7 Best Futons And Sleeper Sofas For Hosting Guests
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Our editors have spent the last decade reviewing nontoxic furniture. Here are our picks for sustainable sleeper sofas made with nontoxic, organic materials.
After spending 20 minutes blowing up a cheap Target air mattress with a hairdryer the last time we had overnight guests, my partner and I agreed that the next time we buy a new sofa, it should be a sleeper.
And why wouldnโt we want a bit of extra sleeping space to comfortably host overnight guests? (Especially when it means we donโt need to store a big air mattress in the closet thatโll inevitably get a hole in a couple of years?) Well, pull-out couches are infamously clunky. They get a bad rap โ if the couch part isnโt uncomfortable, then the mattress part (that comes creaking out on springs) is, and the whole thing is notoriously heavier than an already heavy normal couch.
The thing is, sleeper sofas arenโt always like that anymore. Recent design innovations have created some pretty clever futons and sleepers โ many made of high-density foam and flip right out into a full- or queen-size mattress. They typically take up less room when folded than the pull-out couches of yore.
Many of our favorite home goods brandsโones that make frames from solid wood, cushions from latex or eco-friendly foams, and upholstery from natural or performance fabrics designed to last a lifetimeโalso make some of the cleverest pull-out couches weโve seen. Read on for our favorite sustainable sleeper sofas.
Why should I care about nontoxic materials in my furniture?
When shopping for big-ticket items, we look for sustainable, nontoxic pieces because theyโre good for us and the planet. Furniture made of natural materials like solid wood, latex or down cushions, and natural fabric upholstery like cotton or linen is gentler on the planet to produce, wonโt off-gas harmful chemicals in our homes or in a landfill, and lasts longer because itโs higher quality โ which makes it gentler on our wallets in the long run, too. We also look for furniture made by hand in North American factories to reduce our shipping footprint and support local craftspeople.
What are the relevant certifications?
When shopping for furniture, look for certifications like GOTS or GOLS to ensure organic fabrics like cotton, linen, or wool, and organic latex. Greenguard and Oeko Tex Standard 100 help ensure a safe finished product free of harmful chemicals, and FSC means the wood was sustainably harvested. We also love companies like B Corps that put ethics front and center.
Our criteria
Weโve personally tested and researched the top nontoxic and organic furniture and mattress brands. For this list, weโve selected our favorite sustainable futons and sleeper sofas made with safe, sustainable materials and manufacturing processes that will last a lifetime. We continually add new picks that meet the criteria below.
- SUSTAINABLE/ECO-FRIENDLY | Made with natural, organic, recycled, and responsibly sourced materials, these sleeper sofas are better for indoor air quality and the planet.
- DURABLE | Each of these brands makes sleeper sofas from long-lasting, high-quality materials that retain their shape and integrity for years.
- AFFORDABLE | Sleeper sofas can be pricey, and nontoxic ones can be even more expensiveโbut many sustainable, clean couches are beautiful, functional, and within your budget.
Don’t forget to check out our nontoxic mattress guide and American-made furniture for any other sustainable home upgrades you might be planning.
1. Sabai
Best For | Made-to-order sofa beds, made in the USA
Organic & Eco-Friendly Materials | FSC wood, PFAS-free materials
Features | Plush couches that flip out into beds and storage options
Sizes Available | Twin, queen
Price | Starting at $1,795
Here at The Good Trade, we canโt get enough of Sabai โ our editors have reviewed and loved the Sabai Essential sofa, which our editor still loves five years later! Theyโre one of the few furniture brands on the market that combine true, transparent sustainability with fairly accessible prices. They craft their furniture in U.S. factories from hardwood and other sustainable, nontoxic materials like hemp, linen, and recycled polyester, and theyโre even a certified B Corp. They offer a few sleeper sofa options for small spaces, including the new Eclipse Sleeper Sectional (with storage!) and the Eclipse sofa. The latter is a 70-inch, space-saving design that flips out into a plush queen-size sofa bed in secondsโno creaky springs here. Reviewers rave about its comfort (both as a couch and a bed), and itโs built with sustainable materials like FSC-certified wood, PFAS-free fabrics, and rubberized coconut fiber. Want an even smaller sleeper? They make an Eclipse chair, too โ a comfy armchair that flips into a twin-size bed.
