the outer covers cold (max 30°C), reshape while damp and line dry — no tumble drying, bleach or ironing.

A washable cover is non-negotiable for a kids' space. The Koala Sofa Bed comes in Life-proof fabrics — Koala's own washable, water-resistant textiles designed to handle real family life. The water-resistant treatment means most spills bead up and wipe away with a clean cloth if you're quick.

When you need a deeper clean, the outer covers unzip and machine wash cold (maximum 30°C), separately from other items. Reshape them while damp, line dry in the shade, and make sure they're fully dry before refitting — no tumble drying, no bleach, no ironing. One practical note for a child's room: two finishes, Sandstone and Coastal Moss, are not water-resistant, so choose one of the water-resistant fabrics if spills are likely. (The inner lining fabrics are spot-clean only.)

Lightweight, Tool-Free and Built to Last

Short answer: Tool-free slide-and-click assembly means one person can build it, move it, or take it apart.

A kids' sofa bed gets moved — shoved into a corner for a party, dragged out for a sleepover, rearranged when the playroom gets a new layout. Because the Koala Sofa Bed assembles without tools, it also comes apart without them, so a single adult can reconfigure or relocate it. It's backed by a 5-year limited warranty and a 120-day home trial, and it's an award-winning, B Corp–certified design — reassuring for a piece that has to survive years of family use.

Add Hidden Storage with the Ottoman

Short answer: The Koala Sofa Bed Ottoman adds hidden storage and a flip-over hard top that doubles as a side table.

For a kids' room or playroom, storage is everything. The Koala Sofa Bed Ottoman is the sofa bed's matching companion: lift the lid for hidden storage that swallows spare bedding, books, or toys, and flip the cushioned top over to reveal a hard surface that works as a side table. It's made with FSC® certified timber, comes in the same Life-proof washable fabrics, and assembles tool-free like the sofa. It's an optional add-on rather than included, so you can add it to the complete setup or buy the sofa bed on its own.

Specs at a Glance

Koala Sofa Bed — dimensions by size:

All sizes fold out to the same 209 cm mattress length; only the width changes. Source: Koala Sofa Bed product page.

Koala Sofa Bed Ottoman — ships in two boxes: Box 1 W62 × D62 × H43 cm (17 kg); Box 2 W30 × D10 × H20 cm (4 kg). Assembled dimensions are shown as a diagram on the Ottoman product page.

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

Find Your Fit

• Koala Sofa Bed → from £1,250 (RRP). The everyday choice for a child's room. Single, Double or King, full-size Kloudcell™ mattress, washable Life-proof cover, tool-free FlipBed™ conversion.
• Koala Sofa Bed Ottoman → £320 (RRP). Best if you need storage. Hidden storage under the lid, flip-over side table, matching washable fabric.

Planning for sleepovers and visiting family? See Koala's sofa beds for overnight guests for more on guest-ready setups.

Free UK delivery · 120-day free returns · 5-year warranty*

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a sofa bed a good idea for a kids' room?

Yes — a sofa bed gives everyday seating plus a proper bed for sleepovers without needing a separate guest room. Look for a foam flip design with no metal bar (like the Koala Sofa Bed's FlipBed™) and a washable cover. Koala's sofa beds for kids are built around exactly this.

What size does the Koala Sofa Bed convert to?

It comes in three sizes: the 1.5-Seater folds out to a Single, the 2.5-Seater to a Double, and the 3-Seater to a full King (a 209 × 155 cm mattress). There's no separate mattress to buy — the sleep surface is built in.

Are the covers really machine-washable?

The removable outer covers machine wash cold at a maximum of 30°C. Reshape them while damp and line dry in the shade — no tumble drying, bleach or ironing. Most fabrics are also water-resistant so everyday spills wipe away (the exceptions are the Sandstone and Coastal Moss finishes). The inner lining fabrics are spot-clean only.

Is there a metal bar or frame that could pinch or hurt?

No. The FlipBed™ mechanism flips the seat into a bed with no metal pull-out frame and no bar running under the mattress — which removes the most common pinch point and the "bar in the back" you get with older fold-outs.

Do I need tools to put it together?

No tools required. Parts slot, screw or zip together using alignment guides and coloured tabs — no Allen keys or screwdrivers. That also means one adult can take it apart to move it between rooms.

How long does delivery take, and is it free?

Orders are ready to ship within 7 days, and delivery is free to England, Scotland and Wales. Koala doesn't currently deliver to Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands & Grampian, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, the Isles of Scilly or the Scottish offshore islands.

What's the warranty and returns policy?

Every Koala Sofa Bed comes with a 5-year limited warranty and a 120-day home trial. If it's not right within 120 days, Koala arranges free collection and a full refund, including delivery charges.

Do I have to buy the Ottoman with the sofa bed?

No — the Ottoman is an optional add-on. You can buy the complete setup or just the sofa bed.