Survey: Nearly Half of Sofa Bed Users Want to Switch to Regular Mattresses, Citing Compromises in Sleep Quality

In 2026, as housing prices and rents remain high, interest is growing in space-saving, dual-purpose furniture that helps residents make better use of limited living space. Among these options, sofa beds, also described as mattress sofas, are an accessible and practical choice for single-person households and young couples. But can they truly deliver both restful sleep and daytime relaxation? Moonmoon Inc., operator of the mattress information site “Mattress Otaku,” conducted an online survey of 200 men and women across Japan who use or have used sofa beds for sleeping. The results show that while sofa beds are valued for saving space, many users feel they compromise on sleep quality and hope to switch to a regular mattress in the future. The survey was conducted against the backdrop of rising rents for studio and one-bedroom apartments, especially in urban areas. For people who want both a bed and a sofa but lack the room, mattress sofas have become a standard solution. At the same time, social media contains many negative accounts, including complaints about back pain and the hassle of unfolding the bed. The survey aimed to clarify the gap between the ideal and reality of increasingly common dual-purpose furniture, offering guidance for prospective buyers and visualizing issues faced by current users. Key findings include: the top reason for adoption was “the room is too small” at 31.8%, showing that physical space constraints are the main driver; only 5.5% were “very satisfied” with sleep quality, indicating a clear sense of compromise; the biggest benefit was “being able to use the room more spaciously” at 27.0%; the top regret was “poor sleeping comfort” at 21.6%; and about half of respondents, 49.5%, said they would like to switch to a regular mattress in the future. For the reason they started using a sofa bed, 31.8% cited not having enough room for both a bed and a sofa. Another 14.8% wanted spare bedding for guests, while 13.6% said it was convenient when they started living alone. This suggests that sofa beds are chosen less for interior design preferences and more out of functional necessity: making the most of limited space. Regarding satisfaction with sleep quality, 33.5% said they were “somewhat satisfied,” 30.0% answered “neither satisfied nor dissatisfied,” 28.0% were “somewhat dissatisfied,” and only 5.5% were “very satisfied.” The results suggest that many users continue to use sofa beds while accepting a certain degree of compromise in everyday sleep. As for benefits, 27.0% said they could use their room more spaciously, 19.2% said the sofa bed also served as a place to relax during the day, and 12.6% found it convenient as bedding for guests. The product appears to fulfill its main purpose of saving space, while also offering value as a daytime relaxation area rather than simply serving as bedding. On the other hand, the top regret was that the sofa bed was less comfortable to sleep on than expected, at 21.6%. This was followed by the hassle of opening and unfolding it at 15.2%, sagging sooner than expected at 14.0%, and being heavier and harder to move than anticipated at 11.6%. These findings highlight structural weaknesses specific to dual-purpose furniture, which can translate directly into daily stress. When asked what they do to improve sleep quality on a sofa bed, the most common answer was “nothing in particular” at 22.5%. Other responses included adding a topper or mattress pad at 15.6%, paying attention to sleeping direction or posture at 13.8%, and switching to a pillow that better fits their body at 13.1%. While dissatisfaction exists, many users appear not to have concrete improvement measures. At the same time, some are actively trying to improve comfort by using toppers and similar accessories. Asked whether they would like to switch from a sofa bed to a regular mattress if their lifestyle changed, 29.0% said they would “somewhat like to switch” and 20.5% said they would “definitely like to switch,” totaling 49.5%. Another 15.0% had already switched, while only 5.5% wanted to continue using their sofa bed as is. This shows that even if a sofa bed is the best option under current housing conditions, many users would still prefer a dedicated mattress once they have enough space. Overall, the survey found that sofa beds are both a useful solution to space-related problems and an item that can easily create challenges in sleep quality, a core component of health. Many users place high value on the ability to use limited room space efficiently, but they often accept trade-offs such as poor sleeping comfort and maintenance effort. Since about half hope to switch in the future, mattress sofas appear to function less as long-term bedding for settled living and more as transitional furniture that supports early single living or periods when space is limited. Hirokazu Takeda, operator of Mattress Otaku, commented that sofa beds are an excellent invention supporting efficient urban living, but the fact that “poor sleeping comfort” ranked as the top regret cannot be overlooked from the perspective of pursuing better sleep. Because of their structure, dual-purpose furniture can have uneven folds and cushion density, which may contribute to back pain or waking during the night. For users currently dissatisfied with comfort, he strongly recommends adding a topper. Placing one layer on top of an existing sofa bed can dramatically improve body pressure distribution and create an environment closer to a dedicated bed. The survey was conducted from May 10 to May 12, 2026, among 200 men and women across Japan who have used sofa beds or mattress sofas for sleeping. It was carried out online by Mattress Otaku, operated by Moonmoon Inc. When citing the survey results, please include the Mattress Otaku URL: https://mattress.moonmoon.biz/.