Sleeper Hits

Change is, quite literally, in the air. Temperatures are dropping. At the farmer’s markets, tomatoes are moving aside for Virginia winesaps and acorn squash. On feet, calfskin boots are replacing espadrilles. And online, holiday airfares have already gone through the roof.

With the economy dominating the headlines, people are making some adjustments to their holiday traditions. (I know folks who are actually planning their Thanksgiving dinners a weekend early to cut airfare costs.) It’s a season for gathering and merriment, but perhaps not a stay at the Ritz. So you may want to think about how you’ll put everyone up.

Enter the sleeper sofa. I know what you’re thinking: Chiropractors aren’t cheap. But as downsized dwellings have become de rigueur, so has multitasking furniture. Sleeper sofas have advanced since the thin, sagging mattresses propped up by metal bars.

Natalie sleeper sofa by AU Furniture

AU Furniture by American Leather is an oft-blogged name in sleeper sofas – the mattress is uniform high-density foam in a strong wood frame. AU gets bonus points for having most designs available in six sizes, from cot to king.