From its early adoption into our Western culture, the traditional Japanese futon mattress has been a big hit.  There were times when the futon was more of a fad than anything else.  We had a time when home design and decorating were following an Asian-inspired theme.  Some people have still held on to this design element and have taken their modern home designs in this direction even further, embracing the philosophies of Feng Shui and the like.  This concept reflects the fact that there is an energy in all spaces, chi or qi, and that this energy must flow properly in order for your home to be balanced and harmonious. If there is a blockage of the chi, then it will reflect itself in various ways inside your home.

A futon bed is only part of this larger philosophy.  You see, there was a time when the futon could be used to distinguish class and the ruling parties.  The traditional Japanese platform bed consists of two parts:  the kake and shiki futon.  Each of these works to create one whole sleeping system.  The shiki futon is the mattress portion of the bed and the kake portion is the upper, often quilted portion.  In the past, the ruling class would be the only ones with the plush kake futons.  The lower classes could only sleep on the kake and would do so on the floor, often without mats.  The tatami mat was another class distinction feature.  Well, those class distinctions have been abolished, but there is still a history of this great sleeping option.

In our culture, the futon mattress is not treated in this same way. We see it as a much more functional form of extra seating or as a convertible sofa couch type of item.  We have these larger and thicker mattresses with wooden or metal frames.  The frames often have armrests or other storage features.  These are definitely a far cry from the traditional styles of futons used in the East.  We have adopted an ancient sleeping system and made it our own.

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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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There is likely no other sleep solution that is more functional and affordable than a futon bed. Futons have been around for ages and have always occupied a specific niche in the mattress market that appeals to those looking for something relatively inexpensive and useful. Because of their ability to transform between bed and couch, the futon does more than any other piece of furniture in terms of providing maximum functionality, and it’s great in rooms where space is a limiting factor. Though they are relatively primitive in their design, a futon mattress can do wonders for back and joint pain, since they are generally somewhat firm. The following article will break down the various benefits of futon beds and will serve as a guide for you to use when purchasing one of your own.

I can’t recall the number of times I’ve used a futon mattress. Whether sleeping over at a friend’s house while growing up or when I went off to college, the futon has played a significant part in my life and has allowed me to get hundreds of hours of quality sleep. In my younger days it was nice to have a couch during the daytime for my friends to sit and relax on, which also served as my bed during the nighttime. Of course, futon sofa beds aren’t just for young people; in fact, I still use a futon when having company over and it’s always nice to be able to fold it up when they leave. Even nicer was the modest price tag of just $200 for my cheap futon bed and mattress. Don’t think that because my futon is cheap that it doesn’t look nice. I was able to buy a stylish futon cover to fit over the mattress that actually matches my bedroom décor quite nicely. There are a number of online retailers that specialize in futon covers of all different varieties – some made from leather, faux leather, suede, corduroy and many with interesting patterns and designs.

For rooms that house multiple children, a great space saving option is the futon bunk bed. Futon bunk beds contain a traditional foldable futon base and an upper bed directly above with a ladder for easy access. The mattress above is surrounded by sturdy guardrails for safety, so you don’t need to worry about your young one rolling off during the night. This actually happened to my brother while we were growing up while using a traditional bunk bed – turned out to be a funny story, but definitely not so amusing for my parents to hear a loud thud at 2:00am. Anyhow, be sure to look for this critical safety feature when searching for a bunk bed with futon.

It seems that the biggest complaint regarding futons is how uncomfortable the mattresses can be for some people. My parents often joke that they keep their futon for guests as a way to prevent them from staying too long. With that said, a futon mattress doesn’t have to be uncomfortable, as there are many mattress options available through local and online retailers. Apart from the actual thickness of the mattress itself, there are mattresses with added center support and also plush tops. For the ultimate in comfort consider placing a memory foam mattress topper on your futon – you may never want to get out of it. A futon sofa bed doesn’t have to unattractive or plain either. In fact, there are many retailers that offer an array of frame options to fit just about any décor or price range. A simple glance at some online retailers indicates that there are wall hugger sofa beds, hardwood sofa beds and metal sofa beds of various designs.

If you’re looking for a highly functional sleep solution that won’t break the bank then you must consider a futon bed. Buying a futon bed no longer means sacrificing quality or performance, since it’s now possible to buy premium mattresses and frames at reasonable prices. Remember also that futon beds are highly customizable with the various futon cover options and futon pillows that are available.

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