A compact sofa is a great idea to organize not only a cozy, but also a functional seating area in a small kitchen. After all, modern small sofas can become an additional sleeping place, a niche for storing items, and a place to sit at the table. But here it must be said that we are talking about kitchens with at least an area of 9 square meters. m. If the size of the room is even smaller, even a small sofa cannot be folded out.
Small sleeping sofas in the kitchen: style, comfort, functionality
Sometimes, you simply cannot do without a small folding sofa in the kitchen if there are absolutely not enough places to sleep and relax for all the residents in other rooms. The second functional role of a small sofa is to delimit two zones when the kitchen is combined, for example, with the living room.
Of course, buying a sofa for the kitchen is not as simple as choosing chairs, because you need to take into account a number of factors: functionality, proportionality of the assembled structure and the area of the room, ease of transformation, dimensions of the sofa when disassembled, practicality of the upholstery, strength and reliability of the structure.
Options for compact upholstered furniture in kitchen interiors
Small corner sofa for the kitchen
Often, owners of small kitchens prefer corner upholstered furniture. Such sofas can accommodate many more people than classic straight ones. In addition, most of these designs are equipped with a spacious niche for storing necessary things. They can be turned into a full-fledged bed, which when assembled will not take up much space.
In very small kitchens, it is better to install a sofa without a transformation mechanism, but with a large storage box and comfortable, spacious side shelves on which you can put, for example, a watch, a small receiver or a bowl of fruit.
There are semicircular models. The studio apartments have semicircular folding sofas, which can be transformed into a large bed if necessary.
Comfort and functionality will be provided by modular sofa options that change their configuration. Modern manufacturers often supplement them with a minibar, a shelf for magazines, and storage drawers under the seat. But in such structures it is fundamentally important to pay special attention to the quality of the frame so that the transformation mechanism serves for a long time.
Folding couch with sleeper
There are single and double rooms. For a small kitchen, the first ones will be the best option. Such models are available with or without backrests, and have two transformation mechanisms – folding and roll-out. Some models are equipped with hidden drawers for storing various small items.
Sofa bench
This model is a kind of “closet with a seat”, designed for storing things that are rarely used. It is distinguished by its simplicity, comfort, lightness and reasonable price. In terms of style, the sofa bench is neutral, so it will fit perfectly into any interior. Some corner models are sold complete with a table, which can turn into an additional seat.
Folding and sliding tables
The second largest participant in the interior after the sofa is usually the dining table. When choosing upholstered furniture for the kitchen, you need to take into account its dimensions too.
Fortunately, engineers have already come up with several solutions for dining problems. The table does not have to be classic; it can lean away from the wall or the back of the sofa, move out from under cabinets, or unfold in any other way.
If meals mostly take place in the living room or if only one or two people live in the apartment, a rotating bar counter would be an excellent solution. This narrow tabletop can be attached to a base pipe and rotated around it. So it can serve its main purpose or turn into a small dining table for two.
Near such a counter you can place a folding bed, which the dimensions of your kitchen allow. This interior solution is perfect for very tiny kitchens, such as are usually found in houses that were built during the reign of Khrushchev. It will also appeal to young and active careerists who do not like to cook a lot and set tables with five courses.
Small sofa for the kitchen: varieties based on the folding principle
Today there are more than ten types of folding mechanisms. Let's take a closer look at the most popular ones.
“Kangaroo” or “dolphin” are perhaps the best option for any kitchen, even a very small one. Most often, this type of transformation is installed in kitchen corners. The sofa easily turns into a bed, which serves as an additional place to sleep.
The French folding bed looks very attractive. During transformation, her graceful backs are not used. This sofa takes up minimal space. This is the best option for a small room.
Sedaflex is a relative of the previous one, but costs an order of magnitude more. It can be used as a permanent place to sleep, while for the former, frequent use is undesirable.
A straight roll-out sofa is least suitable for a small kitchen. And there are reasons for this: it is difficult to unfold; it does not provide storage space; the mechanism of such a model is quite capricious; When unfolded, it takes up a lot of space.
A good option is an accordion sofa. It is easy to unfold, reliable, but requires quite a lot of space, so it is better suited for studio apartments.
The book sofa has several subtypes:
- click-clack;
- Eurobook;
- tick tock;
- relax.
These models have storage compartments, and they are very easy to transform. The classic book is not intended to be folded out frequently, so it makes sense to buy it if you plan to use it as a sleeping place on rare occasions.
Folding beds
Do you remember how, as a child, at the dacha or at your grandmother’s, you could get an iron structure with a stretched fabric sheet, put a mattress on it and voila, the bed is ready? The times of Soviet folding phones have long since sunk into oblivion, but the concept itself has not been canceled.
Furniture manufacturers, and especially famous Swedes, offer many options for modern folding beds. They can transform into anything, “move out” from under a table or cabinet.
It is better to order such transformers together with a new furniture set. Then it will be more likely that the parts of the furniture set will fit together.
Which upholstery should I choose?
The most practical upholstery for kitchen furniture is leather, as well as vinyl artificial leather (a leather substitute). Such materials are durable, resistant to fading, and easy to maintain. However, this is not the only practical option. Modern manufacturers offer durable, high-quality materials that do not absorb odors and are not afraid of stains.
What to look for when choosing?
The interior of a kitchen with a sofa looks more optimal, since such a piece of furniture creates additional coziness and comfort. Nowadays there are no difficulties with choosing models or colors; you can choose a model even for the most non-standard rooms. But immediately before purchasing, it is advisable to pay attention to the following points, so as not to spoil the mood of the purchased sofa in the future.
If the choice fell on a model with a “dolphin” mechanism, then you should pay attention to the springs, which are considered door closers in this configuration. Eurobooks are more durable on profiles and, for example, less reliable on wheels. But an accordion is not at all suitable for a small kitchen. So, it’s worth choosing models with additional storage options in order to make the most of the space. And opening in such sofas will be more convenient from the side.
Where to place a sofa in the kitchen?
The most common and comfortable places to place a small sofa in the kitchen are as follows:
- under the window - such a layout accepts angular and straight classic designs;
- opposite the work area - with a standard layout, the sofa is placed opposite the cabinets and stove, in parallel;
- in the center - this option is appropriate for studio apartments or large kitchens;
- in the corner of the kitchen - here the optimal solution would be a corner sofa or kitchen corner complete with a table. This layout will free up enough space to accommodate a refrigerator and other items.
