Sofa with a French folding bed mechanism: pros and cons

When choosing furniture, we always pay attention to the functions it contains. Upholstered furniture, in addition to convenience and comfort, is most often equipped with a full-fledged sleeping place. One of the ways to transform a sofa or chair into a bed is the “French folding bed” transformation mechanism.

The presence of this mechanism in the design of the sofa speaks primarily of its unusual design.

Today, almost all pieces of upholstered furniture made in such a fashionable “Hi-Tech” style are laid out precisely according to the “French folding bed” principle.

A distinctive feature of a sofa with a French folding bed mechanism is that, taking up very little space, it turns into a real two or three-sleeping bed.

Mechanism of action

The French folding bed consists of 3 sections connected by hinges. The head section is attached directly to the sofa, the other 2 rest on U-shaped legs.

In order to unfold it, you must first remove the pillows from the part of the sofa on which they are sitting, and then lift it up and pull it towards you.

Unfold, and check that the metal legs that serve as support are level and well secured.

This design is quite simple and compact. To unfold the sofa, you need to remove the pillows, armrests, and remove the cover (if any). Next, the entire mechanism is lifted by a special handle and unfolded in 2 steps. In this case, the legs, due to traction, independently take the desired position.

Folding sofas with the “French folding bed” type of mechanism are not recommended for people with spinal diseases, as well as for children.

It will not be very comfortable to sleep on such a sofa every day due to its peculiar design. But as an option for delayed guests or unexpectedly visiting relatives, it’s simply excellent!

How to unfold

Even a woman and a teenager can easily unfold a modern folding sofa with a French folding bed mechanism. This is done as follows:

• the protective cover is removed;
• the lower pillows are removed;
• side armrests move away (on some models);
• the upper part of the sleeping place located under the removed pillows rises and easily pulls towards itself;
• all 3 sections are unfolded and installed on U-shaped legs;
• The correct installation and reliability of fixation of the folding bed are checked.

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The sofa folds in reverse order smoothly and easily. If for one reason or another the mechanism does not work, no physical effort should be made. Any careless movement can damage the hinge joints, but you need to figure out what’s wrong. With modern models from well-known manufacturers of upholstered furniture, when used carefully, such problems, as a rule, do not arise. The cause of breakdown of the transformable mechanism is most often intensive use in everyday mode.

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Types of French folding beds

French folding beds differ in the type of bed base.

1. Tent.
2. Woven mesh.
3. Armor (lamellas).
4. Awning and armor.
5. Welded mesh.

The French folding sofa bed is really similar to the most ordinary folding bed, also consisting of three segments.

Only here the entire mechanism is hidden inside the sofa, under its main seating area.

Bases in the form of an awning and woven mesh are not used by modern manufacturers, since they turned out to be the least durable and sagged during use, creating unfavorable conditions for the position of the spine.

Today, transformation mechanisms have up to 10 slats combined with an awning - thanks to this design they can withstand a lot of weight.

However, daily use of the mechanism often leads to its rapid breakdown.

Armor is a more acceptable option. Made from wood, they provide a flat surface, but over time they can bend unevenly under the weight of the body. Together, the awning and battens give a double effect. This is both a flat surface and load distribution thanks to the awning.

Such a base, equipped with 8-10 battens, can support a weight of up to 180 kg.

Some models are equipped not with armor, but with a welded lattice - the surface of the sleeping area in such sofas is more rigid compared to armor and an awning.

And the most durable (load up to 200 kg) and durable option is welded mesh. The absence of wooden elements minimizes the likelihood of damage to the mechanism, and the welded grille, suspended on springs, does not bend under the weight of the body.

A rare folding bed is equipped with an orthopedic mattress with a spring block and multi-layer filling.

But if this is so, then this sofa will successfully replace a good bed.

Frequency of use and design: dependence of indicators

French folding beds consisting of ten armor and one awning are suitable for daily use. In this case, there is much less load on each batten, so such models last much longer, even with constant use. They can also be used under heavy loads (up to 180 kg). But they are also considered not very convenient: folding is greatly complicated due to the presence of ten armor.

Some manufacturers offer their own version of French folding beds for daily use, which can withstand weights of up to 200 kg. However, these sofas are quite rare in stores.

Advantages and weaknesses

Before you finally decide to buy a sofa with a French folding mechanism, evaluate its advantages and disadvantages.

Comfortable seating surface – the presented sofas are comfortable.

They are equipped with soft top cushions and comfortable backrests with armrests.

Description and principle of operation

The “French folding bed” mechanism is a sleeping place that consists of three sections folded three times.

The sections are connected to each other by hinges and unfold in several movements. The entire folded mechanism is located in the depths of the upholstered furniture, under the seat. At the beginning of the process, you need to remove all removable parts from the surface of the sofa - seat cushions, covers, removable armrests, then easily pull the mechanism towards you and, lifting it up, gradually unfolding the links, install the bed on strong legs. The main advantage of the “French folding bed” transformation system is its extraordinary compactness.

Please note that it is not recommended to use the sleeping place for daily sleep.

How to choose a French folding bed

Having studied the device, advantages and disadvantages of this model in detail, you understand what you need to pay attention to when purchasing.

1. Type of base. In order to increase the service life, it is better to use a tent-plate base (8-10 lamellas) or welded mesh.
2. Brand. Check the manufacturer's reliability. This question is very relevant for a French folding bed, otherwise there is a risk that it will not last even a year.
3. Build quality. Make sure that the mechanism works properly and can be removed and put back in without difficulty or squeaks.
4. Mattress. This element deserves special attention.

