Accordion sofa: design features, images, advantages and disadvantages

How does it work?

The accordion is a sofa transformation mechanism that is completely different from other models. Its name comes from the similarity with the principle of stretching the bellows of a musical instrument. The sofa consists of 3 parts that fold in a zigzag. In this case, when assembled, the back is ⅔ of the sleeping area folded in half, and the third part – the seat – when unfolded is at the feet, serves as an extension of the sleeping area.

The most visible difference that affects operation is that the sofa moves forward, so you will sleep not along, but across the back of the sofa. Therefore, there should be 1.5-2 m of free space in front of the seat.

The accordion mechanism for the sofa is found in furniture of various sizes and shapes:

• a 90-100 cm wide armchair-bed is comfortable for one person to sleep in, for example, in a child’s room or as an extra bed in the living room;
• a straight sofa 140-200 cm is suitable for permanent rest for a married couple, if there is simply not enough space for a separate sofa + bed;
• a corner modular design differs from a straight one only in its stationary corner – it increases the seat without affecting sleep.

The advantage of this type is that it comes with or without armrests. If you want a wide mattress, but the room is only 1.8 meters wide, take a model that matches the width of the room, omitting the armrests.

Another element that may or may not be present in the sofa design is an additional backrest. It is a stationary block that acts as a headboard when unfolded. Convenient if the apartment does not have enough space for a full-size bed and sofa, but you do not want to sacrifice beauty. With an additional backrest, the design looks like a regular bed, the headboard can be wooden, metal, with carriage coupling, in leather upholstery.

Tip: if your product does not have a backrest, fix it to the wall separately – the effect will be the same.

Pros and cons

This mechanism, like any other, has a number of advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

• Space saving. No other model can boast such a large size when unfolded, compact when folded.
• No height restrictions. Since you will not sleep across, even tall people will have enough space in length.
• Metal frame. Metal is stronger and more durable than wood, so the accordion will serve you for many years.
• Orthopedic base. The slats in the base provide a comfortable sleep, take care of the health of the back – which is good for children and adults. Unlike models with a spring block, a damaged slat can be easily and inexpensively replaced.
• Absence of joints. Sleeping on such a sofa is not inferior to rest on a regular bed, no joints between pillows, differences in level, bumps, dents – a flat surface.
• Easy to clean. It is impossible to say for all models, but some have a removable cover on top of the mattress with Velcro or locks, which can be removed and washed at any time.
• The presence of a linen box. A linen box is a nice bonus for saving space in the house.
• Ease of unfolding. You don’t have to move the accordion away from the wall or make a lot of movements. The seat transforms into a lying place in just a couple of steps.

• Wide back. This can be a problem if you are an adherent of minimalist design, or if the apartment simply does not have 90-120 cm (models with a 10+ cm mattress take up a little more than a meter in width).
• The need for free space in front. Usually, a coffee table, bench or something else is placed at the feet. There should be empty space in front of the accordion so that it has somewhere to unfold. A simple solution is furniture on wheels, which can be easily rolled aside at night.
• Possible creaking. Although metal is stronger than wood, it can start to make unpleasant sounds as a result of long-term use. To avoid this, the mechanism should be lubricated every 6-12 months, or when the first creaking sounds are detected.

The appearance of the accordion is a purely individual matter, some people like it, while others find it unaesthetic.

Step-by-step instructions

How to assemble an accordion sofa in the morning and unfold it in the evening? This process may cause confusion, but after repeating the procedure a couple of times, you will easily do it at least every day.

When you see an accordion sofa, how to unfold it is the first question that comes to mind for many. Let’s start with unfolding:

1. Grab the seat from below with both hands, lift it until you hear a characteristic click of the safety mechanism.
2. Pull the system towards you, while simultaneously stepping back. The back will unfold, the blocks will become a single flat surface.

How to fold the accordion sofa back:

1. Take hold of the lower edge of the seat, push or roll it towards the back so that the transformation mechanism folds into its original position.
2. Lift the seat until it clicks, so that the safety catch snaps into place and the sofa does not slide apart by yourself.

Important! Learn how to fold the structure correctly to avoid problems with operation.

Lifting and dragging a wide sofa will be difficult, so when buying, pay attention to the presence of wheels on the seat. Then it will be enough to unfasten the first module, put it on the floor, rolling it out to full unfolding.

The photo shows the transformation diagram of the sofa mechanism

Important! Low-quality hard wheels scratch parquet and laminate – replace them with silicone or rubberized analogs so as not to spoil the flooring every time you unfold the sofa. Also, it is better to remove carpets and rugs from the path of the folding accordion.

If the mechanism is in good working order, disassembling and assembling the accordion sofa should not cause any difficulties. Any jamming or difficulties indicate improper assembly or problems in the design. The following are most often affected:

• Wheels. Have you noticed that over time the device has become difficult to move? Check, change the small wheels, this should help.
• Slat fittings. The slat fasteners do not affect the ability to pull out the sofa, but they cause inconvenience during sleep. Replacing them is easy, just buy the required number in a furniture store and put them in place of the damaged ones.
• Frame hinges. They are the most mobile element. Often it is enough to tighten the bolts, quickly lubricate (repeat this every 6-12 months) so that the structure becomes usable again. A broken hinge that no longer works will have to be purchased, replaced completely.
• Frame. Poor quality welds, use of low-grade material leads to bends, cracks, and other breakages. The element can be welded or a new one can be ordered.

Assembly video

The process of assembling an accordion sofa according to the instructions is not always clear. If you received your purchase unassembled and now you need to assemble a single whole from individual parts, watch the video.

We gave a detailed description, talked about the design features, showed how to assemble an accordion sofa, an assembly diagram. We hope that now you will be able to choose your ideal option!