Our Editor’s Review | โThe Eclipse is a keeper โ whether youโre furnishing a studio or small 1-bed, or looking for a sleeper to round out your second bedroom. From the design to the construction, itโs safe, supportive, and so darn cute.โ โ Ashley D’Arcy, Senior Editor [Read the full review.]
2. Medley
Best For | U.S.-made sofas of all organic materials
Organic & Eco-Friendly Materials| FSC wood, CertiPUR-US foam, GOLS latex
Features | Wool & latex cushions, CertiPUR-US mattress
Sizes Available | Queen
Price | Starting at $5,295
Medley proudly handmakes all its furniture in U.S. factoriesโin North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Californiaโminimizing its carbon footprint from shipping and ensuring each piece is built to last a lifetime. Theyโre also meticulous about material sourcing, working with domestic partners to ensure they use the highest-quality materials available. Their sustainable textile mills produce fabric certified by either Greenguard or OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and their wood is always domestically sourced and FSC-certified. Convinced yet? Their Rio Sofa Bed has a classic, timeless design with cushions made of natural materials like wool and GOLS-certified latex. The pull-out mattress is made from CertiPUR-US foam, meaning itโs certified low VOC and free of harmful chemicals like flame retardants. The sofa comes in almost endless fabric and color options (89), and the covers are removable for easy cleaning.
Customer Review | โAbsolutely love this sofa bed! It is beautiful, comfortable, easy to alter to bed and back, and makes me happy to see and be on. The fabric is lovely, soft, and tightly woven. Class A. It is so reassuring to have NO chemical smell at all โ not on mattress or anywhere!!โ – Sue C. (Read more reviews.)
3. Joybird
Best For | Mid-century designs
Organic & Eco-Friendly Materials | Greenguard certs, flame retardant-free cushions
Features | Both pull-out and flip-out options
Sizes Available | Twin, full, queen
Price | Starting at $1,856
Joybird offers the variety and convenience of a big-box store, with sustainability you can feel good aboutโall pieces are handmade by skilled craftspeople, and many can be customized to your specs. And we love how their styles lean mid-century modern, for a sleek yet classic look thatโll never go out of style. They offer a wide range of sleeper sofas โ from loveseats that pull out into twin beds to full-length couches that pull out into queens. While they make plenty of traditional pull-out couches with mattresses inside, we especially love their flip-out options, like this Sebastian sofa bed. It has chic rounded arms and a low-slung profile, and its cushions flip out in seconds to form a queen-size bed. And you can even zip the cushions off to make two separate, smaller beds! All Joybird cushions use a high-density foam core with no flame retardants or other harmful chemicals, providing a comfortable yet supportive seat, and the solid wood frames and excellent craftsmanship ensure the couch will last for years to come.
Customer Review | โI love the size of this couch; it’s deep enough to lay next to my partner on. We also splurged on the TemperPedic mattress for the sleeper and it’s so comfy!โ โ Coral T. (Read more reviews.)
4. West Elm
Best For | Variety
Organic & Eco-Friendly Maetrials | FSC-certified wood, GREENGUARD Gold
Features | Futon, trundle, pull-out couch options
Sizes Available | Twin, queen, king
Price | Starting at $1,299
West Elmโs futons and sleeper sofas come in a vast range of prices, sizes, and styles. Some, like the Booker futon, make large couchesโthis one is 92 inches long, but we love how it folds down into a queen-size futon that takes up less room than a traditional pull-out couch. Itโs handcrafted from sustainably sourced, FSC-certified wood thatโs kiln-dried for extra durability, and it comes in dozens of fabric options (many of which are linen). We also love West Elmโs trundle sleepers, like this Whitman sofa, which pulls out into a queen-size bed. They also make plenty of traditional pull-out couches, many handcrafted from FSC-certified wood. Most couches clock in under $2,000 and offer a wide range of fabric options, so you can customize them to match any space.