As practice shows, the use of 10 armor is quite enough to withstand the weight of a heavy person.

At the same time, models with fewer battens are designed for lighter loads.

Required materials and tools

Before you begin, prepare the following materials:

• High density foam rubber (25 kg/m³): 1 sheet – 2000x1400x60, 1 sheet – 2000x1600x40, 1 sheet – 2000x1600x20.
• 6 linear meters (lm) of fabric 1400 mm wide.
• 4 p.m. non-woven fabric.
• Wooden beam: 2 pcs. 40x60x1890, 2 pcs. 40x60x1790, 6 pcs. 40x60x530, 4 pcs. 40x50x330, 4 pcs. 50x50x200.
• Boards 25 mm thick. 1900x200 (2 pcs.), 800x200 (2 pcs.), 1000x50 (12 pcs.), 800x50 (2 pcs.).
• 32 wooden slats, 64 slats holders.
• 1 sheet of fiberboard 1.7x2.75, thickness 3.2 mm.
• Mechanism for folding out a sofa like a book.
• 4 plastic feet.
• 4 furniture bolts 8x120.
• 4 furniture bolts 6x40.
• 8 furniture bolts 6x70.
• 4 nuts of 8 and 12 nuts of 6 mm.
• 20 nails – 70 mm, 40 nails – 100 mm.
• 20 screws 89D, 16 screws 51D.
• 1000 staples of 10 and 300 staples of 16 mm.
• Glue for foam rubber.

When making a book sofa you will need the following tools:

1. Roulette, square.
2. Saw.
3. Pencil.
4. Electric drill with drill bits.
5. Screwdriver.
6. Set of wrenches.
7. Hammer.
8. Furniture stapler.

Choosing a mattress

The mattress can be supplied together with the sofa or sold separately. The main rule is that it should be a few centimeters smaller than the base, otherwise you will not be able to collapse the structure.

“French folding beds” are foldable, so mattresses of small thickness (up to 6 cm) are used here.

It's not very comfortable to sleep on them every day, but for guest use it's enough.

The most common types of mattresses are foam rubber or polyurethane foam. Unfortunately, their maximum height is 60 mm, which has a bad effect on orthopedic properties, but is quite suitable for temporary use. With bases in the form of a welded mesh, it is possible to use a mattress up to 7-10 cm thick. It must be understood that fillers such as coconut coir and sea grass are not applicable in this case, because will be damaged and crumble as a result of folding.

The mattresses used must bend easily, so hard mattresses for such sofas are not available.

There is no compartment for linen - all the free space is occupied by the mechanism folded together with the mattress.

The French folding bed, having some drawbacks, can quite adequately serve as a guest bed. And modern production technologies make this design quite durable when used correctly.

Daily transformation of the mechanism is contraindicated, as it can quickly become unusable.

The main thing is to ensure that there are no weight overloads that could damage the fragile mechanism.

Shape and models

The transformation mechanism is a French folding bed that can be built into a sofa of any shape and size.

Most often, the mechanism is found in direct versions, which, due to their shape and size, can be easily placed even in a small, cramped room. Models can be with or without armrests, and recently they have been used

Options with one armrest are popular; they are interesting and unusual, which attracts additional attention.
Corner sofas that have such a transformation system are distinguished
by their small size, because the sleeping area is completely located in the depths of the model. and when decomposed it expands lengthwise. This option is convenient for its universal placement; being in the corner of the room, it seems to complete the overall picture; in the middle of the room, it divides it into zones.

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Materials for production

Several types of materials can be used to make a sofa bed. First of all, this applies to wooden beams and boards, which will not be difficult to purchase. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the quality of the purchase:

• Neither the board nor the beam should be wet or damp, so that after the finished product dries, its structure does not deteriorate.
• The wood should not contain chips, cracks or knots that could adversely affect the manufactured furniture. And the presence of knots can also lead to the formation of cracks during work.
• If the wood presented in a store or warehouse has areas of mold, then it should also be discarded. This indicates improper storage of lumber. It is possible to clean all areas, but usually mold spores penetrate quite deeply, and it will be difficult to completely get rid of them.

The second material often used for such pieces of furniture is board from wooden pallets. In essence, it is the same wood, only reused. The requirements for this material are somewhat greater than in the first case. Since from a whole mountain of pallets you can select only a part and discard the rest. Therefore, wholesale purchasing is not an option; you need to selectively select pallets for your purposes.

And the third option is the metal used for the frame. Unlike the options listed above, it is more durable and reliable, but not everyone has a welding machine on hand to make a high-quality base for a sofa bed. Plus, its acquisition is quite expensive. Therefore, it is used in cases where wood is not relevant.

As for the lining of the finished product, foam rubber is most often used, and for external finishing any fabric that is sufficiently strong and durable.

Tips for choosing and photos of products

The most common folding beds are equipped with a fairly thin mattress, the weight of which does not exceed 60 mm. This element is made mainly from sheet foam rubber. If you are not lazy and search a little, you can find models whose mattress reaches 75 cm. Typically, such mattresses are installed on a base made of welded mesh.

The mattress must perfectly match the width of the frames. Otherwise, the bed will not fold up easily. To do this you will have to use force.

Before deciding to purchase a French-type folding sofa, carefully study this model and understand the parameters. It should be taken into account that the width of the folding bed will be significantly less than the width of the sofa seat.

When choosing a folding sofa, you should follow these tips:

During operation, try to treat the folding mechanism with care, and the product will serve you for a long time. Make timely repairs if necessary. You can repair the product yourself, but it is better to seek the help of a specialist.