Short answer: Comfort is personal, so we build three different sleeping surfaces rather than claim one is best for everyone. None of our sofa beds contains a separate mattress. The bed is made from the sofa's own seat and back cushions, which are layered foam, and our Neptune Sleep Kit adds a mattress topper on top. Neptune and Orian feel firm, and Atmosphere Sleeper feels softer.
Guests judge a sofa bed in one night, and the first question is usually whether it is a "real" mattress. This guide is exact about what is inside, so you can match the surface to the person who will sleep on it.
On This Page
- Is there a mattress inside a sofa bed?
- What are the foam layers in each of our sofa beds?
- How firm or soft is each one?
- What does the Neptune Sleep Kit topper add?
- How big is the bed, and what supports it?
- Where does the bedding go?
- What to check on any guest sofa bed
- Our recommendation
- Explore our sofa beds
Is there a mattress inside a sofa bed?
In many traditional sofa beds, a thin folded mattress is stored in the base and pulled out. Ours work differently. Each sleeper seat unfolds, and the seat and back cushions line up to form the bed. That means the sleeping surface is the same foam you sit on, built in layers so it works for both jobs.
We describe it as layered foam, not as a mattress, and we do not claim it replaces one. Under the cushions, the sofa has its own support. Neptune's seat bases use sinuous steel springs and elastic webbing under a foam cover, and Atmosphere's frame uses sinuous springs and elastic webbing too. For a wider look at the alternatives, read our comparison of a sofa bed, Murphy bed, daybed and air mattress.
What are the foam layers in each of our sofa beds?
The layers differ by collection, and the thickness is the first thing to compare. These are the foam stacks in the sleeper seat cushions.
What are the foam layers in each of our sofa beds?
| Sofa bed | What is in the sleeper seat cushion | Foam thickness | How it feels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neptune | Three foam layers of different densities (35, 28 and 18 kg/m³, the last one supersoft), plus a layer of fibre | About 5.1 inches (13 cm) in total | Firm |
| Orian | Firm foam with a thin layer of fibre | 4.3 inches (11 cm) of foam | Firm seat, soft fibre-filled back pillows |
| Atmosphere Sleeper | Three foam layers in the sleeper cushion (5 + 12 + 5 cm (2.0 + 4.7 + 2.0 inches)), with a sleeper base below | About 8.7 inches (22 cm) of foam in total | Softer, more cushioned |
Density is measured in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³), and denser foam generally feels firmer and supports more. Neptune combines a dense layer with a supersoft one, and Atmosphere uses the thickest cushion of the three, for more give. Orian has the least foam of the three at 4.3 inches (11 cm), which suits its firm seat.
These figures describe the foam in the cushions, not a guarantee of how any one person will feel. Our guide to whether our sofa beds are comfortable covers sitting and sleeping feel in more depth.
How firm or soft is each one?
Neptune is one of our firmer sofa beds, and its supportive foam construction creates a firm sleeping surface. Orian pairs firm foam seat cushions with soft, fibre-filled back pillows, and its sleeping surface is also firm. Atmosphere Sleeper has thicker, softer cushioning, so it has a more pronounced sink-in feeling for guests who like a plush bed.
Firmer is not automatically better for a back, and softer is not automatically better for comfort. Body weight, sleeping position and personal preference all matter. If you do not know your guests' preference, a firm surface plus a topper is a reasonable middle ground.
What does the Neptune Sleep Kit topper add?
Our Neptune Sleep Kit is a mattress topper. It adds a layer of cushioning and helps smooth the sleeping surface.
It is a topper, not a replacement mattress, and it does not turn layered cushions into a conventional one-piece bed. Some sleepers will still notice the joins between modules, because the bed is made from separate cushions. Our guide to sleeping on a sofa bed every night goes into that trade-off.
The topper is sized to the bed, and the Neptune product page offers Twin and Full options.
How big is the bed, and what supports it?
Size matters for support as much as foam does, because two adults need room to turn over.
How big is the bed, and what supports it?
| Neptune | Orian | Atmosphere Sleeper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeping surface | Full bed, three seats | Queen: 62 x 80 inches (157 x 202.5 cm), two seats | About 88.6 x 59.1 inches (225 x 150 cm) in a typical three-seat layout |
| Reach into the room when open | About 60 inches (152 cm), three-seater | 80 inches (202.5 cm) | About 98 inches (249 cm), two-seater with sleeper ottoman |
| Bed height | Raised on legs | Raised on legs | Low, close to the floor |
| Seat opens on its own | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Each Neptune and Orian seat module is designed to support up to 350 lb (159 kg). For Neptune, our assembly guide allows one user on a single bed and two users on a double bed.
Height matters more than people expect. Neptune and Orian sit higher, which can be easier for older guests to get out of. Atmosphere sits lower, which suits guests who like a soft, low bed. For footprints and room planning, see our guide to sofa bed sizes.
Where does the bedding go?
Neptune has hidden storage inside each sleeper seat, about 59 x 58 x 14 cm (23.2 x 22.8 x 5.5 inches), which is enough for sheets and pillows. Orian's sleeper seats have no storage, and Orian seats have storage only if you select the storage version (a storage seat, corner seat or ottoman), so bedding goes in one of those if you add it. Atmosphere offers separate Storage seats, but you cannot mix storage and sleeper seats.
Before you fold a bed back into a sofa, remove the sheets and topper from the sleeping surface. Our guide to cleaning and maintaining a sleeper sofa covers the routine.
What to check on any guest sofa bed
These are general tips, not product specifications, and they apply to any brand.
- Thickness of the sleeping foam: ask how much foam sits under your guest, not only how thick the cushion looks.
- Firmness: match it to the person, and plan a topper for guests who like a softer bed.
- Seams: find out where sections meet and how they are covered.
- Bed height: a higher bed is easier to get out of, and a lower bed feels softer and closer to the floor.
- Open size: measure the bed when open, including the space in front of the sofa, before you buy.
Our recommendation
Choose by the guest, not by the sofa.
- A guest who likes a firm, supportive bed, or has trouble getting up from a low surface: Neptune, with its Sleep Kit topper. The seat storage keeps the bedding in the sofa.
- A couple, or a small room that needs a Queen bed: Orian. Two seats make a Queen surface from a two-seater that is 72.8 inches (185 cm) wide.
- A guest who likes a softer, more cushioned bed: Atmosphere Sleeper, with its thicker cushions and lower bed height.
- Someone staying nightly for years: a dedicated mattress and frame. We do not build our sofa beds to replace one.
Our comparison of Neptune, Orian and Atmosphere Sleeper puts the three side by side.
Explore our sofa beds
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.