Folding beds come in a variety of forms. There are metal frame models which will fold up on the easily and require a closet or area in your basement to store. These are nice because they keep your guests elevated from the floor. The main problem with these types of beds is the spring count possible. The folded area when in storage mode requires the springs to be more sparse near the middle of the bed so it is easier to fold. Unfortunately, this is the area of the mattress which should have the most support for maximum comfort. Better models will have an actual crease where two distinct mattresses are sewn together. This provide better comfort and is the ideal style.

Another type of folding bed is the trifold design which typically is designed to be laid out on the floor. These are easier to store and are generally more supportive then the metal frame fold up beds. However, the downfall is that it needs to be on the floor. This is generally not to much of a problem unless the guests are elderly and have a hard time getting down to it.

The notable style is the wall or cabinet fold up beds. These look like a chest, dresser, or cabinet and have a futon frame folded up within it’s contents. These are sometimes called bed chests, bed in a box, stowaway beds or bed cabinets. Probably the most comfortable of all the options but requires that you have space for a cabinet.

Regardless of your spacial constraints, there are many different types of beds that can add additional sleeping space capacity to your home. Check out places online to find the design that would be suit your needs.

Good Luck!

Now, that being said, you might not have the skills or the time to make your own so you are probably searching for a good place to purchase futon covers.

Basically, you want to find a pattern, material and size that fits your futon. But you should be somewhat conscious of the stitch quality. If you’ve had a futon before and you are replacing your cover, it is probably for one of three reasons:

1. You stained your cover,
2. You tore the material,
3. or, you are redecorating.

In the first two cases, you probably could have found futon covers that would have prevented the problem. There are lots of futon covers on the market that are stain resistant. If you have small children (or teenagers for that matter!) it is a pretty good idea to get a stain resistant futon cover. Some of them have a plastic lining on the inside which leaves only the cover to become moist which can save your futon mattress. If you have a quality mattress, this is a pretty important characteristic.

Futon mattresses that are used for beds are mostly susceptible to moist build up which is the primary issue that causes the mattress to wear our. The futon cover can literally add 5 years to the mattress life. To a lesser extent, this is also important to the futon mattress used as a sofa, but it is more common to have a problem with tearing of the fabric during moving. It is often easiest to grab the cover when moving, so a quality stitch is quite important if it will be converted between the sofa and bed configurations frequently.

As far as materials go, more durable fabrics like corduroy and polyester will reduce the wear. However, if you are okay with replacing the cover periodically, any fabric (with some stain resistance) is fine. This really allows you to match the decor in any room for relatively cheap.

To put into perspective the cost of these futon covers, it is typical to spend around $70 USD for a quality full size cover (a double mattress).  Most futon covers have the option of including throw pillow covers with them.

There are some discount futon covers around with $50 or less. These are suitable if you only use a futon mattress irregularly (like in a guest room for example). If you have a cheap futon mattress like a 100% cotton one, you may not be so concerned with protecting it as much.

Essentially, if you have a quality futon mattress, it is a really good idea to have a futon cover that matches its quality. Protecting your futon mattress will add many years to its life and leave you most satisfied.

Here are a couple of futon covers that I would recommend for a quality mattress:

This cover, “Microsuede Futon Cover Set with Double Cording” will both resist stains and last for a long time. There are many colors to choose from and comes with matching throw pillow covers. It will set you back slightly more the $100.

Microsuede Futon Cover with Double Cord

This Brushed Walnut futon cover is surged and safety stitched adding great durability. Heavy fabric and solid price at $55.

Brushed Walnut Futon Cover

If you are looking for a discount futon cover, this Cotton Twill cover is pretty decent for the cash. It will set you back about $35. The stitching is not as good, but again, if you need a cheap futon cover, this is probably the best you will find for the price.

Cotton Twill Futon Cover

Happy Hunting!

First of all, what the primary use of your futon?

1. Is it a futon sofa bed for your living room, or;
2. Is it a permanent futon bed in a bedroom.

This makes a big difference on what type of futon frame and mattress you will want to select.

Futon Frames

Futon Bed Frames

If it is a permanent bed, you can select almost any kind of regular bed frame you like. There is only the requirement of allowing the futon to breath. This means that the frame will need the ability to have wooden slat’s under the futon to provide support and allow breathing. You should not have the futon on a solid flat surface like a floor for long periods of time. Aside from that, any bed frame can be used.

Of course, there are specifically designed futon frames that can be used, but you should not feel limited to those.

Convertible Futon Frames

This is one of the dominant benefits of futons in that they are quite easily convertible between a sofa and a “hide-a-bed”. In bedrooms these can be used to provide additional space as well and are not limited to living rooms. In fact, spare bedrooms are a great candidate for these types of frames as well to allow for the room to be used as a sitting room when it is not being used by guests.

