when was the sofa bed invented

[VanMelanie]

The modern, commercially viable sofa bed was invented in 1931 by Bernard Castro, an Italian immigrant in the United States. His design, known as the Castro convertible, featured a modern-looking sofa that was easy to operate and transformed into a bed.

However, the concept of a dual-purpose piece of furniture for both sitting and sleeping is much older. Historical records show that ancient Romans had couches that also served as beds. These were essential pieces of furniture in Roman homes, used for dining, conversation, and sleeping.

An earlier example of a foldaway-style bed in America was owned by Thomas Jefferson at his Monticello home. This bed was reportedly suspended by ropes and could be hooked onto the wall. While these earlier versions existed, Bernard Castro is credited with inventing the modern sofa bed design that became widely popular.