The modular Cushie Sofa Bed is like a Nugget Couch for adults. My guests say it's the comfiest sleeper they've ever used.

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For a solid two years, we had two options for hosting overnight guests: an air mattress or our toddler's Nugget play couch. When it came down to it, most chose the Nugget (and genuinely enjoyed sleeping on it), but as an adult in my thirties who spends a lot of time researching home upgrades (from the best places to buy furniture to testing direct-to-consumer brands like Quince Home), offering a play couch instead of something that looked even remotely grown-up was…humbling, to say the least.

Here's the thing: with the Nugget, the problem was never comfort. The versatile foam could easily go from a play couch for my toddler to a fairly comfy sleeping spot. The problem was that I wanted something that delivered the same modular design and comfort that was a little less "children's playroom."

That's when I began getting targeted ads for the Cushie Sleeper Sofa. The brand, from the makers of Australia's Lifely furniture, focuses on space-saving designs like modular sleeper sofas that combine washable fabrics and comfort. The fold-out design — as opposed to a typical pull-out sofa — immediately reminded me of a more grown-up Nugget.

Over the past few months, I've tested the king-size 80-inch Cushie Sleeper Sofa, using it as both an everyday couch and a dedicated sleeping space for guests, all to find out whether this was the solution to our guest room issue — or if it was just another Instagram-friendly piece of furniture that fell apart under real life.

Design and customizations

When it comes to design, the Cushie Sleeper Sofa is intentionally minimalistic: a boxy base with removable armrests and backrests that lift off when you fold out the sofa into a sleeper. It's modular, too, available in several variations. The 2-Seater Modular Sofa is offered in a full-size (54"), queen (60"), or king (80"). While the full and queen offer one fold-out mattress, the king is different: it is designed as two side-by-side twin XL beds. To keep them together more securely, there's a velcro strip down the middle so each part doesn't separate as you sleep.

Pieces are sold individually, allowing you to create a modular design of your own, like a spacious sectional. There's also the option to add an ottoman, available with storage or convertible into a twin-size bed. The expanded ottoman is slightly smaller than the coordinating chair.

Performance fabrics

As a parent, one of the major upsides of the Sleeper Sofa is its removable, washable performance fabric. We've got two kids and a cat, so there's really no fabric safe in our household. The fabric is easy to remove (simply unzip it from the foam mattress) and can be washed.

After several months of daily use, the upholstery has shown no visible signs of pilling or wear. Spills have been easy to spot-clean or throw in the wash, and the fabric has held up well to frequent rearranging, lounging, and play. The color selection is limited to five neutral options, but the trade-off is a forgiving, low-maintenance fabric designed for real life rather than delicate aesthetics.

Ordering, delivery, and set up

I thought the ordering, delivery, and setup process couldn't have been easier. Ordering and shipping are generally quick unless the item is backordered. When you select a size and color, you'll receive a clear timeline of how long it will take to ship from the warehouse (typically one to two business days for in-stock items) as well as the delivery details, including the number of boxes.

In my case, shipping took about five business days to arrive, coming in five different boxes through FedEx.

Assembly is super simple because there are no tools, and the pieces just need to be taken out of the box. The two biggest boxes were the two mattresses, which were shrink-wrapped and needed about a day to fully inflate once laid out flat.

A generous return policy

As for a return policy, that may be one of the most flexible parts of the experience. Cushie offers a 60-day trial period and free returns. You can initiate a return by email within 60 days of purchase. Returned items can have "reasonable wear and tear," according to the company, but they should not have significant damage. You'll be refunded upon receipt of your returned item.

Comfort and day-to-day living

Used as an everyday couch, the Cushie Sleeper Sofa is supportive but firm. There's no real sink-in quality to the cushions, which is surprising given how soft the interior mattress is. Instead, the outer layer is fairly firm, unlike a traditional upholstered sofa with loose seat cushions. That modular flexibility makes it easy to rearrange pieces as needed. I had no trouble separating the beds into twin-size beds, and it's also easy to unfold for movie nights.

