I tested the Optimus sofa bed in store because its “space saving” claim and six-second fold promise spoke to a real use case for me - a guest room. To be frank I rarely like sofa beds, and this one didn’t win me over. It looks tidy and converts fast but the sit was a touch rigid and the sleep comfort did not merit the asking price in my view, even at the current stock offer. Special Buy is listed at £1295 and Stock Offer at £995 at the time of writing - that is competitive for a branded retailer but the compromises are clear.
Design & Build
The Optimus has slim, sloping arms that genuinely save floor space and make the three-seat footprint feel smaller than most sofa beds. Detailing is smart, with piped edges and dark wood feet. The range is upholstered in a soft, industrial-look velvet-feel microfibre or leather elsewhere in the collection, though the sofa bed here is presented in fabrics with a wide palette available to order. Feet and arms are removable which helps with tight doorways and stairs.
Inside, the seat uses a no-sag spring and inner coil base with foam-wrapped pocket springs topped with fibre. The back uses rubber webbing and fibre cushions. On paper that is a supportive recipe for everyday sitting, but in reality I found the front edge a little unyielding and the overall feel more upright than loungey. If you prefer a cushy sink-in sofa, this is not it.
Mechanism & Setup
This is the sofa bed’s best bit. It flips from sofa to bed in around six seconds, and the back cushions stay attached so you are not juggling pillows and trying to find somewhere to stash them. For small homes and late-night changeovers, that convenience matters and the Optimus nails it. Delivery is advertised as available in 7 days on quick-ship options, and Furniture Village covers you with its 20-year structural guarantee.
Seating Comfort
The brand calls the comfort “medium”, which matches my experience on the shop floor. The pocketed seat unit keeps you perched and well supported, but there is little give. It will suit tidy sitters and anyone who prefers a firmer, tidier silhouette that resists slumping over time. If you like sprawling for a film night, you may find the seat depth and resilience on the firm side.
Mattress & Sleep Comfort
The integrated mattress is memory foam. For occasional guests, one or two nights should be fine, but as with most sofa beds the mattress is relatively thin and you are still aware of the bed deck beneath. Lighter and average-weight sleepers will fare better than heavier guests, who may feel pressure at hips and shoulders. If you are buying this as a regular sleeper or for week-long stays, I would look for a thicker pocket-spring mattress or a tri-fold design that isolates the mechanism more effectively.
Practical Features
The space-saving arms, quick conversion and removable feet make sense for compact living rooms or offices. Upholstery care is straightforward, but as with any soft fabric, expect visible wear on high-contact areas and from sunlight so rotate cushions and use throws if the sofa sits in a bright bay. Finance is available at 0% which softens the upfront hit.
Value & Social Proof
At its Special Buy and clearance prices, the Optimus competes with many high-street sofa beds. The reviews mostly praise the changeover and the bed itself: one owner found it “so easy and quick to set up”, another wrote that “the mattress is comfortable”, and the build gets credit too (“Superb sofa, high quality and finish.”). The gripes are mostly about the seat and the mechanism. One owner wrote that “the seating area, it isn’t completely level”, another that “between cushions is big hole”, and a few had bent or stiff mechanisms on delivery: “The one delivered need 2 people to open”. Another found the bed had “a depression where the back rests”. One also warns that “The sofa is very heavy”. Most owners are happy, but I would urge you to sit-test with your own posture in mind because that firm, upright feel will divide opinion.
Who It Suits
- Small spaces where the slim arms free up precious width and the removable feet help with access.
- Occasional guests, especially lighter sleepers and short stays.
- People who like a neat, supportive sit rather than a deep, slouchy lounge.
- Anyone who prioritises fast changeovers and wants a no-fuss, six-second mechanism with cushions that stay put.
Who It Doesn’t Suit
- Every-night sleeping or heavy guests who need a thicker, more isolating mattress core.
- Movie-night loungers who want a plush, sink-in seat and generous depth.
- Heat-sensitive sleepers as memory foam retains warmth more than hybrid pocket mattresses.
- Bargain hunters at full RRP, there are alternatives with better cushions and thicker mattresses at similar money when not on promotion.
Final Verdict
Neat, quick and genuinely space-saving, the Optimus is a clever sofa bed to live with day to day. The problem is comfort. As a sofa it feels a bit rigid, and as a bed the thin memory foam layer is strictly for short stays. Given my in-store test and the current market, I would avoid it unless you are buying specifically for a compact room where the six-second mechanism and slim arms solve a problem. If you do like the look, buy at the Stock Offer price, not full RRP, and set expectations accordingly.
