I live in a small bedroom in an apartment and needed something that was actually comfortable to sleep/lounge on, looked good in the space, and was easy to move around during video shoots. My room is my bedroom, music/film studio, and the primary place my friends and I hang out in when they come over.
I googled traditional beds, sofas, futons, Murphy beds, etc. I took a risk buying this online having never seen one in person, and I’m happy to say that I’m very, very pleased and relieved. Here’s what I went with: sofa configuration, castors instead of feet, custom fabric (Wooly Bully performance fabric), and an added power outlet on one of the ottomans. It did cost more than pieces I’ve bought in the past, but I’d had enough of lower priced furniture brands.
Overall, it looks minimal, and modern yet very cozy and rich with the Wooly Bully fabric. I often jokingly call it my modern sports car sofa. Everything feels well-made; no stray stitching, the construction is solid. The cushioning was a bit firmer than I expected on first sitting; but then it conformed to my body in an incredibly natural and comfortable way. It’s way nicer to sleep and lounge on than a couch, let alone most mattresses.
I’m 5’8” and when I lie down, my butt is located where the two ottomans meet. So because of that and the castors, I did sometimes find my butt slightly sagging down between them by the time I woke up. So I used the velcro straps inside of each ottoman to secure them together tighter, and that has prevented that from happening.
The storage dimensions are 33.5” x 33.5” x 8” deep. This is definitely one of the highlights - there’s a ton of storage space. I absolutely love how much I can fit inside, and it has helped make my room look incredibly clean. Just keep in mind that the crap you put in might make the ottoman heavier to move.
I kind of thought the power outlet would be going overboard, but I have found myself using it all the time particularly when I’m vacuuming, or charging my phone. I’m a big fan of it now. If you add one, be aware of the location of the power outlet. On mine, they placed it under the handle that opens the ottoman. I can imagine some people wanting it on a different side, though I’m not sure if the people at Duobed are able to change it’s location so you’ll have to ask.
Also, you can’t put a back support piece where the hinge is. This is obvious, but keep that in mind when you plan out your purchase.
Ultimately, if you are like me and have similar needs, I can’t overstate how right the Duobed probably is for you. I get to enjoy much easier moves when changing apartments, my room is more functional and looks amazing now, my friends immediately want to sit down on it, and I get to have the perfect lounge after a long day at work.