How to Sleep on a Couch: Expert Tips for a Restful Night

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Expert tips on how to sleep soundly just about anywhere

Co-authored by Alex Dimitriu, MD and Carmine Shannon

Last Updated: November 9, 2023 Fact Checked

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Making the Bed

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Falling Asleep

Crashing on the couch isn’t exactly ideal, but there are ways to make a lumpy sofa into a significantly more comfortable “bed.” By removing the back cushions, evening out the lumps and bumps with padding, and treating the whole thing like your real bed, you can get a better night’s sleep the next time you’re out couch surfing. Keep reading to learn how to make your night on the couch worthwhile.

Things You Should Know

Clean the couch, flip over the seat cushions, and take off the back cushions.
Pad the couch with blankets and pillows to make it more even and comfortable, then cover it with a top sheet.
Put extra blankets by the couch, keep the temperature around 65 °F (18 °C), and sleep with an eye mask and ear plugs, if you have them.

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Making the Bed

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Flip the seats and take off the back cushions. If you can, take out the bottom cushions and flip them. This gives you a firmer, cleaner surface to sleep on. Brush out any crumbs you find. If the back cushions of the couch are detachable, remove them to give yourself a wider area to sleep.
- Line up the back cushions on the floor along the couch to have a soft surface to land on if you roll off, especially if you’re sleeping on a slippery material like leather.
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Pad the couch with blankets. Couches can be hard, saggy, or so soft that you sink into them. To make a hard couch more comfortable, cover it in thick blankets or duvets. If the couch is soft or saggy, pile up blankets under your hips and put a small pillow under your knees. This helps keep your spine in alignment while you sleep. ^{[1]
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- If you’re crashing somewhere and have nothing to pad your bed with, look at your own belongings. Sweatshirts and sweatpants might work if you can lay them flat.
- Weighted blankets make great hip supports since they’re so hard and bulky.
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Put sheets over the padding and pillowcases on your pillows. Once you’ve padded the bed, cover it with an unfitted sheet. Couches can be dirty, so don’t let your skin (especially the skin of your face) lie on it unprotected for long. If you’re using a throw pillow, put it in a pillowcase or a t-shirt.
- If at all possible, bring your own pillow to the couch, since they’re made for neck support and throw pillows aren’t. ^{[2]
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- Don’t sleep with your head on the arm of the couch. The angle is sharp enough that you could wake up with a really sore neck.
- If you have no sheets, lay out any soft and clean fabrics you can find. Wear pajamas to avoid contact with the couch fabric.
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4
Consider cleaning the couch. If you know people are sleeping on a couch ahead of time, consider cleaning it more thoroughly. Bring the cushions outside and give them a good whack to get the dust out. Vacuum and brush off any pet hair. Use water and detergent if the material of your couch can take it. ^{[3]
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- Check the tag on your couch to see what kind of cleaning it can handle. The tag may be under the couch next to a leg. It’s marked with a letter that lets you know how to clean the couch.
- "W" means you can clean your couch with a water-based detergent.
- "S" means it needs to be dry cleaned or cleaned with a water-free detergent.
- "WS" means it can be either dry cleaned, or cleaned with a water-based cleaner.
- "X" means it should be professionally dry cleaned or vacuumed.
- "O" means it is made of natural fibers and should be washed in cold water

Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: Why Can't I Sleep?

Whether your environment, your habits, or something else entirely is affecting your sleep, we’ve designed this quiz to pinpoint the source of your sleep deprivation. We’ve even included research-backed tips tailored to your situation. By the end of this quiz, you’ll be on the road to a healthier sleep schedule!

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