Sofabulous

THERE'S something deeply irritating about spare beds. They seem to take up take up oodles of room, and are boring to look at. In fact they're not dissimilar to unwanted guests.

Today every inch of space should count in our homes, and a room just given over to a bed is a sad waste, but there's no doubt they're essential especially at busy family times like Christmas.

If you haven't got a spare room at all or just need to accommodate more guests than you've got rooms then the obvious choice is a sofa bed.

Chic Shack's Veneza white painted day bed/sofa, £799, would pass their rigorous street-cred test. If you don't want the additional pull-out bed, £260, you can have a storage drawer instead, £285. Prices exclude mattresses..

None of the `beds' below would hang around the house like a spare part - although your guests might enjoy sleeping on them so much, you'll need to find another way to get them to leave.

OCEAN

A statement in contemporary chic, its three-tier folding bed can be used as a chair when closed, or slides on its powder-coated steel tray so it can be used as a side table. It is covered in a chic felt upholstery in grey. It costs £195. There's also a grey single size sofa bed, £175.

IKEA

Corner sofas always make a room seem larger because they don't dominate the space in the same way as a freestanding sofa. The Fagelbo from Ikea, £545, goes one better as it opens into a double bed.

ADDITIONS DIRECT

A Bed in a Box, from Additions Direct, £199, could be the answer. It's upholstered in a cream fabric, and is a neat stool when not in use.

THE COTSWOLD COMPANY

The white-painted pine Roll-Out Sleigh Bed, £649 from the Cotswold Company is practical and attractive. The single bed is hidden in the frame below the main bed, and rolls out on castors.

BARKER & STONEHOUSE

Scoop sofa, £599, is a well-priced, well-designed sofa bed which would look attractive in any setting.

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