The sofa comes with removable weighted back cushions and armrests that provide some back support but not much. They're weighted just enough so that they won't be moving anywhere too easily, but it's also not a sofa I'd float in a room because they could shift. I've accidentally kicked off an armrest while lounging across the seat. We've kept ours against a wall for added security. The back cushions are definitely low, making it nearly impossible to support a taller person (my husband is 6' 1" and immediately noted that).

The sleep experience

Sleeping is where the Cushie Sleeper Sofa really earns its keep. Instead of pulling out a mattress or reconfiguring the design of a modular couch, all you need to do to turn this from a sofa to a sleeper is remove the back cushions and armrests and unfold it. It takes less than a minute. Unfolded, the sleeper creates a large, flat sleeping surface with support foam, memory foam, and pocket springs — like what you may find in the best mattress.

"The best sleep of my life"

The combination of the foam and pocket spring provides a soft-medium feel that works well for both back and side sleepers. Personally, I've slept comfortably without feeling any pressure points, and my guests who stayed multiple nights have echoed similar thoughts. In fact, my brother went as far as to say he had one of the most comfortable sleeps of his life when staying at our house for a long weekend.

The mattress material never retains heat, even in the hottest room in our house. It also works well with two sleepers. My family unfolded it for a movie night, and my husband and I remained unbothered as my toddler hopped around on one side of it (a true test, as hopefully you won't be dealing with something similar as you're sleeping in the middle of the night).

Durability and quality

After several months of testing, I feel confident in saying the Cushie Sleeper Sofa holds up pretty well to daily use. The sofa has been used by parents, kids, guests, and even a cat who enjoys nothing more than using his claws on any piece of furniture. The washable covers have been a bonus for our active lifestyle, too.

Cons to consider

While the Cushie Sleeper Sofa excels in comfort, there are definitely a few trade-offs to consider.

For me, the aesthetic appeal of the couch isn't the selling point. Given the gaps in the seat backs and the lack of a standard wooden frame, I prefer the look of a sturdier structure, like the Cozey Neptune Sofa, and the Cushie looks far more casual and less structured in comparison. The relaxed, low-slung look may appeal to some, however. But what it lacks in looks, our overnight guests say, it makes up for in comfort. There's no typical frame to the design; instead, it employs a fold-out foam and pocket-spring mattress with a cover (attached by both zippers and velcro). When open, the folded-out bed sits low to the ground at 9 inches, not too different from the Nugget. But the foam mattress is incredibly cushy and soft, making it a dream to sleep on.

I also think its expensive for a foam-based sofa, especially given its more casual experience. The low-to-the-ground sleeper and aesthetic may not appeal to everyone, especially those looking to use it as both a daily couch and a sleeper sofa.

Another thing to consider is size. The king-size comes with two twin-size mattress pieces. While there's Velcro to attach the pieces together, it makes the sleeper look a little less put together than the one-piece options for full- and queen-size beds. If I were to buy it again, I'd opt for the queen for a cleaner look.

What are your alternatives?

While I like to compare my Cushie as the grown-up sofa-bed equivalent to the Nugget, the Koala Sofa Bed is another similar fold-out design. In my opinion, the Koala offers a more appealing frame that stays in place around the mattress. The other difference is in pricing: a queen-size Cushie 2-seater is $1,145, versus the 70" queen Koala Sofa Bed that starts at $1,790. Both are small-space friendly, too.

If you like modular sleeper sofas, the Cozey Neptune Sofa Bed offers a more traditional design, performance fabrics, and built-in storage. While the Cushie is more comfortable for sleeping, the Cozey excels as an everyday couch.

The bottom line

The Cushie Sleeper Sofa isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, but it fills a very specific gap in the furniture market. While it's not my favorite seating option, it has served wonderfully as a comfortable sleeper for overnight guests. For that reason, it's an ideal pick for households that host frequent overnight guests and want a comfortable solution without an extra bedroom to spare. If you're in the market for a sofabed that doubles as a genuinely comfortable bed, it's one of the best sleeper options available. On the other hand, if aesthetics and traditional couch comfort matter more, you may want to explore more conventional alternatives instead. Though if you're drawn to its casual look, the ability to configure the seating (or sleeping) arrangement as you please, this could be a real winner.