| A sleeper sofa may be the answer to your space | | | | you buy a sleeper sofa add the sales tax to the |
| crunch. Though the names vary, the principle is | | | | price. |
| the same: one piece of furniture has two uses. | | | | Comfort. The only way to find out if the sleeper |
| The quality and price of sleeper sofas varies, so | | | | sofa is comfortable is to lie on it. A good |
| shop around. This checklist will save you time and | | | | mattress is priority one. The Mattress Insider |
| money. | | | | Website recommends latex mattresses. "This |
| Dimensions. Measure the space where the sofa | | | | type of sofa mattress tends to be the most |
| sleeper will go and write these measurements | | | | comfortable and by far the most durable," the |
| down. Take angular walls, doorways and traffic | | | | site notes. You should know, though, that latex |
| patterns into consideration, too. If a sleeper sofa | | | | mattresses are the most expensive. |
| won't fit your space, a sleeper chair may work. | | | | One-Step Conversion. Ask the sales associate to |
| Style. Your sleeper sofa should fit your decorating | | | | pull out the mattress. "You should be able to do |
| style. Of course you may vary your style. A | | | | this with one motion," says Mary Whalen, Sales |
| modern sofa may blend well with traditional | | | | Associate with Hom Furniture in Rochester, |
| furniture. Different decorating styles may be | | | | Minnesota. Pull out the mattress yourself. Does it |
| unified with color. | | | | come out easily? |
| Fabric. Microfiber is recommended for people with | | | | Color. Decorators recommend neutral colors like |
| allergies. "Brighten Up the Living Room with a | | | | taupe. You can always add pattern and color with |
| Microfiber Sofa," an article on the Microfiber-Sofas | | | | pillows and throws. See if the store has a fabric |
| Website, says this fabric requires special cleaning | | | | check-out service. Lay the swatch on the carpet |
| products. Check the fabric grade, which ranges | | | | or floor and see how it looks in daylight and lamp |
| from A, the least expensive, to F, the most | | | | light. |
| expensive. According to "How to Choose | | | | Delivery charge. Delivery charges in metropolitan |
| Upholstery Fabric," fabric grades vary from one | | | | areas can be stiff. Find out the delivery charge |
| manufacturer to another. Grades are "based on | | | | for your area and also the delivery day. For |
| variables like intricacy of weave, fiber content, | | | | example, deliveries to your area may be on |
| construction, and performance characteristics | | | | Wednesdays. |
| [wear]." | | | | Many furniture stores rely on fabric protection |
| Price. A mid-priced sofa sleeper may meet your | | | | plans for their profits. A savvy salesperson will try |
| needs just as well as a high priced one. The prices | | | | to sell you this plan. It may, or may not, be a |
| of sleeper sofas have not continued to rise, | | | | good idea, depending on your situation. In this tight |
| according to "How to Buy a Sleeper Sofa," on the | | | | economy, stores are moving stock with sales, |
| Home Decorating Website. "Currently, | | | | holiday promotions, and coupon deals. Take |
| manufacturers offer great quality furniture at | | | | advantage of these discounts and enjoy your |
| reasonable prices," according to the site. Before | | | | sleeper sofa! |