5. Sixpenny
Best For | Elegant designs & colors
Features | Feather down & recycled poly fill, solid wood legs & frame
Sizes Available | Full, queen
Price | Starting at $4,249
Sixpenny is known for furniture designs that are as chicly relaxed as they are durable and built to last โ they use solid kiln-dried wood for every frame and source the highest-quality fabrics possible, from ethically sourced down to recycled polyester fill to cotton velvet. They also make several sleeper sofas to fit your space and size needs. You can choose between full and queen sized sleepers โ their full sized sleepers are 72 inches long, while the queen ones have a length of 84 inches. They make a couple of sleeper sectionals, too, that give you an extra queen-size sleeping space without taking up any extra space in your living room. Some sofas are ready to ship while others are made to order, and they all come in upholstery options like recycled faux fur, a cotton-linen blend, and a recycled poly weave โ with the most adorable color options to boot.
6. Burrow
Best For | Easy delivery & setup
Organic & Eco-Friendly Materials | CertiPUR-USยฎ foam
Features | Feather down & recycled poly fill, solid wood legs & frame
Sizes Available | Queen
Price | Starting at $2,199
Burrowโs furniture focuses on functionality and qualityโthey use performance fabrics and modular designs that are easy to assemble, arrive at your door in days, and often include thoughtful features like hidden chargers or storage compartments. To that end, they made a couple of sleep sofa options that are a breeze to use. The Shift Sleeper is no more than seven feet long, but flips out into a true queen-size bed (made of four-layer CertiPUR-USยฎ foam) in seconds โ no clunky spring mechanism needed. The arm cushions even double as standard-size pillows. We love their Span Sleeper, tooโitโs a sectional that flips out into a queen bed like the Shift, and its chaise has handy storage for extra sheets and blankets. Burrow even makes โsleep kitsโ that instantly turn any couch into a twin bed, with a foam topper, sheets, a lightweight duvet, a pillow, and an eye mask.
Customer Review | โThe sleeper functionality is a game-changer โ easy to pull out and unbelievably comfortable for guests. Plus, the hidden storage is incredibly spacious and keeps everything organized without compromising the clean aesthetic. Every detail feels thoughtfully designed, from the quality of the fabric to the modular build that made setup a breeze.โ โ Corey M. (Read more reviews.)
7. The Futon Shop
Best For | Traditional futons of 100% natural materials
Organic & Eco-Friendly Materials | FSC, GOLS, USDA organic
Features | Solid wood frames and natural mattresses
Sizes Available | Full, queen
Price | Starting at $460 for a frame, $650 for a mattress
The Futon Shop specializes in โ you guessed it โ traditional futons. While we also love the futon shop for its many tatami mat and floor mattress options, they also carry plenty of solid-wood futon frame and mattress models. The frames and mattresses are sold separately. Many of their frames, like their Tokyo Bi-Fold Japanese Wood Futon Frame, are crafted in North America from sustainably harvested FSC-certified wood. Others, like their Cornerstone Wood Amish Futon Frame, are made by Amish artisans in Pennsylvania. Most frames come in finishes like oak, walnut, or maple, and they all fold back to form either a full or queen-sized bed for overnight guests. The futon mattresses also come in a range of choices โ some are made of organic latex, some of organic wool (from North American farms), some of pure organic cotton, and others are made of some combo of the three natural materials. The Futon Shop also carries a handful of traditional sleeper sofas โour fave is the Eco Sofa Bed, made only from natural materials like solid wood, latex, wool, coconut coir, and upholstery in cotton, hemp, or linen.
