I'm well aware of the popular notion surrounding sofa beds. It goes something like this: They are neither good sofas nor are they good beds. In fact, they have a notorious reputation for being an 'in-betweener' - a makeshift and often uncomfortable solution for when you neither have the space for a full-sized bed or sofa. Here, I'm looking at the Alexa Small Double Sofa Bed from Bensons for Beds. Now, I must admit, sofa beds and I have always been frenemies. They promise convenience, but often deliver discomfort. However, to provide you with a fearless and in-depth review, I put aside my prejudices to test and experience the Alexa Small Double Sofa Bed in-store and in person.
Design and Features
Visually, the Alexa Small Double Sofa Bed is an attractive piece of furniture. It's been crafted using luxurious velvet fabric which lends it a premium feel right off the bat. It's available in three diverse colours: Cobalt Blue, Metallic Grey, and Emerald Green, which cater to varied personal aesthetics. The Art Deco-inspired design, evident in the solid wooden walnut effect legs, successfully weds retro charms with a contemporary vibe. While the design is undeniably aesthetically pleasing, it's the practicality and functionality that should be thoroughly scrutinised when it comes to sofa beds.
This piece of furniture changes from a sofa to a bed quickly with an easy foldout function. It also offers two size options - Single and Double. This is excellent as it permits potential buyers to choose a sofa bed that's ideal for their specific needs and available space. On paper, the Alexa Small Double Sofa Bed answers what a modern-space crunched household needs - stylish, versatile, and compact. But, as we move along, we need to determine if these superlatives are merely good on paper or if they stand their ground under testing.
Construction
The Alexa Small Double Sofa Bed is compact, and that's a true plus for those of us perennially struggling with space. As for the fold-out function, it truly is as simple as ABC. But beneath the luxury velvet fabric and inside the plush seeming body of this sofa bed, the construction really comes under intense scrutiny. After all, that's what's going to determine whether this piece of furniture suffers the same fate that most sofa beds do - being uncomfortable to sleep or sit on - or not.
To assess this, I must take my hat off to Bensons for Beds for providing a 5-year guarantee that undoubtedly speaks of a certain confidence in the product's build quality. The solid wooden legs support the sofa bed well enough, but it is when it transforms from a stylish sofa to a bed that the real questions about its construction come to the fore.
Suitability
Examining the Alexa Small Double Sofa Bed in a retail environment offers rich and detailed a look at its suitability. The seating height and the depth are adequate making it quite comfortable as a sofa. The velvet fabric feels plush and luxurious under the skin and adds a tactile element to the comfort. And it's ample for two people to sit on without elbowing each other for space.
Unfortunately, when you transition to the bed function, that's when Alexa's shortcomings become glaringly noticeable. This is primarily due to the thinness of the mattress. There are certain spots where you might find yourself feeling the bar underneath. One owner wrote that "you can occasionally feel a bar through the relatively thin mattress". You might be able to rectify this flaw with a mattress topper; however, a topper should be an enhancement, not a necessity.
What Customers Thought
Owners write about buying the Alexa for a small spare room or study, and on that brief the reviews are warm. "Fits well in small spare room," one owner wrote. The velvet and the colours come up often ("The colour and texture are gorgeous"), and so does the fold-out, which one owner called "Ridiculously easy to open up and set up for sleep."
Sleeping on it is where the reviews split. Firmness is the recurring complaint, and the fix owners describe is a topper: "Comfy to sleep on with a mattress topper otherwise a bit too firm." Owners who prefer a firm bed, or only put up the odd guest, were happy with it as it comes. A few found it uncomfortable as a bed, with one owner writing that they "can feel the middle bars". Another owner, happy with it overall, noted that as a bed "it's quite low to the ground". A small number reported faults, from "The bed springs broke in less than 2 weeks" to a seat that had "already started to dip".
The Verdict
It must be said that retail products must meet a multitude of tastes and preferences and perfection is a relative concept. Yet, given this universality, the Alexa Small Double Sofa Bed seems to ride midway - it has its highs and its lows. The aesthetic value is high. The luxurious velvet fabric, attractive colour choices, and Art Deco-inspired design lend it a distinct appeal which is beyond dispute. As a sofa, it is comfortable, functional, and pleasing to the eye. If you want aesthetic versatility, Alexa does deliver.
However, the functional aspect of comfort, which in the case of a sofa bed translates to sleep comfort, leaves room for improvement. This is where Alexa's balance tilts towards the traditional perception of sofa beds being uncomfortable to sleep on. Granted, the occasional user or someone who prefers a firmer sleeping surface might find it agreeable, but for more frequent use, the thinness of the mattress could lead to a less than satisfactory experience.
Ultimately, the Alexa Small Double Sofa Bed is a stylish, visually appealing piece of furniture that fits the bill as a sofa. But it falters somewhat when it comes to being used regularly as a bed. It might not be the one that redefines the popular notion surrounding sofa beds, and my scepticism, to a degree, still remains. However, it does stand as a reminder that the discussion around sofa beds is nuanced, with suitability often depending on individual needs, preferences, and frequency of use.