There are 2 groups of convertible frames:

1. Bi-Folds

Bi-Fold

These are fold in the middle designs and are typically easier to convert between the bed and the sofa configuration. These can look like regular sofa’s and come in a wide variety of designs for converting between the sofa configuration and bed configuration. Wood frames and metal frames are available however, wood frames tend to be a bit pricier. Most frames require you to move it away from the wall prior to folding it down, however, there are models called “wall huggers” which can fold down directly from the sitting position without sliding it out.

There are a few different conversion mechanisms.

1. Ratchet – This is controlled from the front of the futon which lets you push against a spring to fold between sitting, reclining and sleeping easily
2. Kicker – This is essentially a small wedge at the back of the futon from which lets you slide the sofa into a bed position with relative ease. A bit more work then the ratchet design.
3. Sliding Pivot – This is primarily used in the “wall hugger” designs which allow the sofa to sit directly against the wall and does not require moving the frame away from the wall during conversion. If you are planning to convert often, this mechanism would be worth the premium.

2. Tri-Folds

Tri-folds are one of the original designs. These require the frame to be folded twice in two places rather than one like the bi-folds. Many of these frames sit directly on the floor and can be really cheap if you are looking for a inexpensive solution. These designs allow for the beds to be larger since the futon is often folded onto itself. So the width of the couch can be the width of the bed rather then the length. There are similar mechanisms as listed above. However, the designs which sit directly on the floor often require the futon to be completely removed. These are not recommended if you plan to convert between a bed and sofa frequently.

Futon Mattresses

There are many different kinds of futon mattresses with varying factors. The cheapest mattresses is likely the lowest quality, however the opposite is not necessarily true. A good Cotton/Foam futon mattress can be relatively inexpensive and rival the most expensive models available.

There are essentially 5 types of futon mattresses:

1. 100 % Cotton Futon Mattress – This was the original design. Although extremely flexible it will certainly begin to sag in a short period of time and compresses the cotton making the be much more firm as time goes on. High levels of maintenance is required to keep it in good shape for regular sleeping. These are often a bit cheaper. It is only recommended to use this if it is not to be a frequently used bed. They are also very heavy and hard to move.
2. 

   Cotton/Foam Build-Up

   Cotton/Foam Futon Mattress - This is a better alternative than the 100% cotton mattress since it will resist sagging because of the foam. This is probably the most common futon mattress. It is quite economical but still adds additional life span and continued support with lower maintenance. There are several different combination’s and construction methods depending on foam location, density, type of foam (ex. Latex).

3. Cotton/Wool Futon Mattress – Wool is quite soft and allows for a softer mattress without the compaction over time and sag issue like the 100% cotton mattresses. It also has antimicrobial properties to avoid mold and moisture wicking characteristics which allow you to have a better sleep. This is a bit more expensive but might be worth it if you are sleeping on it regularly.
4. Cotton/Polyester Blend Futon Mattress – Like the 100% cotton, it has a greater tendency of sagging over time. However, it is considerable lighter and will last longer than a pure cotton futon.
5. 

   Inner Spring

   Innerspring Futon Mattress - There has been quite a bit of advancement in inner-coil technology into futons in recent years. Many of the big mattresses producers like Simmons, Sealy, and Serta are all making different versions of these trying to combine the best of both worlds of futons and spring mattresses. As a general rule, you will not be able to use the tri-fold design with any of these mattresses as they do not fold as well. They are quite a bit more expensive, but probably the most comfortable of all the futons.

Futon Covers

There are lots of different materials available for futon covers. Typical ones are cotton, corduroy, stain resistant, faux suede (usually made from polyester). You will want to ensure that whatever you buy is machine washable and has a strong stitch. Ripping of the covers can be quite common during moving of the futons since the cover is often what is used for leverage.

There are thousands of places to buy futon covers on the internet making it easy to match the decor of any room.

Additional Details

No matter what kind of futon you get, there will be some maintenance that you will need to do.

1. If it is a regular mattress that you sleep on nightly, the futon mattress should be flipped monthly to reduce the likelihood of sagging and compaction.
2. Periodically (once every year) hanging it somewhere and beating it like a rug will enliven the comfort and maintain freshness.
3. Try to allow the mattress to get as much open air as possible. This means taking the covers off completely for an afternoon to let any moisture dissipate. Each morning, leaving the covers off your sleeping spot will also help.
4. Use a futon cover to protect the mattress.
5. Protect the bed from moisture. If it does get wet, allow lots of air circulation with a fan to let it dry out.

Futon mattresses have a typical lifespan of about ten years if cared for properly. This is similar to coil mattresses. Most quality manufacturers will offer a warranty, however, it is a fight to claim the warranty just like the coil bed market. However, try to find a mattress with at least a year warranty which will protect you from primary defects. The mattress warranty is almost impossible to claim, but the frame should not have any problems.

Recommended Futon Bed and Mattresses

If you are feeling a bit over-whelmed, check out the following suggestions to help you with your search.

