Electric or manual: how to choose an extendable sofa or sofa bed

Many families want two things from one piece of furniture: a sofa to sit on every day, and a bed for the nights when someone stays over. Extendable sofas and sofa beds are close cousins that do both. The seat comes forward, and the sofa becomes a daybed for lounging or a bed for a guest. It is a simple way to make better use of a home, because the living room can double as a guest room.

The real decision is how it opens: by motor or by hand. That depends on how often you will open it and who will be doing it. Son&Bear's extendable sofas come in both kinds. This guide explains how to choose between them, including when the simpler option is the right one.

What is the difference between an electric and a manual extendable sofa?

An electric extendable, sometimes called a motorised sofa bed, opens at the touch of a button. On Son&Bear's electric versions, the sofa extends itself into a daybed or a bed for overnight guests, then returns to a sofa the same way. On the Klara, one wireless six-button remote controls every electric movement.

A manual extendable has no motor. You pull the seat forward by hand and push it back when you are done. Son&Bear's manual versions open with one pull and need no power.

Both end up in the same place: a deeper seat you can stretch out on. The difference is how much effort it takes to get there, and what the sofa needs from the room.

Which suits everyday lounging, and which suits guests?

Think about how your household will use the sofa over the next few years, not just the next visit.

• You will open it most evenings. If the family likes to lie back for a film, or the children pile on together, electric makes sense. A button makes it easy to open every day.
• Older parents will open it. For anyone with stiff hands or a sore back, a button asks less of the body than a pull.
• It opens a few times a year for guests. Manual does this well. There is no motor and no cable to plan around, so the sofa can stand anywhere in the room, away from a power point.
• Someone will sleep on it every night. A proper bed and mattress usually suits nightly sleep better. An extendable sofa works well as an everyday sofa that becomes a guest bed when you need one.

You don't have to pick one answer for the whole home. A manual extendable can suit a study or a guest corner, while an electric one suits the main living room, where it will be opened most.

What should you check before you choose?

The depth when it is open. This is the measurement people tend to forget. The electric Klara and Andrea are 110 cm deep and reach 160 cm when extended, and the electric Anderson goes from 106 cm to 160 cm. The manual Klara is 110 cm deep and opens to 160 cm, and the manual Bellingham, Casillas, Devon and Mason are 110 cm deep and open to 150 cm. Every product page lists its sizes in centimetres. Where a page does not show an open depth, ask before you order.

The floor in front. The seat needs clear space to come forward. Check that the coffee table can move aside easily, and that a rug edge or a side table will not be in the way.

Power, for electric. An electric sofa needs power, usually from a wall socket, so note where the nearest one is and where the cable will run. Ask the showroom team how the model you are considering is powered before you settle the layout.

Who will be around it. As with any motorised furniture, keep small children and pets clear while the seat is moving.

One side or both. Some designs let one side open while the other stays upright, so one person can stretch out while another sits. On the electric Klara L-Shaped Sofa each seat moves on its own, and the Casillas can open one side as a lounger or both for a guest. For other models, ask.

Doorways and lifts. In an HDB flat or a condominium, measure the lift, the corridor and the turn into the living room, as well as the room itself. Check them against the dimensions on each product page.

Which Son&Bear models are electric and which are manual?

The electric Bellingham, Casillas, Devon and Mason come in Double widths of 200, 240 and 270 cm, and their manual versions add Triple widths of 275 and 335 cm. The Andrea and both L-shapes have no manual extendable version.

You can browse every model on the sofa beds page, and the electric sofas, including the recliners, on the electric sofas page. The Smart option adds voice control and a USB charging port, and the guide to how a smart sofa works explains what it does and what to ask.

Which fabric suits a sofa bed?

A sofa bed gets used for sitting, lounging and sleeping. If a dog or a cat shares the sofa, look at the Eco-Series leathers: Eco-Lux, Eco-Tex and Eco-Prime. They are the only materials Son&Bear calls pet-friendly. They are water-resistant and scratch-resistant and clean with a damp cloth, though light everyday marks are normal wear. Every model in the table above is offered in all three, alongside fabrics such as bouclé and Premium Suede, and you can compare them on the materials page.

What warranty should you look for?

Whichever sofa you buy, check that the warranty covers the moving mechanism as well as the frame. Son&Bear's sofas, extendable sofas and sofa beds carry a 3-year limited warranty on the frame structure and on the movable mechanism, and 1 year on soft furnishings such as foam, fillings and fabric covers. Other components, including the remote control, are covered for 1 year. The full terms are on the warranty page.

See it in person

The difference between a pull and a button is easiest to judge in person. Visit the Son&Bear showroom at Ubi, 8 Ubi Road 2, Zervex #01-07/08, open 11am to 8pm every day. There is parking right outside, and Tai Seng, Ubi and MacPherson MRT stations are nearby. Walk in without an appointment, bring your room measurements or a few photos, and the team will help you work out which size and function fit. To try a particular model, message the showroom first to check what is on the floor. Pets are welcome.