Harper A Frame Sofa Bed

Description

The Harper A Frame Sofa Bed is a made-to-order futon sofa bed built on a solid wooden A-frame. By day it is a low, clean-lined sofa with a 40cm seat height; by night the back folds flat in one movement to give a full-length 192cm sleeping surface. There is no separate mattress to store, no metal mechanism to wrestle with and nothing to lift — the mattress you sit on is the mattress you sleep on.

Because every Harper is made to your specification, you choose the size, the fabric, the mattress filling and the leg colour. Nothing is held in stock, so nothing is a compromise.

Choosing your size

All three sizes open to the same 192cm length. The difference is width, so the decision is really about how much wall you have and how many people need to sit or sleep on it.

• Single — 84cm wide. A one-seater by day, a single bed by night. The right choice for a home office, a box room or a narrow alcove.
• Small Double — 125cm wide. Comfortable two-seater, and a small double bed for one adult with room to spread out or two at a push.
• Double — 145cm wide. A generous two-seater and a genuine double bed, the same width as a standard UK double mattress.

Foam or pocket sprung

Foam or pocket sprung

This is the choice that matters most and the one people get wrong.

Foam is firmer, lighter, folds away more easily and costs less. It is the right answer for occasional use — a spare bed for visitors a few times a year.

Pocket sprung costs more and adds weight to the folding action, but it sleeps considerably better because the springs move independently under you. If anyone is going to sleep on this regularly — a lodger, a student home for the holidays, a partner who snores — pay the difference.

Fabric and legs

Four upholstery colourways are available on the Harper A Frame. Piero Thunderstorm is a deep slate blue weave with a subtle texture that hides everyday marks well. Sunningdale Granite is a mid-grey that sits comfortably alongside oak and walnut. Sunningdale Midnight is a dark navy that reads almost black in low light. Sunningdale Saffron is a warm mustard gold for rooms that need a lift.

Legs come in Light Wood or Dark Wood. Light wood keeps the frame visually lighter in a small room; dark wood anchors the piece and works well against darker flooring.

Measuring up

Measure before you order

A sofa bed has two footprints — folded and open — and the second one is the one people forget. Measure the space it will occupy as a sofa, then measure again allowing for the bed extending forward into the room. Check there is nothing in the way at floor level: a coffee table, a rug edge, a radiator.

Then measure your narrowest doorway, diagonally as well as straight across, and the turn at the top of the stairs, which is usually the real obstacle rather than the door itself.

For the Harper A Frame specifically: as a sofa it occupies 93cm of floor depth. Opened flat as a bed it needs 192cm of clear length from the wall, so leave that run free before you order.

Specification

Delivery

Made to order — 4 to 6 weeks

This sofa bed is made to order and is delivered within 4 to 6 weeks from the date you place your order. It is built to your choice of fabric, size, mattress and frame after you order, rather than picked off a shelf. That is why the wait exists and it is also why you get the exact combination you want rather than the one that happened to be in stock.

If you need a sofa bed sooner than six weeks, tell us before ordering and we will point you at what we hold in stock instead.

Delivery

Delivered free to mainland England and Wales. We do not currently deliver to the Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland or the offshore islands.

Questions we are asked most

Is the Harper A Frame comfortable enough to sleep on every night?

Yes, with the right filling. A futon mattress is a genuine sleeping surface rather than a thin pull-out pad, and the A-frame supports it evenly with no bar across the middle. For nightly use we would steer you towards the pocket sprung mattress, which holds its shape and support far better under daily load than foam does.

How hard is it to convert from sofa to bed?

One movement. Lift the seat slightly and lower the backrest until it lies flat. There is no lifting of a mattress, no removing of cushions and no mechanism to unfold. Most people manage it one-handed.

Does it come assembled?

No. The Harper arrives flat packed in one box with the frame, the slats, the legs and the mattress. Assembly is straightforward — it is a frame, four legs and a fixing kit — and takes most people around 30 minutes with a screwdriver.

Can I order a fabric swatch before I commit?

Yes. Because this is a made-to-order piece we would always rather you saw the fabric first. Contact us with the colourway you are considering and we will arrange it.

Why is the lead time 4 to 6 weeks?

Nothing is made until you order it. The frame is cut, the mattress is filled and the cover is upholstered to your chosen specification, then the finished piece is delivered direct. That is the trade-off for getting exactly the combination you want rather than whatever happened to be in a warehouse.