How to organise a stylish sleepover

One of the big concerns that crop up around the summer holidays is the logistics of making space for friends and family when they come to stay.

Whether you have a spare room you want to make perfect or need to find a sofa bed that looks stylish and is comfortable too, here are our tips on how to make your guests feel extra welcome.

From sofa to sleep in one easy move, click-clack designs are so called because of the locking sound made once converted into a bed. The foam seat and back become the mattress, making it the ideal choice for occasional sleepovers. The foam moulds to the sleeper’s body, just like a sprung mattress. Choose a design with wooden arm and leg details for a sofa that scores high in the style stakes.

For extra comfort for your guests while they sleep, cover the foam mattress with a fitted sheet, then shake out a coverless duvet from The Fine Bedding Company. Voilà, your guest bed is ready to go in the time it would take to phone a taxi. We'd also add a well-placed side table for a glass of water and personal belongings.

Go for a corner sofa that converts to a sofa bed, giving plenty of seating space too. Working very much like a traditional sofa bed, the frame and mattress lift out of the seat with a two-fold mechanism. As a sofa, the seats are supported by flexible webbing, which is the same as traditional upholstery. Once unfolded, the bed is supported by slats – it’s this combination of webbing and slats that means you no longer have to choose between a comfortable sofa or a comfortable bed. You can have both.

Make sure overnight guests have a duvet suitable for the weather - a lightweight summer duvet should have a tog between 2.5 and 4 - and top with a bedspread or throw that matches your decor. 

For a simple Scandi style, choose a sofa bed that has minimal lines but maximum comfort. Ideal as a second sofa in a living area or as a way of making a home office work a little bit harder, armless designs suit any space. They’re also a great backdrop for throws and cushions.

Treat guests to natural linen bedding, which is super soft and needs little – if any – ironing. Try a deep shade to transform your day space for sleep, such as forest green or inky blue.

Wherever you plan to put guests, check the space: is it dark enough? Is there a space for them to keep their things? Somewhere to charge their phone? Maybe leave out a pair of guest slippers. A carafe for water, mini toiletries and a scented candle will make them feel at home. We also love a dimmable light to softly light the room before bed. If they’re likely to need your wifi, you could write the password in a notecard and leave it by their bed. Something easy to read, like a book of short stories, will also add a personal touch.

It’s not just a demand for extra bedding that comes with hosting friends and family. You’ll need to consider extra tableware, cutlery and glassware for breakfast, and leave out a pile of fluffy guest towels for the morning.