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Sofa islands: The new centrepiece for the living room
by Pia Seidel
No inflating, no shlepping: how I’ve solved my guest bed problem
13/3/2026
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Pictures: Pia Seidel
A hippo comes to my rescue whenever visitors are staying the night. Seriously.
Your guests are arriving and you’re panicking because your «guest bed» is actually an old air mattress with a hole in it? Been there. That’s why I spent a long time looking for alternatives, with clear no-goes in mind: no inflating, no effort, no help required. Hippo from Karup Design has ticked all the boxes and truly lives up to its name as it’s wide and cosy.
First impression: genuinely looks like a sofa
This might sound obvious, but it’s not. There are a ton of sofa beds out there that scream «last-minute solution». Think metal folding mechanisms, flimsy plastic legs, covers fit for a dorm. Not so the Hippo. It has that relaxed, natural flair. A sofa that would look equally good in a holiday home in Provence as it would in a period apartment in Zurich. If you have minimal space, Hippo’s also available as a single-seater with a width of 90 centimetres.
Conversion: easier than expected
The last time I dealt with Velcro fasteners I was seven. Then came Hippo. To turn the 140-centimetre-wide sofa into a bed, you have to remove the Velcro strips on the backrest and armrests and fold them up as shown in this video – that’s it.
This takes less than a minute and requires neither strength nor complicated instructions. And above all, you don’t need anyone to help you. I live alone, so this is a huge selling point for me.
Comfort: advantages of a futon
The futon-style mattress is surprisingly thick and comfortable for a foldout sofa. Whenever my six-year-old niece stays over, I share Hippo with her so her parents can use my bed. After the first time trying it out, I was seriously considering replacing the mattress on my bed with it. I’ve received similar feedback from visitors. With a surface of 140 × 200 centimetres, it provides plenty of space for two adults.
By the way, a futon isn’t simply a back-up plan with a fancy name, but a concept with a long tradition. The invention of a firm, versatile mattress that’s just as good for sitting as it is for sleeping, is Japanese. There are no springs, no complicated mechanics, no 15 individual parts to assemble.
Hippo takes its job seriously. The mattress is 21 centimetres thick, of which around 12 centimetres are a foam core encased in mixed recycled fibres. You can clearly feel it. There’s no sinking in or feeling the floor, even though it’s so close.
However, there is one catch. The armrests, which form the sides of the mattress in reclining mode, aren’t fixed. Instead, they’re held together by the sheet, but remain somewhat loose. In practice, this means the head end is only really comfortable on one side.
Sitting: hello beach vibes
The sofa bed is folded up again as quickly as it’s unfolded. Then it turns into a lowrider with the seats way down. It’s no coincidence that the sofa’s called Hippo. Once you sink into it, you’ll move as little as a hippopotamus in a mud bath.
I wrote about why I love lowered furniture a while back. It’s an ode to that feeling of being a little closer to the ground, almost like on a towel on the beach, only indoors and minus the sand. To me, it’s the epitome of relaxation. However, if you’re not used to sitting down low or have knee problems, you should take this into account.
The armrests also function as a headrest. They probably also make for the comfiest lounging position. Sitting upright won’t be your priority in this sofa. The cute hippopotamus lives in my guest room, the perfect place for it. It makes for a great alternative reading spot or for a place to lounge about in. Personally, I’d go for a different fully fledged living room sofa. After all, Hippo is a bit of a squeeze if two people are sitting on it. The armrests take up a lot of space, which doesn’t matter when you’re lying down.
Visually, the low seat height makes the sofa appear light and airy. Unfortunately, the backrest is less flexible than expected, which makes Hippo protrude quite far into the room and create a small cave of dust behind it.
Maintenance is minimal
That’s why I vacuum that spot regularly and do the surface with my upholstery attachment at the same time. For stains, I use a damp cloth with a little clear washing-up liquid and carefully clean the affected area without soaking the fabric.
Light stains have been easy to remove so far, and in case there’s a big spill, you can always remove the cover. A zipper runs around three edges, just like on a suitcase. However, getting the mattress in and out of the cover requires two people.
If you want to play it safely with the light colour, it’s probably worth going for professional textile waterproofing. Many upholstery specialists offer this service, and the protective layer lasts much longer than a DIY spray.
In a nutshell
Not for everyone, but works perfectly for me
If you’re looking for a guest bed that cuts a good figure during the day, you’ve come to the right place. Hippo is a pretty, compact sofa you can convert into a mattress without much effort. Its comfy to sleep on and has enough space to fit two people. When there’s nobody staying over, it can be turned into a generous place to sit instead of being a mere unused bed. Personally, I find the price around 650 francs reasonable.
If you’re looking for a fully fledged two-seater sofa you plan on using on a daily basis, you should probably opt for a higher model with a larger seat.
Pro
- From sofa to mattress in under a minute
- Easy for one person to fold open and close
- Surprisingly thick, comfortable sleeping surface
- Simple design that will go with many furnishing styles
- No shlepping or heaving
- Removable cover
Contra
- Low seat height
- Dust trap behind backrest
Header image: Pia Seidel
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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