It’s highly likely that most people that are reading this article have slept on a futon bed at one time or another and it’s also quite likely that you’re interested in acquiring one of your own. The reasons for wanting a futon sofa bed are numerous. After all, no other piece of furniture can undergo the amazing transformations that a futon can. Within just a couple of minutes a futon can transform from a couch for use during the daytime to a bed to sleep on at night. Do you happen to be short on living space? If so, then the futon may be the perfect solution, since it folds up nice and compact when not being used as a bed. As you will discover, futon sofa beds can be purchased to suit a variety of different bedroom decors and budgets. There are futons available for the budget conscious shopper as well as the ultimate design expert. Read on for some basic tips on how to select a futon that is right for your situation.

When researching futons one thing became apparent to me. People are using many different names to describe the same piece of furniture, the futon. Some people call them futons while others call them futon sofa beds. Then there is the traditional sofa bed, which isn’t necessarily classified as a futon. So what’s the difference between futons and sofa beds? To clear things up a bit, a futon or futon sofa bed is defined as a pliable mattress and quilt that can be folded and stored out of the way during the day. The word futon is Japanese and refers to a bed with a bottom mattress and a thick quilted bed cover. In Japan, a futon is not necessarily meant to be converted into a couch during the daytime. Instead, the mattress is folded up and placed out of sight inside of a closet. The concept of the futon mattress serving double duty as a couch is a completely Western phenomenon. Outside of Japan, futon mattresses are much thicker, since they aren’t meant to be folded and placed out of sight.

In the United States and elsewhere, the futon is meant to serve as an inexpensive option for those looking for a simple sleep solution or for an extra bed to use for guests. While most futons are rather inexpensive, it’s still important to consider a few things before purchasing one:

1. Choose the Right Fill Material – futon mattresses can be purchased in a variety of configurations. Though 100% cotton is the most common, they can also be purchased with a combination of cotton and foam, cotton and polyester, 100% polyester and innerspring. A cotton and polyester filled mattress offers the most balance in terms of weight support, rigidity, firmness and flexibility.

2. Choose the Right Size – think long term when choosing the size of your futon. Just because you plan to use it for the occasional single out of town guest now doesn’t mean that you won’t be using it to house two people later on down the line. Futons can be purchased as single all the way up to California king.

3. Choose the Appropriate Frame – futon frames are constructed from various materials including wood and metal. It’s important that you choose the frame that best suits your bedroom or room décor. For futon frames constructed from wood it’s important to consider the type of wood, since woods that are denser will often last longer and hold up better to abuse from children or pets. Lastly, not all frames convert the same. It’s important to choose futon a frame that converts between couch and sofa easily; otherwise, you will dread the conversion every time.

Armed with the knowledge you have from reading this brief article you will be better able to make the best decision when it comes to purchasing a futon sofa bed. Futon sofa beds are an affordable and space efficient way to kill two birds with one stone.

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