How to Sleep Comfortably on the Couch
Inadvertently falling asleep on the couch is not difficult. Whether you fall asleep while watching TV or sit down to rest your eyes and wake up two hours later, the couch feels like the most comfortable place on earth, and whatever blanket you have upstairs is perfect.
However, when you’re officially sleeping on the couch all night, it’s a different story. The same sofa that used to feel heavenly now feels hard and clumsy, and suddenly becomes too short. No matter how you position yourself, you can’t get comfortable. And that blanket that used to make you cute and toasty? You’re trembling under it now.
Luckily, there are a few ways to make your night on the couch at least a little more comfortable and bearable. Here’s what you need to know.
How to sleep comfortably on the couch at night
A couch will never be a bed (unless it’s a pull-out, but that’s not what we’re talking about here), and it’s important to approach your couch night with that mindset and realistic expectations, especially if you’re tall. . Having said that, here are some ways to make your night a little easier:
Remove back cushions
Increase your sleeping surface by removing any pillows or pillows other than seating cushions, which will act as your sofa bed’s “mattress” at night. Removing the back cushions makes a big difference, giving you a wider space and more room to stretch.
Use sheets to make your “bed”
It may seem like a pointless move, but using sheets to make a sofa bed really helps. No matter what size the sheets are, they will all be too big and will need to be tucked in.
A bottom sheet can help make the individual pillows look like one surface and hold the pillows together so you don’t accidentally bump one of them in the middle of the night when you’re sorting out your bed. Also, no matter how soft the sofa upholstery is, the sheets are likely to be softer.
Choose a real pillow
Instead of resting your head on a set of small, lumpy throw pillows, use the type of pillow you would sleep on in a regular bed (if possible). And yes: put a pillowcase on it (you will already have a sheet laid out).
Finish it off with layers of blankets
Whether the sofa is in the living room, study, home office, or basement, chances are it’s not in a room meant for sleeping, so the heating/cooling situation may not be ideal. You can start the night with a frost and then wake up in a sweat, or vice versa.
It’s best to have several blankets and layer them on as needed, starting with the top sheet. But even if it’s especially warm outside and you only need a sheet to start the night, keep at least one extra blanket handy in case you get cold at night.
Try different positions
Even if you usually sleep on your back, side, or stomach, you may need to try a few different positions to get settled on the couch for the night. Ideally, the sofa should be long enough for you to stretch out and sleep on your back. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and you may need to curl up in the fetal position.
Make a floor bed
If you’ve tried everything and still can’t get comfortable or are too tall to fit on the sofa, you can always remove the back and seat cushions from the sofa, line them up on the ground, and use that. like a makeshift mattress. Then follow all the steps above (especially using bed sheets).