How to Style a Sofa Bed in Your Home Office

Home offices are no longer just a desk in the corner, your workspace now pulls double (or even triple) duty. Maybe it's a quiet spot for video meetings by day, a movie room in the evening, and a guest bedroom when family comes to stay. 

Here’s how to style a sofa bed in your home office, without it screaming “makeshift guest room”. 

Choose a sofa bed that looks like, well, a sofa

First things first: choose a sofa bed that doesn’t scream sofa bed. Instead of a fold-out futon, opt for one that could easily pass off as a normal sofa in your living room. 

That’s how we design all of our sofa beds—from our best-selling Model 02, to the deceivingly spacious Model 08. It’s important that when your sofa bed goes from ‘sleep mode’ to ‘sit mode’ it looks the part. You want your home office to look intentional, not like a spare room in disguise. 

Short on space? Try a chair bed

Not every home office has space for a full-sized sofa bed, and that’s okay. Chair beds are perfect for smaller rooms, giving you the function of an extra bed without taking up precious floor space.

During the work day, it works perfectly as an accent chair or a spot for taking calls. Come evening, it can be pulled out in seconds into a single bed when a guest decides to stay over. Talk about a hard worker. 

Create a breakout area with a coffee table

A sofa bed isn’t just for guests, it can also be a mini lounge in your office. Placing a small coffee table in front of it carves out a “breakout zone” where you can take a breather, step away from your screen, or even hold a more casual chat over coffee.

Opt for a lightweight coffee table that’s easy to move when needed, and style it with a small plant, books, or a candle to make it feel more curated. 

Keep the work/life balance right

When planning your layout, remember that your home office still needs to function primarily as a workspace. Try not to overcrowd it with large furniture or bulky pieces. For small to medium rooms, a 2-seater sofa bed often offers just the right balance, where bigger rooms can handle a 3-seater. 

Leave enough clearance around your desk and try to make sure there’s enough room so your sofa bed can open fully without having to rearrange everything. Smart planning upfront means easier set up later on.

Use a room divider to zone the space

If your office is part of an open-plan setup, or you’d rather not have a sofa bed in the background of your calls, use a room divider to carve out space for work and rest. This also hides the desk when your guests are staying over, making the room feel a bit more homely. 

Freestanding bookshelves are a great choice because they add storage as well as structure. A folding screen works well too—and has the bonus of being easy to move when needed. You could even use a curtain, a rug, or a change in wall colour to define different zones.

Style It like a sofa, not a bed

To avoid your home office looking like a bedroom, make sure the sofa bed is styled as a sofa. Stow bedding out of sight in a separate cupboard, and layer up your sofa bed with cushions, a side table and lamp nearby. These finishing touches help it feel like part of the room, not just a practical extra.

Looking for a sofa bed for your multifunctional home office? Shop our full range.