Recommended Sofa Bed assemblies:

The first one is a modern Bi-Fold that has a convenient storage space under the frame. This is perfect for blankets and pillows for making it up in a hurry. This is a perfect Futon sofa bed for a condo or as a space saver. It is for a pretty good price as well, listed for approximately $500.

Storage Sofa Bed

This is a simple futon set with Serta Mattress. It’s cheap (~$400), good quality and should last for a long while.

Serta Bi-Fold Cotton/Foam

Recommended Futon Mattresses:

This is a quality 8″ Loft Cotton/Foam Futon Mattress for ~$175. It has a double foam interior to reduce the time related sag.

Cotton Foam Mattress

This one is a Loft Pocketed 9″ coiled futon. Independent springs allow for the “do not disturb you partner” technology found in modern spring mattresses. This one retails for approximately $300.

9" Loft Coil Futon Mattress

Another exceptional design is this premium inner spring mattress.

Evolution Spring 2

Good luck and Happy Hunting!

Futon sofa beds provide excellent back support but also are extremely comfortable when folded up as a sofa. There are several different types of futon sofa beds available on the market today which can be divided primarily into 2 categories:

• Bi-folds, and

• Tri-folds

Bi-Fold Frame

The bi-fold design only requires the futon to be folded into two sections when converting it to the sofa. The frame usually has a similar single fold line. These are often the easiest to maneuver when converting between the sofa and bed configurations. In addition to this, many of the mechanical versions (spring assisted folding) use this frame type, as well as the “wall huggers”.

Tri-Fold Frame

Tri-folds on the other hand require the futon to be folded into three sections but often allow for an alternative lounge style seating in one of it’s arrangements. Although the tri-fold often requires more work to convert to the sofa or into the full bed configurations, having the ability to have a lounge configuration is sometimes beneficial.

With either the bi-fold or the tri-fold, there are a few other considerations when selecting the right type of futon sofa bed for your room. First, if you are going to be converting it between the sofa and the bed configurations often, you might want to find a frame that converts easily. Some frame models come with a spring assembly to assist in the converting process for example.

Mechanically assisted frame

With most futon sofa bed frame models, you will be required to pull the frame away from the wall prior to switching to the bed configuration. However, if you are planing on doing this often, you might want to consider a “wall hugger” frame which allows you to keep the sofa against the wall and will switch to the bed configuration without needing to pull it out. This can be extremely convenient, especially if you do not have someone around to help.

Futon mattresses themselves can weight 50-100 pounds and be very awkward to maneuver by yourself. Many of the models require you to reposition the futon after switching configurations. Try to find one with easy operation should you not have frequent help.

The last thing that should be mentioned is the mattresses themselves. If this is going to be a primary sleeping place for someone, an 8″ mattress is likely a better choice as they are a bit more comfortable. However, for futon sofa bed that is primarily used for a sofa, a 6″ thickness is plenty. However, they can also be found in a 4″ thickness.

If you have ever slept on a fold out bed, you will know that they are not usually comfortable. Futon mattresses are comfortable and will provide your guests with much more comfort than a standard fold out sofa bed. When comparing the two side by side, the futon sofa bed wins hands down in comfort and price. Just make sure you find one you like.

Good luck.

First of all, most people who have futons use them for converting into a futon couch as well. It follows that you wouldn’t want to be folding up a king size since these things can be pretty heavy. The other main reason is that not many adults are using these right now.

14% of teenagers sleep on futons compared to only 4% of adults as their primary mattress. Although peculiar, the new fangled mattresses with the memory foam, pillow tops and new spring systems take a majority of the lime light. This is not to say that those may not be better mattresses, however, they also come with several times the prices tag.

Since kids beds tend to grow with the children, price becomes a factor in the 5 year upgrade of the kids beds. Teenagers also love the feature of turning there bed into a couch. In fact, my teenager went so far as to leave it in the futon chair position even while he slept at night! There is something in the teenage psyche that parents may never fully understand, but apparently it was “cool” and “no big deal”.

Convertible furniture, like futon furniture is particularly good for teenagers in this way because it allows them to modify their surroundings, effectively controlling their environment which is part of their natural development. I have always thought it might encourage more reading by him, but it seems as though this is to no avail.

Some say that size does not matter, but a teenager would beg to differ on whether a single or double futon is suffice. Bigger, is always better.

There are also studies that show bed type during the rapid physical growth of the teenage years is linked to back problems down the line. It seems that a firmer mattress with strong back support is more important than we originally thought!

So, how does a futon do in this regard? Well, it is actually extremely supportive. I slept on a futon for a number of years (before I was married) and really enjoyed it. I sometimes sleep on the futon chair downstairs when either my wife or I am sick, and sometimes I get to thinking I might want to get another one of those for our room. But then I lay on the glorious memory foam again and realize my foolish ways…

But as for my son? It was really only a question of whether he wanted the single or double futon. He can have all the plush tops he wants when he is ready to buy it on his own!