Slideaway Sofa Bed

To create a sofa bed that sets a new standard. Sofa beds have historically had a bad name for being only an average bed and sofa, or one at the expense of the other. They can be a clumsy piece as they try to be two products-in-one, so something is often compromised including its aesthetic appeal in both forms. By combining our experience with mattresses, timber frames and sofas, we set to achieve the next generation of sofa bed innovation. Being an incredible sofa and an incredible bed, that's effortless when transitioning and looks beautiful in either form.

We wanted to create a sofa bed that was uncompromising. Over 18 months, we undertook three rounds of user testing resulting in several prototypes living with staff before deciding on a three-layer cushion with a plush duvet wrap and an easy sliding mechanism for the bed. CNC manufacturing was utilised to remove labour intensive processes and ensure costs at a minimum. To save on unnecessary fixings, the assembly comes together easily in two parts with only hand screws to hold the sofa firmly bed together. Key roadblocks were finding the lowest variation in firmness perceptions between sofa and bed mode.

Flat pack sofa beds can often involve large bulky packaging. To save on unnecessary packaging, we vacuum-compressed our cushions using our experience with mattress technology to achieve an imperceptible difference in comfort when fully inflated. This reduces packaging by 70% across the supply chain, which means we achieve efficiency across inbound and outbound logistics, both commercially and environmentally. Our sofa bed cushions are CertiPUR and Oeko-tex Standard 100 Certified, made from recycled foam, essentially, offcuts from mattresses to ensure minimal waste production. Our timber is also ethically sourced with a non-toxic finish and glues with the lowest amount of VOCs.

The Slideaway Sofa Bed's key feature is its ability to transition from sofa to bed in one seamless motion. This feature is made possible by the unique construction of the slatted base that effortlessly slides back and forth without the need for a clumsy metal mechanism. This sliding base also allows the user to experience the sofa bed in 3 modes - sofa, bed, and what we refer to as 'Netflix mode'. Netflix mode is the unique state where the sofa bed is in the transition phase between sofa to bed. This gives the user a unique experience, where they can lounge with their feet up on their extra deep sofa. The unique frame is made from a combination of sustainably grown hardwood and birch plywood. The frame is also uniquely flat-packed and can be easily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools. The seat and back is constructed using a multilayer technique that has been developed for the Eva mattress category and brought across to the sofa bed to create the ultimate sleeping experience. The sofa bed cushions are filled with a combination of chipped memory foam and medium-density form, a by-product of our mattress manufacturing process.